12 Female Artists Unite For Chester County’s Best Art Exhibit of 2023
by Melissa Jacobs
Lead image is the work of Ellen Durkan of Iron Maiden Forge.
Deep in the heart of southern Chester County, a new art space is breaking ground – and rules. The Hook Experiment is an unconventional art gallery that presents a diversity of genres and materials, thoughts and backgrounds. Instead of presenting a smoothly syncopated exhibit, The Hook Experiment celebrates a juxtaposition of mediums and the joy of creative chaos.
The Hook Experiment’s current exhibit “Kindred” is exactly that. Creatively immersive and filled with artistic non sequiturs, “Kindred” combines the painting, sculpture, installation and textile work of 12 artists from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Constance McBride, Francis Beaty, Ellen Durkan, Helen Mason, Phyllis Mayes, Rachel Romano, Nancy Sarangoulis, Lynda Schmid, Valetta, Vicki Vinton, Lisa Baird and Joy Smoker are the divine dozen who contributed pieces to “Kindred.”
And they are channeling the divine feminine with this exhibit. Romano’s large scale paintings welcome visitors with playful, somewhat youthful exuberance while Baird’s almost tropical colors contrast with McBride’s sculptures of aging women and black sculptures created by Mason, which are winked at by the intricate yet naughty metal dresses forged by Ellen Durkan while Vinton’s wild woman rides away on a horse with no name.
It’s a lot to absorb, which is exactly what Vinton, Baird and Smoker wanted. “There’s a lot of juice, a lot of energy here,” Baird said. “We wanted it to be a joyous experience, and it has been.”
But you have to know where to find it. The Hook Experiment is in an unassuming building on the main street of Oxford, a town in the southernmost part of southern Chester County. Closer to Delaware and Maryland than Philadelphia, Oxford is a charming small town with Narberth vibes, except that it is surrounded by farmland. A portion of the proceeds from “Kindred” benefits the Oxford Art Alliance and Oxford Fire Relief Fund.
It’s well worth the drive, as lots of people are discovering. Vinton’s “if you build it, they will come” hope is now a reality. All of the artists brought their pieces to The Hook Experiment for the opening weekend, which was a ton of fun, Romano said. “I love being part of this group,” she said. “I get so much energy and inspiration from seeing these artists. It’s been an amazing experience.”
It’s also gallery nonconforming. Vinton, Baird and Smoker will organize exhibits only when they want to, not on a monthly schedule. Those exhibits are not set for a standard amount of time. The first exhibit was a few days; “Kindred” will be up for two weeks. It ends on Dec. 14 with a closing that the organizers have dubbed an opening party … because that’s how things go at The Hook Experiment.
The name comes from the Hooks (the building’s previous owners) and the decision to invite artists to show work outside of their traditional mediums, and even unfinished work. Imperfect art can be incredibly interesting.
“Often, galleries exhibit only what they can sell, because of course they are running businesses,” Vinton explained. “Here, we invited artists to show what they want to show. That’s why we call it an ‘experiment.’ We want people to share their creative experiments.”
Vinton and her husband Wilson King own the 4,500 square foot space. Previously filled with offices, the building is in various states of disrepair, only some of which they had fixed. The result is well-worn wood floors, brickwork showing through walls, wood beams dividing rooms and even a staircase peeking through a decaying wall.
Perhaps the building itself is a woman – a woman of a certain age, made all the more interesting because of her lined face, knowing smile and the stories she holds in her heart.
Like a woman, the building has hidden depths and spaces that are only revealed if you take the time to patiently explore them. Some artists’ works are tucked into small rooms turned into exhibit experiences while the entire back room, which is invisible from the front door, holds large scale work from Valetta, McBride, Vinton and others.
“Kindred” has been seen by professional and amateur art lovers, curators, teachers, collectors and other artists. Many small works are already sold; the rest will likely be acquired. Miss “Kindred” and you’ll have to wait until The Hook Experiment’s next exhibit in the spring of 2024.
The Hook Experiment is located at 45 S. 3rd St., Oxford, PA. Stay up to date on The Hook Experiment by following its Instagram account.
Love this story? Read about Chester County antique shops and Ardmore Music Hall.
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One response to “Must-See Art: “Kindred” At The Hook Experiment”
[…] to read about other art venues in our region? Check out The Hook Experiment in Oxford and Saliim Projects in Newtown […]