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The Barnes Foundation and Weckerly's Ice Cream Announce Special Summer Ice Cream Sandwich Inspired by Barnes Collection

August 18, 2016

Philadelphia — The Barnes Foundation and Weckerly's Ice Cream, the Philadelphia-based micro-creamery specializing in French-style custard ice cream, have partnered to introduce the "Barnes Ensemble," a special ice cream sandwich inspired by the Barnes collection and available exclusively at a Weckerly's pop-up located on the Barnes Foundation's Philadelphia campus. The pop-up, which will also offer a variety of other seasonal ice cream flavors, will be at the Barnes for a limited time only, from Wednesday, August 24, through Monday, September 5, 2016.

Husband-and-wife owners of Wecklerly's Jen and Andy Satinsky drew inspiration for the "Barnes Ensemble," from the myriad colors and textures present in the world-renowned Barnes collection, whose holdings of Impressionist, post-Impressionist and early modern paintings and genres including metalwork, furniture, and textiles provoke new insights. Reflecting the eclecticism of the collection and launched in celebration of summer, the "Barnes Ensemble" is a Lemon Verbena Geranium Ice Cream Sandwich featuring two layers of lemon verbena ice cream, one swirled with local berries, the other swirled with house-made peach butter, sandwiched between crunchy granola and geranium shortbread. Other ice cream flavors—some in sandwiches and some as scoops—offered at the pop-up will include Nectarine Rosemary Sorbet, Caramel Corn, Peaches + Cream + Pie, along with several other late summer favorites.

"We couldn't be more thrilled about the opportunity to work with the Barnes Foundation," says Weckerly's co-owner Andy Satinsky. "We often look to art for inspiration and harvest herbs and plants to flavor some of our creations, so this partnership felt like a natural extension as we can appreciate an artist's process," adds pastry chef and co-owner Jen Satinsky.

The title, the "Barnes Ensemble," is a reference to the distinctive display of the Barnes collection into what Dr. Barnes referred to as ensembles, which combine objects from different cultures, time periods, and media into symmetrical arrangements. The locally sourced flavors and ingredients of the ice cream treat were also inspired by the Barnes Arboretum and the Foundation's commitment to horticultural education and appreciation. Some local sources include Organic Milk from Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Kimberton, Pennsylvania; and Lemon Verbena from CHICORY, a small, sustainably managed cut flower farm, and Farm 51 in Philadelphia.

"Although best known for collecting the great modern masters, Dr. Barnes was also an avid supporter of artisan craft. We're excited to partner with Weckerly's as a continuation of this spirit and as part of our commitment to fostering creativity and supporting our community," said Peg Zminda, Barnes Foundation Executive Vice President, CFO & COO. "Through our exhibitions and public programs, our goals include creating new points of entry into the collection and highlighting the collection as a source of limitless inspiration. This partnership will not only serve these goals, but it also offers an exciting opportunity to experiment with engaging and enlivening our grounds during these beautiful summer months," added Shelley Bernstein, Deputy Director for Digital Initiatives and Chief Experience Officer.

The "Barnes Ensemble" will be available for $5 at the Weckerly's ice cream cart, located at the Barnes Foundation driveway on 20th Street between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Callowhill Street, from Wednesday, August 24 through Sunday, August 28. The cart will then be located at the Barnes Foundation's Fountain Plaza, at the corner of 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from Wednesday, August 31 through Labor Day, Monday, September 5.

POP-UP LOCATIONS AND HOURS:

Barnes Foundation driveway on 20th Street (between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Callowhill Street): Wednesday, August 24 through Sunday, August 28, noon–6 pm 

Barnes Foundation Fountain Plaza at 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway: Wednesday, August 31 through Monday, September 5, noon–6pm 

(There will be extended hours on First Friday, Sept. 2: noon–9 pm and on Free First Sunday, Sept. 4: 10 am–6 pm.)

ABOUT WECKERLY'S ICE CREAM

In the fall of 2012, Jen and Andy Satinsky began Weckerly's Ice Cream in a West Philadelphia restaurant kitchen and have since grown the operation into a blossoming "micro-creamery" churning out of Globe Dye Works in North Philadelphia. With careful preparation and reverence for each ingredient, Jen, a trained pastry chef, churns one small batch of rich, French-style ice cream at a time. Each flavor is inspired by the seasons and crafted with local ingredients from small farms throughout South Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The Weckerly's process begins well before the ice cream is churned. Each week the couple brings in organic grass-fed cream and whole milk from a few select farms within 45 miles of Philadelphia. The dairy is combined with cage-free eggs from Lancaster County and just enough unprocessed pure cane sugar to form the base of every recipe. Every batch is gently cooked in a traditional vat pasteurizer to preserve and elevate the brilliant natural flavors.

Today, the intriguing combinations, such as Buckwheat Sour Cherry, Caramel Corn, and Lemon Verbena Black Raspberry, as well as the tried-and-true varieties, such as Black & White and Carrot Cake, have attracted a loyal following. In 2014, Philadelphia magazine even took notice and awarded Weckerly's "Best Ice Cream" in their annual "Best Of" issue. Later this year, Weckerly's will expand their operation with opening of their first brick-and-mortar shop at 9 West Girard Avenue in the city's Frankford neighborhood.

For additional information on Weckerly's, please visit www.weckerlys.com, follow Weckerly's on Twitter (@Weckerlys), Instagram (@Weckerlys) and on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BARNES FOUNDATION 

The Barnes Foundation was established by Albert C. Barnes in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.” The Barnes holds one of the world’s finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern paintings, with extensive works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Amedeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine, and Giorgio de Chirico; works by American masters Charles Demuth, William Glackens, Horace Pippin, and Maurice Prendergast; Old Master paintings; important examples of African sculpture; Native American ceramics, jewelry, and textiles; decorative arts and ironwork; and antiquities from the Mediterranean region and Asia. 

While most collections are grouped by chronology, style, or genre, art at the Barnes is arranged in ensembles structured according to light, line, color, and space—principles that Dr. Barnes called “the universal language of art.” The Foundation’s programs include First Fridays, young professionals nights, tours, tastings, and family programs, as well as Barnes–de Mazia Education Program courses and workshops. These programs advance the Foundation’s mission through progressive, experimental, and interdisciplinary teaching and learning. The Barnes Foundation is open Wednesday–Monday, and tickets can be purchased on-site, online, or by calling 215.278.7200. Ticket prices and current hours are listed on our website. 

The Barnes Arboretum in Merion contains more than 2,500 varieties of trees and woody plants, many of them rare. Founded in the 1880s by Joseph Lapsley Wilson and expanded under the direction of Laura Leggett Barnes, the living collections include 40 state champion trees, a Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus), a dove tree (Davidia involucrata), a monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana), and a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Other important plant collections include lilacs, peonies, Stewartias, ferns, medicinal plants, hostas, and magnolias. The Horticulture Education Program has offered a comprehensive three-year certificate course in the botanical sciences, horticulture, garden aesthetics, and design since its establishment in 1940 by Mrs. Barnes. The arboretum also offers horticulture workshops and lectures and is open to the public Saturday–Sunday during the summer months. Tickets can be purchased on-site, online, or by calling 215.278.7200. Ticket prices and current hours are listed on our website. 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Deirdre Maher, Director of Communications 215.278.7160, press@barnesfoundation.org