Unforeseeable Thereness

Stanek Gallery Provides Platform to Illuminate Strong Ties Between the Fine Arts in Philadelphia and Ireland

Upcoming Exhibition “Unforeseeable Thereness”, Curated by Stanek Gallery Artist Hollis Heichemer, Features Works from Irish and American Artists.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PHILADELPHIA, PA) April 30, 2019 – Stanek Gallery, a nationally-recognized, Old City-based pioneer in the gallery community, announced today its upcoming spring exhibition titled “Unforeseeable Thereness”. Conceived of and curated by Philadelphia Artist Hollis Heichemer, the exhibition celebrates the lasting connection between the arts in Ireland and America. Inspired by her time at the Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland, and the landscape, light and people of Ireland, Heichemer sought to create an exhibition bringing her passion for the Irish visual arts to life.

In collaboration with Heichemer, Stanek Gallery will bring together nine accomplished artists with a shared love of Ireland, and the influence it has had on their individual practices.

“We are curious about what it is to be human, the experience that connects all of us, the overarching beauty and tragedy that we see in nature, that is also in our humanity,” explains curator Hollis Heichemer. “Irish Poet Seamus Heaney investigates this greater connection and how poets try to express it with words. He describes this as ‘celebrating its given unforeseeable thereness, the way it enters our field of vision and animates our physical and intelligent being.’ I see this discovery in the visual arts as well. The artists in this exhibition each share with us a glimpse into what excites and inspires them, all in their individual connection to Ireland.”

Featured in the exhibition are artists Roger Chavez, Randall Exon, Hollis Heichemer, Alex Kanevsky, Cian McLoughlin, Helen O’Leary, Helen O’Toole, Ron Rumford, and Donald Teskey. Through various mediums—painting, drawing, sculpture and print—these artists capture the beauty, history and strength of Ireland, eliciting a profound depth of feeling and emotion in their works.

“Hollis Heichemer and Roger Chavez, two of the artists we represent, have enlightened us to the Irish artistic community in Philadelphia,” said Katherine Stanek, Owner and Director of Stanek Gallery. “We are proud to present such an incredible breadth of work from that community. And why not—since its inception, the Stanek Gallery has been bringing you artistic excellence through dynamic collaborations, and this exhibition is a perfect example.”

A testament to the captivating power and beauty of Ireland, “Unforeseeable Thereness” debuts with an opening reception on First Friday, May 3rd, 2019 in Old City, Philadelphia, proud city of the Irish diaspora and center historical center for excellence in the fine arts. The exhibition continues through June 29th, 2019.

Formal programing will accompany the exhibition, exploring the subjects of Irish contemporary art, the link between the literary and visual arts in Ireland, and the importance and impact of cultural exchange between Ireland and Philadelphia. In addition, a catalogue will be produced and published, documenting the exhibition and the incredible works of the artists on view.

Exhibition:
“Unforeseeable Thereness”
Opening Reception, First Friday, May 3rd, 6:00-9:00PM
Continues through June 29th, 2019

Location:
Stanek Gallery
242 N. 3rd Street
Philadelphia PA 19106

###

About Stanek Gallery
Stanek Gallery is located in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic Old City District. With a signature museum style exhibition program and collaborations with professional curators, Stanek Gallery has become a pre-eminent force in Philadelphia’s art landscape. Dedicated to creating an engaging forum where art can be seen, shared and discussed, Stanek Gallery displays a unique collection of representational and abstract, figurative and conceptual work of exceptional craftsmanship in a wide range of styles, techniques and subject matter.

For more information, visit https://www.stanekgallery.com
Instagram: @stanekgallery
Facebook: Stanek Gallery

Media Contact:
Elizabeth McClafferty, Assistant Manager
[email protected]
215.908.3277