The Wharton Esherick Documentary came about after filmmaker Carolyn Coal visited Esherick’s magical studio outside Philadelphia in the winter of 2013. Inspired by Esherick’s creativity, Coal sought permission from the Esherick Museum and began shooting in the spring of 2014. Flying back and forth from Los Angeles to Philadelphia over the next two summers, Coal scanned hundreds of photographs, dubbed hours of pre-recorded oral histories, and interviewed a variety of wood experts, historians, contemporary wood artists, members of the Esherick Museum staff, former Esherick patrons, family members, and the grandson of Esherick’s most significant patron. With the museum’s support, Coal launched a successful Kickstarter campaign in the summer of 2016, which provided finishing funds and the project was completed in June 2017.
