33 Orchard in NYC Presents Work by PAFA MFA Graduates

On view June 9 - July 3 at 33 Orchard gallery in NYC
Opening reception: Friday, June 10, 6 - 8 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA (June 1, 2016) -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in conjunction with 33 Orchard gallery is pleased to present The Persistence of Memory, an exhibition of work by 10 graduating MFA students from PAFA’s class of 2016.

The Persistence of Memory, on view June 9 - July 3 at 33 Orchard (33B Orchard Street, New York City), features painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture, and video by Dee Glazer, Travis Grant, Alex Hansen, Abigail Irwin, Jennifer Jones, Kenneth Nicholson, David Pettengill, Kimi Pryor, Juan Pablo Ruiz, and Laura Thistle.

Juried by Jane Kim, who visited over 20 students’ studios at PAFA to choose the work on view, the exhibition exemplifies the broad range of artistic interests and pursuits that are hallmarks of the PAFA MFA program.

“While the work in the exhibition shares little in regards to style, the artists appear to be driven by common preoccupations that are reflected in the show’s title. Much of the work has the quality of things not present or not directly at hand. There is sense of conjuring or reaching out for that which is lost or not readily contained. There exists a strong persistence of search if not of memory,” says Clint Jukkala, Dean of the School of Fine Arts at PAFA.

These 10 emerging artists, having just shared an intensive two-year experience in PAFA’s MFA program, both challenged and supported one another, Jukkala says. They came from different places and different points of view and grew and developed together.

Jukkala notes, “33 Orchard, with its collaborative model of shared space and shared experience is an ideal venue for these artists to exhibit as they are leaving school. It’s a reminder that the collective spirit they shared in graduate school is just the beginning.”

A catalog with an essay by Clint Jukkala accompanies the exhibition.

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About PAFA
Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is America's first school of fine arts and museum. A recipient of the 2005 National Medal of Arts, PAFA is a recognized leader in fine arts education with a world-class permanent collection of American art.
 
About 33 Orchard
Since opening in January 2014, 33 Orchard has served as an alternative to the traditional commercial gallery, which involves sharing resources and forming working relationships within the art community.