Philly Food Scene Inspires Student Artwork
This weekend Metropolitan Gallery 250 will showcase artwork from students in the Fresh Artists’ “Palates to Palettes” program. Designed by Philadelphia art teacher Deva Watson, the program highlights fine art and culinary art, allowing Wissahickon Charter School and Meredith Elementary School students to experience both first hand.
The third annual showcase will feature paintings inspired by Serpico, Vernick, La Peg and Granite Hill. Chefs Peter Serpico, Greg Vernick, Peter Woolsey and Gerald Drummond met with the students, served up their signature dishes, and spoke with the students about culinary style and their careers in the industry. Each chef then presented a still life of their food and food photographers Jason Varney, Neal Santos, and Michael Persico, captured the meals, giving the students something to reference for their paintings.
Paintings will be showcased all weekend in the Metropolitan Gallery 250 starting Friday at 11 am with a reception to kick things off at 6 pm. On Friday June 5th from 1:00 to 4:00 and Saturday from 2:00 to 5:00, the artists themselves will be at the gallery to discuss their work.
The Fresh Artists program was born in response to massive budget cuts in arts funding, and since 2008 it has provided more than $500,000 in art supplies and programs to public schools in Philadelphia, New York, Denver and Santa Fe.
