Back to All Events

Cret Illustrated: Revisiting a Philadelphia Icon in Sketches


20+ architectural illustrations of Paul P. Cret’s Philadelphia, by artist Ben Leech, on view in the Hamilton Mansion at
The Woodlands. Ink, pencil and watercolor on paper

Opening Reception, November 17th, 5:30-8:00PM

UBridge4.jpg

About the artist: Ben Leech studied religion (Reed College, B.A., 1999) and historic preservation (School of the Art Institute of Chicago, M.S., 2006) before moving to Pennsylvania in 2007. From 2010 to 2015, he was advocacy director for the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. He has taught architectural history, archival research, and building documentation at the University of Pennsylvania, Franklin & Marshall College, Temple University, and Philadelphia University. In 2017, he founded Archivolt Press and published 36 Views of Philadelphia, a postcard book of his sketches. He maintains an unproven theory that old buildings vibrate at frequencies invisible to the naked eye, which can only be captured by the act of drawing. This is his first solo exhibition.

PROCEEDS FROM ART AND MERCHANDISE SALES WILL GO TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF THE CRET GATES AND PAUL CRET'S HEADSTONE, BOTH LOCATED AT THE WOODLANDS.