Presented by: PFAF
When: Thursday 4th, 5pm-6pm
*By invitation only – RSVP required
PFAF (Philadelphia Fine Arts Fair) Outstanding Philadelphia Artist Award is given to Dina Wind for a lifetime commitment to her own artistic practice, and to the Philadelphia cultural community.
Dina Wind (1938-2014) was born and raised in Israel. She moved to Philadelphia with her husband Jerry and sons John and Lee in 1967.
She received a BA in Communications from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a Master of Arts in Aesthetics and Communications from the Annenberg School, University of Pennsylvania. She also completed the two year course in art appreciation taught by Violette DeMazia at the Barnes Foundation, Merion PA.
Crushed Elements #3, 1988 48x31x14”
In the early 1970’s she began painting, studying with Sam Feinstein (himself a student of Hans Hoffman) and later with Philadelphia artist Tom Gaughan. In 1978 she discovered welded metal sculpture, studying with Leon Sitarchuk at the Cheltenham Art Center, and it was then that her work found its fullest expression. Finding beauty in scrap metal, Dina created singular abstract compositions she likened to ‘drawing in space’. An early up-cycler, her work dealt with the environment as well as with purely formal, aesthetic concerns.
Gentleman, 1986 Carbon Steel 91x57x20”
Big Brooch 2, 1986 carbon steel 41x35x26”
As a member of Nexus Gallery, Philadelphia and Viridian Gallery, New York, she had a dozen solo shows and participated in over one hundred juried and group exhibitions over a four decade career, winning numerous awards along the way.
Crushed Elements #2, 1988 48x31x14”
Simultaneously, Dina developed a deep connection to numerous Philadelphia organizations committed to art and art education. She sat on the boards of Fleisher Art Memorial, Relache New Music Ensemble, The Arts and Business Council, Philadelphia Sculptors, and the Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With Jerry she was a passionate patron of the arts, collecting the work of both Philadelphia and internationally known artists, subscribing to a dozen performing arts subscriptions annually, and attending cultural events large and small with dedication and enthusiasm
She sadly passed away from ovarian cancer in 2014 at the age of 76. The following year, Bridgette Mayer Gallery began representing her estate and showing her work.
Woodmere Art Museum, Chestnut Hill PA and the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College have also presented solo exhibitions. Monumental enlargements of her sculpture have been commissioned and installed at Woodmere and at Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton NJ. Her work is also in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Reading Public Museum, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Penn Medicine, The West Collection, IDC Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya Israel and many private collections.
In 2018 the Dina Wind Art Foundation was created with a mission to preserve and disseminate Dina Wind’s art; and to support Philadelphia-area artists (with a focus on female sculptors) and the arts through scholarships, commissions, lectures and other charitable activities. All net sales of Dina’s art will directly support the Foundation’s mission.
Dina Welding Helmet, 1980
Show Hours
Thursday, October 22nd
Opening Night Preview
5pm to 9pm
Friday, October 23rd
Show Hours | 12pm to 8pm
Saturday, October 24th
Show Hours | 11am to 6pm
Sunday, October 25th
Show Hours | 11am to 4pm
Ample public parking lots nearby
Show Venue
The 23rd Street Armory is Historic and Easily Accessible Location
Ideally situated between the two main streets in Philadelphia, Market and Chestnut, the historic and well known 23rd St. City Troop Armory is just walking distance from the city’s central train station (Amtrak’s 30th St. Station) and on a major exit street from Route 676, the cross-town expressway. Learn more.