Arts Center Invites Haddonfield to Explore the “Power of the Flower”

Markeim Arts Center on Saturday invited neighbors to celebrate the “Power of the Flower” with a free community paint day.

A handful of young volunteers joined Markeim Artistic Director Pat Chamberlin and art teacher Billi Dudley in creating a pair of 3-foot, floral banners to advertise the Center’s monthlong juried exhibition of nature-inspired artwork.

“Many people know us for what we were and not for what we are becoming,” said Chamberlin, who assumed her role as artistic director in December.

“The caliber of the art here is very high and people from across the region are getting excited to visit.”

May events at Markeim Arts Center will also help promote events on the municipal calendar, including the annual Haddonfield Garden Club Herb Sale and the Haddonfield Fortnightly House and Garden Tour, which coincides with the May 6 opening reception for the Power of the Flower exhibition.

“We’re rebuilding and redeveloping what we do,” says Chamberlin.

Throughout the month, Chamberlin will offer docent tours of the Power of the Flower juried exhibition Saturdays at noon. A pair of special programs May 14 will highlight nature-inspired, hands-on community artwork—a birdhouse-building workshop for children and a neighborhood photography excursion to help patrons discover the “snatches of nature in our community.”

The flower-powered month culminates in the May 22 Bird of Paradise jazz brunch fundraiser, with a trio performance led by veteran Philadelphia saxophonist Bootsie Barnes.

“Every community has a different set of challenges and resources,” says Chamberlin. “In Haddonfield, we have a wonderful, accessible building, a pool of fine artists and people who support us. So the question becomes ‘how will we inspire the community?’ ”

In planning the Center’s arts education programming and community collaborations, Chamberlin says it is important to focus on art as “a dialogue between artists and their public patrons.”

“We’re looking to develop a patronage to keep that dialogue going,” she says.

Among the new efforts Chamberlin has planned to revitalize the Center is an innovative program to help younger art enthusiasts understand the value of owning original art, and a financing structure that allows them to “live with” pieces of art in their homes as they pay them off.

“The patron piece is important,” she says. “Lots of galleries have just figured out how to connect the artists in their community, but nobody’s talking about the other side.

“Understanding art is not something you are born with, but something you learn to do,” Chamberlin says. “Haddonfield is curious, intelligent, and interested, which is why we think this model can work.”

The Markeim Arts Center gallery is open free to the public Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information about its upcoming calendar of events, visit markeimartscenter.org or call 856-429-8585.