“Take Me to the River” Schuylkill-themed Art Show
Monday, October 23, 2023
OPENING at Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Take Me to the River is a multimedia art show set to open on Saturday, October 28 at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center. October 28 is also the opening day for the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta hosted by the University Barge Club.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Corinne M. Dieterle, artist and curator
Michael W Murphy, videographer
Peter Kinney, painting
Joseph Sweeney, painting
Lauren Travers, photography
Roman Tybinko, painting
Ruth Wolf, painting
Nancy Halbert
Helen Mangelsdorf
Richard Sharp
WHERE: Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
640 Water Works Drive
Phila, PA 19130
HOURS: Special Regatta Hours - Saturday, October 28, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and
Sunday, October 29, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Then, every Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. through December, 2023.
Special tours are available upon request.
ADMISSION: FREE
ABOUT TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: Corinne M. Dieterle, artist and curator offers: “The Schuylkill River has been a source of inspiration for artists, visitors and residents since Philadelphia was founded. On any given day, hundreds of people flock along its banks to walk, run, bike, push a stroller, empty one’s mind, consider important decisions, take in the changing seasons, enjoy fellowship, raise money for important causes, row in boats, kayaks, and dragon boats. Given such adoration it was with pleasure to assemble a group of 7 area artists who have in varying ways made work that celebrates this great resource. Many tributaries feed into the Schuylkill like our nearby Wissahickon Creek and the Schuylkill then meets the larger Delaware that meets the Atlantic. It goes on and on, all of our waterways, all around our world, are in fact connected.”
It’s fitting that this work be hosted by the Fairmount Water Works, a National Historic Landmark, and that it opens to the public during the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. The history of Boathouse Row begins with the construction of the Fairmount Dam, built in 1821 to create a reservoir of drinking water, divert it to the Fairmount Water Works as power for water wheels (later turbines) to operate pumps.
The Fairmount Dam transformed the stretch of the Schuylkill leading from East Falls into a slack water river, with a placid surface ideal for rowing. In 1835, the first regatta took place between the Blue Devils and the Imps Barge clubs. The excitement from the race sparked the formation of several barge clubs. “We hope you enjoy the show and that it fosters more work of other area artists to pay tribute to this vital waterway,” offered FWWIC Director Karen Young.
ABOUT THE FAIRMOUNT WATER WORKS: Located on historic Boat House Row, the Fairmount Water Works operated as a pumping station from 1815 to 1909, an aquarium from 1911 to 1962, as the Kelly Pool until 1972, and today serves as the Philadelphia Water Department's public education destination, housing an award-winning urban environmental education center. More information here and on your favorite social media @fairmountww.