If you follow our Unexpected Philadelphia website,  you’ve toured eight wildly creative homes and studios belonging to members of the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers – that merry band of found-object artists who prove  (in the words of co-founder Neil Benson)  that “Trash is simply a failure of imagination.”

(Divers take to the walls of the Dupree Gallery.)

And now through January 30,  you can experience their work firsthand at Philadelphia’s Dupree Gallery in Queen Village.

WHEN  GALLERY  WALLS  TALK

When Philadelphia artist James Dupree offered the Divers a show entitled  If Walls Could Talk,  it came with a challenge:  no piece could be longer than 24 inches and they all needed to hang on a wall.

The Divers’ upcycled work frequently includes everything from salvaged furniture to  (literally)  the kitchen sink,  but more than 30 Divers answered the call,  with a minimum of rule stretching.  (After all,  who could reject one of Harry Anderson’s famed found-object floor lamps?)

The result – curated by Dumpster Diva Eva “Aanya” Preston – is a rich mix of signature assemblage pieces,  with less typical two-dimensional paintings,  photographs,  collages and more.

SEEING  THE  SHOW

Philadelphia’s Dupree Gallery is located at 703 S. 6th Street,  near Bainbridge.  Show hours are Saturdays from 4-9 p.m. and Sundays from 2-5 p.m.,  through January 30.

   (Surely one of these three walls would work over your sofa…)

MEET  THE  DIVERS  ON  JAN.  30

And for the best chance to meet the artists,  plan to attend the closing reception on Saturday,  January 30 from 4 to 9 p.m.

You never know – you may need to take a little bit of Dumpster Diver heaven home with you….

(A pair of Linda Lou Horn figures shares a wall with work by Ellen Benson.
Ellen’s art-filled home and studio will be featured next on our website.)

DUMPSTER  DIVER  WHO’S  WHO

Philadelphia Dumpster Divers participating in the exhibit are:

Betsy Alexander – Gretchen Altabef – Harry Anderson – Sara Benowitz – Ellen Benson – Neil Benson – I. George Bilyk – Charmaine Caire – Alden Cole – Carol Cole – Randy Dalton – Len Davidson – Larry Denenberg – James Dupree – Charna Eisner – Dan Enright – George Felice – Joanne Hoffman – Linda Lou Horn – Hugo Hsu – John Jonik – Ann Keech – Diane Keller – Smokie Kittner – CW Lewis – Susan Moloney – Taji Nahl – Toni Nash – Eva “Aanya” Preston (curator) – Susan Richards – Ellen Sall – Joel Spivak – Jim Ulrich – Sally Willowbee – Burnell Yow!

See you there!