A prominent local doctor who used to display his art in his office is about to open his biggest museum show yet, at age 91.
“Found Objects, New Worlds: The Assemblage Art of Dr. Mel Wolk,” opens Wednesday at the Everhart Museum, Scranton.
“It’s about time,” the Clarks Summit man said.
A free community opening event with the artist is scheduled for May 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. Between 35 and 40 works will be on display until July 27.
Work of Mel Wolk (Everhart Museum)
Work of Mel Wolk (Everhart Museum)
Christopher Dolan / Staff PhotographerDr. Mel Wolk stands in his basement workshop at his home in Clarks Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)
Some of his found object collages may look familiar to former pediatric allergy patients from their appointments in his office. He has since retired.
Wolk was a major force behind the 1986 founding of the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton, near what was then Community Medical Center, now Geisinger Community Medical Center. He was head of pediatrics there at the time.
In a news release, the museum said his work “offers whimsical takes on life, love, sports, and politics through colorful sculptures. By combining unexpected materials into abstract creations, Wolk’s art delivers insightful and playful commentary on the human experience and shows the possibilities of what can be created with discarded items.”
Wolk creates in other mediums, not included in the show. His photography includes a series of photos of the tile murals mounted high on the walls of the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel, Scranton. They were exhibited at the the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton.
Wolk was artist-in-residence at the Gathering Place in Clarks Summit in 2021. His photos have appeared in publications, and various work has been displayed in galleries.
The Everhart Museum is at 1901 Mulberry St., Scranton. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Admission is free for museum members, active and retired military and their families, and EBT, SNAP and WIC recipients.
The website is everhart-museum.org.