Fairy Tale Art: Illustrations from Children’s Books

February 6 though May 25, 2009

Fairy tales offer a magic carpet ride to a timeless, enchanted, dreamlike world. The origins and history of fairy tales spans thousands of years and many cultures. These magical stories were told and retold by storytellers in early civilizations of China, Egypt, Europe and India. The fairy tales and folk tales featured in this exhibit celebrate stories handed down through the ages that echo the wisdom of past cultures and honor the symbolic and metaphoric language of the stories. Fairy Tale Art included traditional versions of: The Firebird, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood along with modern stories such as: Cinderella’s Dress, Child of the Faerie: Child of the Earth, and the Hungry Coat. Prize winning contemporary artists whose art is featured include: Kinuko Y. Craft, Trina Schart Hyman, Barry Moser, DEMI, Susan Paradis and Jim LaMarche. The exhibit was on tour courtesy of Smith Kramer Fine Arts. Financial assistance for this exhibit was provided by Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Inc., Penn Security Bank & Trust Co., and Joe & Lisa Curtin.

Transformations 2008: Icons & Imagery

May 7 through July 27, 2009

Transformations 2008: Icons & Imagery featured studio art quilts by 32 artists from nine countries. Each of the artist members of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) represented in the exhibit used the idea of an icon, with its ability to elicit symbolic meaning beyond the object represented, as a starting point for the quilts in this exhibit. German textile expert Rudolf Smend, who served as the sole juror of Transformations 2008, selected work he felt “focused primarily on artistic originality, perfect craftsmanship and innovation,” while providing a new take on the meaning of iconography through the use of fresh imagery and interpretations. The works feature a diverse range of imagery, all of which use what are iconic pieces, including Byzantine icons themselves, symbols from ancient world cultures, the American landscape, feminine pop culture “icons,” and cultural motifs taken from oft reproduced media imagery. The quilts themselves represent diverse styles of textile and fiber arts, reflecting time-honored quilting, sewing, and embroidery techniques as well as less traditional techniques such as printing, photography, collage and inclusion of found objects in and on the quilts. The exhibit was curated by Jeannette DeNicolis Meyer and was toured by SAQA. Financial assistance for this exhibit was provided by Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Inc.

Ancient Microworlds

June 12 through September 7, 2009

Ancient Microworlds married paleontology with photography to attain an intriguing exploration of past life. In this exhibit, Giraud Foster and Norman Barker demonstrate that fossils can dazzle the mind and the eye. Together, Foster and Barker have developed innovative high-magnification photographic techniques and painstakingly selected the remarkable specimens that make their stunning images unique. Theirs is an ancient world as artfully beautiful as it is scientifically engaging. This microphotography of fossils was complemented by the Everhart Museum’s own fossil collection. Financial assistance for this exhibit was provided by Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Inc.

Day of the Dead: Art & Culture in the Americas

September 25 through December 31, 2009

Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos), has its roots in ancient indigenous cultures of Central and South America, and today is celebrated throughout the America’s during the Roman Catholic holidays of All Saints’ and All Soul’s Days (November 1 & 2). Created by the Everhart Museum with funding assistance from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, this exclusive exhibit illustrated Day of the Dead as a celebration and remembrance of beloved people in the family and community. Day of the Dead: Art & Culture in the Americas featured contemporary art from nationally and internationally recognized artists, traditional folk art, and the Everhart Museum’s Pre-Columbian collection. Financial Financial assistance for this exhibit was provided by Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Inc., the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, The Foley Law Firm and Prudential Retirement.