February 27 - April 17, 2005
February 25, 2005, Reading, PA – In response to visitor and Member requests to see more local art, Berks Now is an exhibition program that was launched by the Museum to feature the work of local artists, many from Berks County. The next Berks Now exhibit, which was guest curated by artist and Kutztown University professor Evan Summer, features Jase Clark, a Sinking Spring native and Kutztown University graduate. Clark's work combines various etchings and digital media through a process he has developed. The show is displayed in the Museum's auditorium hallway from February 27 through April 17, 2005. Berks Now gives local artists the opportunity to display their work to the Berks County community, and is supported by the Friends of the Reading Museum, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Currently residing in Sinking Spring, Clark works as a printmaker and serographer in the Experimental Print Department at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. He graduated from Kutztown University with a Fine Arts degree and concentration in Printmaking. While in college, he developed a passion for digital media. Also maintaining a local studio in Lincoln Park, Clark has worked on developing his unique artist style and process for almost two years. This style will be featured in his Berks Now exhibit and allows the visitor to view Clark’s work in two different ways. Each piece can be viewed in one complete image, or broken down into individual layers for a viewer to fully understand its meaning before combining each piece into one single object. Berks Now will only be the second time Clark’s unique work has been shown in a full collection.
Clark has created this collection using several concepts including life, death and religion. He states, "The overall theme I feel that comes through in my work is the idea of never ending consciousness. This idea is shown through my view on life, death and my concept of organized religion in the past, present and future." The collection will exhibit various etchings, digital and mixed media in pieces such as Hard Learned Answers, Human Echo, Binary Pulse, Endless Circle of Progression and In the Mind’s Eye. Clark describes, "I like working with plexi-glass because I feel it gives my work both depth, symbolically, as well as literally.
The next Berks Now exhibit will be May 8 through June 12, 2005 featuring the oil paintings of Linda Heberling. If you are interested in submitting your artwork for upcoming Berks Now exhibits, please call 610.371.5850, x230, or visit the Museum and pick up a prospectus. Past Berks Now exhibits include the artwork of Kristoffer Ziegler, Kristen Tabone Woodard, Marilyn Fox and Yadira Leticia Torres.
The Reading Public Museum’s regular hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11a.m. to 5p.m.; Wednesday 11a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday Noon to 5p.m. Regular Museum admission is $7 for adults (ages 18 - 60) and $5 for seniors/children/student (with ID). Museum Members and children under 4 are free.