PHILADELPHIA – America’s oldest continuing artists’ organization turns 150 this year and museums and galleries across the country are hosting events to celebrate. The Philadelphia Sketch Club at 125 South 11th St. came into existence in the fall of 1860. Six students from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts — George F. Bensell and his brother, Edmund B. Bensell, Edward J. McIlhenny, Henry C. Bispham, John L. Gihon, and Robert Wylie — were looking for illustration and design opportunities not available at their school, and the Philadelphia Sketch Club was born.

According to the group’s history at www.sketchclub.org the early 1870s found the Pennsylvania Academy without instructional facilities as they waited the completion of their new building. At this time, it was the Philadelphia Sketch Club who offered up classes for the artistic community. Famed artist Thomas Eakins acted as an instructor for life drawing classes. Anatomy classes were also taught via the Sketch Club.

When the Pennsylvania Academy opened its new building in 1876, Eakins, now an honorary member of the Sketch Club, volunteered to take over the Academy’s life classes. By 1894, more than 400 members made up the Philadelphia Sketch Club, many being instructors at the Academy.

As the Club continued to thrive, its members list continued to impress. Artists such as illustrators A.B. Frost, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Chandler Christy, Henry Pitz, and Lyle Justis; cartoonists Hugh Hutton and Peter Boyle; painters Walter Baum, Edward Redfield, Maxfield Parrish, Hugh Breckenridge, Fred Wagner, Carl Weber, and Daniel Garber; etchers Benton Spruance, Stephen Parrish, and Robert Shaw; watercolorists Frank English, John Dull, Ranulph Bye, Domenic DiStefano, and Vincent Ceglia; and sculptors Charles Grafly, R. Tait McKenzie, Howard Roberts, Ronald Spicer, and Alexander Calder were all members at one time.

According to the club’s website, “Almost from its start, the Sketch Club has had a history of successful exhibitions.” It only makes sense several exhibitions are being held to celebrate the group’s 150th anniversary.

The James A. Michener Art Museum of Doylestown, Pa., will recognize this organization’s most notable Bucks County members with an exhibit of works on paper. The Art & Soul of Bucks County, Philadelphia Sketch Club Artists and Bucks County will be on view Aug. 21 through Nov. 21 in the museum’s Pfundt Gallery.

Several Bucks County artists whose works will be highlighted include charcoal drawings by Daniel Garber (1880-1958), pastel paintings by Walter Baum (1884-1956), and woodblock prints by Herbert Pullinger (1878-1961).

The Philadelphia Sketch Club will also host an event to celebrate their anniversary. Art in City Hall - The Philadelphia Sketch Club Members 150th Anniversary Exhibit will take place Sept. 2 through Oct. 22. The exhibit, which will feature works of current members, will take place in the beautiful gallery space on the 5th floor of historic City Hall.

The Architect as Artist: Theophilus P. Chandler, Jr. (1845-1928) will run Sept. 13 through Nov. 12 at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia’s Hass Gallery. Featured will be more than 100 drawings, photos and manuscripts from the Chandler collection. Chandler was one of the founders of the School of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. His membership at the Philadelphia Sketch Club spanned more than 50 years.

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will present Ye Great Mogul of the Sketch Club: The Philadelphia Sketch Club and the art of William Emlen Cresson, Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. Cresson, both a member of PAFA and the Sketch Club, died before reaching his potential as a painter and caricature artist. His sketchbooks and paintings will highlight this exhibit.

Artist and member Fred Wagner (1860-1940) will be honored by the Philadelphia Sketch Club with an exhibit of his works Nov. 1-13 at their gallery. Wagner, a prolific Sketch Club member, continues to gain attention.

Ever-Changing Philadelphia: Prints and Watercolors by Frank H. Taylor will be the exhibit presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia. Considered one of the most prolific viewmakers in the Philadelphia area, Taylor (1846-1927) was also an author and editor. Still it is his artwork which garners attention. As an early member and leader of the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Taylor created hundreds of watercolors from the 1890s to 1920s that featured the city and its peripheries. His resulting work was published in 400 large lithographed prints under the title Old Philadelphia: Artistic Reproductions from Drawings by Frank H. Taylor. These works will be on display Nov. 5 through Dec. 31.

Contact: www.sketchclub.org