Arts & Entertainment

Exhibition Celebrates Laurel Hill Cemetery

Just in time for Halloween-artists use Laurel Hill Cemetery for inspiration.

The following is a press release from the Manayunk-Roxborough Art Center.

n October, the Manayunk-Roxborough Art Center (MRAC) presents “Images & Impressions of Laurel Hill Cemetery”, consisting of three Sunday afternoon events that will feature visual art and literary programs inspired by and relating to the cemetery. The opening reception is Sunday, October 13, 2013, from noon to 3:00 P.M., followed immediately by a literary program organized by MRAC’s Humanities Division.

The exhibition features photography, paintings, drawings and mixed media works by members of the Manayunk-Roxborough Artists’ Co-Op and original poetry by MRAC members and guest poets, mounted on the walls. The literary program will include poets reading from their exhibited work and selected recitations from MRAC’s Philly Fringe Fest production of Spoon River Anthology, which was performed in the cemetery in September.

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Then, on Sunday, October 20th, a second MRAC Humanities event will feature a talk by Allan M. Heller on the history and background of Laurel Hill Cemetery. Heller is the author of Philadelphia Area Cemeteries, who recently completed a book titled Monuments and Memorials of Philadelphia. Photographers whose work is included in “Images & Impressions of Laurel Hill Cemetery” will participate in a forum regarding their art form and their exhibited photographs. The third event, on Sunday, October 27th will include Philadelphia poet and Spoon River Anthology cast member Mike Cohen’s talk on his visit to Laurel Hill, which was published in the Schuylkill Valley Journal; MRAC poets reading their cemetery inspired work; and a discussion of their art by MRAC painters and other visual artists. Like the presentation on October 13th, the October 20th and 27th events will follow receptions beginning at noon. The public is invited to partake of light refreshments and meet the artists on all three dates. Representatives from Laurel Hill Cemetery will offer brief presentations at each of these events, all of which begin at 3:00 P.M. in MRAC’s gallery.

Eighteen artists and writer/poet members of MRAC intend to participate in this joint fundraising effort with Laurel Hill Cemetery. Laurel Hill is America’s first National Historic Landmark Cemetery, offering remarkable art, architecture, nature and river views. It is the resting place of historic notables of regional and national renown, such as beloved Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas. MRAC’s Exhibitions Director, Ronald Howard, notes that “Images & Impressions of Laurel Hill Cemetery” is a breakthrough undertaking at MRAC. “It represents a continuation of the cooperation between two well-established non-profit organizations begun with Spoon River Anthology in September, and is the first time that three categories of MRAC artists – painters, photographers and poets – have come together to produce an exhibition based on a common theme,” Howard observes.

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Karen Elliott, whose work was featured at MRAC in September and will be exhibited in the gallery at the Roxborough Development Corporation (RDC) in November-December, creates visual art in various media. In her photographs, “Leaves” and “Forever Family”, Elliott captures two of Laurel Hill’s ornately carved monuments at angles that document the cemetery’s natural beauty in an urban environment. Gary Reed’s haunting black and white images of Laurel Hill monuments – two of which appeared on the postcards announcing this show – will grace MRAC’s walls in October. Artwork by Monique Brand, who works in many media, and by abstract painter Nicholas Longenecker, will be included. They were both featured artists at MRAC and RDC in recent months. Brand’s show at RDC runs until October 13th.

Peter Krok, who serves as both MRAC’s Humanities Director and Editor of the Schuylkill Valley Journal is one of more than half a dozen writers who will present original poetry inspired by recent visits to Laurel Hill. Also participating are poets Mark Danowsky and Elizabeth Leo, who together founded MRAC’s monthly poetry critique circle this year, along with Ronald Howard, Fereshteh Sholevar, Mike Cohen and Karen Elliott, all MRAC members. Guest poets will include Ray Greenblatt and Barry Farber.

Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. For more information see MRAC’s website: mrartcenter.org or telephone 215. 482.3363.


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