A Question of Scale: Paintings by Three Muralists – Jon Laidacker, Charles Newman and Thomas Walton

The PAFA Alumni Gallery presents an exhibition of studio work by three distinguished alumni and mural artists in A Question of Scale: Paintings by Three Muralists – Jon Laidacker, Charles Newman and Thomas Walton.

A Question of Scale, held in conjunction with PAFA’s special exhibition, Beyond the Paint: Philadelphia’s Mural Arts, highlights the significance of mural-making on the artists’ creative practices. Included are landscapes, portraits and still lifes, as well as digital paintings and video.

The three artists have collaborated on various murals throughout Philadelphia, including the 85,000-square foot How Philly Moves (2011) project at Philadelphia International Airport – the Mural Arts Program’s most ambitious project to date. The large-scale mural transforms the airport’s parking garage into a welcoming and vibrant gateway to the region for travelers. Jon Laidacker led the team of participating muralists, which included Tom Walton and Charles Newman, as well as volunteers from Germantown.

Of his work, Laidacker has said: “The technique and process are really important to me when I am working on a project because I try to think of these large-scale projects so much as a graphic design or a produced piece of art. Anytime I am working on the various aspects of a mural, I harken back to color theory and things that we learned in our seminar classes (at PAFA). So just trying to put that more intense conceptual thought into my work is probably how my PAFA experience influenced me the most.”

Opening reception: Friday, January 31, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Gallery talk: Sunday, February 23, 12 p.m.