Visitors gasp as they take in the new mural adorning VFMS’s wall. The light bounces off of each carefully placed mirror and sparkles over each glass bead. This artwork is not only for decoration, but it enlightens us as well; each of the five elements are carefully arranged showing off their brilliance. Starting at the bottom there is earth, followed by fire, then water, closely intertwined with sky, and small fragments of ether here and there sprinkled along the top. And although the art teachers and students are credited for this masterpiece, Rhoda Kahler, a resident artist was the woman and inspiration behind all of it.
“I have been creating anything and everything since I was a small child…but professionally, I have been working as an artist for the last 18 years,” she responds when questioned about her artistic life. Kahler attended York College for 2 years and then transferred to West Chester University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). She took workshops over the years with renowned artists such as Isaiah Zager, Mitch Lyons, and Jerry Bennet. But of course the question comes up as to how she ended up at Valley Forge Middle School.
Rhoda was asked to help the students by Zan Lombardo. “She visited my studio in West Chester during the Chester County Studio Tour a few years ago.” Although she has worked with other schools, Kahler admits to never having worked on such a large scale before. “[The kids]
A lot of hard work went into the mural and Rhoda says she couldn’t have done it without some great helpers, “I am very appreciative that Zan Lombardo took care of much of this along with Courtney Jaggers and Ginny Cataldi, as well as PTO Cultural Arts Ambassador, Jo Howarth and Sarah Culbert, PTO President.” Now, as students saunter past the mural with pride, feeling they have left a mark (literally) on their school, each remembers Rhoda Kahler’s gentle helping hands molding the clay, forming a path to their own tiles.
Where can her art be seen?
Besides the murals in public spaces, galleries, stores, and at juried art shows: Red Raven Gallery in Lancaster, Longwood Art Gallery in Kennett Square, The Art Trust in West Chester, Penwicks in West Chester, Chester County Art Association, Chester County Studio Tour, the San Angelo Museum of Fine Art National Juried Tile Show, and this September there will be a showing in Cleveland.
were fabulous! I loved working with the middle school students; they were enthusiastic about the project and fun to work with!”A lot of hard work went into the mural and Rhoda says she couldn’t have done it without some great helpers, “I am very appreciative that Zan Lombardo took care of much of this along with Courtney Jaggers and Ginny Cataldi, as well as PTO Cultural Arts Ambassador, Jo Howarth and Sarah Culbert, PTO President.” Now, as students saunter past the mural with pride, feeling they have left a mark (literally) on their school, each remembers Rhoda Kahler’s gentle helping hands molding the clay, forming a path to their own tiles.
Where can her art be seen?
Besides the murals in public spaces, galleries, stores, and at juried art shows: Red Raven Gallery in Lancaster, Longwood Art Gallery in Kennett Square, The Art Trust in West Chester, Penwicks in West Chester, Chester County Art Association, Chester County Studio Tour, the San Angelo Museum of Fine Art National Juried Tile Show, and this September there will be a showing in Cleveland.
"Beauty"
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