SUBMERGED: A Changing Global Climate Art Exhibition to Open on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd with Tours by Curator and Participating Artists

More people die each year due to flooding than from any other severe weather incident. It takes as little as 6-inches of moving water to knock down an average adult and just 12 inches of water to carry away a car! When a city is built along a river—and Philadelphia is wedged between two, the Schuylkill and the Delaware—floods are an inevitable occurrence, and awareness and preparedness are essential.

SUBMERGED: A Changing Global Climate is a special exhibition centered on flooding and global climate change. 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 historic and current extreme weather events impacting our region and the planet’s struggle for survival. 

Visitors will be visually immersed in more than 30 selected works by nineteen artists in varying styles, mediums and materials.

The photographs, prints, drawings and paintings are anchored by a site-specific altar installation by Anabelle Rodriguez titled Globenesia/(in)unda, inviting viewers toreflect on the causes and effects of global climate change.

The SUBMERGED exhibition was directed by Karen Young, executive director of the Fairmount Water Works andcurated by Thom Duffy of Thom Duffy Fine Art. Theexhibitionispresentedby support from theFundfortheWaterWorks and the Ed F. Grusheski Water Literacy Foundation.

The show opens on Saturday, April 22 and closes July 29, 2023.

The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is located at 640 Waterworks Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19130 and is open to the public Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

CONTRIBUTING GALLERIES/ARTISTS:

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

Informal tours by Curator Thom Duffy and several participating artists will be held at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the following Saturdays: April 22, May 6. May 20, June 3, June 17, July 15 and 22^nd. Please register for tours here.

Several free lectures will also be scheduled around the exhibition.

Save the date!

May 17, 2023 (6:30pm – 8pm)
Exploring Public Health Impacts of Climate Change on Water in Philadelphia Region Through Artistic Reflections
Enjoy an evening of conversation about art and public health with physician and public health expert Dr. Pouné Saberi and artist Dr. Pia De Girolamo. They will explore the physical and mental health impacts of climate change and how creative expressions offer solutions. Ellen Schultz, FWWIC Director of Strategic Partnership will facilitate a dialogue between our featured speakers, followed by interactive audience participation. Pre-register here