Exhibition Description: Relic is an exhibition of photographs by Rachel Zimmerman. These photos present a record of her investigations of two very different sites, the Monument to the Negev Brigade in the Negev desert in Israel and the town of Yazoo City in Mississippi.
For the Yazoo series she says: "I have always been interested in spaces without people. At that moment there is a timelessness that does not become dated by the conventions of style. The death of a small city where industry has died mirrors so many small cities across the country. A closed Yazoo City bank reinforces the monopolization of our financial institutions. The graffiti of a Star of David: is it anti Semitism or even pro Jewish/Israel? Yazoo at one point had a strong Jewish presence. My grandmother, the youngest of 13, was sent to Mississippi to be raised by her eldest sister who was married to Harry Applebaum, mayor of Yazoo from 1954-60. Even the markings on the houses are now reminiscent of Katrina and the chaos that occurred only five years earlier. Having spent time in both the South and in many small cities outside of Philadelphia, these images are examples of how so many small cities, unlike the more wealthy larger cities of the East and West coasts, are frozen in a time of stagnation."
Artist's Biography: Zimmerman graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Photography. She established Rachel Zimmerman Photography in 1994 with a concentration on black and white printing and medical photography. In 2000 Zimmerman formed Studio Z which offers both print and web design, diversifying the services offered to clients and creating a team driven work environment.
In 1999 Zimmerman founded InLiquid to increase community and visibility for independent artists; the site now has approximately 316 members, which includes artists from across the country. In her role as Executive Director of InLiquid, she has created opportunities for independent artists and arts organizations, not only through the web site but through a series of curated gallery exhibitions in various locations (including the Crane Arts Building, International House, Painted Bride Art Center, the Nexus Community Gallery, the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, west elm, URBN, and the corporate offices of the Sundance Channel) and through events such as “Art For the Cash Poor," the annual Silent Auction, and CAF (Community Arts Festival). She has served on numerous committees, including Philagrafika, MANNA’s “A Show of Hands” auction, and The Print Center auction. Currently, she serves on the Fractured Atlas Council, The Night Market Advisory Council, and advisory committees for Design Philadelphia, Fiber Philadelphia, and the art advisory committee of CFEVA. She is a member of Arttable and is also on the executive board of the Old City Arts Association, the board of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and is an alumna of Leadership Philadelphia. In 2008 Zimmerman was named one of the region’s “Top 101 Emerging Connectors” and in 2011 was named one of the "76 Creative Connectors" through studies conducted by Leadership Philadelphia.
Zimmerman’s photography is held in a number of permanent collections, including the George Eastman House Museum in Rochester, NY. She has had exhibits at the LG Trip gallery and the Wallingford Community Arts Center.
For over 20 years, Shipley’s partnership with alumna Paige West ’86 and the West Collection has brought world-class contemporary art to the Speer Gallery, inspiring students to think boldly and engage with real-world ideas.
Shipley’s Speer Gallery, led by art teacher Julia Staples, is a vibrant hub for learning and connection, showcasing thought-provoking exhibits that spark conversation and inspire collaboration across subjects like History, Science, and English.
The Upper School Honors Jazz Combo, directed by saxophonist Chris Oatts, is Shipley's premier music ensemble and reflects Shipley's dedication to excellence in the arts. The group continually impresses audiences and serves as a pinnacle experience in Shipley's musical learning community.
Discover how our theater program nurtures student voice, confidence, and leadership. From sixth grade silliness to Upper School self-awareness, our students learn to express themselves with empathy and creativity, embodying our mission of compassionate participation.
Discover how Shipley School's music program nurtures young musicians from Lower to Upper School, fostering confidence, creativity, and collaboration. Learn how students find their musical voice and achieve professional-level performance through this comprehensive education.
Ozzie Jones earned a Barrymore Award nomination for Outstanding Outdoor Production, showcasing his transformative journey and key role in Theater in the X's acclaimed "Dreamgirls."
Phillip Brown, Upper School Theater Director at Shipley, considers his portrayal of Jay Jackson in Lantern Theater Company's "The Royale" to be the role of a lifetime.The play was nominated for seven Barrymore Awards, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, with Phillip himself nominated for Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play.
Contour line drawing is more than a classroom exercise, it demands unwavering concentration, forging connections between the artist and their subject, creating a unique interplay between the pen and paper. A poignant reminder that art isn't merely about what we see; it's about how we see it and the stories we can convey through the lines we draw.
Explore the world of renowned artist Rory MacArthur at The Speer Gallery in a mesmerizing exhibition on loan from the West Collection. Discover MacArthur's journey into glyphs and abstraction, where he crafts perfect glyph-like objects using color, shape, surface, and form in an age inundated with symbols.
In an effort enrich Shipley’s Theater Arts Program, significant changes are underway, touching every aspect of the program—from personnel to scheduling. Learn more about the exciting changes underway in Shipley's Theater Arts.
The Shipley Honors Combo won first place in the Small Ensemble Division 2 category at the National Jazz Festival, held April 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Trumpeter Aidan Peterson ‘24 won an Outstanding Musician Award and also earned the Judge’s Choice Award.
Shipley’s Lower School music program offers a one-of-a-kind musical education to its young learners, culminating in an authentic music ensemble experience. In fourth grade, students can learn to play three different instruments. The long-term benefits and goals of the program are many, extending beyond the classroom and into the lives of students and their families.
Shipley’s theater program is excited to announce that it will partner with Broadway Green Alliance, a corporation that tries to bring more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices into theaters all around the country. Read more in this article originally published in the Beacon student newspaper.
After rigorous auditions, five Shipley musicians have been accepted into auditioned choral and band ensembles including the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 11 Chorus, the American Choral Directors Association National Honors Choir, and the Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band.
View a performance of the Lunar New Year Overture by Shipley's Chamber Orchestra, in an arrangement by Richard Liu ’25 and Bambi Tang ’23, and conducted by Mr. Jhonnatan Mata. The performance was organized by the Asian Student Alliance and the Chamber Orchestra in celebration of Lantern Festival, or the end of Lunar New Year.
Catch Theater Director Phillip Brown as he stars in the Lantern Theater Company’s Philadelphia premiere production of The Royale by Marco Ramirez, onstage through December 11, 2022, at St. Stephen’s Theater.
In April 2022, artist Peter Makela ’04 will travel to Nepal as a Fulbright Scholar. He’ll spend 10 months in the Kathmandu Valley pursuing his project, “The Radiant Emptiness of Space: Madhyamaka and Contemplative Perception,” while studying Madhyamaka philosophy at Rangjung Yeshe University, the world’s preeminent English-speaking Buddhist university. Learn more about Makela and his work.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.