Reviving Creativity: Thunderbird Salvage Brings Art Back to Students from the Former University of the Arts

PHILADELPHIA — A year after the unexpected closure of the University of the Arts, a new venture is breathing life into its old space. Thunderbird Salvage, led by George Mathes, is on a mission to reunite thousands of abandoned artworks and artifacts with their creators.

Stepping into the empty halls of the university, Mathes felt like he had uncovered a treasure chest. “We need to save everything we can,” he recalls, emphasizing the urgency of their work. Over the past weeks, his team has filled truckloads with treasures: sculptures, self-portraits, and more.

Much of the rescued material included student portfolios and valuable art supplies like unopened clay and easels. Mathes noted, “It’s good stuff—items with a lot of love still in them.” This weekend will mark the beginning of pop-up sales at his new location, Thunderbird Hall, where attendees will dig through bins of art looking for hidden gems.

The University of the Arts has a rich history, being one of the oldest arts schools in the nation, founded in the 1870s. Mathes, himself an artist, feels a deep connection to the artworks, saying, “I know what it takes to make this stuff. This is important.”

He is not doing this for money; he feels a calling to preserve the university’s legacy. “Nobody has to do this, but I have to do this,” he states passionately.

On August 16, students and staff can reclaim their personal artwork for free, starting at 10 a.m., with the public invited later in the day. The sale will continue every weekend until all the artwork is gone.

For more details, check the Thunderbird Hall’s Instagram.



Source link

Thunderbird Salvage on Frankford Avenue reuniting artwork with students from shuttered University of the Arts school building, 17524345