Exhibition and Tribute to Beloved Artist Polly Wood

Thursday, June 6, 2019 9:30 AM
Thursday, June 6, 2019 10:00 AM

THE BAUM SCHOOL OF ART PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION AND TRIBUTE TO BELOVED ARTIST POLLY WOOD

A Tribute to Polly Wood
June 6–July 3, 2019
The David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries
Memorial Reception: Third Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 6:00pm–8:00pm
Diamond Gallery Sponsors: Stoudt Associates, LLC

GALLERY HOURS: Mon–Thu: 9:00am–9:00pm; Fri & Sat: 9:00am–3:00pm; Sun: Closed
BEGINNING JUNE 11: Mon–Fri: 9:00am–5:00pm; Sat–Sun: CLOSED
MEMORIAL RECEPTION: THIRD THURSDAY, JUNE 20 from 6:00pm-8:00pm

ALLENTOWN, PA– The Baum School of Art presents A Tribute to Polly Wood (1946–2016), a memorial exhibition for this beloved artist. This exhibition will feature artwork by the late Polly Wood and serve as a memorial to her life and her art spearheaded by her son, Jonas. A native of Allentown, Polly was a prolific artist in the Lehigh Valley and studied under the renowned illustrator, Mario Cooper in New York City among others. She was a long-time friend of The Baum School of Art and served on the Board of Trustees in the 1980s. We are pleased to present her colorful and creatively playful paintings and mixed media works including pieces from her Ordinary Women and Space Guitars series.

Her work has been exhibited in several solo and many group shows nationally and in Nice, France. She was a board member of The Lehigh Art Alliance, Open Space Gallery, and The Baum School of Art and was a member of the Arts Advisory Committees of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Muhlenberg College. Her artwork can be found in numerous collections including the Berman Museum at Ursinus College, The Philip and Murial Berman Collection, Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, the Wood Company, and Community Music School in Allentown, PA.

In her personal life she exhibited all the best qualities. She was always smiling, a truly kind soul. Her many values included charity, humility, philanthropy, and last but not least kindness and grace. About her work, Polly said, “I have always viewed my work as important, not just as a reflection of personal experiences, but on a larger collective scale that speaks to all. After all, the human experience is universal. My work reflects life on a more emotional plane and it is my intent to express these emotions in a visual form.”

She was an ardent advocate for the arts. Polly stated, “First and foremost let me say it is important that you support the Arts. It is after all our culture that defines us not only to history but in our lifetime. Art is an extreme discipline when you devote your life to it. And Fine Art is not happenstance! It is executed by one who has mastered drawing, composition and color.”

Join us on Third Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 6:00–8:00pm for the memorial reception and enjoy wine, beverages, and light fare. All exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.

The Baum School of Art is a community visual arts school dedicated to enriching lives through arts education. We are a school committed to providing instruction, guidance, and encouragement for children, teens, and adults who wish to reach their full potential through the study of the visual arts. The school celebrates diversity and welcomes all community members, regardless of gender, social status, race, or beliefs. In 2017–2018, The Baum School of Art served over 5,100 students through our tuition and community outreach programs both on-site and off-site. The school holds approximately 350 classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and metalsmithing, fashion design and construction, photography, graphic design, illustration and more. In addition to its educational programs, The Baum School of Art’s David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries hold over 12 gallery exhibitions a year and feature regional, national and international artists, as well as student work and several juried exhibitions.