Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown is hosting its annual members and faculty exhibition through June to display 125 pieces in various mediums.
“It allows for the artists to show off their area of expertise for sure,” said Sharon Kiefer, curator of exhibitions for Perkins.
Mediums include oil paintings; photography; ceramics; mosaics; and encaustics, also known as hot wax paintings. An artists’ reception will be held on Saturday, May 20, at Perkins at 5 p.m.
Kiefer sees the show as a win-win for everyone involved.
“It’s an opportunity for our faculty to show off what they really know best in their area of expertise, and that could perhaps generate maybe other people to take their classes at Perkins,” she explained.
“The members love this show because it’s one of the perks for having a Perkins yearly membership.”
Kiefer also believes the exhibition gives artists a place to showcase their favorite work or something newly created. It’s also a way for her to meet new members.
“It’s always really wonderful to see artists’ work and to see exactly what they do when they’re not teaching,” she said. “Or, in the case of the members, I sometimes don’t know who the members are, and they bring their work and I discover new artists that way.”
Last year’s show had 100 entries and was well-attended by guests.
“It’s a fan favorite for sure because there is no entry fee,” Kiefer noted. “It’s just something that they (faculty and members) count on every year … And they all have an opportunity to sell their work at the show as well.”
This summer, Perkins will display the works of artist Molly Carpenter, whose current focus, according to her website, is on fine art curio icons, combining methods and materials of sculpture, mosaic, painting and 24k gold in each piece.
Carpenter’s exhibit will hang during Perkins’ student summer camp, something Kiefer sees as a bonus for the youth who attend.
“I can see these pieces being used as a story springboard or inspiring activities for the students during the summer,” she said.
Shows at Perkins go on for two months, which to Kiefer is enough time for people to see the artists’ work again.
“I think that allows for our visitors and the artists as well to take hold of the gallery, and sometimes you need to see an exhibition more than one time,” she observed.
“You need to view it over and over for the importance to really make an impact.”
For more information on the exhibition and other shows, visit https://perkinsarts.org.
