POST Returns to 915 Spring Garden Oct 15th and 16th
POST RETURNS TO STUDIOS AT 915 SPRING GARDEN ST. PHILADELPHIA,
Kick-off, 6 – 9 pm, Oct. 15; Open Studios, noon – 6 pm, Oct. 16.
For 34 years, the former headquarters of the Reading Railroad was one of Philadelphia’s premier arts destinations. Beginning in 1981, the nearly 100 artists in painting, sculpture, weaving, photography, jewelry and other disciplines welcomed the public for “open-studio” events. In its glory days, the massive building at 915 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA, often welcomed more than 1,000 art lovers over a single weekend.
Now, artists who rent studios on two floors in the totally renovated, five-story structure are trying to reclaim a measure of those glory days; they’re inviting their friends, followers and all art lovers to the building to view their works, discuss art and their special approaches, and perhaps sell works, as part of the city-wide art event Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST).
"POST returning to 915 Spring Garden is a welcome homecoming,” said Craig Grossman, General Partner of Arts & Crafts Holdings. “When Arts & Crafts restored the building, we always hoped that the 40 artist studios we built would help spearhead the creative class community we envisioned around makers, doers, and innovators. Seeing this group come together, opening their work spaces to the public, and organizing the kick-off event with Triple Bottom Brewing is a perfect example of what we hoped and envisioned."
Supporters of the event also include Triple Bottom Brewing, which operates a beer garden, brewery and restaurant on the building’s first floor; and the Center for Emerging Visual Arts, the artist-support organization, which administers POST.
POST at 915 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA, 19123, will take place on Oct. 15 for a kick-off event at Triple Bottom Brewing from 6 to 9 pm; then on Oct. 16 from noon to 6 pm, studios on the 2nd and 3rd floors will be open for visitors. At least 17 artists and the Fleisher/Ollman Gallery will exhibit. Facemasks are required.
The transformation of 915 Spring Garden began in 1981, when Philadelphia artist Steven Donegan was looking for a studio to create his sculpture. The owner of 915 Spring Garden agreed to rent him space if he could attract other artists. In a short time, the number of artist tenants increased to nearly 100.
Since 1981, the artists of 915 Spring Garden opened their studios to the public once a year; the event served as a model for other art groups, and the exposure helped launch many artistic careers. A good number of Philadelphia’s leading artists were tenants at 915 Spring Garden, including Syd Carpenter, Bruce Metcalf, Patrick Conners, Cynthia Porter, Stanley Bielen and Charles Burwell, to name just a few.
Over the years, many of the artists made lasting friendships, and the building gained a reputation for artists’ comradeship and mutual assistance. An unwritten policy existed for the artists; if a studio door was open, the artist would welcome a chat, but if the door was closed, it meant the artist was in a creative moment, so come back later.
Artists forced to seek other accommodations after the fire in 2015 were able to locate new studios. However, many remain nostalgic about the atmosphere in their former artistic home. Carol Cole, who creates abstract mixed-media sculptures using found objects, moved into her studio at 915 Arts in 1981 and stayed until she was forced to vacate by the fire.
“I moved to the Herman Street Studios in Germantown, which is great,” Cole said. “But I now realize how unique the 915 community was. We were serious art makers, but we took time to visit each other’s studios, and that resulted in long-lasting friendships.”
Now, in the newly renovated building, new friendships have developed. “Helping each other is vital,” said Chantal Westby, who creates installations showing the need to save our environment. “We share ideas with each other. That’s important because art is a challenging profession, especially because of Covid 19. But just as important, there’s a friendship that develops naturally. We don’t feel isolated.”
Links: www.artsandcrafts.holdings
www.915springgarden.com
www.fleisher-ollmangallery.com
