Allentown, PA (December 2, 2016) On December 7, Building 21 Allentown High School will host an Unveiling Ceremony of a Paul Harryn painting which was commissioned specifically for the high school. Harryn will attend the ceremony that takes place at 8:45 a.m. with students, administrators, staff, and community leaders.
The 4’ x 8’ painting, Apollo and Muses No. 2, is a large photograph of Paul Harryn’s original Apollo and Muses No. 1 painting mounted on a wood panel where he later added layers of acrylic paint, glazes, and ink. Apollo’s surface is studded with reflective shards and sealed with a signature Harryn epoxy finish.
A casual observer may consider this painting itself to be the gift, but the real gift to the students, according to Harryn, is to be found in understanding the symbolism of this work. Throughout millennia, the Muses have come to represent the emergence of inspiration – that elusive “Eureka moment” when men and women of all disciplines finally break through to a boundless wellspring of creative energy. Understanding this painting through its implicit mythologies provides the students of Building 21 daily access to this wealth of inspiration and connection to a much larger heritage of creative partnerships.
The painting was commissioned and donated by Lehigh Valley philanthropist and long-time supporter of the Arts, Joan Miller Moran, whose family has provided the community with such Arts entities as the Miller Symphony Hall.
Building 21 Allentown High School is located at 265 Lehigh Street, Allentown.
About Allentown School District
ASD serves more than 17,000 students in a network of 22 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools located throughout the City of Allentown, PA. The Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. A shared vision of the community, parents, guardians, staff and faculty focuses on “Empowering Students for Life,” providing ASD students with the skills and academics they need to realize their aspirations whether they be college, career or technical focus. ASD goals are aligned and compatible with the Pathways to Success Framework while providing a balanced education to all students. Allentown School District employs approximately 2,200 teachers, staff and administrators. The District, founded in 1866, serves students from 43 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent of households qualifying as low income. ASD is committed to providing safe learning environments in which all students have equal access to education programs and resources.
Information provided by:
Kimberly Golden Benner
Director of Communications
Allentown School District
