Candied Hearts in PXV
This February, hearts are popping up all over Phoenixville for the first-ever Candied Hearts show!
This unique art show, organized by T.A.G., will be displayed in three separate locations on Bridge Street. What makes this show even better is a portion of the sales benefit the Phoenixville Women’s Outreach! Read the interview with the show organizer, Kenzie De, to learn more about this project.
Emily: How did you come up with the idea for Candied Hearts?
Kenzie: One of my 2025 goals as an artist and community member was to participate in more fundraising and awareness-building for the organizations that I love. I was inspired to bring a heart-themed show to Phoenixville by viewing the Jinxed (a vintage furniture shop) heart show in Philadelphia last year and thought something similar would be a perfect fit for Phoenixville. I was drawn to partner with the Phoenixville Women's Outreach organization in part due to my own personal experiences with domestic violence and knowing the struggle of finding safe and secure housing to exit that situation and in remembrance of a coworker who while experiencing housing insecurity was killed by her partner late last year. While DV is not PWO's direct focus, they are committed to helping women in a variety of situations find safe housing, resources, etc. It's a cause very dear to my heart and the work that PWO does protects and saves the lives of the women in our community. I want to support that while bringing more awareness to a very cool organization in our town! If anyone is interested in donating directly to PWO or volunteering check out their website to become a supporting member of their mission.
E: How were artists selected to be in the show?
K: I wanted the "Candied Hearts" exhibit to be open to all creatives regardless of discipline or experience so I did an open call through TAG’s email subscribers and Instagram. Anyone who picked up and then returned their heart panel was guaranteed to be in the show. For our first year, I thought I would struggle to find 50 people to participate, but we've given out 75 total hearts so far. The only rule was that it had to be able to be hung on a wall but beyond that people could do whatever they wanted. I know some people are cutting/carving their heart panels, using fabric, mixed media, etc. There's been so many amazing creative ideas I've really been blown away by what people have come up with and the mediums they are using!
E: What have been some of your favorite submissions?
K: I haven't seen all of them yet, but from what I’ve seen so far, two stand out in my mind. First, I really love Victoria O'Neil’s heart. The tassels she incorporated are so fun. The second one is an ice cream heart by April Ferry. I still have no idea how she got the texture that she did! I would have a hard time picking though, I honestly want to collect them all!
E: Where can people see the hearts?
K: Hearts will be on display from February 11th - April 1st at three different locations in Phoenixville, Soltane Cafe, Steel City Galaxy Cafe, The Upstairs Studio Artists Display Window. On 2/16/25, there will be a TAG representative at Soltane Cafe and Steel City, and a PWO representative at Steel City with more info about PWO's mission and ways to get involved. We will be giving out PXV Candied Hearts Magnets to people who visit the locations. The heart magnets will be divided up between all 3 locations and it's first come first serve while supplies last we have a limited supply!
PXV Candied Hearts Magnets
E: How can people purchase the hearts?
K: The hearts will be available for sale online on the opening day February 16th starting at 1 PM. You can access the online gallery by scanning a QR code posted at each of the locations or if you join TAG's email list you'll be emailed with a direct link right before 1 PM. All hearts are priced at $75. Sold hearts will be arranged for pick up in Phoenixville after the closing of the show in April. 30% of all sales will be donated to PWO. The online gallery will close April 1st at noon.
“It’s Well (Within My Heart)” by Tina Crespo