Reimagining Monoliths
a Solo exhibition by Mike Smaczylo, Kathryn Pannepacker Fellow
Exhibition Runs: September 21st - October 12th
Opening Reception: Sept 22nd, 4-7pm at DVAA
About the Exhibit:
Reimagining Monoliths by Michael Smaczylo is a collection of silk-screened posters that explore the educational and social landscapes of Philadelphia through visual representations of some the city’s aging schools and the contemporary and increasingly diverse neighborhoods in which they reside.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Smaczylo began this body of work by conducting arts-based research on the architectural history of some of Philadelphia’s public schools built during the Progressive Era of Education. Constructed between 1907 and 1935, these buildings which were designed in traditional western architectural styles represented a massive investment in public education and a gesture of hope for the future. However, a century later, these decaying and towering structures along with the aesthetics they embody now represent the government’s disinvestment in urban education and in the communities they are meant to serve.
With specific schools and locales in mind, Smaczylo expanded his research to explore everything from demographics and property values to the structures of school-funding and the long-fought battle for stewardship of Philadelphia’s public schools.
Utilizing photography, digital collage, illustration, printmaking, Smaczylo developed large-scale silk-screened poster prints that document 10 schools and their surrounding communities. From the scenery and color pallettes, to the signage and transportation, to the imposing monolithic school buildings which mark the landscapes of many Philadelphia neighborhoods, these multilayered prints serve as visual examinations of the impacts caused by historic urban infrastructure, administrative oversight and inequality in public school funding.
Reimagining Monoliths by Mike Smaczylo will be on view in Gallery 1 at Da Vinci Art Alliance beginning September 21st, and will be available as a video walkthrough shortly after. Join us for the opening reception of the exhibit on September 22nd, from 4-7pm.
About Artist:
Mike Smaczylo is an artist, educator, illustrator and designer from Philadelphia. He attended the University of the Arts, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Illustration and recently graduated with a Master of Education degree in Art Education at Tyler School of Art at Temple University.