Newtown Friends Self Portraits on Display at Pennswood Village

An exhibit of self-portraits by 7th and 8th grade students from is on display at the Pennswood Village Fiberworks Gallery. 

The exhibit is an intergenerational collaboration between Pennswood, a continuing care retirement community, and Newtown Friends School. The show, which runs through Feb. 7, is open to the public. 

“Pennswood Village and Newtown Friends School are located on adjacent campuses and share a vibrant tradition of intergenerational programming. Pennswood Village residents volunteer at the school, and students visit Pennswood Village for activities including shared art projects, Wii tournaments, flower arranging, a weekly lunch conversation group, pool volleyball, gardening and more,” Pennswood Village said in a press release. “As Quaker organizations, both believe that resident’s and student’s lives are enriched through shared activities and fellowship." 

“Pennswood Village is excited to provide beautiful and professional gallery space to our Newtown Friends Emerging Artists,” said Karen Lehman, Pennswood Village executive director. “Sharing through the arts is but one example of how our intergenerational program benefits both our residents and Newtown Friends students.”

The 35 self-portraits are done in a variety of mediums, including pencil, oil pastel and charcoal.

“It is a tradition at Newtown Friends for students to create self-portraits,” said Sunny Mitchell, Newtown Friends Art Teacher. “The self-portraits required the students to do a lot of reflection and the show provides a unique way to experience life as a young teenager.”

Pennswood Village is located at 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Newtown.