PHILADELPHIA, PA.- The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial presents the second exhibition in the twenty-ninth season of the four-part Wind Challenge Exhibitions at Fleisher — the Delaware Valley’s premier juried artist exhibition program. This season’s twelve Challenge artists were selected from a field of nearly 300 applicants to exhibit in one of four three-person exhibitions. Challenge 2 features the work of artists Isaac Schell, Jeffrey Stockbridgey, and Amy Walsh. Each of the artists in the exhibition shares a common interest in the often surreal nature of urban environments.

The exhibition begins on Friday, October 27 with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and continues through November 25, 2006. Both the exhibition and the opening reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; with additional viewing hours of 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday.

Through the distillation process of photography, Isaac Schell objectifies, edits and re-invents what naturally occurs in the cityscape to give importance to undervalued and accidental places. Mr. Schell received his B.S. degree from Drexel University.

Jeffrey Stockbridge is drawn to the elusive nature of neglected neighborhoods. This interest has led to a photographic series of documenting abandoned houses. Stockbridge creates photographs during certain times of the day when available light has the power to transform a decaying atmosphere into a sublime setting. When he enters an abandoned house, with furnishings still intact and personal belongings scattered about, it’s as if the inhabitants simply disappeared. The surviving artifacts exist with new meaning, providing a context to the abandoned spaces they once inhabited. By photographing and cataloging these items he is able to compose a narrative that reveals the fragments of an untold story. Mr. Stockbridge received his B.S. degree from Drexel University.

Amy Walsh builds ramshackle architectural structures of common materials such as cardboard, paper, and found objects. The structures contain voyeuristic peepholes that allow one to view elaborately detailed miniature interiors that explore transient realms of memory, dreams, decay, and transformation. Ms Walsh received her B.F.A. from the University of Massachusetts and her M.F.A. from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

On Saturday, November 11, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., artist/teacher Mary Murphy will lead the Challenge "TalkAbout" gallery discussion. Join us to discuss the work in the exhibition. Admission is free. Fleisher's exhibition programs are supported in part by a generous contribution from Dina and Jerry Wind.