Newtown Quakers to Hear Philadelphia Award-Winning "Public Artist" Keir Johnston

Award-Winning Philadelphia "Public Art" Artist to Speak at Newtown Quaker Meeting

Keir Johnston, Newtown Friends Meeting member and award-winning Philadelphia artist and muralist will speak on  “Art as Creative Civic Engagement and Communal Collaborations” at historic Newtown Friends Meetinghouse at 219 Court Street, Sunday, March 23, at 9:45 a.m. (http://www.newtownfriendsmeeting.org)

Keir Johnston, co-founder and co-director of Amber Art and Design based inPhiladelphia, has been involved for nearly 20 years in creative social practice and collaboration in the arts in Philadelphia.

Keir will explain his evolution as an artist dedicated to public art, go into detail on the techniques involved in the production of the renown mural program ofPhiladelphia and speak on the benefits of accessible art in the community spectrum. He will also describe his most recent projects and the power of collaboration.

Amber Art & Design is comprised of five international public artists based inPhiladelphia. Each member brings years of specialized experience to the collective with a practice based in both social and studio collaboration.Johnston says. “We are committed to creating meaningful pubic art that is transcendent.  Motivated by the pursuit of excellence we continually challenge the norm with innovative designs and cutting edge fabrication.”

Amber Art’s recent creations include “The Roots,” a mural dedicated to Grammy winning musicians and Philadelphia natives, and a two hundred foot-long community gateway mural in Bethlehem, Pa.

Keir Johnston is an award winning artist, educator, and recipient of fellowships with The National Academy of Art and Museum in New York and The Center for Emerging Visual Artists in Philadelphia. He has been the Artist in Residence with The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The National Museum of American Jewish History, Living Arts in Tulsa, OK and Mural Arts of Philadelphia. He has been involved in the production of over 30 large scale murals throughout the country.

Johnston is a life long member of Newtown Friends Meeting.  His grandparents, Ella and George Otto, are buried on the Meetinghouse grounds and his brother Haile Johnston and wife Tatiana Granados were married in the Meetinghouse in 2007.  Keir received his B.A. degree from California State University.

Newtown Friends Meeting co-founded by "Peaceable Kingdom" painter and Quaker minister, Edward Hicks, in 1815, is open to all who wish to attend.  Regular First Day Education classes (Sunday School) for all ages begin at 9:45 a.m. and Meeting for Worship begins at 11 a.m.  Childcare is provided.