Esther Klein Gallery Reopens with With Whom We Walk This Earth
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (September 14, 2020) – Following an eight-month pause in exhibits, the University City Science Center’s Esther Klein Gallery is celebrating its reopening with a solo exhibit by Massachusetts-based artist, Dena Haden. With Whom We Walk This Earth opens on September 17th with gallery access between 5-7:30 p.m. and outdoor refreshments for guests. An artist talk and virtual gallery tour will also be held at Venture Café Philadelphia on September 24th from 5-6 p.m.
Haden’s work explores the ebb and flow of life cycles coming into form; living, ever-changing and malleable, and the residue they leave in passing. She uses materials such as kombucha culture, alpaca fiber, found wood and plant materials to explore the human relationship to natural ecosystems, and therefore puts an emphasis on sustainable and locally sourced materials. The color in Haden’s work is naturally dyed from plants like marigold, calendula, elderberry, madder and peas.
For this exhibition she is utilizing kombucha culture otherwise known as S.C.O.B.Y. (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) which she grows in her studio in large tubs, and harvests to create a sculptural medium. Using the kombucha culture provides a way to create forms within her work that remain “alive”.
With Whom We Walk This Earth
September 17 — November 28, 2020
Opening Event:
Thursday, September 17, 5:00 — 7:30 p.m.
Face masks and temperature checks required
5 visitor-maximum per tour
Outdoor refreshments for guests, rain location is the Quorum Lounge at 3675 Market Street
Virtual Gallery Tour & Artist Talk at Venture Cafe:
Thursday, September 24, 5:00 — 6:00 p.m.
venturecafephiladelphia.org
Physical Gallery Hours:
Free of charge
Admission by appointment (please contact ekg@sciencecenter.org to schedule)
Face masks and temperature checks required
5 visitor-maximum per tour
Wheelchair access
Virtual Gallery Hours:
Thursdays 3:00 — 7:00 p.m.
appoint.ly/s/ekg/tour
Dena Haden is the Program Director for the Co-Creative Center, a space that offers members the ability to develop and create the work they are passionate about, while offering the opportunity for community growth and collaboration. Haden is also the co-founder and team member for SuperflatNB, a Mural Arts organization in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Haden has received many awards and grants for her work in the arts, including the South Coast Emerging Leader Award, Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and a Mass Cultural Council Grant.
In addition to her work in the arts community, she has an extensive exhibition record of her own, with numerous solo and group exhibitions in Boston, Philadelphia, and around the North East and has exhibited internationally in Europe and Japan.
About the Science Center
Located in the heart of uCity Square, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit that commercializes promising technology, cultivates talent and convenes people to inspire action. For over 50 years, the Science Center has supported startups, research, and economic development across the emerging technology sectors. As a result, Science Center-supported companies account for one out of every 100 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. By providing the right help at the right time, the Science Center is turning bright ideas into businesses and nurturing a workforce to support our 21st century economy. For more information, visit www.sciencecenter.org.
