Art in the Open (AiO)
The Center for Emerging Visual Artists is well known for its annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tour (POST) program, held annually throughout the city. Our biennial Art in the Open (AiO), in partnership with Fairmount Water Works, coming this Spring, again offers the public a new chance to see how creative practice can turn the Schuylkill River Banks into an outdoor studio tour for three days.
Get your friends and family to the river and perhaps re-imagine your expectation of an artist at work! Working in all media, Art In The Open artists will take to the Schuylkill River Trail between the Fairmount Water Works and South Street. These open-air, urban and temporary “studio” experiences along the water allow both the artists and their visitors a chance to explore Philadelphia’s historical, ecological, industrial and artistic connections to the river. The works offered will transcend the typical viewing experience of art presented in four wall galleries or online viewing rooms.
With a now familiar collective urgency, many artists have taken to create outdoors. Our juried event will open your eyes to the dedication it takes to make art in a variety of outdoor environments, and to the always-changing relationships between human beings and their landscape. 26 professional multidisciplinary artists will create works in real time over the weekend in direct response to their particular space. Trail visitors who will walk, run or bike by will be encouraged to participate.
Art In The Open offers an urban spin on the “plein air” (open-air) genre of painting outdoors in all seasons, popularized in the mid-19th century. It will offer the public a unique perspective of the river and its banks, and to consider how, through contemporary art creation (through both pandemic and flood), in constantly changing and sometimes extreme conditions, we are uplifted and inspired.
Art in the Open is hosted in partnership with Fairmount Water Works (FWW). City Parks Association was a founding partner.
AiO is presented by CFEVA and The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
The mission of the Fairmount Water Works interpretive center is to foster stewardship of our shared water resources by encouraging informed decisions about the use of land and water. They educate citizens about Philadelphia’s urban watershed–its past, present and future–and collaborate with partners to instill an appreciation for the connections between daily life and the natural environment.
For more information, please visit: http://fairmountwaterworks.org.
Check out this article about FWW’s newest exhibit: POOL
THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 EVENT SPONSORS
We are so grateful for your participation and support of our AiO artist community.
Lunch sponsors:
