 Welcome to Woodmere’s Members’ Newsletter! Here you’ll find behind-the-scenes stories, sneak peeks at upcoming exhibitions, and insider access to our collections, plus a look at the people who embody the Woodmere spirit. As Woodmere celebrates local artists and presents inspiring exhibitions and programs that bring people together, your support keeps Woodmere thriving and ever-evolving. Thank you for being part of the Woodmere community!   Arc of Promise Opening Reception Saturday, June 20, 2026 2:00 – 4:00 PM Charles Knox Smith Hall 9201 Germantown Avenue Reserve TicketsCurator Talk on: Wild Sight: Thomas Chimes on the Edge of the Rational Wednesday, June 24, 2026 6:00 PM Frances Maguire Hall 9001 Germantown Avenue Reserve Tickets   The Woodmere Annual: 83rd Juried Exhibition Saturday, June 27, 2026 2:00 – 4:00 PM Charles Knox Smith Hall 9201 Germantown Avenue Reserve Tickets Panel Discussion: Woodmere’s 83rd Annual Juried Exhibition Tuesday, June 30, 2026 5:00 – 6:30 PM Charles Knox Smith Hall 9201 Germantown Avenue Reserve Tickets  Current & Upcoming Exhibitions Wild Sight: Thomas Chimes on the Edge of the Rational May 2, 2026 – On going Frances Maguire Hall This exhibition traces how Thomas Chimes (1921-2009) explored a constellation of figures drawn from myth and literature associated with the unknown and the irrational. Among them are the Greek god Hermes, the swift-footed messenger who moves between worlds; the satyr Pan, a son of Hermes and god of the wilderness; and the Cyclops, whose single eye suggests both limited and intensified vision. Chimes also turned to literary figures like “Le Mômo,” the alter ego of Antonin Artaud (1896–1948), an avant-garde French writer who sought to break through the constraints of rational thought and language. With these subjects and more, Chimes created a dialogue in which ancient myth and modern experimentation converge. “Wild sight” becomes both a subject and a method: a way of seeing that challenges the boundaries of reason while opening new possibilities for understanding the self and society. His work confronts what he understood as a void at the center of modern existence — one brought about by the disenchantment of the world — and invites viewers to expand their consciousness and embrace the unsettling insights of “wild sight.”  Arc of Promise June 20 – October 4, 2026 Charles Knox Smith Hall In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Arc of Promise explores how Philadelphia’s artists have envisioned “America” as an idea, from the nation’s founding to today. Drawing largely from Woodmere’s collection, the exhibition spans the 1790s to the present, with painting, sculpture, and works on paper that reflect the ever-renewed ideal of the American experiment. Art with depictions of maps and flags, as well as social and allegorical representations from the 18th through the 21st centuries, is placed in dialogue, revealing how Philadelphia’s artists across generations have grappled with questions of national identity and freedom. The exhibition’s title is inspired by Philadelphia-born artist Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021), whose notion of the “arc of promise” acknowledges America’s painful histories—slavery, displacement, injustice—while affirming its capacity for renewal. Pinkney’s vision, grounded in optimism and equity, frames the exhibition’s central idea: that the promise of America is not fixed, but continuously reimagined by those who believe in its unfolding potential. The Woodmere Annual:83rd Juried Exhibition June 27 – September 6, 2026 Charles Knox Smith Hall The Woodmere Annual exhibition presents the work of Philadelphia’s contemporary artists. Each year, a different juror prepares a call for artists, soliciting submissions related to a distinct theme or idea. This year’s juror, Ron Tarver, invites makers to submit works that reflect on the theme of Family.  Listen with Your Eyes: A Moe Brooker Retrospective September 26, 2026 – January 17, 2027 Charles Knox Smith Hall Woodmere is proud to present Listen with Your Eyes, the inaugural retrospective dedicated to the work of Moe Brooker (1940–2022), one of Philadelphia’s most beloved and visionary artists. The exhibition traces the full arc of his career, from his academic realist paintings of the 1960s through his incandescent abstract works, characterized by rainbow patchwork fields animated by sweeping calligraphic marks. Brooker drew on an exceptionally rich array of sources: the structure and tonalities of jazz music; the bright lights and graffiti of the Philadelphia cityscape; African and African-American weavings and quilts; and art-historical touchstones ranging from Giotto to Wassily Kandinsky and Hans Hofmann. Listen with Your Eyes also features a selection of Brooker’s wall-mounted and freestanding sculptures, weavings, sketchbooks, and personal ephemera, offering an intimate window into the mind and practice of this extraordinary artist.Member lapsed? Rejoin today! JOIN NOWThank you for supporting Woodmere Your membership makes a difference. Donate Today |
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