Artist Statement

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Man has not yet subdued nature in reality or in the imagination.

Painting the forest and the landscape is a spiritual and material activity in harmony with birth, growth, death, re-birth, light, darkness, isolation and communion.

My work presents the spirit of the materiality of paint so that memories of places become expressions of feeling and meaning.

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Artist Bio

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Deborah Gross-Zuchman, a Philadelphia painter, was an Art Demonstration Teacher and taught in the Philadelphia Public Schools for thirty-five years. She also worked as a Project Manager for the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program for several years. Gross-Zuchman paints en plein air and from her imagination. She explores the fine line between landscape and abstraction.  

A book of her poems and paintings, Windows Into War (A Mother’s Lament), is published by Abingdon Square Publishers, NY

The Essential Seder, a Passover Haggadah, has an emphasis on social justice and freedom and is illustrated with her collages. It is published by Behrman House Publishing.

Becky’s Braids, written by Susan Weiss and illustrated by Gross-Zuchman is a story about a little girl with the messiest hair until her grandmother comes to visit and teaches her to make braided challah.

Effectations is about  man’s isolation and search for meaning. Deborah’s paintings are alongside her son Will’s poetry and is available upon request.

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Education

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1982
Goddard Graduate Program at Norwich University, Norwich, VT
M.A. Painting

1969
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
B.A. Liberal Arts

Teaching Experience

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Senior Career Teacher, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

1992 - 2004
Art Demonstration Teacher, William Penn High School, Philadelphia, PA

1974-1992
Art Teacher, Olney Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA

1973-1974
Art Teacher, Barrett Junior High School, Philadelphia, PA

1972-1973
Lincoln High School, Philadelphia, PA; Art Teacher,

1969-1971
Art Teacher, Harding Junior High School, Philadelphia, PA

Accomplishments in Education

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Mentored Temple University Art Student Teachers

Implemented campus beautification program through students’ mosaic designs, murals, and creation of student art gallery

Coordinated student exhibition at Brandywine Art Gallery

Procured scholarships for students’ attendance in weekend and summer art programs throughout Philadelphia

Developed partnership with Architecture in Education program

Hosted visiting artist workshops

Personal Accomplishments

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2020
Published The Essential Seder A Contemporary Haggadah, Behrman House Publishers

2007
‍Recipient of Puffin Foundation Grant

2000 & 2001
Illustrated Book Jackets for Jason Aronson Publishers

1997
Recipient of the Hunt Manufacturing Grant

1994
Recipient of the Arts Empowerment Grant

1999
25^th Annual Juried Exhibition Award, Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Seventh Annual Juried Water Color Show Jurors’ Award, Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission

1986
Philadelphia Water Color Club Prize, Annual Exhibition

1984
Woodmere Art Museum Flower Painting Prize, 44^th Annual Juried Exhibition

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Organizations

Artist’s Equity, Philadelphia Chapter

Philadelphia Water Color Club; Signature Member

National Association of Women in the Arts

InLiquid

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Residencies

Visiting Artist Fellow 1999-2000; Brandywine Workshop, Philadelphia, PA

Selected Exhibitions

2024
Landscapes on the edge of Abstraction, Knife Paintings in Oil and Wax by Phillip and Deborah Zuchman, Studio 34, Philadelphia, PA 

2023
‍Delaware Center for Horticulture, RCWA, Wilmington, DE

2022
Artists Equity Tri-State Member Show, Wallingford Community Art Center, Wallingford, PA

2018
Woodmere Annual, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA

2016
Perelman Jewish Life Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

2009
Creative Capital, Thomas Eakins House, Philadelphia, PA

New Arts Program

2008, 2009
‍Art in a Box, Cheryl Pelavin Gallery, New York City, NY

2008
Kenneseth Israel and Temple Judea Museum, Philadelphia, PA

2003
Windows into War (Solo Show), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

2000
New Work in Collage (Solo Show), Hopkins House Gallery, Hadden Township, NJ

2002
Three Views of Spain, Artjaz Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2002
Summer Landscapes, Conkling Hall Gallery, Rensellaerville, NY

2002
Toxic Landscapes, La Biblioteca National Jose Marti, Havana Cuba

2001
Works on Paper, Berman Museum, Collegeville, PA

2000
Temple Beth Sholom, Cherry Hill, NJ

1998
Appel Art Gallery, Cherry Hill, NJ

Art Teachers Exhibition, Nexus Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

1997
Creation and Celebration, Sholom Gallery, Cherry Hill, NJ

Shelter, Brandeis-Bardin Institute, Brandeis, CA

1996
This Song’s for You, Bistro Bix, Philadelphia, PA

1987
Small Oil Painting Show, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA

The Still Life in Art, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Invitational Show, Philadelphia, PA

1986
Contemporary Women Artists of Philadelphia, Wallingford Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA         

1986
University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA

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Collections

Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Denver, CO & San Diego, CA

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Hillel Foundation, Chapel Hill, NC

Stroehmann Corporation, Philadelphia, PA

Temple Beth Sholom, Cherry Hill, NJ

Temple Beth Zion - Beth Israel, Philadelphia, PA

Temple Adath Israel of the Main Line, Merion, PA‍

Publications

New York Times Art Review, April 4, 1999; Fred Adelson on the Seventh Annual Juried Water Color Show at Hopkins Gallery, Haddonfield, NJ: "...Ms.Zuchman has successfully combined the still life arrangement of Cezanne, the decorative patterning of Matisse and the whimsy of Red Grooms.”

New York Times Art Review, September 27, 1998; Fred Adelson on “May You Be Inscribed...”; Appel Art Gallery, Cherry Hill, NJ

Philadelphia Inquirer, July 1, 1994; Susan Caba: “A Work in Progress”

The Weekly Press, March 25, 1993; Stephen Maleson: “Home is Where the Art Is”