PHILADELPHIA — “Silence Dogood: An Installation by Miler Lagos,” which opens at the University of Pennsylvania’s Arthur Ross Gallery on Jan. 27, transforms nearly four tons of recycled newspapers into a sculpted “forest.”

Contemporary Colombian multi-media artist Lagos will create this site-specific installation during his three-week residency as a Distinguished International Scholar, a grant awarded to the Gallery through the Office of the Provost at Penn.

Lagos will give a public gallery talk, “A Dialogue with Miler Lagos: Artistic Practice and Process,” followed by the opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jan. 27.

Named after an early moniker used by Benjamin Franklin, this exhibit is a part of Philagrafika 2010, which features more than 300 artists at 80 prominent museums and cultural institutions in the city.

“Silence Dogood” runs through March 21 and is supported by the Arthur Ross Gallery, along with La Casa Latina and a grant from the Office of the Provost.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and weekends from noon to 5 p.m.

Additional information is available at www.upenn.edu/ARG/ or 215-898-2083.