DoNArTNeWs – 4/13/08
Second Thursdays at the Crane Arts Building are off the hook; located at 1400 N American St. · Philadelphia, PA 19122-3803, there is ample parking and always excellent art. At the Nexus Gallery, two artists are showing works on paper; Tasha Doremus: New Work and Susan Abrams: From Stillness. Doremus’ work somehow mixes photography, computer graphics and surface destruction to create images at once emotional and thought-provoking; one image reminded DoN of when he was a kid and the film would sometimes melt at the movies and the projector would have to be stopped and the film edited back together. In fact, one of her pieces has slashes in the paper revealing a glimpse of crimson hidden beneath.
Artist, Tasha Doremus @ Nexus Gallery.
Susan Abrams’ “from stillness” is a collection of photographs and prints with unusual distinction, hand-made paper is printed with images of corrosion, water damage and entropy. All of the images are printed on paper made from abaca pulp (derived from banana plants) and were digitally printed in collaboration with Rick De Coyte of Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints. (Nexus Website) DoN believes this is a bold artistic statement considering the technical difficulty of feeding rough hewn paper through a printer with the inherent risks.
Artist, Susan Abrams @ Nexus Gallery.
In the Icebox the future is on view; a fantastic motion graphics project utilizing five projectors creating a dystopian universe of animal totems, post-apocalyptic destruction and dizzying sound design. Many visitors sat on the floor transfixed watching The Soft Epic or: Savages of the Pacific West by Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib. Birds, cats and fire cross through the projections like a crazy quilt of spiritual images; the technical accomplishment is dazzling. 
The Soft Epic @ the Icebox. Composite photo by Alden Cole.
On the second floor is 201 Gallery with a spot-on show of large scale photographs by Ryan Widger; black and white prints fill the space with shadowy compositions evoking loneliness, contemplation and magic realism appropriately titled Consummated. The gallery also features a new video display created by StudioScopic enabling the gallery-goer to virtually visit the artists’ studio.
Photograph by Ryan Widger @ K&W 201 Gallery.