On
Saturday, June 7, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the
Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, will host the second annual
ARTspiration! — a FREE community arts festival. The festival will take place in Fleisher's buildings at 719 Catharine Street and 705 Christian Street, and will flow out onto the 700 block of Catharine Street and into the park that neighbors Fleisher's main building. It will offer family-oriented activities that will appeal to a wide array of ages and interests, including two major exhibitions and art-making booths. Local vendors will be on-site to sell food and ice cream.
“Last year,
ARTspiration! brought together over 600 people for a celebration of art-making and community building. The art-making booths that lined the 700 block of Catharine Street were especially popular, so we will be adding even more this year,” remarked
Magda Martinez, the Director of Fleisher's Community Partnerships in the Arts Program. Booths will be led by practicing artists and a core of over 50 trained volunteers and will include: sewing, sticker-making, face painting, jewelry-making, printmaking, button-making, sidewalk chalking, portrait painting, t-shirt decorating and more. The booths will make it possible for individuals and families to stop by for one or two activities, or to stay for the whole day.
Concurrent with
ARTspiration! are Fleisher's
Annual Faculty Exhibition and
Heroes, Home and Me, featuring the work of students who participate in Fleisher's art programs at local public schools and social service agencies. Several interactive activities are planned for each of these exhibitions to help youth and families navigate the gallery experience.
ARTspiration! is being planned by Fleisher faculty, staff, and teen participants in Fleisher's “teen lounge” — an after-school art program for youth from area schools. The multiple perspectives of the planning committee will add richness and texture to the day.
ARTspiration! comprises one part of a larger plan to make Fleisher's free classes, events, and exhibitions more visible and accessible to Philadelphia residents, especially those living in Fleisher's immediate community of Southeast Philadelphia. In Fall 2007, Fleisher received a Wallace Foundation Excellence Award to conduct an investigation of how community members perceive Fleisher and to implement programmatic changes and to respond to their needs.
ARTspiration! is one of several ways in which Fleisher will open its doors to new audiences in the coming year, with emphasis placed on providing an introduction to art education programs. Fleisher staff will conduct tours of the galleries and classrooms throughout the day, and create a welcoming atmosphere for those who are uncertain of their ability to make art.
“Accessibility is at the core of our mission,” said Executive Director
Matthew Braun. “
ARTspiration! is a way to open our doors even wider by inviting people to stop by and learn how easy it is to become a part of our community.”
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