Erin Elman MA’87, MFA’08, S’90-24
Juror, WE ARE FAMILY; Founding Dean, University of the Arts School of Graduate & Professional Studies (among other titles)
Those of us lucky enough to have been part of University of the Arts or to have studied visual arts there at some point over its storied 150-year history know that there were not all that many through-lines in our shared experience. The institution had many different names over the years. It was founded in 1876 as the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Arts, later becoming the Philadelphia College of Art and, following a 1987 merger with the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts until its sad and abrupt closure, the University of the Arts. We studied in different buildings and our majors shifted and changed over the decades. However, in the 30+ years that I had the honor to be part of UArts, I observed several consistencies. UArts attracted independent thinkers, creatives of all types – but who had an independent streak about them – that was true for faculty, staff and students as well. There was no whining or entitlement at UArts, we rolled up our sleeves and made the work!
Another consistency was our favorite watering hole just around the corner – Dirty Franks which opened in 1933 and is currently co-owned by legendary UArts alum Jody Sweitzer, who has worked at Frank’s since 1992 and owned it for the past eight years. Frank’s, as we all called it, was the place where you would find UArts alum, students, faculty and staff of many ages and generations hunched over a table drinking a beer and discussing anything and everything from art and poetry to music, sports, or world politics. It was the place we all went to both escape from the world and also to solve the world’s problem. So, I could think of no place better than the Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s to launch an exhibition of visual artworks from the alumni, staff, and faculty of our beloved institution as we continue to try to make sense of its closure. The work in the show, like our community, is eclectic and far-ranging including work from those who passed through the institution over many decades The show includes two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and video work and is serious and ironic, traditional and innovative, and everything in between.
I encourage anyone who ever spent time, in any capacity, at UArts to come by Dirty Franks to grab a beer, see the great work, maybe even purchase a piece, and wax nostalgic about the pace we didn’t even realize we loved so much until it was gone.
NOTA BENE TO ONLINE BUYERS: While we requisition in-person purchases on an almost-daily basis, it is still possible that you may purchase something on this website that may have already sold in our Gallery. We will make every effort to avoid this circumstance.
