Melissa Maddonni Haims

May 1 – June 2, 2013

Offering is a site specific performance and installation piece by Melissa Maddonni Haims at 3rd Street Gallery during the month of May, 2013. The large scale installation consists of a pile of crocheted stones in the gallery that mimic the offerings we leave for religious deities, for the dead and for marking our way home.

On May 1, 2012, Melissa Mary Benner was killed instantly by a drunk driver. She was 39 years old. She was not married. She did not have children. She had very few material possessions, in keeping with Buddhist tradition. But she did have a life. In her absence, Ms. Haims has been compelled to not only prove but to celebrate her existence. 

Offering is her attempt at this proof. During her yearlong journey, Ms. Haims has visited the places she lived and worked. She has walked through fields in her footsteps and found the air she breathed. She has documented this journey with photographs that will be displayed in the gallery along side the installation, which she will be adding to throughout the exhibition. For the month of may Ms. Haims will be on site each day from noon until 3pm crocheting new rocks to add to the pile that she has been working on since developing the show concept in August after her own epic, boundary crushing, spiritual journey.  

In addition to Ms. Haims’ work, the gallery is also presenting a one-person show by Carol Wisker: Densities. This exhibition of abstract fiber sculpture and installation refers to the dense massing in natural growth, created from repurposed and recycled cotton tufting, fibers, silk cocoons and bone.

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May 1 from 12-5:                  Show opens

May 3 from 5-9:                    First Friday

May 4 from 12:30-2:30:         Performance by Space Whale Orchestra

May 5 from 1-4:                    Public Reception

May 18 from 7-9:                  Kirtan performance by Mandala

June 2 from 12-5:                 Show closes at 5

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3rd Street Gallery, recently voted the BEST Art Gallery in Philadelphia by the City Paper Reader's Choice Poll, is a not-for profit cooperative of professional artists, established in 1972. The membership of men and women work together as a network of support and encouragement to help foster individual artistic achievement and growth. Join us in celebrating our neighborhood being voted as one of America's Top Art Places in 2013.