Anna Kell, assistant professor of art at Bucknell University, will host a workshop and “Junk Walk” through downtown Lewisburg Monday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. The public program will begin at The Downtown Art Gallery located at 416 Market St. in Lewisburg.
The Junk Walk is designed to connect audience members to the process of repurposing found items into art objects. Art history has documented several artists who have adopted variations of this process; Kell builds on these practices contemporarily.
“For me, found objects have a profound sense of history and specificity which relate to the values and visual culture of a particular place” Kell said.
“On the Junk Walk, we will try to discover objects and phenomena that are truly Lewisburgian in character and we will reconfigure these objects into sculptural arrangements that express our unique experiences in this place.”
Participants are invited to explore the community and The Street of Shoppes, a local second-hand store, for items that can be repurposed.
Kell will lead the walk relating the experience to her own art making practice, concluding at the Downtown Art Gallery. She will teach a collective workshop incorporating each object into a collaborative sculpture. The completed piece will be on display in the window of the gallery through March 22.
This public program is a connection to Kell’s exhibition at the Downtown Art Gallery, “Pentimenti.” The title refers to a group of paintings in which the artist has preserved and embellished existing stains and discoloration on found, discarded mattress fabrics. The “life” of each found object turns a corner as the artist re-frames a piece’s accidental marks as the main imagery in her work. Her guided walk presents the opportunity for the audience to work directly with the artist to gain perspective and methodology behind her practice and process.
Kell is looking forward to this opportunity to engage with the community and students in such a unique way. She says, “I expect the Junk Walk to be a fun time — a chance to meet each other and to explore Lewisburg — and art — in a new and unexpected way.”
In the event of rain, participants should meet at the Downtown Art Gallery as planned at 1 p.m. However, the walk through Lewisburg will be abbreviated to visit just The Street of Shoppes. Immediately following, the group will return to the gallery for a workshop.
An RSVP to Pam Campanaro, Gallery Associate <pam.campanaro@bucknell.edu> is appreciated to ensure appropriate amount of supplies, but not required for participation. This event is free and open to the public.