Brandywine Art Guide: Well Within at Saliim Projects

Posted by Victoria Rose on April 6, 2024

Backlit by Karla Pankratz

The wonderful thing about art galleries is that each has its own unique spin on the presentation of art. Whether they focus on a style, a region, an artistic tradition, or a vibe, art galleries are much more than walls and hooks. Saliim Projects, which opened last year in Newtown Square, offers a new home for the creative local community.

“Saliim is a Korean word meaning ‘homemaking’ but can also be translated to mean ‘to revive,’” said Daye Kim, the owner and curator of Saliim Projects. “Our local communities are blessed with creatives who live the life as an artist and are devoted to their art and passion,” she said. Artists and art lovers are continually making the Greater Brandywine Valley their home, with galleries, shops, and art centers that encourage that communal supportive culture in abundance.

Planted by a stream of water by Alpha Massaquoi Jr.

The new show opening on April 11, Well Within: Portraits by Sarah Fantuzzo, Alpha Massaquoi Jr, and Karla Pankratz, features two local homegrown artists, as well as one from slightly farther away in Baltimore. “I wanted to show the ways in which these artists influence, inspire, and help our community through this exhibition,” said Kim. These artists “live, breathe and practice art—artists by education, artists by vocation, and artists by their personal passions. Their presence, sometimes unseen, is critical to the fabric of our local communities,” she added.

The work of the three artists served as inspiration for the theme of this show, delving into the representations of the human figure and how it reflects the surrounding world. “We take in a lot of images and messages each day—many that are meant to be read at a glance—advertisements, texts, posts, emails, etc.,” said Sarah Fantuzzo, one of the participating artists. “I hope that viewers can slow down and find some room here for slow contemplation, enjoyment, rest, and connection.”

Artworks in the show bring together the traditions of portraiture and still life, using mediums such as charcoal, oil, photography, and mixed media. Karla Pankratz, a participating artist, takes “cues from the traditions of portraiture and still life in art history.” She said, “Working from photographic sources that have been altered by speed and light, [I focus] on formal elements and record these images as brief glimpses captured in motion.”

Pankratz’s work raises questions about the spaces we inhabit: “In a room filled with culturally borrowed store-bought decorative memorabilia, floral plaid oriental textiles, in a quasi-colonial brick-accented vinyl 1980’s suburban property, just whose culture is represented?” She hopes this exhibition invites visitors to take a break, “slowing down and taking time to notice.”

Portraiture is inherently an intimate art, attempting to reveal in a flat surface the myriad facets which constitute an individual. “In an intimate communion with the person portrayed in the painting, the viewer will hopefully experience an emotional depth and weight in the painting and sense a shared humanity to bring back to the ins and outs of day-to-day life,” said Fantuzzo.

Kim’s vision for this exhibition extends beyond technical skills and dedication. “Artists have the power to inspire and warm up a soul in a way that words cannot,” she said. “The works by the three artists in this show permeate a sense of positivity and benevolence.”

A focus on hope is central to Saliim Projects, with perspectives universal, international, and close to home. In this show, “themes evoke love, gentleness, joy, and peace in a time when many artists have favored a more darker exploration,” Kim said. She hopes visitors leave time to inhabit the space, with an experience “fostering a sense of tranquility and well-being.” That sense will hopefully travel with them, and with the artists, as they continue on their journeys.

Well Within: Portraits by Sarah Fantuzzo, Alpha Massaquoi Jr, and Karla Pankratz will be on view at Saliim Projects through May 18. An Opening Reception will be held on April 11 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saliim Projects is located at 3715 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square. More information can be found at SaliimProjects.com.

About Victoria Rose

Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.