| OLIVET-COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Corner of 22nd Street & Mt. Vernon Streets - (Near the Philadelphia Museum of Art) Let's celebrate Jesus the King! |
| Artists-in-Residence Program |
Introducing the Artists in Residence...
For those who would consider themselves both serious visual artists and disciples of Jesus Christ, the contemporary
intersection of those identities has often been marked by ambiguity, confusion and disillusionment. A number of factors
influence this tension, including an overall lack of aesthetic sensitivity and wisdom in the Evangelical church, the late
development of a practical ‘theology of art’ among evangelicals, and the undiscerning adoption of the modernist,
romantic notion of the artist as solitary, extra-moral genius. For many, this tension leads to a perceived disconnection
between making serious works of art and following Jesus. Faced with the apparent schism, many talented artists view
detachment from the Body of Christ as the only avenue to serious artistic pursuits. This should not be so.
The artists in residence at Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church comprise a small, eccumenical group of artists who
work side by side, share ideas, engage in honest criticism, and discuss current issues in the arts-, while encouraging
the creative process in a deliberate effort to connect the artistic endeavor with Christian discipleship. The artists seek
to form a mutually beneficial and sustaining community, with the goal of artistic excellence and cultural redemption, in
obedience to a common calling to follow Jesus Christ. While remaining visually, conceptually, politically and
denominationally diverse, the artists in residence are unified in "being like-minded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and in purpose. (Phillipians 2:2)"
For those who would consider themselves both serious visual artists and disciples of Jesus Christ, the contemporary
intersection of those identities has often been marked by ambiguity, confusion and disillusionment. A number of factors
influence this tension, including an overall lack of aesthetic sensitivity and wisdom in the Evangelical church, the late
development of a practical ‘theology of art’ among evangelicals, and the undiscerning adoption of the modernist,
romantic notion of the artist as solitary, extra-moral genius. For many, this tension leads to a perceived disconnection
between making serious works of art and following Jesus. Faced with the apparent schism, many talented artists view
detachment from the Body of Christ as the only avenue to serious artistic pursuits. This should not be so.
The artists in residence at Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church comprise a small, eccumenical group of artists who
work side by side, share ideas, engage in honest criticism, and discuss current issues in the arts-, while encouraging
the creative process in a deliberate effort to connect the artistic endeavor with Christian discipleship. The artists seek
to form a mutually beneficial and sustaining community, with the goal of artistic excellence and cultural redemption, in
obedience to a common calling to follow Jesus Christ. While remaining visually, conceptually, politically and
denominationally diverse, the artists in residence are unified in "being like-minded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and in purpose. (Phillipians 2:2)"
| Matthew Graham Sepielli |
| Matthew is a painter who lives in the Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. He has shown his work locally and nationally. He is a member of the collective, Tiger Strikes Asteroid where he is currently the director. During the day he works for Tyler School of Art (where he received his degree) as an administrator. Outside of the studio his chief interests are reading, his car and any and all Trappist products. |
| Keith Crowley |
| Keith is a painter, and has been a resident artist at Olivet since 2004. In that time, the majority of the work produced has been driven by the relationships between land, time, and place. The foremost concern in this work is color. Keith, his wife Brooke, and his son Lucas live in Northwood. |
| Mark Dixon |
| Mark is a painter. He currently teaches art and film at Lakeside School located in Horsham, PA. He studied art at the University of Delaware and received his B.F.A. in painting in 2001. The subjects of Mark's work have mainly consisted of common everyday objects and portraits of his friends. He is currently exploring themes involving youth, old age, religion, humor and pop culture. Mark currently resides in Glenside, PA with his wife Kelly. |
| Rob Matthews |
| Rob makes graphite, ink and silverpoint drawings.His work is rooted in invented narratives that wrestle with spiritual issues that are poking at his heart and brain at the time.He was awarded the Pew Fellowship in the Arts in 2009 and shows his work in Philadelphia at Gallery Joe and in New York City at Daniel Cooney Fine Art.Rob and his wife, Tracy, live in the Northern Liberties section of town and by the time this bio is posted online they should have just welcomed their first son into the world. |
| Paul Timothy Gierschick II |
| Tim has been a member of the Church Studios since they began, and has since then been working primarily in painting and drawing, often on found surfaces. His work is focused primarily on shape, line and color relationships; adding and subtracting in a constant and meandering conversation with surfaces, objects, symbols and ideas, to produce an enjoyable work which continues that conversation with the world, helping those who encounter it to see newly. In 2000, Tim received a BA in Fine Arts from Messiah College in central PA, focusing on Printmaking. Nowadays, Tim finds inspiration from folk-art, nature, theology and philosophy, and literature. He and his wife Vicki just recently bought and moved into a house in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. |
David Johanson
David is a photographic artist and teacher. I currently teach part time in the
photography department at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in Lancaster,
PA, and I previously taught photography, basic design, and art history at North
Park University in Chicago. My wife Amy and I live in Spring House, Pennsylvania,
and I’m delighted to have begun a residency at the Church Studios in June 2010.
I completed an MFA in photography from Ohio University School of Art in 2002,
and a BA in sociology from Wheaton College in 1996. My interests include the
history of photography, Renaissance Italy, documentary film, architecture,
carpentry, home renovation, food, baseball, and gardening. My artwork can be
seen online at: www.DavidJohanson.com.
photography department at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in Lancaster,
PA, and I previously taught photography, basic design, and art history at North
Park University in Chicago. My wife Amy and I live in Spring House, Pennsylvania,
and I’m delighted to have begun a residency at the Church Studios in June 2010.
I completed an MFA in photography from Ohio University School of Art in 2002,
and a BA in sociology from Wheaton College in 1996. My interests include the
history of photography, Renaissance Italy, documentary film, architecture,
carpentry, home renovation, food, baseball, and gardening. My artwork can be
seen online at: www.DavidJohanson.com.
Ben Volta
For the past 2 years Ben has worked in school-artist residencies with the
Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership.
As an artist-educator I have specialized in exploration and conceptualizing the art
idea, and how each student may learn to incorporate his or her unique vision in
relation to the idea. The classroom becomes a stage where students create
unique multiples, which are then merged into a collective vision. The process of
clustering and/or framing a fractured group of unique individual parts is the
underlying thread passing though my work with young artists. Collective forms are
arranged, stacked, and drawn together, and then orchestrated architecturally to
build an artwork relevant within a specific context.
I am also an active member of the collective Tim Rollins and K.O.S. in New York
City. I am a graduate of The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the
University of Pennsylvania, where I studied visual arts, art history and art theory.
Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership.
As an artist-educator I have specialized in exploration and conceptualizing the art
idea, and how each student may learn to incorporate his or her unique vision in
relation to the idea. The classroom becomes a stage where students create
unique multiples, which are then merged into a collective vision. The process of
clustering and/or framing a fractured group of unique individual parts is the
underlying thread passing though my work with young artists. Collective forms are
arranged, stacked, and drawn together, and then orchestrated architecturally to
build an artwork relevant within a specific context.
I am also an active member of the collective Tim Rollins and K.O.S. in New York
City. I am a graduate of The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the
University of Pennsylvania, where I studied visual arts, art history and art theory.
Rubens Ghenov
Rubens was born in São Paulo, Brazil and came to the US in 1989. He has a BFA
in painting from Tyler School of Art and a MFA in painting form RISD. His works
deals with story telling, fact, fiction and self made folklore. He teaches Foundation
at Tyler School of Art and resides with his wife Lynne Ghenov, son Galliano and
daughter Mia currently in South Jersey.
in painting from Tyler School of Art and a MFA in painting form RISD. His works
deals with story telling, fact, fiction and self made folklore. He teaches Foundation
at Tyler School of Art and resides with his wife Lynne Ghenov, son Galliano and
daughter Mia currently in South Jersey.
| Spaces are granted on an invitation basis. Unfortunately, there are currently no vacancies but inquiries and other questions can be sent to thechurchstudios@gmail.com. Thank you! |
Karla Siegel Pankratz
Karla graduated from Tyler school of art in 2004. She has worked as a muralist
with the Mural Arts Program, participated as an artist in residence at an area
middle school over a three-year span, and currently teaches several courses at
the Main Line and Darlington Art Centers. She currently lives with her husband
Nate in the Fairmount area of Philadelphia. Karla’s paintings talk about light as a
metaphor as well as address its physical implications in art practices past and
present.
with the Mural Arts Program, participated as an artist in residence at an area
middle school over a three-year span, and currently teaches several courses at
the Main Line and Darlington Art Centers. She currently lives with her husband
Nate in the Fairmount area of Philadelphia. Karla’s paintings talk about light as a
metaphor as well as address its physical implications in art practices past and
present.
| Nathan Pankratz |
| Nate received his MFA from the University of the Arts in 2008, and his BFA from the Pennsylvania State University in 2004. In 2003 he studied painting in Rome, Italy, where he met Karla; today his wife of five years. Nate is a founding member of Tiger Strikes Asteroid, a Philadelphia-based artist collective. He is also a faculty member at the Haverford School. Nate currently works with paint and collage. His work examines our art history’s constant quest to represent the sublime. |
Caroline Santa
Caroline is an artist working mainly on paper. She received a B.F.A. in
printmaking from the University of Delaware, and an M.F.A. in painting from The
University of Pennsylvania. She has exhibited her work throughout the northeast
and internationally in Colombia, South America. Caroline is a founding member
of the artist run gallery, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, where she has had two solo
shows. She teaches at TheTyler School of Art.
printmaking from the University of Delaware, and an M.F.A. in painting from The
University of Pennsylvania. She has exhibited her work throughout the northeast
and internationally in Colombia, South America. Caroline is a founding member
of the artist run gallery, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, where she has had two solo
shows. She teaches at TheTyler School of Art.
| Emilie Keim |
| Emilie makes oil paintings and mixed-media drawings. Some of her subjects include her house, self-portraits, memories and journaling. She takes imagery both from life and imagination. Currently she is working on a series of paintings of the urban landscape and row-homes in the neighborhoods around her. Click here to see a sample of her art. To see more of her work: egkeim.blogspot.com. In 2009, Emilie graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a Certificate in painting. She lives in South Philadelphia. |
Tegan Marie Brozyna
Tegan is a Philadelphia artist and illustrator. In 2007, She received a
B.A. in Studio Art from Messiah College with a concentration in
Two-Dimensional Studies. She recently completed a
Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship Program with NYCAMS, New York
Center for Arts and Media Studies, in Manhattan. Although Tegan
mainly views herself as a painter and draftsman she shares an interest
in textiles and design. Among other things, she works as a freelance
artist, illustrator and writer.
To view examples of her work visit: teganbrozyna.blogspot.com
B.A. in Studio Art from Messiah College with a concentration in
Two-Dimensional Studies. She recently completed a
Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship Program with NYCAMS, New York
Center for Arts and Media Studies, in Manhattan. Although Tegan
mainly views herself as a painter and draftsman she shares an interest
in textiles and design. Among other things, she works as a freelance
artist, illustrator and writer.
To view examples of her work visit: teganbrozyna.blogspot.com
Katy Matich
When Katy is not working on her latest zombie zine or comically examining the
human condition or experience, she usually toils away at restoring and rebinding old
family bibles and rare books.
Katy Matich is a Philadelphia printmaker, bookmaker and draftsman who is equally
passionate about visual artwork and historical conservation. Katy received her BFA
degree in drawing and painting from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2008;
and soon after received her MFA degree from The University of the Arts in 2010 with
an emphasis in Book Arts and Printmaking. Upon graduating, she spent a 6 week
post-graduate internship with the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia
working on a documentation and preservation project with the Oversize Rare Book
archives.
To view examples of her work visit: www.katymatich.com
human condition or experience, she usually toils away at restoring and rebinding old
family bibles and rare books.
Katy Matich is a Philadelphia printmaker, bookmaker and draftsman who is equally
passionate about visual artwork and historical conservation. Katy received her BFA
degree in drawing and painting from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2008;
and soon after received her MFA degree from The University of the Arts in 2010 with
an emphasis in Book Arts and Printmaking. Upon graduating, she spent a 6 week
post-graduate internship with the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia
working on a documentation and preservation project with the Oversize Rare Book
archives.
To view examples of her work visit: www.katymatich.com
William DiBello
BIO COMING SOON