Public Art Community Engagement Exhibit Kicks Off with Opening Reception, Artist Talks 

Five local artists have entered the last phase of the Public Art Community Engagement (PACE) Neighbors program with the opening of “Welcome to the Neighborhood,” a group exhibition representing each artist’s different story in Lancaster city, all grounded in diversity, equality and inclusion.  

Work by Shauna Yorty, Libby Modern, Dominique Jordan, Teatro Paloma and Matty Geez is now on display at the Rothman Gallery at Franklin & Marshall’s Phillips Museum of Art. An opening reception will be held on Feb. 9 at 4:30 p.m., followed by an artist talk on March 2 at 4:30 p.m.  

PACE Neighbors is a dedicated program designed to support local artists in creating community-based art projects. Focusing on the concept of community building, public art encourages participation and fosters camaraderie. The City of Lancaster is dedicated to discovering new ways to reach people, learn from them, and collectively redevelop the civic experience.  

The residency supports five artists to create temporary art projects to envision the future of their neighborhood and their city: 

Shauna Yorty 
“Neighbors of Mussertown” 

There is nothing more important than connection. In a world so divided and sick, healing comes directly through community connection. Humans are social animals and we all are naturally drawn to and capable of healing through loving connection with others. This is how we grow and heal ourselves, each other, and the world. If I can provide that service through my work, I know I’m living my life’s purpose and am exactly where I’m meant to be. I have found working together on projects, sharing our stories, listening, and playing together to be powerful tools to this end. 

Libby Modern 
“Welcome to the (analog) Neighborhood” 

Explores how we think and use our neighborhood in light of this era of technological saturation—how screens and media affect our attention, dictate how we spend our time, and take over our interactions. Through a series of surprising, curious, and unconventional installations, events, surveys, performances in and around my studio in the West End, I’ve worked to reintroduce my neighbors to the beauty and magic of their neighborhood— the people in it, the spaces, and the small, magical things we often miss when we are connecting only via screens. 

Sir Dominique Jordan 
“Woke Up, Had to Get the BlockRite” 

Co-founder of Tru2You and curator of The Block Rite Program is known for his activism, spoken word poetry, and community leadership and has been serving his neighborhood and surrounded areas for over a decade now. The Block Rite Program was developed to beautify Lancaster City, build neighborly relationships, and empower young children and adults in a brand-new way. 

Teatro Paloma 
“Relatos: The Power of Story-Relating” 

Teatro Paloma is a Lancaster based LatinX theatre company that seeks to represent the rich cultural identities and talents of the LatinX population through plays and originally devised works in both English and Spanish. The company strives to be a creative hub to equip generations of LatinX performers for the purposes of supporting individual members and shaping our surrounding arts community. 

Matty Geez 
“Desert Oasis” 

Representing the LGBTQ+ community lives in the realm of sculptures. His works verge on the edge of fantastic while holding onto familiar botanical shapes. Juxtaposition of hard and soft along with use of color explores gender identities and breaking the binary. 

As a cohort, the artists had the opportunities to connect with each other and are provided various resources to augment their own work. Information gleaned from this residency will inform the City’s upcoming comprehensive plan while contributing to neighborhood pride and sense of place.  

PACE Neighbors was announced in August 2021, with work commencing last January. The program will conclude in April with the close of the exhibit.  

PACE Neighbors is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; Franklin & Marshall College; The City of Lancaster’s Comprehensive Plan, the Lancaster County Community Foundation; the High Family Foundation; and the Rick and Gail Gray Fund. 

For more information about the artists, as well as PACE Neighbors, please visit www.cityoflancasterpa.gov/pace.