From The Magic is in the Seeing exhibition #1
The Magic is in the Seeing: Philip Perkis and His Creative Legacy
Undercroft Gallery/Church of the Heavenly Rest
1085 5th Avenue, New York
September 12 – November 14, 2021
Reception for the Artists • Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
The Magic is in the Seeing exhibition honors Philip Perkis, a photographer, artist, teacher, and mentor. During more than 35 years as an educator, Perkis encouraged hundreds of art students to explore and expand their unique abilities. The Magic is in the Seeing presents a selection of Philip Perkis’ meditative and tonally gorgeous black and white images along with a curated showcase exploring the breadth and diversity of those whom Perkis inspired in the classroom.
Philip Perkis Influenced a generation of teachers, sharing his supportive and open-minded approach to artistic practice well beyond his own classroom. In New York City alone, Perkis’ students have taught in all the major college photography programs. His protégés, hailing from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America, manifest a wide variety of artistic expression and professional success.
Many of Perkis’ former students feel they owe their dedication, vision, craft and artistic spirit to him. Deborah Willis, PhD, 2000 MacArthur Fellow as well as University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, claimed “he was my hero…I Ioved the support he offered me.”
Taehee Park, now a professor and publisher in Korea, acknowledged that “he liberated me. As a teacher, artist, and human being, he showed me a way to live. My mission now is to share his work, thoughts and way of life with people who are struggling to find themselves. Because I know I am so lucky to have had the chance to meet him; it was the best gift I ever received.”
The exhibition will also feature the film Just to See – A Mystery a film portrait of Philip Perkis by Jin Ju Lee, another former MFA student.
Curators: Kristin Holcomb, Abby Robinson, Lynn Saville and Ellen Wallenstein
The gallery is open Monday – Sunday 12-5pm but is occasionally closed for other programming. Please contact info@heavenlyrest.edu or call 212-289-3400 ext. 200 to confirm viewing times on the date you plan to attend.
Participating Artists:
Alice Benessia
Peter Burgess
Ney Collier
Clayton Cotterell
Kate Cunningham
Sean Donnola
Joseph Elliot
Nicholas Gaffney
Debra Goldman
Hyoungsun Ha
Jamie Hankin
José Hernández-Claire
George Hirose
Kristin Holcomb
Mary Lang
Jin Ju Lee
Tae Hoon Lee
Jeong Hyun Lee
Martin Lennon
Colleen Longo
Susan Dunkerley Maguire
Vincent Manzi
Michael Marston
Taehee Park
Julie Pochron
Barbara Pohl
Suzanne Revy
Peter Rieset
Abby Robinson
Christopher Edward Rodriguez
Lynn Saville
Roger Sayre
Dan Scheuer
Robin Schwartz
Fred Scruton
Wayne Sides
Paula Siwek
Arturo Soto
Younggi Suh
Lucas Thorpe
Sarah van Ouwerkerk
Ellen Wallenstein
Deborah Willis