Polly Apfelbaum's Gene Davis Tribute and Pattern Book Exhibition Span Philadelphia and New York

Polly Apfelbaum, an experimental painter known for floor works, has created two distinct exhibitions in 2014. At Temple Contemporary in Philadelphia, she collaborated with recent Tyler School of Art graduate Dan Cole on "For the Love of Gene Davis," an immersive installation running from May 13 to July 11. This project references Color Field painter Gene Davis's 1972 monumental work "Franklin's Footpath" along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which Apfelbaum encountered as a student. The installation features a striped wool rug designed by Apfelbaum and crafted by artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, alongside matching wallpaper. Cole contributed music and video through his band Revedog for the opening and designed an exhibition poster combining images of himself and a young Apfelbaum with Time Magazine's coverage of Davis. Simultaneously, Apfelbaum's solo exhibition "Handweaver's Pattern Book" is on view at Clifton Benevento gallery in SoHo, New York, through August 8 at 515 Broadway. Apfelbaum was honored as Tyler School of Art's 2013 Distinguished Alumna, participating in a mentorship program that paired her with Cole, who earned his BFA in 2010. The Philadelphia Museum of Art's Department of Urban Outreach originally sponsored Davis's large-scale painting, which left a lasting impression on Apfelbaum. She discussed this influence during a recent lecture at Temple University, where Tyler School of Art is now incorporated.