A brand-new, collaborative exhibit is coming to the historic Laurel Hill Mansion in East Fairmount Park this summer.
From Philadelphia Sculptors, in partnership with Women for Greater Philadelphia, ‘TIMELINE’ will open with an event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 18, and will be open Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 17. This exhibition marks the kickoff for a series of events at Laurel Hill Mansion that will celebrate the nation’s Semiquincentennial in 2026.
Selected by jurors Nancy Agati and Rachel Zimmerman, the artists of the exhibit proposed works that address the complexities of the property’s history. The exhibit itself takes a wide-ranging look at the history of the site at Laurel Hill, from its initial inhabitants to its acquisition by William Penn, to the construction of the mansion, and the many changes and inhabitants it has seen since.
TIMELINE tells the story of the land over the course of a millennium, addressing several aspects related to women’s rights, including rights to property, labor and farming, trade and commerce, slavery, and the abolitionist movement.
In addition to those specified topics, the exhibit will also explore broader themes, including the passage of time, displacement, resilience, stewardship, and the relationship of man and land.
The historical site is managed by Women for Greater Philadelphia, a local nonprofit that also collaborated with the city to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. As a part of that collaboration, the renovation and restoration were among the initial projects, leading to the opening of the site in 1976.
Nearly half a century later, the nonprofit has teamed up with the Philadelphia Sculptors, Philadelphia’s only professional organization of sculptors.
Philadelphia Sculptors president Leslie Kaufman highlighted the importance of this collaboration, saying: “We are very grateful for this opportunity to allow our artists to engage with this historic site and creatively contribute to an enhanced understanding of its role in history and its significance today.”
For more information on the historic Laurel Hill Mansion or Women for Greater Philadelphia, visit womenforgreaterphiladelphia.org. For more information on Philadelphia Sculptors, visit philasculptors.org
