“Abundance” (2025), acrylic and collage, Kenoka Wagner
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.