CURATOR/ARTISTS TALKS

THIS SATURDAY, MAY 3OTH!

One hour sessions at 11am and 1pm

Above: Robert Reinhardt engaging with visitors on Grand Opening Day during Curator/Artists Talks.

If you wish to return or see this wonderful fine art exhibition please stop in the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center from Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm. Admission is free to all.

Robert Reinhardt

With A Little Help From My Friends #1

Mono-print collage, 12”x12”

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania proclaims people ‘have the right to clean air and water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment.’ WE THE PEOPLE: Preserve Our Right to Clean Water, encapsulates these ideas and invites visitors to engage in thought and discussion sparked by a series of events at the Fairmount Water Works celebrating “The Rights and Ways of Water,” including two multi-media art exhibitions by twenty local artists, dance performances by The Naked Stark, and interactive displays throughout the National Historic Landmark site set below the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Schuylkill River.



We invite visitors to register for these select Saturday Talks to join Thom Duffy, Curator and a few of the participating artists of this special fine art exhibition. The Talk sessions center on the exhibition theme and the artists share personal insights relating to the theme and their work. Sessions are lively engagements with Curator, Artists and all the visitors. Please Join Us!  

The exhibition, is curated by Thom Duffy under the direction of Karen Young, FWWIC Director, and brought to you in part by the Fund for the Water Works and the Edward F. Grusheski Water Literacy Foundation.

Please Join Us!

Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center

640 Water Works Drive,Philadelphia PA, 19130

UPCOMING TALKS

June 13th and 27th, July 11th and 18th & CLOSING DAY: Augusts 1st 

SELECTED ARTISTS

Keith Breitfeller , *Emily Brown, Brian David Dennis, Thom Duffy, **Benjamin Passione, Rinal Parikh , Amie Potsic , Ana Vizcarra Rankin, Robert Reinhardt and Michael Williamson.

COURTESY OF GALLERIES

*Avery Galleries and **Gross McCleaf Gallery

RUN OF SHOW

Saturday, May 16th through Saturday, August 1st

VISITOR HOURS & ADMISSION

Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm

Admission is FREE to all visitors

Thom Duffy

Crimes to the Environment, 2026, Acrylic on Arches watercolor paper, 28” x 36”

Benjamin Passione

David Panama, Oil on canvas, 44” x 50”

Rinal Parikh

SOLD

Reflection, 2023, Mixed media on hardboard, 12” x 12”

Rinal Parikh - Biography

I am a biochemist by education and an artist by profession. Born and brought up in India, my work has been highly influenced by Indian folk art. I learned to understand and appreciate different Indian folk arts through my travels around the country. Each state has its own folk art style which has its own vocabulary, color palette, mediums, and motifs, which was quite mesmerizing to me. However, the common thread in all of these different Indian folk arts was most of the artists were women and their subjects were expressions of civilization, the environment they were surrounded in, their daily routine, and their beliefs. Even though I admire each and every style of Indian folk art; Madhubani, Kalamkari, and Warli styles have captured my attention. Madhubani style is known for its preliminary imagery, most dynamic color palette, and not leaving any negative spaces. The empty spaces in the painting are filled with flowers, leaves, or eye-catching geometric shapes. Kalamkari style is one of the most decorative forms of Indian folk. It’s ornamental nature and constrained color palette make it most suitable for Indian textiles. Whereas, Warli style is one of the most interesting styles of Indian folk art in my opinion. It is the storytelling style of painting. It is one of the oldest forms of Indian folk art and has the most basic vocabulary: circles and triangles. It is a mural art and done to ornate the outside walls of mud houses. The paintings are done with two colors, white or black for the characters and brown color from the mud plaster. I think the vibrancy of the painting comes out through the stories it portrays and not through the colors. Over the period of time, I have adapted the essence of each style and woven them into my painting to create my own signature style. However, whichever style I am in the mood to portray my subject, the aim is to preserve the beauty of the subject. The focus is always to create balance and harmony within the colors and graphics, create delicate and intricate surroundings, and achieve the finest details using super fine 000 brushes.

Rinal Parikh contiuned

I am humbled and honored to be recognized by several prestigious art organizations like The Philadelphia Sketch Club and The Art Association of Harrisburg for my work. My artwork has been acquired by several educational institutes throughout the USA and by avid art collectors worldwide.

I am an art education enthusiast. When I am not creating new work in my studio, I enjoy teaching art to young kids and adults from my studio, local school, and art organizations. I serve on the board of many local art organizations like Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show.

Rinal Parikh

Heron, 2015, Mixed media on handmade paper, 36” x 28”

Rinal Parikh

Diving Duck, 2022

Mixed media on handmade paper, 40” x 32”

Ana Vizcarra Rankin

As on Land, So at Sea, 2026

Mixed media on birch panel, 36” x 36”

Keith R. Breitfeller

Push Pull C, 2022, Oil on canvas, 50” x 50"

Enjoy your outdoor activities and stay healthy and limber with regularly scheduled massage sessions. Visit TDMT website for modalities, hours, rates and contact information and schedule your session soon.