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(re)Focus 2024

Fortitude at 50: A Resilient Five Decades at Gross McCleaf Gallery

Curated by Morgan Hobbs & Elizabeth Johnson

January 17 - March 9, 2024

Selected Works Thumbnails
Martha Armstrong, Ben Franklin Bridge, Roof Patterns, Philadelphia, c. 1982  52" x 62"   Oil On Canvas

Martha Armstrong, Ben Franklin Bridge, Roof Patterns, Philadelphia, c. 1982

52" x 62" 

Oil On Canvas

Inquire
Martha Armstrong, Late August 28" x 36"  Oil On Linen

Martha Armstrong, Late August, 2023

28" x 36"

Oil On Linen

Inquire
Martha Armstrong, Ninth And Spring Garden, Late Afternoon, c. 1982  42" x 48"  Oil On Canvas

Martha Armstrong, Ninth And Spring Garden, Late Afternoon, c. 1982

42" x 48"

Oil On Canvas

Inquire
Jan Baltzell, Untitled  17.75" x 14.75"  Watercolor On Paper

Jan Baltzell, Untitled

17.75" x 14.75"

Watercolor On Paper

Inquire
Joan Becker, South Street 60" x 52"  Gouache On Board

Joan Becker, South Street

60" x 52"

Gouache On Board

Inquire
Elizabeth Geiger, Orange And Blue Still Life With Sculpture  40" x 40"  Oil On Linen

Elizabeth Geiger, Orange And Blue Still Life With Sculpture

40" x 40"

Oil On Linen

Inquire
Eileen Goodman, Blossom  8.5" x 14.5"  Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Eileen Goodman, Blossom

8.5" x 14.5"

Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Inquire
Eileen Goodman, Rose With Bud  16.5" x 12"  Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Eileen Goodman, Rose With Bud

16.5" x 12"

Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Inquire
Penelope Harris, Beauty And The Beast  40" x 60"  Gouache

Penelope Harris, Beauty And The Beast

40" x 60"

Gouache

Inquire
Elizabeth Johnson, Ngaio Marsh 24" x 30"  Oil On Canvas

Elizabeth Johnson, Ngaio Marsh

24" x 30"

Oil On Canvas

 

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Harvest Moon 10" x 10"  Acrylic And Thread On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Harvest Moon

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Thread On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Union Canal Tunnel  9" x 12"   Gouache On Paper

Heidi Leitzke, Union Canal Tunnel

9" x 12" 

Gouache On Paper

Inquire
Bertha Leonard, From Sea To Shining Sea II, 1997 38" x 42"  Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, From Sea To Shining Sea II, 1997

38" x 42"

Oil On Board

Inquire
Bertha Leonard, September - From The Calendar, The Bath 1986  20" x 16"  Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, September - From The Calendar, The Bath, 1986

20" x 16"

Oil On Board

Inquire
Bertha Leonard, Tea On The Boardwalk, 1986  16" x 20"  Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, Tea On The Boardwalk, 1986

16" x 20"

Oil On Board

Inquire
Ying LI, Pink As The Peonies 36" x 24"  Oil On Linen

Ying Li, Pink As The Peonies

36" x 24"

Oil On Linen

Inquire
Ying Li, Red Tulip #3  20" x 16"  Oil On Linen

Ying Li, Red Tulip #3

20" x 16"

Oil On Linen

Inquire
Ann Lofquist, Bray I 7.75" x 16.75"  Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Bray I

7.75" x 16.75"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow I  6.75" x 15.5"  Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow I

6.75" x 15.5"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow II  7.75" x 16.75"  Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow II (HOLD)

7.75" x 16.75"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Chelsey Luster, Johanna and Jahné 60" x 48"  Oil, Acrylic And Marker On Canvas

Chelsey Luster, Johanna and Jahné

60" x 48"

Oil, Acrylic And Marker On Canvas

Inquire
Chelsey Luster, Stef 47" x 23.5"  Oil On Panel

Chelsey Luster, Stef

47" x 23.5"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Bethann Parker, Spray Rope For Winter Hope 15" x 10"  Oil And Marble On Panel

Bethann Parker, Spray Rope For Winter Hope

15" x 10"

Oil And Marble On Panel

Inquire
Bethann Parker, Winter On The Farm  12" x 16"  Oil On Panel

Bethann Parker, Winter On The Farm

12" x 16"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Nicole Parker, Give Me A Place To Be  12" x 12"  Oil On Mounted Linen

Nicole Parker, Give Me A Place To Be

12" x 12"

Oil On Mounted Linen

Inquire
Jane Piper, Untitled 1  18.5" x 17"  Oil Pastel On Paper

Jane Piper, Untitled 1

18.5" x 17"

Oil Pastel On Paper

Inquire
Jane Piper, Untitled 2  17.75" x 13.75"  Oil Pastel On Paper

Jane Piper, Untitled 2

17.75" x 13.75"

Oil Pastel On Paper

Inquire
Kimi Pryor, As Above So Below  8" x 10"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, As Above So Below

8" x 10"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Kimi Pryor, Origin Story 9" x 12"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, Origin Story

9" x 12"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Kimi Pryor, The Trial 8" x 10"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, The Trial (SOLD)

8" x 10"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Kimi Pryor, Vestige  10" x 8"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, Vestige

10" x 8"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Mary Putman, Ethelyn's Garden, 1985  24" x 36"  Acrylic On Panel

Mary Putman, Ethelyn's Garden, 1985

24" x 36"

Acrylic On Panel

 

Inquire
Celia Reisman, Winter Water Street  36" x 48"  Oil On Canvas

Celia Reisman, Winter Water Street

36" x 48"

Oil On Canvas

Inquire
Dreaming Of One Day  10" x 10"  Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Val Rossman, Dreaming Of One Day

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Inquire
Path To Delivery  10" x 10"  Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Val Rossman, Path To Delivery

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Inquire
Weather Changes  10" x 10"  Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Val Rossman, Weather Changes

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Inquire
Mickayel Thurin, I Matter, I am 10" x 8"  Mixed Media

Mickayel Thurin, I Matter, I Am

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

Inquire
Mickayel Thurin, MBP At 5 Years 24.5" x 24"  Acrylic

Mickayel Thurin, MBP At 5 Years

24.5" x 24"

Acrylic

Inquire
Mickayel Thurin, The Myth 24" x 18"  Mixed Media

Mickayel Thurin, The Myth

24" x 18"

Mixed Media

Inquire
Leigh Werrell, Crepe Cart 22" x 20"  Oil On Panel

Leigh Werrell, Crepe Cart

22" x 20"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Leigh Werrell, Wine Bar 19" x 14.5"  Oil On Panel

Leigh Werrell, Wine Bar

19" x 14.5"

Oil On Panel

Inquire
Lauren Whearty, Colleen's Dahlias And Gladiolus 16" x 11"  Acrylic On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Colleen's Dahlias And Gladiolus

16" x 11"

Acrylic On Canvas

Inquire
Lauren Whearty, Kathleen's Summer Flowers  16″ x 11″  Acrylic On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Kathleen's Summer Flowers

16″ x 11″

Acrylic On Canvas

Inquire
Lauren Whearty, Still Life With Matisse And Flowers  48" x 36"  Oil On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Still Life With Matisse And Flowers

48" x 36"

Oil On Canvas

Inquire
Martha Armstrong, Ben Franklin Bridge, Roof Patterns, Philadelphia, c. 1982  52" x 62"   Oil On Canvas

Martha Armstrong, Ben Franklin Bridge, Roof Patterns, Philadelphia, c. 1982

52" x 62" 

Oil On Canvas

Martha Armstrong, Late August 28" x 36"  Oil On Linen

Martha Armstrong, Late August, 2023

28" x 36"

Oil On Linen

Martha Armstrong, Ninth And Spring Garden, Late Afternoon, c. 1982  42" x 48"  Oil On Canvas

Martha Armstrong, Ninth And Spring Garden, Late Afternoon, c. 1982

42" x 48"

Oil On Canvas

Jan Baltzell, Untitled  17.75" x 14.75"  Watercolor On Paper

Jan Baltzell, Untitled

17.75" x 14.75"

Watercolor On Paper

Joan Becker, South Street 60" x 52"  Gouache On Board

Joan Becker, South Street

60" x 52"

Gouache On Board

Elizabeth Geiger, Orange And Blue Still Life With Sculpture  40" x 40"  Oil On Linen

Elizabeth Geiger, Orange And Blue Still Life With Sculpture

40" x 40"

Oil On Linen

Eileen Goodman, Blossom  8.5" x 14.5"  Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Eileen Goodman, Blossom

8.5" x 14.5"

Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Eileen Goodman, Rose With Bud  16.5" x 12"  Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Eileen Goodman, Rose With Bud

16.5" x 12"

Watercolor On D'Arches Paper

Penelope Harris, Beauty And The Beast  40" x 60"  Gouache

Penelope Harris, Beauty And The Beast

40" x 60"

Gouache

Elizabeth Johnson, Ngaio Marsh 24" x 30"  Oil On Canvas

Elizabeth Johnson, Ngaio Marsh

24" x 30"

Oil On Canvas

 

Heidi Leitzke, Harvest Moon 10" x 10"  Acrylic And Thread On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Harvest Moon

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Thread On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Union Canal Tunnel  9" x 12"   Gouache On Paper

Heidi Leitzke, Union Canal Tunnel

9" x 12" 

Gouache On Paper

Bertha Leonard, From Sea To Shining Sea II, 1997 38" x 42"  Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, From Sea To Shining Sea II, 1997

38" x 42"

Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, September - From The Calendar, The Bath 1986  20" x 16"  Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, September - From The Calendar, The Bath, 1986

20" x 16"

Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, Tea On The Boardwalk, 1986  16" x 20"  Oil On Board

Bertha Leonard, Tea On The Boardwalk, 1986

16" x 20"

Oil On Board

Ying LI, Pink As The Peonies 36" x 24"  Oil On Linen

Ying Li, Pink As The Peonies

36" x 24"

Oil On Linen

Ying Li, Red Tulip #3  20" x 16"  Oil On Linen

Ying Li, Red Tulip #3

20" x 16"

Oil On Linen

Ann Lofquist, Bray I 7.75" x 16.75"  Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Bray I

7.75" x 16.75"

Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow I  6.75" x 15.5"  Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow I

6.75" x 15.5"

Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow II  7.75" x 16.75"  Oil On Panel

Ann Lofquist, Swoope Snow II (HOLD)

7.75" x 16.75"

Oil On Panel

Chelsey Luster, Johanna and Jahné 60" x 48"  Oil, Acrylic And Marker On Canvas

Chelsey Luster, Johanna and Jahné

60" x 48"

Oil, Acrylic And Marker On Canvas

Chelsey Luster, Stef 47" x 23.5"  Oil On Panel

Chelsey Luster, Stef

47" x 23.5"

Oil On Panel

Bethann Parker, Spray Rope For Winter Hope 15" x 10"  Oil And Marble On Panel

Bethann Parker, Spray Rope For Winter Hope

15" x 10"

Oil And Marble On Panel

Bethann Parker, Winter On The Farm  12" x 16"  Oil On Panel

Bethann Parker, Winter On The Farm

12" x 16"

Oil On Panel

Nicole Parker, Give Me A Place To Be  12" x 12"  Oil On Mounted Linen

Nicole Parker, Give Me A Place To Be

12" x 12"

Oil On Mounted Linen

Jane Piper, Untitled 1  18.5" x 17"  Oil Pastel On Paper

Jane Piper, Untitled 1

18.5" x 17"

Oil Pastel On Paper

Jane Piper, Untitled 2  17.75" x 13.75"  Oil Pastel On Paper

Jane Piper, Untitled 2

17.75" x 13.75"

Oil Pastel On Paper

Kimi Pryor, As Above So Below  8" x 10"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, As Above So Below

8" x 10"

Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, Origin Story 9" x 12"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, Origin Story

9" x 12"

Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, The Trial 8" x 10"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, The Trial (SOLD)

8" x 10"

Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, Vestige  10" x 8"  Oil On Panel

Kimi Pryor, Vestige

10" x 8"

Oil On Panel

Mary Putman, Ethelyn's Garden, 1985  24" x 36"  Acrylic On Panel

Mary Putman, Ethelyn's Garden, 1985

24" x 36"

Acrylic On Panel

 

Celia Reisman, Winter Water Street  36" x 48"  Oil On Canvas

Celia Reisman, Winter Water Street

36" x 48"

Oil On Canvas

Dreaming Of One Day  10" x 10"  Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Val Rossman, Dreaming Of One Day

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Path To Delivery  10" x 10"  Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Val Rossman, Path To Delivery

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Weather Changes  10" x 10"  Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Val Rossman, Weather Changes

10" x 10"

Acrylic And Crayon On Panel

Mickayel Thurin, I Matter, I am 10" x 8"  Mixed Media

Mickayel Thurin, I Matter, I Am

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

Mickayel Thurin, MBP At 5 Years 24.5" x 24"  Acrylic

Mickayel Thurin, MBP At 5 Years

24.5" x 24"

Acrylic

Mickayel Thurin, The Myth 24" x 18"  Mixed Media

Mickayel Thurin, The Myth

24" x 18"

Mixed Media

Leigh Werrell, Crepe Cart 22" x 20"  Oil On Panel

Leigh Werrell, Crepe Cart

22" x 20"

Oil On Panel

Leigh Werrell, Wine Bar 19" x 14.5"  Oil On Panel

Leigh Werrell, Wine Bar

19" x 14.5"

Oil On Panel

Lauren Whearty, Colleen's Dahlias And Gladiolus 16" x 11"  Acrylic On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Colleen's Dahlias And Gladiolus

16" x 11"

Acrylic On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Kathleen's Summer Flowers  16″ x 11″  Acrylic On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Kathleen's Summer Flowers

16″ x 11″

Acrylic On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Still Life With Matisse And Flowers  48" x 36"  Oil On Canvas

Lauren Whearty, Still Life With Matisse And Flowers

48" x 36"

Oil On Canvas

January 17 - March 9, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 10, 1 - 4 pm

Click Here to Read Interviews with Estelle Gross, Sharon Ewing, Martha Armstrong & Bill Scott

Martha Armstrong | Jan Baltzell | Joan Becker | Elizabeth Geiger
Eileen Goodman | Penelope Harris | Heidi Leitzke | Bertha Leonard
Ying Li | Ann Lofquist | Chelsey Luster | Bethann Parker
Nicole Parker | Jane Piper | Kimi Pryor | Mary Putman | Celia Reisman Val Rossman | Mickayel Thurin | Leigh Werrell | Lauren Whearty 

Curated by Morgan Hobbs & Elizabeth Johnson

(re)Focus 2024 - Fortitude at 50: A Resilient Five Decades at Gross McCleaf Gallery - Exhibitions - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Women have been the cornerstone of operations and exhibitions at Gross McCleaf since Estelle Shane Gross opened her gallery in 1970 on the second floor of 1713 Walnut Street. Over 50 years later, Gross McCleaf is commemorating its rich history during (re)Focus 2024, a citywide festival celebrating women-identified and BIPOC artists. 

 

Fortitude at 50: A Resilient Five Decades at Gross McCleaf Gallery features Martha Armstrong, Jan Baltzell, Joan Becker, Elizabeth Geiger, Eileen Goodman, Penelope Harris, Heidi Leitzke, Bertha Leonard, Ying Li, Ann Lofquist, Chelsey Luster, Bethann Parker, Nicole Parker, Jane Piper, Kimi Pryor, Mary Putman, Celia Reisman, Val Rossman, Mickayel Thurin, Leigh Werrell, and Lauren Whearty with self-portraits, dreamy narratives and formally complex still-life and landscape paintings. The works suggest a deep reflection of the self and a strong point of view conveyed through their distinct subjects and styles. The exhibition represents women artists in all stages of their careers who have helped shape the Gross McCleaf legacy and brand focus toward what Sharon Ewing, former owner and director, refers to as “painterly realism” – representation in painted form. 

In this context, the word “representation” can mean at least three things - the depiction of the physical world in art, the gallery-artist relationship, and the existence of a demographic group within the field. In this show, women artists represent in all meanings of the term. They are both seeing and being seen. Fortitude at 50: A Resilient Five Decades at Gross McCleaf Gallery poses (at least) two essential questions: After 50 years, do audiences still need to be led to see women artists? What does “representation” in the arts mean in 2024? Fortitude at 50 invites you to engage the legacy of women being represented at Gross McCleaf Gallery as you ponder what remains unresolved regarding feminism in the visual arts and beyond. 

 

 


In conjunction with the exhibition, pictures, documents, and memorabilia from the gallery’s archives will be on display.  Additionally, excerpts of recorded interviews from: Marina Pacini's 1989 interview with Estelle Gross for the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art; Sharon Ewing; longstanding exhibiting artist, Martha Armstrong; artist and former staff member, Bill Scott; current owner/director, Rebecca Segall, assistant director, Morgan Hobbs, and registrar, Emma Rose Cook, will be available. 

(re)Focus 2024 - Fortitude at 50: A Resilient Five Decades at Gross McCleaf Gallery - Exhibitions - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Gross McCleaf Gallery ~ 1713 Walnut Street, c.1970