In the Moment: The Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle

08/03/2024

02/02/2025

About the Exhibition

The work of the Philadelphia-born photographer and activist Harvey Finkle offers an intimate view of the hardships, sacrifices, and joys experienced by members of the diverse communities and political movements he has engaged with over the course of his career. In the Moment explores photography’s ability to interrogate social inequities, arouse empathy, and inspire political action. Consisting of photographs that Finkle has taken over the past half-decade, the show surveys the multiple and sophisticated ways in which his work forges meaningful connections with its audiences. Guest-curated by Antongiulio Sorgini, categorical groupings take us through Finkle's journey, chronicling the stories that shape our collective consciousness.

Exhibition-Related Events:

Opening Reception
Saturday, September 14 | 1-4 p.m.
FREE

Please join us for an opening reception celebrating In the Moment: The Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle on Saturday, September 14th from 1-4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Discussion - In the Moment: The Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle

Moderated by Antongiulio Sorgini, guest curator

with: Andrew Mendelson, professor, Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY; Cheri Honkala, anti-poverty advocate, co-founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union; and Zoe Strauss, photographer

Saturday, October 19 | 2:00-3:30 p.m.

$10 (Free, Woodmere Members)

Click here to register.

Enjoy a panel discussion on the art and photography of Harvey Finkle. Panelists will discuss activism as the subject of photography and its impact and how Finkle's images evoke compassion and make meaningful connections between the photographs and the viewer.

Guest curator, Antongiulio Sorgini, PhD, is an art historian and educator with professional experience in university classrooms, study abroad, curatorial departments, and museum education. He is currently the Coordinator of Internships and College Programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Andrew Mendelson is a professor and former associate dean at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at City University of New York. He is a photojournalist by training and has a prolific record of scholarship. His research focuses on the myriad ways news photographs shape society, including how the paparazzi document celebrities.

Cheri Honkala is a nationally and internationally recognized anti-poverty and human rights advocate. She has devoted most of her attention to the rise in home evictions among lower income families. She is the co-founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU), which later turned into the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC).

Acclaimed photographer, Zoe Strauss, states that her ambition is "to create an epic narrative that reflects the beauty and struggle of everyday life." Her photographs convey the economic struggles, impact of extreme weather, and the lives of residents in Philadelphia and other parts of the United States. Her work has been included in the Whitney Biennial and has had solo exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and at the International Center of Photography in New York City.

Teacher Workshop | Inspiring Civic Inquiry Through the Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle

Saturday, November 2 | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

3 PA Act 48 Hours

$20/teacher

Click here to register!

This teacher workshop will demonstrate strategies educators can use in the classroom to engage students with civic life. It is designed in conjunction with Woodmere’s exhibition, In The Moment: The Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle.

The work of Philadelphia-born photographer and activist, Harvey Finkle (born 1934), conveys the humanity of diverse cultures and the social justice movements he has engaged with throughout his career.

The workshop is designed to help teachers create learning experiences that involve:

exploring how our identities and backgrounds shape the way we see;
engaging in dialogue to explore diverse experiences and points of view;
developing critical thinking skills to consider the fairness/justice and power dynamics of social and political systems and their history;
reflecting on the ways in which people in the photographs peacefully protest injustice, persevere, and find joy and community;
imagining the future and ways in which civic life could be better and more inclusive.

Teacher materials will be distributed for classroom use. Registration is required.

Harvey: Eyes on the Struggle a Documentary Work-in-Progress Film Preview on the Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle

Thursday, November 7 | 6:30 pm

$10 (FREE, Woodmere members)

Click here to register!

Enjoy watching a “sneak preview” screening of Harvey: Eyes on the Struggle, a work-in-progress documentary film about Philadelphia’s beloved photographer Harvey Finkle. Harvey’s photography conveys the humanity of diverse cultures and the social justice movements he has engaged with throughout his career. Filmmaker Ted Lieverman chronicles Harvey’s journey as an activist and photographer, now confronting the deteriorating eyesight of his later years. A Q&A with Harvey Finkle and Ted Lieverman will follow.

The film is open captioned and the program will be interpreted in ASL.

Past Events:

Gallery Talk

Thursday, August 8 | 5:30 p.m.

with guest curator, Antongiulio Sorgini

FREE

Click here to register.

Join guest curator, Antongiulio Sorgini, in a gallery talk on the art and photography of Harvey Finkle. Sorgini will explore the unique qualities of Finkle's photography and long career capturing the hardships, sacrifices, and joys experienced by members of the diverse communities and political movements