June 27 – September 15, 2019
Philadelphia-based artist David R. Harper transforms the Villa Terrace into an illusory world of historical fiction as he activates the entire house with sculpture, transformed objects, and installations. Harper references the museum’s history as a decorative arts museum by using images and objects influenced by various eras, such as Greco-Roman figures, plant and animal studies from the 19th century, handmade wood vitrines, and stained glass. Suggesting that traditional ways of categorizing art genres and movements are permeable and changing, Harper composes his installations in imaginative ways that combine contemporary sensibilities with a reverence for the past.
Opening Reception and Catalogue Release:
Thursday, July 11, 2019 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Members’ preview 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Artist talk with David R. Harper 7:00 p.m.