Woodmere hosts prints from six Philly-area schools in new exhibit

Prints Link Philadelphia, a coalition of community arts organizations, museums and schools with a mission to educate and promote printmaking amongst Philadelphia’s youth, opened its second exhibition at Chestnut Hill’s Woodmere Art Museum earlier this month. 

The exhibition, titled “Transferring Ideas,” showcases artwork by students from six Philadelphia-area elementary and secondary schools — Abington Friends School, Abington Senior High School, Ellwood School, Esperanza Academy, Germantown Academy and the Russell Byers Charter School.

Student artists range from grades three to 12. The exhibition presents a variety of printmaking techniques.

“We came up with the title ‘Transferring Ideas’ as a generic title to celebrate the craft of printmaking,” said Amy Jared of Prints Link Philadelphia. “Unlike painting or drawing, which are immediate, there are many steps in printmaking. Your image is transferred from an original plate onto a piece of paper. Printmaking is not immediate gratification — it requires process and patience. But, once you finally begin print — wow — the power of multiples.”

Hildy Tow is the Robert McNeil Jr. Curator of Education at Woodmere. Tow said Woodmere is excited to be hosting another Prints Link Philadelphia exhibition.

“[The exhibit] is an extraordinary display of both students’ artwork and the amazing educational experiences these students have had with outstanding teachers. What unifies the exhibition is the exuberant and versatile use of printmaking processes that promote experimentation and provide enormous possibilities for students’ growth, discovery and self-expression,” said Tow.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 28. There will be a reception on Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m.