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Two-Generation Art Show at Montgomery County Community College

A collaborative grandfather-grandson exhibition, featuring selective works of artists Si Lewen and Damon Kardon, opens on Sept. 1 at Montgomery County Community College’s Fine Arts Center at the Central Campus in Blue Bell.

The exhibit, “The Two-Generation Show: Si Lewen and his Grandson Damon Kardon,” will include paintings and multi-media/photograph assemblages.

The community is invited to a special “meet the artists” reception on Wed., Sept. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. during which the artists will hold a gallery talk about their artwork and lives as artists. The exhibit continues through Oct. 13.

Si Lewen, 91, will be showing a “Homage to Rodin: The Gates of Hell,” as well as other selected works. Damon Kardon, 33, will have artwork from his “States” and “Tomb” series.

Born in Poland in 1918, Lewen started painting and drawing at the age of five. He had his first solo show in 1932 in Germany when he was13 years old. A year later, he and his brother fled the Nazi-controlled country and eventually arrived in the United States. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought against Nazi-Germany.

After the war, Lewen resumed his art career, but World War II and the Holocaust left indelible marks on the artist, whose paintings often reflect his memories and resulting emotions. His artwork has appeared in exhibitions across the country and abroad and in two books, “The Parade” and “A Journey, Reflecting on War and Holocaust.”

In 1985, Lewen ceased selling his artwork in support of his belief that art is not a commodity. In Nov. 2009, the International Institute for Restorative Practices obtained much of his artwork and opened The Si Lewen Museum & Gallery in Bethlehem, Pa.

In his statement about the exhibit, Lewen says: “. . . As a soldier in WWII, a witness to the Holocaust, I know that no description can fully convey the monstrosities we are capable of and perpetrate. And it is not only in war that we create our Hell – the pain and misery we inflict on each other appears endless. And so, in ‘Homage to Rodin–The Gates of Hell,’ I try to imagine how Rodin might now in this, our ‘enlightened’ age, approach and recreate the subject of Hell. . .”

Like his grandfather, Kardon, a North Wales resident, started drawing and painting when he was very young. His formal art education includes Temple’s Tyler School of Art, Moore College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Art Studio and studied under the tutelage of respected artist James Nestor.

Kardon’s paintings have been in numerous non-juried and juried shows throughout Pennsylvania. He has also created large murals for various community organizations in Indiana, Pa., as well as a non-profit children’s museum in Ft. Washington, Pa.

His artwork is abstract and primarily consists of oil and acrylic paintings on stretched canvas. While his earlier paintings were more influenced by music, his recent artwork explores feelings of disconnection and loneliness and the excitement of finding beauty when traveling between familiar and foreign places.

“In my paintings, I have my feet planted with one foot in a dream and one foot in reality,” he said.

Kardon says he is influenced by his grandfather’s amazing work, and he continues to be a mentor for him.  Other influences include the highly imaginative works of painter Hieronymus Bosch, as well as post-impressionist painter Henri Rousseau.

For more information about Si Lewen, visit www.silewen.com; for Damon Kardon, visit www.damonkardon.wordpress.com.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535

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I just wanted to let you know that my paintings and some drawings are going to be shown the month of February (1st - 25th) at Folkeways at Gwynedd- 1120 Meetinghouse Road. Gwynedd, PA.  19436.  My show will be up starting now through the entire month of February, so if you are in the area and get a chance to stop by, please do. It is in the main building gallery area. The exhibit is free and open to the public. My grandfather has just finished his show there for the month of January. If you would like to view his work, please visit www.silewen.org.

Also, The Reporter (local paper) had an article in their paper today on my show. Here is the link if you want to read it- http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2010/01/29/entertainment/doc4b62e09488b33716596305.txt .  The Ambler Gazette was there this morning and interviewed my grandfather and I for an article on both of us that will be in this Wednesday’s paper, 2/3.

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