CCP Honors 60 Years of the Arts at the College

On Thursday, September 17, Community College of Philadelphia hosted the 60^th Anniversary Alumni Art Showcase, the first time an event of this nature has been held in about ten years. The showcase celebrated 60 years of the arts at the College with more than 70 pieces of artwork from more than 40 alumni artists. In addition to visual art, guests were delighted by musical performances and had the opportunity to view dance, spoken word and theater performances via video.

The evening began with light refreshments in the Mint Building Rotunda, one of the areas where artwork was on display. “As I walk through the well-designed spaces in the building, the Alumni Art Showcase is the pinnacle of so much hard work and thoughtfulness that makes CCP special,” said Thomas Heigh, a 2021 graduate whose written poetry is in the exhibition. Several of the alumni who participated shared similar sentiments about being welcomed back to campus for this purpose. “The Alumni Showcase made me feel at home, as if I hadn’t been gone for that long,” shared Aaron Milek-Williams, another member of the Class of 2021 who submitted a charcoal drawing to the exhibition.

Other participating artists reflected on the meaning of community and being part of one that so graciously supports the arts. “Being part of CCP’s 60th Anniversary Alumni Art Showcase meant so much to me because it reminded me of what art, education and community can make possible when they exist together,” said Donia Chavis, Class of 2022. “I love being surrounded by diverse people, ideas, and experiences, and there was something really special about spending an evening in a space where all of that could flow freely and joyfully.”

For Charmaine Warrington, being part of an exhibition with such a breadth of work was a highlight. “We enjoyed seeing and hearing a diverse collection of visual art,
design, sculpture, photography, music and film work in this presentation,” she said. “The variety of work was beautifully executed by Jake [Beckman, assistant professor of Art at CCP,] which moves from the Rotunda all the way down to the College Library.”

After guests were given time to explore the works in the Mint Rotunda, they were invited downstairs to the Library and Learning Commons to explore more artwork and hear from Dr. Alycia Marshall, president of CCP, and guest speaker Valerie Gay, chief Cultural officer for the City of Philadelphia. “As I look around at the art installations across the campus, I am struck by the talent and breadth of artistic expression that is featured here,” said Valerie Gay. “And it is a true testament to the robust curriculum offered here at CCP and the ways in which an education in the arts helps to enrich the lives of all.”

It’s that robust curriculum and commitment from faculty members that has made CCP’s arts programming so successful since the beginning. Gary Grissom, a member of the first art program graduating class in 1973, also spoke about the faculty that impacted him. “Attending the...60th Anniversary Alumni Art Showcase, I was pleased to see a continuum of the art education I experienced as a member of the Art curriculum’s first graduation class in 1973,” he said. “Due to a committed faculty, I received the foundation and mentoring that led to years of artmaking and exhibiting.” After graduating, Grissom worked at the College for a total of 48 years in the Audiiocisual department, designing educational media, followed by publication, design and hand-coding the College’s first website for the Marketing department.

Major themes of the evening were gratitude and pride. Artists expressed gratitude for the College and for the opportunities it creates for students, faculty, staff and alumni. “I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to participate in this year’s showcase,” said Lana Qoraan, a 2025 graduate. “CCP was my steppingstone towards success, which I’ll never forget.” The guest speaker spoke about her pride for the continued commitment to fostering connection through the arts. “I am proud that CCP, the only public open admission institution in Philadelphia, remains committed to arts in higher education,” Valerie Gay said. “To the more than 40 artists who participated, congratulations. I hope you feel proud of yourself, of your art, and of your alma mater.”

The exhibition was on display through Oct. 2 and many of the pieces included in the show are part of an ongoing silent auction. You can learn more about the showcase and the auction at ccp.edu/arts.