Checkmate! Museum for Art in Wood Celebrates Donna Dodson’s Match of the Matriarchs in Old City
It was a First Friday filled with art, creativity and a little chess on Friday, November 6, as the Museum for Art in Wood in Old City celebrated the opening of Donna Dodson: Match of the Matriarchs, an imaginative new exhibition that puts women front and center in the traditionally male-dominated world of chess.
It was a First Friday filled with art, creativity and a little chess on Friday, November 6, as the Museum for Art in Wood in Old City celebrated the opening of Donna Dodson: Match of the Matriarchs, an imaginative new exhibition that puts women front and center in the traditionally male-dominated world of chess.
One of the most touching works in Donna Dodson’s exhibition is Every Mother Is a Warrior (2023), part of her “Sheroes” series. Carved from black oak, the sculpture was inspired by a friend, Neil Pedersen (above) whose late mother loved red-winged blackbirds. Dodson transformed a fallen tree from the family’s property into a tribute featuring a mother and child, incorporating the bird’s signature colors. The piece honors a woman who battled mental health challenges throughout her life, reminding us of the strength and resilience of mothers. The family affectionately calls the sculpture “Grandma.”
The exhibition also includes chess sets created by other artists, along with works by Philadelphia chess champion, author and historian Jennifer Shahade.
And here’s something fun: visitors can participate in chess games using a separate interactive set, making this more than your typical art exhibition.
The Museum for Art in Wood, located at 141 N. 3rd Street, is one of those wonderful smaller Philadelphia cultural institutions that deserves more attention is run by Jennifer-Navva Milliken, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Museum for Art in Wood who tells me there are a lot of events coming up for you to enjoy. SCHEDULE
Make sure you visit the 2nd floor to see more of the artistry and craftsmanship of wood, the museum showcases just how creative artists can be with a material we encounter every day. They also have a cute shop filled with artists work for sale.
The exhibition runs through March 14, 2027, and admission to the Museum for Art in Wood is FREE. So next time you’re exploring Old City, stop in and check it out. You might just discover a new favorite Philadelphia museum.
