Arts & Entertainment

‘American Hands’ Exhibit Coming to Free Library of New Hope and Solebury

free libraryAn exhibit of the acclaimed “American Hands” photo project by Sally Wiener Grotta will be on display Oct. 1–31 at the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury.

And on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., the public is invited to a slideshow discussion with the artist Sally Wiener Grotta, who will share stories about the remarkable people she’s encountered through the project. Sally will also answer questions about the project and about photography in general. Please call the library to reserve your space for the reception and gallery talk.

American Hands” is Sally Wiener Grotta’s award-winning visual celebration of those individuals who keep alive the traditional crafts that built our dynamically diverse culture and established the underpinnings of our present-day society. In this ongoing project, she is creating narrative portraits of people who use their hands in traditional ways, making functional objects that are, today, typically done by machines.

Along the way, Sally spends time in a wide variety of artisans’ workshops – including a spinner, weaver, blacksmith, glassblower, bookbinder, rug-maker and many others – returning over the months and years, to follow the various stages of their creations.

Sally’s easy style helps artisans warm to her camera, developing personal relationships that allow her to share in intensely private and often poignant creative moments, as well as spontaneous expressions of joy. Her narrative series of portraits capture both the fascinating craft processes and the individual personalities of the craftspersons.

The Free Library of New Hope and Solebury is located at 93 West Ferry St. in New Hope; (215) 862-2330.

About the author

Charlie Sahner

“Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." - Einstein

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