“Dark Into Light,” mixed media by Bernadette McBride (Credit: BCCC)
(The following press release was provided verbatim by Bucks County Community College)
Is it nature — or nurture — that sparks creativity? That ageless question will be addressed by the Hicks Art Center Gallery exhibition “The Creative Genes” now through Feb. 28 at Bucks County Community College.
The exhibition presents historic and contemporary artworks and writing from four groups of artists who are directly related as siblings or family members. The pieces are from individual artists, as well as Moravian Archives, the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art (PFFCAAA), and the Volta Center for Writing Arts.
The artists all shared their experiences and exposures to positive environments which fostered their creative growth. In addition, writers participating in the “Mapping the Headwaters” workshop at the Volta Center for Writing Arts at the College reveal their thoughts of creative lineage. A booklet compiling the workshop results will be available for free.
Visitors will have a rare opportunity to see pieces drawn from artist studios, archives, and collections specifically for this exhibition, some of which have not been widely exhibited before.
The works in the exhibition provide a deeper understanding of relationships between the concepts of nature and nurture in artmaking from a variety of viewpoints, according to Clifford Eberly, the Hicks Art Center Gallery Exhibitions Associate and the curator.
He said “The Creative Genes” represents his ongoing interest in the necessity to establish safe, creative environments for people to develop positive mental and physical practices through art.
“I felt in love with this piece of you,” a 2017 work in acrylic on fabric over wood panel in an antique frame by Lezley Saar (Credit: BCCC)
“Montmirail” ca. 1856, graphite on paper by Agnes Clara Frueauff (Credit: BCCC)
“Abundance,” a 2025 acrylic and collage on canvas by Kenoka Wagner (Credit: BCCC)“The absolute key to developing creativity is access to supportive, positive environments,” said Eberly. “You may have parents and grandparents on both sides who were or are creative, but without constructive environments, creativity is less likely to develop. I believe it is vitally important to provide people with tools for creative agency, to improve our collective well-being.”
Participating visual artists include:
· Friedrich Renatus Frueauff and daughter Agnes Clara Frueauff
· Sisters Bernadette McBride and Constance McBride
· Betye Saar and daughters Alison Saar and Lezley Saar
· Carl Wagner and son Kenoka Wagner
An opening reception will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 3. The reception will feature a poetry reading at 5:30 p.m., led by artist and former Bucks County Poet Laureate Bernadette McBride, whose artwork is exhibited alongside that of her sister, Constance McBride.
In addition, the Hicks Art Center is hosting two Family and Friends Creative Lineage Workshops from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 13 and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16. Attendees will be guided to mine their memory to create art and poetry that reflects their connections to relatives and loved ones. Materials will be supplied. Registration is required by emailing [email protected] Admission to all events is free. To learn more, visit hicksgallery.bucks.edu and follow on Instagram at @bcccartscomm
The Hicks Art Center is located on the east end of the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For directions and a campus map, visit bucks.edu/newtown
“The Creative Genes” is supported by the College’s Cultural Affairs Committee and presented by the College’s School of Arts and Communication, which offers eight associate degrees and two certificate programs. Through coursework, exhibitions, and community engagement, the school prepares students for careers in the arts and inspires appreciation for creative expression. To learn more, visit bucks.edu/arts, email [email protected], or call 215-968-8425.
About the Hicks Art Center Gallery
The Hicks Art Center Gallery provides curated art exhibitions and related programming in support of the School of Arts and Communication and as an important educational and cultural resource for students and the community. The gallery’s mission is to inspire critical thinking and an understanding of art’s role in culture and society through firsthand interaction with original works of art.
About Moravian Archives
Moravian Archives collects and preserves records and historical materials of Moravians in North America and make them available to the public. (from the website, moravianchurcharchives.org)
About the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African-American Art
The Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African-American Art Brings Focus to the Full Range of African-American Art, Aiming to Reconcile the Divide Separating Black Art from the American Canon. (from the website, petruccifamilyfoundation.org)
About the Volta Center for Writing Arts
We wish to cultivate an inviting space for writers to discover and deepen their individual voices while honoring tradition and encouraging experimentation through interdisciplinary and hybrid creativity. We believe poetry, writing, and the arts are at the heart of realizing and strengthening connections within communities and celebrating imagination. We welcome writers at all stages of artistic development to bring individual works and collaborations to life. (from the website, voltawritingcenter.org)
About Bucks County Community College
Founded in 1964, Bucks County Community College is a two-year, public institution offering more than 90 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate, as well as many workforce training programs on campus, on site, or online. Successful graduates directly launch a career or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree, depending on the major. Classes are offered on campus in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, and worldwide through Bucks Online. To learn more, visit bucks.edu.
