Lancaster, PA – The Demuth Museum’s first exhibition of 2018 will be our annual Invitational, showcasing the work of over thirty contemporary artists from Lancaster and the surrounding region who have been invited to exhibit new works based on a given theme. The theme this year comes from the newest gift to the museum’s collection, Can-Can Dancers, n.d. by Charles Demuth.

This gift inspired the theme of the 2018 invitational: “Dancing the Can-Can, Charles Demuth in Paris” and the exhibit will be on view from February 2 – 25, 2018. Challenging participating artists this year our theme asks them to create a work of art that reflects Charles Demuth’s experience during his visits to Paris. Demuth visited Paris three times and these trips profoundly influenced his mature work.  While in the “City of Lights” Demuth soaked up the Parisian night life as well as visited the galleries that featured the latest painters, such as Picasso and Matisse. In addition, Demuth continued his art studies at the Academie Colarossi and the Academie Julian as well as visiting the salon of Gertrude Stein and other notable art collectors. The Demuth drawing pictured below is the newest gift to the collection and the inspiration for the exhibit theme.

All works will be for sale; 40% of each work sold will help support museum exhibitions and education programs. 

Participating artists include: Mike Abel, Eva Bender, Marlin Bert, Matt Chambers, Ann DeLaurentis, Joel Ember, Paul Engleheart, Ron Ettleman, Dorothy Frey, Carol Galligan, Jeff Geib, Claire Giblin, Susan Gottleib, Gail Gray, Henrietta Holton-Thomas, Jon L. Johnson, Richard Kent, Karen Labiak, Matthew Lawrence, Jun-Cheng Liu, Paris Wyatt Llanso, Carol Morgan, Robert Patierno, Dave Reinhart, Richard Ressel, Kimberly Root, Barry Root, Kerry Sacco, Brant Schuller, Mimi Shapiro, Jean Sharf, Suk Shuglie, Ellen Slupe, Judy Smith, Teri Traner, Linda Weidman, and Dick Whitson.

An opening reception will be held at the Demuth Museum on Friday, February 2, 2018 from 5-8 p.m.