SUMERGED: A Changing Global Climate
This special exhibition’s theme centered on flooding and Global Climate Change is directed by Karen Young for the Fairmount Water Works and curated by Thom Duffy.
The exhibition’s purpose is to bring focus to historic and current extreme weather events impacting our region and the Planet’s struggle for survival. The exhibition will be held in a space within the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center that has been completely submerged during recent and past floods.
The works selected for this exhibition speak to the history of the Fairmount Water Works and flooding of the Schuylkill River to open discussion of causes and effects of Global Climate Change.
Visitors will be visually submerged viewing more than 30 selected works by nineteen contemporary artists and two antique paintings. The contemporary and antique works vary in styles, mediums and materials. Photographs, prints, drawings, paintings are anchored by a site-specific installation altar piece inviting viewers to meditate and focus on the reality that is Global Climate Change.
Please visit our event calendar for more on exhibition tours and discussions.

Veil, 2017
Acrylic on canvas, 60” x 60”
Courtesy of Bridgette Mayer Gallery

On the Crevasse, 2014
archival pigment print, 15” x 15”
Courtesy of the artist

(in)unda 3: Undertow, 2023
Mixed media on PEVA shower liner,
Altar with shells, dried roses
and found objects, 60” x 60” x 40”
Courtesy of the artist
Independent Artists: Loren Berckey, Diane Burko, Rhea Cutillo, Andrea Krupp, Anabelle Rodríguez, Laura Storck and Maura Williams
Cerulean Arts Gallery: Pia De Girolamo, Richard Estell, Susan B. Howard, Frederic C. Kaplan, Michael Rossman and Jill A. Rupinski
Thom Duffy Fine Art: Thom Duffy and Andrés Tavárez
Bridgette Mayer Gallery: Arden Bendler Browning, Tim McFarlane and Rebecca Rutstein
Schwarz Gallery: Antique painting by Arthur Melzer
Hollis Taggart: Bill Scott
The exhibition is brought to you in part by
Fund for the Water Works and the Ed F. Grusheski Water Literacy Foundation