A new exhibit at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy will showcase works that highlight the natural splendor of the Wissahickon Valley in celebration of the group whose mission has been to preserve the Philadelphia area habitat for 100 years.
“Visions of the Wissahickon: Art Inspired by the Wissahickon Valley” opens Thurs., Sept. 5, at the school’s Barbara Crawford Gallery and is one of a series of events this year celebrating the centennial of Friends of the Wissahickon. The group was organized in 1924 to help restore the watershed after a storm destroyed more than 200 trees. An opening reception for the exhibit will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Sept. 5.
Curated by Judy McCabe Jarvis, a graduate of the school and a passionate advocate for the local landscape, the exhibition aims to both celebrate and preserve the beauty of the Wissahickon Valley. Jarvis, reflecting on the centennial of the Friends of the Wissahickon, has assembled a collection that includes sculpture, paintings, photographs, and mixed media pieces. Each work captures the unique essence of the valley’s rugged topography, historic structures, and picturesque views.
Jarvis was inspired by her deep connection to the Wissahickon Valley and a speech by the Rev. Russell Conwell, the founder and first president of Temple University. “In the speech, Conwell exhorted his listeners to find fame and fortune where they were, rather than look far afield, famously concluding his speech, ‘Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig.’
“As I reflected on his words in recent years,” Jarvis continued. “I saw them in a new light. I had searched the world for great scenes to paint, largely ignoring the beauty in my (and SCH’s!) own backyard — the Wissahickon Valley. I realized that Wissahickon Valley Park‘s 1,800 acres and 50 miles of trails were her diamonds.”
The exhibit features contributions from over a dozen artists, including notable Springside and CHA alumni, as well as other local and regional talents. Among the featured artists are Pamela Bussey, Maggie Hodges, and Patricia Ingersoll, former students at Springside, and Joe Castle and Cort Morgan, who attended Chestnut Hill Academy. Also contributing are local artists including Radhika Srinivas, Douglas Martenson, and Mary Jarvis. The school will host gallery talks, storytelling, and interactive workshops in conjunction with the exhibit.
“Visions of the Wissahickon” also will play a pivotal role in engaging students with their local environment. Through hands-on community service, creative projects, and academic integration, students will explore the connections between their studies and the natural world around them. This initiative is designed to cultivate a lasting commitment to conservation and artistic expression.
Megan Monaghan, director of the arts at SCH, emphasizes the educational and inspirational goals of the exhibition. “We hope this show encourages a new generation of artists and conservationists by showing the Wissahickon through the eyes of accomplished artists,” she said.
“Visions of the Wissahickon” will be on display through Dec. 3. at the Barbara Crawford Gallery at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. The school is at 500 W. Willow Grove Ave.
