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Explore Nature vs. Nurture with ‘The Creative Genes’ Exhibition
The show Dec. 3 – Feb. 28 features artists who are directly related; free events include opening reception Dec. 3 and ‘Creative Lineage’ workshops Dec. 13 and 16 Is it nature — or nurture — that sparks creativity? That ageless question will be addressed by the Hicks Art Center Gallery exhibition “The Creative Genes” December 3 through February 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.
“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 gallery@bucks.edu
Admission to all events is free. To learn more, visit the Hicks Gallery web page and follow on Instagram.
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 our Newtown Campus web page.
“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 the School of Arts web page, email arts.comm@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8425.
Bucks County Community College Welcomes British Delegation
It’s not every day that a community college plays host to an entourage of international dignitaries.
But it’s also not every day that a community college offers students a chance to transfer overseas to complete their bachelor’s degree.
Bucks County Community College, which recently finalized a transfer agreement with Wrexham University in Wales, hosted members of the British Parliament (MPs) and others on Wednesday, November 19 to highlight the new partnership.
The special guests included six MPs who serve on the British Parliament’s Welsh Affairs Committee, including Andrew Ranger, MP, Wrexham; representatives of the British Consulate-General New York, and staff from the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia. In addition, state and local elected officials, and several leaders from the County of Bucks were in attendance, as well as executives and students from the College.
"We're delighted by the launch of this new international transfer agreement between Wales's Wrexham University and Pennsylvania's Bucks County Community College, which provides flexibility for business students and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in Wales," said Mel Lawrance, UK Deputy Consul General to New York. "The deep ties between the UK and Pennsylvania in education, research and cultural exchange continue to empower young people and future leaders on both sides of the Atlantic."
Attending remotely from Wales was Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Wrexham University, whose campus overlooks the stadium for Wrexham AFC, the soccer club made famous by the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary series. Yates said the university is delighted to develop this exciting partnership between Wrexham University and Bucks County Community College.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and civic engagement — values at the heart of Wrexham University’s vision to become a world-leading modern civic university by 2030,” said Yates. “By strengthening the connections between Wrexham and Philadelphia, we are building bridges that enrich learning, research, and cultural exchange, creating opportunities for students and communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Together, we will advance our strategic goals of global collaboration and transformative education, strengthening the ties between our city and one of America’s most dynamic educational hubs.”
Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones said the agreement with Wrexham University shows the College’s commitment to meeting students’ needs.
“At Bucks, we are in the business of changing lives and helping students become actively engaged citizens,” said Jones. “This partnership will help our students broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in another culture and educational community. Completing one’s baccalaureate studies at Wrexham will not just be another transfer opportunity — it will be a life-changing experience.”
The College’s first international transfer agreement allows Bucks County Community College business administration graduates to earn their bachelor’s degree at Wrexham University in only one year abroad, with the option to earn an accelerated MBA in one additional year abroad.
Bucks County Community College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones welcomed members of the British Parliament and other dignitaries to the Newtown Campus November 19 to share information about the new transfer partnership with Wrexham University in Wales. It’s the first-ever international transfer partnership for the community college, which allows Bucks graduates to complete their bachelor’s degree at Wrexham University in just one year abroad. (Credit: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, attended a meeting remotely from Wales November 19 to discuss the new international transfer agreement with Bucks County Community College. An entourage of six members of the British Parliament, along with staff from the British Consulate-General New York, the British-American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, local elected officials and others took part in the special meeting in historic Tyler Hall on the Newtown Campus. (Credit: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Tracy Timby, Vice President of Workforce and Strategic Partnerships at Bucks County Community College, discusses a new international transfer agreement with Wrexham University in Wales with Mary Glassman Jones of the Welsh Society of Philadelphia. They were attending a special meeting about the new partnership November 19 that featured six members of the British Parliament along with local elected officials at the Newtown Campus. (Credit: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Andrew Ranger, Member of Parliament – Wrexham (left), and Ruth Jones, Member of Parliament – Newport West and Islwyn, presented Bucks County Community College President & CEO Dr. Patrick Jones with a special gift in celebration of the College’s new transfer agreement with Wrexham University in Wales. The two MPs were among six members of the Welsh Affairs Committee who visited the Newtown Campus to learn more about the agreement, which allows BCCC graduates to complete a bachelor’s degree in just one year abroad in the Welsh town made famous by the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary series. (Credit: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Holocaust Survivor to Speak on Being a Hidden Child in France
What’s in a name? For Ruth Kapp Hartz, it was a matter of life and death during World War II. The subject of the book “Your Name is Renée: Ruth Kapp Hartz’s Story as a Hidden Child in Nazi-Occupied France” by Stacy Cretzmeyer, will speak at Bucks County Community College at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 13.
The free event takes place in person in the Gallagher Room on the Newtown campus and will also be streamed live online. It’s presented by the School of Social and Behavioral Science and the Holocaust and Genocide Studies certificate program, in collaboration with the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center.
As it was dangerous to use her real name, Hartz’s family changed her name to Renée, and she learned at a young age how to conceal her identity so she would be safe from the Nazis. Her family fled from one place to another and were forced to separate, sending young Ruth to an orphanage. She did not know during the war what had happened to her family until France was liberated.
Hartz will be joined in-person by co-writers David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans, who will perform some excerpts from their musical “Hidden” based on Hartz’s story.
“We’re so grateful to welcome Ruth Hartz and the creators of ‘Hidden’ to share this moving story with our college community,” said Paula Raimondo, professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. “Hearing directly from a survivor helps us deepen our understanding of humanity and justice today.”
Raimondo added that the College’ s Holocaust and Genocide Studies program — the only certificate of its kind offered at a community college in the state — “reflects our commitment to making this critical learning accessible to all and to empowering our community to stand against prejudice, indifference, and hate.”
The program is presented thanks to a generous donation in memory of Charles and Janet Stern.
The Gallagher Room is located inside the Rollins Center building on the Newtown Campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For directions and a campus map, visit the Newtown Campus web page. Register to watch the event live online via Zoom.
For those interested in a deeper dive into the subject, the course Rescue and Resistance (course code HGNS 140) will be offered online this Spring semester starting February 9, Raimondo noted.
“Students will explore why some people help while others ‘stand by’ as well as the varied forms that resistance can take, and how these powerful responses to genocide and human suffering can help us better understand both our past and present,” said Raimondo.
For more information about the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Certificate program at Bucks County Community College, including current course offerings, contact the School of Social and Behavioral Science at sb@bucks.edu or 215-968-8270.
Natural Beauty Abounds at ‘Art That Blooms’ Festival in Newtown
Fourth annual collaboration between floral design program and art students takes place November 15 – 16 at Bucks County Community College Take in the beauty of nature combined with artistic creativity at the fourth annual “Art That Blooms” festival Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown.
The theme of the two-day event, which is free and open to the public, is “Fusion: Where art and flowers collide.” One of the highlights will be floral designs created by the College’s floral design students inspired by 12 works of art created by students in the College’s School of Arts and Communication on display in the Hicks Art Center Gallery.
In addition, dozens of floral showpiece entries will line the halls of the Hicks Art Center. The stunning showpiece floral displays will be interspersed with incredible paintings, beautiful glass sculptures, and rich wood working.
The festival includes demonstrations by both the School of Arts and Communication as well as the Continuing Education Department floral design team, students and alumni. Demonstrations take place every half hour, and free “make-and-take sessions” will be available.
“A crowd favorite treat throughout the weekend are the make-and-take sessions that we have for both kids and adults,” said Renee Tucci, one of the floral design instructors at the College and national president of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). “We have doubled the number of spots that we will offer for these sessions, but there is still limited seating. A sign-up sheet to participate will be posted one-hour prior to the start.”
New this year is a “makers market” fair selling handmade arts and crafts, featuring 10 vendors. A snack stand will also be available.
“Art That Blooms” takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 15, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 16. An awards ceremony takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, announcing the winners in the categories of “Showpiece,” “Designer of the Year,” and “People’s Choice.” To learn more, visit our Art That Blooms web page.
The free festival takes place in the Hicks Art Center, located on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit our Newtown Campus web page. For more information, email coned@bucks.edu.
Madeline Marriott of Holland Named Bucks County Poet Laureate
Madeline Marriott, a freelance journalist and independent bookseller, has unique body art: the closing line from a meaningful poem inked on her arm.
“I take my poetry very seriously,” the Holland resident said with a light laugh. “I’ve got it tattooed on me.”
That devotion to the written word has led Marriott to being named the 2025 Bucks County Poet Laureate by officials at Bucks County Community College. Marriott, at age 23 the second-youngest laureate in the 49-year history of the contest, rose to the top of 65 entries, according to Professor Ethel Rackin, Ph.D., the program director.
Marriott will be celebrated with a reading and reception at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15, in Tyler Hall on the College’s Newtown Campus, joined by 2024 Bucks County Poet Laureate Lake Angela, and preliminary contest judge Nicole Greaves.
The judges also selected three unranked runners-up who have also been invited to read November 15. They are Tricia Coscia of Morrisville, Annika Crawford of Washington Crossing, and Lynn Fanok of Perkasie.
Marriott, who placed as a runner-up last year when she first entered the contest, says the monthly poetry groups that meet at the Newtown Bookshop where she works have been an incredible inspiration. In fact, the poet who runs the workshops – Lynn Fanok – is a runner-up this year.
“I feel so honored, since I’m around poets from the area all the time at the bookshop, and they’ve been so helpful to me,” said Marriott. “I’m relatively new to this area’s poetry group, and to writing poetry and putting my work out there, so having their wisdom is just awesome.”
But Marriott, who holds a bachelor's degree in English from Lafayette College in Easton and is pursuing a master’s degree in writing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, is not new to writing. She recalls writing stories on her desktop computer as a kid, and her dad, who was also an English major, instilling an early appreciation of the written word by reading Robert Frost’s poems to her.
The poems Marriott submitted to the contest contain themes of love, heartbreak, change, and relationships.
“I write a lot about my own experience, such as the young-adult transition into being an adult,” said Marriott. “I also write about being a witness to the difficult things my friends are going through as well.”
Her poetry’s reflection of both herself and others stood out to the final judge, poet Jennifer Tseng, who noted that Marriott’s poems bring to mind the ambigram – a word that can be oriented two ways for a different meaning – of “me/we.”
“Here the ‘me’ is always connected to another; the ‘me’ is always part of a ‘we,’” said Tseng. ”Sonically subtle and satisfying, these are the poems of someone who has the power to see the ‘we’ everywhere, in everything.”
Marriott, who co-founded the English Club and the yearly Poetry Slam at Lafayette College, has had her poems appear in the Turning Leaf Journal, Engine Idling, and more. Her first children’s book will be published in May. When she's not reading or writing, she stays busy coaching kindergarten and first-grade soccer, watching Philadelphia sports teams, and hunting for the best latte in town.
The Bucks County Poet Laureate reading and reception takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15, in historic Tyler Hall, located on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940. Admission and parking are free.
Established in 1977, the Bucks County Poet Laureate Program is the longest continuously running poet laureate program in Pennsylvania. It’s coordinated by the College’s School of Language and Literature under the direction of Professor Ethel Rackin. Past laureates continue to give back through Poet Laureate Community Projects and the Volta Center for Writing Arts, housed at the College’s Newtown Campus Library.
BCCC & the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Present Two World-Class Artists
Bucks County Community College, which has been bringing world-renown performers to Newtown for 60 years, presents a series of classical guitarists in concert this season.
“By partnering with the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, we can bring a unique opportunity to experience world-class artistry in the suburbs,” said Peter Chiovarou, director of Community Programming and College Events. “It’s an amazing chance to hear international performers of this caliber right here at Bucks.”
The next performance takes place at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 8, with Adam Cicchillitti, an award-winning Canadian guitarist known for his luminous tone and inventive programming. Classical Guitar magazine called him “a virtuoso at the top of his game” and CBC music described him as an “ardent ambassador for classical guitar,” including him on their list of the top 30 musicians in Canada under 30 years old.
The season continues at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 6 with Leonela Alejandro, a rising star from Puerto Rico whose spirited performances have been praised for their warmth, precision, and expressive power. Winner of the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Alejandro has garnered attention as a soloist, captivating audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style, and has performed throughout the United States and Europe.
Save the dates for two more Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society events in the spring semester, featuring David Leisner on Saturday, January 31, and Laura Snowden on Saturday, March 7.
All performances take place in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on Bucks’ Newtown Campus, located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa., where there’s ample free parking. Tickets are $27 – free for BCCC students with current ID – and are available online.
The classical guitar concerts are part of the Bucks Live! series of innovative programs that entertain, inspire, and enrich Bucks County’s cultural landscape. For a full schedule of Bucks Live! performances this season, visit the Zlock Performing Arts Center website.
