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PAUL F WESLEY
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by Michele Malinchak
It was spring in the year 1929. As dogwoods and forsythia bloomed along the Delaware River, a group of artists gathered at an 18th century gristmill just outside of New Hope. Pennsylvania Impressionists such as William Lathrop, John Folinsbee, Daniel Garber, George Sotter, and Fern Coppedge displayed their work in the first organized exhibit at Phillips’ Mill. At the time, they had no idea they started a tradition that has endured almost a century later.
Now held each fall, the Phillips’ Mill Juried Art Show is widely attended by art lovers and serious collectors alike. But today’s Mill is more than just a historic building and fine art show. It’s a community center that invites us to explore its diverse offerings including photography exhibits, performing arts, public forum discussions and social events.
Programs at the Mill are managed by the Phillips’ Mill Community Association, a private, nonprofit group founded in 1929. Staffed entirely by volunteers, it relies on donations to fulfill its mission of promoting the arts. The Association is housed in the original Mill between the villages of New Hope and Centre Bridge, PA. Flanked by the Delaware River, the Canal and Primrose Creek, the building juts out unexpectedly as you round the sharp curve on Rt. 32. Because it sits so close to the road, it’s often been a target for trucks, cars and school buses over the years.
Dating back to 1756, Phillips’ Mill was originally a gristmill powered by Primrose Creek. Farmers would bring their grain to be ground, sharing gossip and current events while they waited. In its own way, it was a community center of sorts. The Phillips family ran the Mill for nearly four generations until 1900 when it stopped grinding.
In 1889 the last Phillips heir, Charles, sold the Mill and 27 acres of land to Stephen Betts and his wife. Around that time, a physician from Philadelphia, Dr. George M. Marshall and his family, began to spend summers with the Betts. In 1896 Marshall purchased the property from the Betts as a country retreat and played a major role in providing a place for artists to meet.
During his youth Marshall had been a close friend of artist William Lathrop. The two met up later in life when Lathrop visited Marshall at the Mill. He was so enthralled by the natural beauty of the Delaware and its surrounds that he rented the miller’s house on the property. Already well known in the New York City art world, in 1903 Lathrop bought the miller’s house and four acres from Marshall.
The Mill became the playhouse for the Marshall and Lathrop children. The Lathrops’ Sunday afternoon teas attracted local artists and neighbors and grew into a dynamic community association. Social and cultural life flourished with lively discussions, theatrical shows, dances and parties taking place. The Lathrops’ hospitality helped bring together the rapidly growing art community and establish the New Hope art colony.
In 1928, Marshall became concerned about the future of the Mill upon his death. If it was still a private property, it could be sold to someone who might have other plans for it. A committee was organized to consider purchasing the Mill, and in 1929 enough funds were raised to buy the property from Dr. Marshall for $5,000. The Phillips’ Mill Community Association was officially formed, followed by the art, drama and forum committees.
Today’s annual art show is run by the Phillips’ Mill Art Committee chaired this year by Mary Flamer and is open to artists living within a 25-mile radius of the Mill. Laura Womack, president of Phillips’ Mill Community Association Board of Directors and chair of New Programming, said, “We want to retain the local character of the show from the wealth of artists here who we respect and value and want to highlight.”
A variety of media and styles is represented including oil painting, watercolor, drawing, mixed media and sculpture and all the art is for sale. Throughout the years, the show has retained its traditional values while introducing current trends in art, and viewers will see modern and abstract works hanging next to representational art.
The show differs from others in that it requires artists to physically submit their work rather than through slides or photographs. It’s a competitive juried show meaning that from roughly 400 submissions, approximately 95 framed pieces and 20 sculptures will be selected for the final show. A larger number of unframed pieces are also selected and displayed in portfolio boxes throughout the various rooms at the Mill. To ensure unbiased judging, jurors must live outside the area, and no one may serve for two consecutive years.
To encourage budding artists, the Youth Art Exhibition was established in 2014 to showcase the work of students. The show was started by Youth Art co-chairs Kathy Schroeher and Susan Brussock. Beginning January 29, this year’s exhibit will be online only, providing the students with a much larger audience.
Schroeher said she always hated to see the Mill unoccupied for most of the year. “Once the fall show for adults is over, it’s dead in the winter. The Youth Art Exhibition helps fill that gap.”
Each year 30 or 40 invitations are sent to high schools within a 25-mile radius of the Mill. School art teachers are in charge of selecting student artwork and the categories include paintings, works on paper, digital art and photography, and 3-Dimensional works. Former filmmaker turned artist Bill Jersey will be juror and cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
“This is a unique show in our area,” Schroeher added. “These days it’s hard for anyone to get into a school to see art and this is an opportunity to see what young people are doing."
Following the Youth Art Exhibit, the Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition takes place in April. This year’s judge will be award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Bob Krist. Unlike the art exhibits, the photography show accepts out of state and international submissions.
The idea for a show was first proposed by Spencer Saunders when he found he couldn’t enter photography in the annual art show at the Mill. Recognizing the need for change, he proposed holding photo exhibits there. In 1991, Phillips’ Mill Photo was established to celebrate and promote the fine art of photography. The annual juried photography exhibition has been held every spring since that time.
Saunders’ connection with the Mill dates back to his childhood when he played in the creek, took dance lessons there and worked backstage on theater productions. Currently chair of the Photo Committee, he’s also a board member of the Phillips’ Mill Community Association.
Drama had its early beginnings at the Mill when owner Dr. Marshall and his artist friends chopped down a few trees to build a stage. Theatrical performances continued with the arrival of William Lathrop and his wife. Today, the Drama Committee stages musicals and encourages new talent with its Emerging Playwright Competition and Premier Showcase.
The group puts on a spring show which is always an original musical comedy accompanied by live music. The plays are performed cabaret-style with the audience sitting at tables. The setting is small and intimate with a maximum capacity of 80. This year’s musical is “Marriage: What’s Love Got to Do With It,” consisting of eight comedic short plays.
Four years ago, the Emerging Playwright Competition was created to seek out new theatrical work. Playwrights living within a 100-mile radius are eligible to enter a short piece and cash prizes are awarded. There is a cap of 50 submissions which are read by three judges who ultimately choose six plays to be read aloud on the Mill stage. After each play is performed, the audience gets to comment and ask questions.
Another program begun in 2018, the Premier Showcase allows a never-before-performed play to be staged. The winning play is selected by the drama committee and then performed fully staged. The playwright is able to see firsthand how the audience reacts and can make adjustments if necessary.
“It’s worth gold to the playwright,’ said Valerie Eastburn, chair of the Drama Committee. This year’s winner, “Bleeding in B & W” by Richard Goodwin, will be performed in July.
The summer youth drama program is offered to young actors and writers aged 10-13. Children are instructed in improvisation, monologue writing and performance. A new program in the planning stage is Play With Words, a regional playwriting contest for youth ages 12-16.
Finally, the Forum Committee holds discussions on civic matters at the Mill. First proposed by Dr. Marshall’s son, Thomas, in 1936, the first forum took place in 1937 on the subject of world peace. Today’s discussions often center around current events. Since the pandemic the forums have been on hold, but the committee hopes to restart them this year.
Over the years the Mill has faced many challenges, including flooding of the nearby river and canal, a fire and the current pandemic. The latter has forced the group to adapt by replacing some in-person shows with virtual exhibitions, which in one way, has allowed them to reach more people.
An online series called ArtTalk was created which features live conversations with artists, curators, playwrights and more. Hosted by Laura Womack, the program takes place two Sundays a month from five to six p.m. Past shows can be viewed on the Phillips’ Mill YouTube channel or on phillipsmill.org.
“The pandemic reinvented us, and we’re excited about the future,” Womack said. “There is more innovation to achieve our main goal— asking artists how they can best be supported.”
Another feature on the Mill’s website is Beyond the Frame in which artists are invited to showcase their art in 30 to 60 second videos. The juried virtual exhibition is judged by artist Kelly Sullivan.
In addition, Artist Spotlights feature online stories behind the work of local artists.
Phillips’ Mill means many things to people of different backgrounds and interests. In a book on the Mill, Celebrating 75 Years of Art, author and historian Terry A. McNealy wrote, “Whether or not a person is interested in the arts themselves, cultural institutions add a quality of life to their surroundings that are readily measurable.”
As the Mill continues to grow and evolve with changing times, it remains steadfast in its goal to promote the arts and preserve the artistic and cultural heritage of Bucks County. Long ago it was a social hub for farmers who brought their grain to be ground. Today it still remains a gathering place for the community.
Spencer Saunders said, “This is literally the birthplace of the arts in our area. The New Hope School of Painting was rooted in the 93-year legacy of the Phillips’ Mill. In my opinion, the Bucks County Playhouse and even the Michener Museum in Doylestown would not be here without the artistic creativity, patron support, and volunteer dedication of the Phillips’ Mill.”
To learn more about the Phillips’ Mill, become a member or sign up for their newsletter, “The Grist,” visit www.phillipsmill.org.
Michele Malinchak is a freelance writer who has a degree in art and enjoys oil painting.