We’re Listening

Making Place Matter will lead by listening, using earth’s clay as a metaphor for place, and place as a way to examine the relationship between The Clay Studio and our new neighborhood as well as each visitor’s personal connection to their own place in the world. Ideas? Thoughts?

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The Artists

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Making Place Matter will invite three leading ceramic artists — Kukuli Velarde, Molly Hatch, and Ibrahim Said — to explore the idea of place with regard to personal history, cultural heritage, and social justice. Clay is the material embodiment of place, the earth we stand on, a common ground — culturally, socially, and artistically.

Meet the Artists

Project Team & Partners

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We have incredibly talented and devoted staff members, a community that is ready and willing to get involved, and a historic moment to celebrate, honoring our new neighbors along with the hundreds of people who have dedicated their lives to building The Clay Studio over the last 47 years.

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The Exhibition Council

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Involving our South Kensington neighbours in the planning and implementation of Making Place Matter (and of future exhibitions), is integral to forming a long-term, inclusive relationship. The Exhibition Council for Making Place Matter brings together the voices of many constituent groups.

Meet our Exhibition Council

The Community Studio

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In The Community Studio adjacent to the main gallery, visitors will have the opportunity to respond to the exhibition through art making activities designed to connect their own ideas of place, and to interact with the three artists featured in Making Place Matter.

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Fast FAQs

Calendar of Events

July, 2020

MPM Team to present on exhibition through public zoom conversation.

First Meeting with MPM Team and 3 Lead Artists.

First Meeting with MPM Team and Community Partners MPM Team, led by Community Organizer, initiating communication with previous participants from  new neighborhood and current constituency to cultivate possible Exhibition Council members.

September 2020

Studio visit to Kukuli Velarde Studio – Philadelphia – Curator and Collaborating Curator. View artwork in progress.

October 2020

1st Exhibition Council Meeting with members (New neighbors, continuing artist members, staff, community  partners, Tiny WPA) 

Artist Introductions, staff

Presentation by Curator – New Building images, Presentation on Making Place Matter Discussion: What  is the role of the Council? What would you like to get out of this process? 

October 2020

Virtual Studio visit to Ibrahim Said Studio – North Carolina – Curator and Collaborating Curator,  View artwork  in progress.

Virtual Studio Visit with Tiny WPA

November 2020

Virtual studio visit to Molly Hatch Studio – Massachusetts – Curator and Collaborating Curator, View artwork in progress.

December 2020

2nd Exhibition Council Meeting 

Hands-on clay Project

Discussion: Translating Making Place Matter, what is your place? What do you call home? Presentation of Logo design ideas.

Preliminary designs for Work by 3 artists established

February 2021

Three Artist Meeting Discussion
Photograph Kukuli Velarde’s artwork
Preliminary Gallery Installation Design

3rd Exhibition Council Meeting 

Talk by Museum Education Professional – Ah-Young Kim, Manager of Public Programs, PMA
Hands-on Clay Project 

April 2021

4th Exhibition Council Meeting 

Presentation by Exhibition Designer with examples of exhibition design concepts
Discussion: How does design impact your experience? 
Finalize Exhibition Checklist completed 

May 2021

5th Exhibition Council Meeting 

Presentation of finalized design concepts/prototypes/drawings by Tiny WPA and Curator.
Finalize program and design concepts for the Exhibition & Visitor Engagement Gallery 

August-September 2021

Production of Gallery furniture and design Shipping of Artwork
Gallery installation 

October 2021

Exhibition Opening Reception Exhibition to run from October 2021 to February 2022 

  • Ibrahim Said – Guest Artist Residency - Visitor Engagement Gallery project  *Ongoing throughout Exhibition*

Feedback collection by staff, evaluator, digital video recordings, etc. 

November 2021

  • Kukuli Velarde – Guest Artist Residency - Visitor Engagement Gallery project 

6th Exhibition Council Meeting 

Gallery Visit, engagement in Visitor Engagement Gallery Activities Feedback from Council Members  (Evaluator Present) 

January 2022

  • Molly Hatch – Guest Artist Residency - Visitor Engagement Gallery project 

7th Exhibition Council Meeting 

Gallery Visit, engagement in Visitor Engagement Gallery Activities Feedback from Council Members  (Evaluator Present) 

February 2022

8th Exhibition Council Meeting – Wrap Up 

Final feedback collection and conversation about the project from The Council by evaluator and staff 

Public Symposium 

Panel Discussion by Council Members

Panel Discussion by Artists: Hatch, Velarde, Said. Keynote.

*All presentations will be recorded and archived on our website, creating an open source mini-course on  exhibition programming design.

Building Construction Progress

In January 2020 we had our groundbreaking and officially began the construction of our new home.

It has been really exciting to see how, inch by inch, the buidling is taking shape as we get closer to the opening day of "Making Place Matter," the prime exhibtion in our new building in South Kensigton.

Take a peek at the progress, here.

South Kensington FAQs

Public Transportation

SEPTA provides various options of public transportation for the neighborhood, and Center City is about 2 miles or 10 minutes away. The neighborhood is served by:

  • Buses 57, 5 Elevated Train (the EL) at Girard Station Trolley 15 through Girard Ave
  • Also, buses 3 and 47 pass nearby the neighborhood, and the EL Berks Station and SEPTA rail at Temple University Station are within reasonable walking distance

Indego Philly has a bike share station at 3rd & Girard and multiple peripheral stations: 2nd & Germantown Ave, 1176 Leopard Ave. (Girard Station, MFL), 1424 Frankford Ave. (City Fitness), 1902 N. Front St. (Berks Station, MFL), and 527 W. Berks St.

PhillyCarShare (now known as Enterprise CarShare) vehicles are available at 6th & Girard Ave, 100 W. Oxford St. and Frankford & Thompson St.

 Zipcars are located at Front & Master, Frankford & Master, Frankford & Palmer, and 6th & Girard.

Media Materials

Read the press release here 03/24/2021.

For media inquiries, please contact Tracy Buchholtz at EnRoute tracy@enroutemarketing.com

In the News

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Announces 2019 Grants for Philadelphia Artists, Organizations

read the press release

The Clay Studio is Awarded Major Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Grant

read the press release

read Pew's webpage about Making Place Matter

Curator of Artistic Programs

Thank you!

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Making Place Matter has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.