The artwork of sixth grade students from Ridley Middle School in Ridley Park, PA is now on view in the Youth Art Gallery at Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) A-East Baggage Claim. The gallery is located in the public area of the airport for the students and their families to visit.
The Ridley students participated in a drawing workshop where they studied famous portraits in art history. Students selected famous figures to feature in their portraits, spotlighting and combining both Philadelphians and Black historical figures. Each student worked on a different section of the portraits. The portraits are composed of 35 separate tile drawings which are assembled into 5x7 grids. "What I love most about this portrait project is the collaborative aspect. As a community, 35 kids, who doubt that they can do something as complex as this, come together and accomplish a larger beautiful goal,” said Ridley Middle School teacher Kevin Scott.
“This project is a wonderful way to teach young artists the value of collaboration and to embrace the happy accidents that often arise during the creative process,” said PHL Curator of Exhibitions Helen Cahng.
Ridley’s Art Department studies the regional traditions of many places ranging from Italy to Japan. The students implemented their studies into their art by experimenting with a variety of techniques that are learned. These techniques include landscape painting, figure drawing, and ceramics.
“Other subject areas, such as math, social studies and science are explored through the use of grids, history discussions, and the study of light. Finally, we get to explore
and celebrate topics such as Black History, pop culture, and best of all, Philadelphia,” said Scott.
The exhibit is on view through November 2024.
The Exhibitions Program at PHL presents artwork and collections by Greater Philadelphia-area artists and art institutions to highlight the region’s cultural and historical vibrancy, making the airport program a unique opportunity for our creative communities. Over the years, the exhibitions have truly become part of the airport’s identity with more than 20 galleries, and more recently, the numerous visual arts activations, seen throughout all seven terminals.
