ART EDUCATION COMMUNITY EVENTS EXHIBITIONS EVENT RENTALS
2024
WINTER SPRING
125th Annual Adult Student Exhibition (installation image)
January 2024 Dear Fleisher Community – Cheers to a happy new year from your friends, colleagues and mentors in South Philadelphia. We’ve missed you all these last few weeks as we took a break to renew and reconsider and rest at the end of 2023. The beginning of a new year represents a time to recommit to what we hold most dear, to the core values that make us who we are. It’s also my one-year anniversary leading this remarkable organization. As we begin our 126th year, I am struck by how passionate our community is, passionate about art and education, about equity and justice, and about building a world everyone feels inspired to live in. This spirited engagement and dream of a better world through art started with Samuel Fleisher’s original intent and continues unabated today. It’s why we just opened our doors, yet again, to hundreds of new children on Saturdays, why we embed artists in residency in our neighborhood public schools and why we are working so hard to share the music, food, and cultural activities of our community partners in another year of joyful programming. It’s also a challenging time to be both passionately convicted and committed to embracing a diversity of perspectives and we must work diligently every day to keep the balance. To be a haven for all who want to engage creatively is a cultivated practice. You may have seen that we are currently looking for a Deputy Director to help guide and cement that work, which we are very excited about, and that is just one of many ways we are investing in our future. I believe Fleisher’s campus will continue to be a place where we learn not just about ourselves but about each other, where we explore both new skills and new ideas, and where art and access continue to be defined as broadly as possible. Fleisher has done this for 125 years and at the top of 2024, we rededicate ourselves to this work. We invite you to come and join us. Share your story. Make new friends. Listen. Learn. Make something beautiful with us.
Monica Zimmerman Executive Director
Love is in the air... and the tradition of our Print Love-In returns! Join us in our Works on Paper building (705 Christian Street) to create your own valentines while exploring a wide range of printmaking techniques from block print to screenprint. No experience necessary; registration fee covers all materials and takeaways.
PRINT LOVE-IN
Sunday, February 11 All-Ages Sessions: 10–11:30 am & 12–1:30 pm $15 per person Activities are suitable for ages 5 & up Explore Fleisher’s printmaking facilities, crank the presses in a familyfriendly session, and enjoy treats and coffee from Paffuto. You’ll walk away with enough cards for all of your crushes and a tote bag! Adults 21+ Session: 2–4 pm $30 per person, BYOB (corkage fee of $10 per wine bottle, cash only) Our adults-only session will feature music, drinks (BYOB), sweet treats from Good Good Chocolates, and more! You’ll end the afternoon with a screenprinted tote bag full of valentines and an introduction to printmaking basics. This is a great event for couples, friends, and anyone who wants to fall in love with printmaking.
PAPERCUTTING: VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION Thursday, February 1, 6:30–9:30 pm Friday, February 2, 10 am–1 pm $35
Valentine cards date back to the early 1800’s, inspired by German folk art and designed with pin pricks or to look lacy. Over time, the designs evolved into elaborate papercuts. In each session, led by Mindy Shapiro, you’ll see historical examples and create your own cards using templates or your very own design.
Think spring, but don’t forget to check out this trio of
one-day, low-cost workshop offerings at the tail end of our winter term! Whether for you or the family, there’s a little something for everyone to discover in Fleisher’s studios.
ARTIST BOOK FORMS WORKSHOP with Valeria Kremser Friday, March 15 10 am–4 pm $105 ($95 members) / $30 studio fee
Experiment with playful book structures in this fun, hands-on workshop. Look at books as artworks themselves, while discovering the basic hand skills of cutting, folding, and gluing various materials. Book anatomy and sources for materials/tools will also be covered.
LETTERPRESS POETRY WORKSHOP with Icarus Key Saturday, March 16 10 am–3 pm $105 ($95 members) / $30 studio fee
Dive into the world of letterpress with our beginner-friendly workshop. Learn type setting and leave with a poetry line or haiku of your choice made by your own hands. No experience needed.
FAMILY CERAMICS WORKSHOP with Colleen Pickup Saturday, March 16 Morning Session: 10 am–12 pm Afternoon Session: 1–3 pm $25 per person
Join us for this family-friendly workshop where participants will create flat, two-dimensional works that can be used as decoration. We’ll fire your work and prepare for pickup in the ceramics studio within two weeks of your session. All ages welcome!
Adult Education Spring Term 2024 April 1–May 25* *8-week term
Registration opens
Monday, February 12
Monday, February 12 Registration for spring tuition-based classes opens at 8 am Tuesday, February 20 Registration for spring tuition-free classes opens at 8 am HOW TO REGISTER Register online: fleisher.org Register by phone: 215-922-3456 ext. 300 Register in person: Visit Fleisher’s lobby during open hours to register in person at the front desk with our Visitor Services staff. To ensure that Fleisher’s programs remain as affordable and accessible as possible, we offer tuition assistance each term. Applications for the spring term will be available on February 12; visit the website for details.
Friday, March 8 Adult tuition assistance deadline If you aren’t already, please consider becoming a Fleisher member! In addition to sustaining Fleisher’s mission, benefits of membership include a 10% discount on all tuition-based classes and free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A current Fleisher membership is required to register for tuition-free classes.
Dedicated Faculty & Independent Making An inspiring roster of teaching artists will return to Fleisher’s studios this spring to lead another round of courses inspired by their creative practice. Metalsmith and jewelry designer Maureen Duffy has been working with Fleisher students since 2016. Duffy will teach a range of classes next term for those interested in discovering the medium of metals, from Introduction to Jewelry and Jewelry Making to Casting for Jewelry and a one-day jumpstART workshop focused on making bracelets. Students who develop skills in classes often join Open Studios! Designed for intermediate and advanced students, these quarterly and medium-specific offerings provide an opportunity to use Fleisher facilities to build on coursework and refine their creative vision.
“The [jewelry] open studio is a great benefit and addition to the classes. I enjoy having the availability of the studio and the tools and space to be able to work independently and do things that I would not be able to do in my home studio. The studio also offers the
opportunity to work side by side with other students and to enjoy the inspiration and camaraderie that this provides.” - Jennifer Talarico
Expanding Printmaking Offers Across the parking lot from Fleisher’s main building, our Works on Paper building also provides a special niche on campus, hosting a wide variety of printmaking and analog photography courses. This spring, weekday and weekend printmaking offerings will include:
Screenprinting / Screenprinting on Fabric / Copper Plate Etching / Printmaking Without a Press / Screenprinting: Transparencies and Exposures / Stone Lithography / Advanced Lithography / Woodcut Printmaking / Printmaking Open Studio
Summer Camp
Registration opens
Monday, January 22
June 17–August 2
This summer, Fleisher is offering fun-filled art adventures for young artists ages 5 to 18! Ages 5–6
For our youngest artists, projects will focus on a new and exciting theme each week! Campers will experiment with materials like clay, paint, and found objects, practicing motor skills while thinking about space, balance, and more.
Ages 7–9
With the introduction of storytelling and narrative into weekly projects, campers will learn how to develop stories both fictional and autobiographical using visual art while continuing to develop their skills in drawing and construction.
Ages 10–12
Tween campers will explore all the mediums our studios have to offer, learning the techniques and vocabularies of ceramics, printmaking, photography, and more to find new languages for their creative expression.
Ages 13–18
Teen campers will participate in half-day camps—either in the morning, afternoon, or both—for two weeks at a time. These foundational intensives are introductory in terms of curriculum while also full of project possibilities! Teens will develop portfolio-ready work while also building community.
MEMBER REGISTRATION FEES*
NON-MEMBER FEES
Ages 5–12 Full-day one-week session
$340
$380
Ages 13–18 Half-day two-week immersive
$360
$400
*The member rate is available to families with a household membership. Those with individual memberships can upgrade to take advantage of the discount; please contact registration@fleisher.org for assistance.
Summer Camp Daily Schedule
8:30–9:30 am: Drop off 9:30 am–12 pm: Morning session 12–1 pm: Lunch Full day campers will bring their own lunches, snacks, and water bottles
1–3:30 pm: Afternoon session 3:30–3:45 pm: Pick up 3:30–5:30 pm: After Camp Club* *After camp wraps, the fun continues in our After Camp Club! Register for a full week or select days, in advance or day of: $120/week or $25/day. Fleisher is committed to making our youth programs accessible regardless of economic means or artistic background. Tuition assistance is available for summer camp, granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit the Tuition Assistance page of our website for more information.
Day Off Camps
Tuition assistance line application dead
Friday, March 8
Monday, February 19 Monday, March 25–Friday, March 29 Tuesday, April 23 During the school year, Fleisher offers one-day camps for students ages 5–12 years old to coincide with the Philadelphia School District’s scheduled days off. Campers will explore mixed media to create artworks inspired by themes such as Under the Sea, Postcards from Around the World, and other fun age-appropriate topics. The structure of the day will mirror Fleisher’s summer camp offerings with drop off between 8:30–9:30 am and classes until 3:30 pm. After Camp Club will also be offered for an additional rate from 3:30–5:30 pm.
After-School Youth Workshops AGES 9–12: MINI CINEMA CLUB Wednesdays, April 3–May 22 4–6 pm Calling all tween cinephiles! Join teaching artist Sue Liedke on Wednesday afternoons this spring to explore film as art while gaining visual literacy and critical thinking skills. Each week will feature a classic age-appropriate film and include facilitated discussion and hands-on projects.
AGES 13–18: WHEEL THROWING Fridays, April 5–May 24 4–6:30 pm
Get fired up in this hands-on workshop in our ceramics studio! Learn how to use a pottery wheel to make your own bowls, mugs, plates, or pots, and discover the fundamentals of surface decoration and glazing.
AGES 13–18: SMALL METAL ARTS & JEWELRY Fridays, April 5–May 24 4–6:30 pm
Explore metalworking techniques in this new teen class! Learn the basic techniques of cutting, piercing, soldering, forging, forming and finishes in our jewelry studio while experimenting with applications related to jewelry and metal art.
Special Event (re)FOCUS 2024: A Short History of American Women Artists Wednesdays, February 15–29 (3 sessions) 6:30–8 pm Online lecture series / Sliding scale Join art historian Nancy G. Heller for a trio of lectures focused on 20th- and 21st-century American women artists. Lectures will include an emphasis on artists included in the groundbreaking Philadelphiabased FOCUS festival which took place in 1974, including In Her Own Image, an exhibition organized by Cindy Nemser at Fleisher Art Memorial. This series is presented as part of (re)FOCUS 2024, a citywide collaboration taking place from January through May 2024 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, one of the first large-scale surveys of the work of contemporary American women artists, signaling the inception of the American Feminist Art Movement. For more information and a schedule of events, visit refocus2024.org.
Photo credit: Patrick Radebaugh
2024 Wind Challenge Exhibition Series Established in 1978 as The Challenge and now known as the Wind Challenge, Fleisher’s annual juried competition is committed to featuring the work of exceptional artists living in the Philadelphia region. The 2024 series will feature nine local artists in a trio of exhibitions in Fleisher’s galleries over the spring and summer. The opening reception for each exhibition will be preceded by an Artist Exchange panel discussion at 5 pm, led by each trio of exhibiting artists in the Sanctuary. The Wind Challenge Exhibition Series is made possible thanks to generous support from the Wind Foundation. NATESSA AMIN, KIM ALTOMARE, AND LAUREN PAKRADOONI February 13–March 9 Opening Reception: Friday, February 16, 6–8 pm* JOSEPH LAZARO RODRIGUEZ, ERIK RUIN, AND SEAN M. STAROWITZ April 2–27 Opening Reception: Friday, April 5, 6–8 pm* ALEXIS GRANWELL, BRYNN HURLSTONE, AND IDALIA VASQUEZ-ARCHURY July 1–July 31 Opening Reception: Friday, July 12, 6–8 pm* *preceded by an Artist Exchange Panel Discussion at 5 pm Kim Altomare, Zinneas (detail), 2023, pulp paint on sheet-casted cotton paper, 18 x 24 inches.
Community Programs El Mercado Cultural returns in 2024! El Mercado Cultural is a Fleisher initiative focused on supporting Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs by contributing creative and marketing resources to new merchants and market vendors free of charge. From product and food photography to digital marketing and branding, Fleisher’s intent is to capture the natural intersection between art and commerce by providing workshops, discussions, and opportunities for participants of the program.
2024 Market Dates at
April 20 / May 18 / June 22 / July 20 / Sept 21 12–5 pm Support participating artists by joining us at Cherry Street Pier for a new series of markets kicking off this spring, presented in collaboration with the Delaware River Waterfront. Shop, enjoy culinary delights from local vendors, and keep an eye out for ColorWheels, Fleisher’s mobile art studio! This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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Photo credit: Anthony Pezzotti
Event Rentals Looking for the perfect location for your special event? At the heart of a vibrant neighborhood, Fleisher’s inspiring architecture and century-old history as a community art center lend a unique spirit to our event spaces. Historic, non-traditional charm and convenient Bella Vista location make Fleisher an ideal choice for private or professional gatherings. The Sanctuary can accommodate up to 100 seated guests, or 130 standing. Fleisher’s art studios could also provide a productive and creative atmosphere for your next meeting, lecture, staff retreat, or group event. Art studios can accommodate up to 40 guests. Tours for prospective rentals are available during weekday hours (Tuesday–Thursday, 12–4 pm). To schedule or learn more about event rentals at Fleisher, please contact Karla Cortes at kcortes@fleisher.org or by phone at 215-922-3456 ext. 322. A rentals brochure is also available for download on our website. Image courtesy of Inna Spivakova, Peach Plum Pear Photo
DRAWING PAINTING PHOTOGRAPHY CERAMICS FILM TOURS JEWELRY MOSAICS ILLUSTRATION PRINTMAKING MIXED MEDIA METALS LECTURES SCULPTURE FIBER ARTS Fleisher Art Memorial 719 Catharine Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-2811
Register online at fleisher.org Cover photo credit: Hanna Finchler
Nonprofit Org.
PAID
U.S. Postage
Philadelphia, PA
Permit No. 7011