Read for the Sky
by Susan Davitti Darling and J. Nathan Matias

Read for the Sky is a literacy-promotion sculpture proposal adapted from the pre-made kite forms provided by the Harrisburg Arts Council. It depicts a child climbing out of a book on the kite string, toward a smiling sun. His path is marked by yellow flags reading, "Read," "Imagine," "Reach," and "Achieve." The open book will feature a collage of illustrations, titles, and pages from literature and folk stories.

DESIGN

The boy will be made from wood painted black and will be affixed to the "string" and the book. The flags will hang from metal rods which have been bolted/clamped to the "string." The rods will have round ends to deter harmful poking. The tail of the kite will be made from colored tyvek affixed to a 1/4" steel rod which has been shaped to simulate flight.

The book at the base will consist of wire-formed paper-mache which has been clearcoated/sealed.

Susan Davitti Darling
P.O. Box 22
Maytown, PA 17550
(717) 426-4349
sjdarart@aol.com
www.davittidarling.com
 
EDUCATION
Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, 1976 - Associates Degree
Pennsylvania School of Art and Design, Marietta, Pennsylvania
Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania, 1991 - BA in Commercial Art

EXHIBITS
2005 Fragments, Lynden Gallery, Elizabethtown PA
2005 Doshi Exhibit at Whitaker Center of the Arts and Science, “To the Edge of the Word”
2004 Group Doshi of the Susquehanna Art Museum “Yin-Yang”, Penn State Harrisburg
2004 Around Red (8 Originals) Exhibit, Central Market Art Gallery
2004 Rottler Award Exhibit: York Art Association, York PA
2003 Seitz Gallery, Art walk Harrisburg PA
2003 Group Doshi of the Susaquehanna Art Museum

2002 In and out of the Box, 8 Oringinals’ Exhibit YAA
2001 York Art Association, York PA
2001 East Meets West, Gypsy Hill Gallery, Lititz, PA
2000, Four Color Separates, Lancaster County Art Association
2000 Central Market Art Gallery, Summer Showcase
1999 Elizabethtown College, Spring Festival of the Arts
1998 Mulberry Art Studio, A-musing exhibit
1997 York Art Association, York, PA
1997 YorkArts, Our Vanishing Landscape
1996 Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
1995 Harrisburg Area Community College, Lebanon Campus, Lebanon PA
1995 Elizabethtown College, Shiner/Darling Exhibit, Hess Gallery
1994 Lancaster County Art Association, Smith/Darling Exhibit, Lancaster PA

AWARDS
2005 2nd Place, Lancaster County Art Association, Surprise! Exhibition
2004 Honorable Mention, York Art Association Winter Member show
2004 Second Place, Art Association of Harrisburg,
         Gardens and Greenery: A Celebration of the City Beautiful Movement
2003 Judges’ Choice Award, Landis Woods Outdoor Art Show
2003 Rottler Award for Visual Excellence, York Art Association
2003 Honorable Mention, York Art Association, Spring Member Show
2002 First Place, York Art Association, Winter Member Show
2002 Elizabethtown College, 9/11 exhibit, Purchase Award
2002 Honorable Mention, Regional Art Exhibit, Mechanicsburg, PA
2001 Third Place, Lancaster County Impressions Exhibit, LCAA
2001 First Place, Blue Exhibit, Lancaster County Art Association
2000 Honorable Mention, Rottler Exhibition, York Art Association
1999 Judges Choice, Lancaster County Art Association Annual Outdoor Exhibition
1999 Honorable Mention, Garden Exhibition, LCAA
1997 Second Place, Pastels, Juried Awards Exhibition, York Art Association
1997 First Place, Lancaster Impressions Exhibition, LCAA
1996 Honorable Mention, Winter Membership exhibition, York Art Association
1996 Honorable Mention, Spring Membership show, York Art Association
1996 Third Place, Sentimental Journey Exhibition, Lancaster County Art Association
1994 Judges Choice, Lititz Outdoor Art Show, Lititz PA
1994 Annual Juried Spring Art Exhibit, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown PA
         Best of Show and Purchase Award
1994 Fall Member Exhibit, LCAA, Lancaster, PA, First Place
1993 Annual Juried Spring Art Exhibit, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA
         First Place

PUBLISHED WORKS
1998 Women Artists Date book, Syracuse Cultural Workers, Syracuse, NY
1999 Women Artists’ Date book, Syracuse Cultural Workers, Syracuse, NY
2000 Nissley Vineyards, Created artwork for holiday wine labels.
2003 Woman Artist’s Date book, Syracuse Cultural Workers, Syracuse, NY
2003 Courage Cards, Minneapolis, MN
2003 Nissley Vineyards, Fruit Wine Labels

ASSOCIATIONS
Lancaster Museum of Art
York Art Association
YorkArts
Art Association of Harrisburg
Susquehanna Art Museum


jnm@rubberpaw.com
www.rubberpaw.com

EDUCATION
Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania. Bachelor of Arts.
EXHIBITS/AWARDS
2005 Permanent exhibit collection of Elizabethtown College High Library
2005 1st Place, Elizabethtown College Juried Student Art Show
2004 National Collegiate Honors Conference, New Orleans