DoNArTNeWs

Ola!  The Philadelphia Sketch Club is hosting Cultural Collisions: Latino Artists in Philadelphiawith an art exhibition of paintings, drawings and photography, the Turtulia included poetry, music, perforformance and dance and the upcoming extravaganza, Gala Milonga, with Tango lessons, dance performance and live entertainment.  Shoshka and DoN attended the opening reception for the art exhibit last Sunday and literally participated in an historic event. Charles Cushing is the curator of the exhibit incorporating Latin American art, poetry, music, performance and more; he has been practicing Tango for weeks preparing to take the floor of the Sketch Club (perfect for dancing by the way) .  The art show originated with Cushing curating a smaller exhibit of Latin artists at Two Penn Center and through a series of acquaintances and meetings he was able to coordinate with the Sketch Club’s exhibition committee a show in the historic gallery during Latin American History Month.  

Produced mostly by Philadelphia Latin artists, the show includes traditional Latin art but also contemporary, abstract, photo-realist, expressionist paintings and fine art photography.For example, a group of four 8×10 silver gelatin print photographs in the far corner of the gallery by Jorge Figueroa represent more than just the emerging artist’s first art show, the images document a way of life since the artist began taking photographs as a teenager and is now 65.  Monica Rodrigo, President of the Board of Raices Culturales Latino Americans, explained to DoN how Figueroa’s family oftened questioned his perchant for taking pictures but now there’s talk of an exhibit at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, a catalog raisonne and more.  Here’s this guy in Guatamala clicking pictures, taking flack from his kids, working hard yet documenting American life, capturing history through glimpses into true humanity.  The artist was present forTurlulia, the poetry reading last Friday evening – more about that later on.

Artist/Curator Charles Cushing at the opening of Cultural Collisions @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Silver gelatin prints by Jorge Figueroa @ PSC Cultural Collisions. The lower image is called, “The Junkyard Worker“, absolutely stunning – the clarity, narrative, execution, presentation are all first rate; Figueroa’s work is a treasure trove of fine art photography.

  

Silver gelatin print by Jorge Figueroa.  Monica explained to DoN that this image represents this young girls world, her job as a maid means she is responsible for the space you see in the picture – a corner of the world.

Dante Sanchez‘, “The Time Has Come“, portraying “the moment Judas felt sorry and hung himself”.  Sanchez’ bold strokes, inspired by the writing of Juan Bosch‘s “Judas Escariate El Calumniado“, have a plein air quality, as if quickly painted in the moment; Dante captures the instant when the sky darkens as Judas dies.

Dante Sanchez with his, “Dancing on 5th Street.”  During Friday nights, Turtulia, the climax of the evening was a performance of La Bomba in authentic costume with live music!  DoN captured the event on tape and will post video clips soon on DoNArTNeWs.  Dante was the MC and kept the evening on course with poetry, music, song and dancing long into the evening until everyone spilled out onto Camac street to be greeted by warm summer rain.  The Sketch Club should install a DJ booth – what a terrific room for dancing – everyone was moving to the infectious beat, inspired by the creativity, color and culture.

Dante Sanchez‘, “Mental Vacation in Santo Domingo“.  Dante told DoN, “Dominicans are always dreaming of their country, sending money home to their families but always dreaming of the beach.” 

Sylvia Castellanos with, “First Communion“, oil on canvas.  The subject of the work, the artist’s niece now all but grown up into a beautiful young woman, was present at the show; the sense of family, love and pride was overflowing and passionate.

Diana Ovieda‘s, “Cherry“, a large painting evocative of the spirit of the historic event at The Philadelphia Sketch Club.  Diana was not present but her mother sure was!  Dr. Nimi Ovieda was not pleased when her daughter veered towards a career in art while away on a high school class trip.  Now Dr. Ovieda recognizes the passion and drive Diana possessed in order to attend PAFA and now U Penn.  “Cherry” could be a painting from any modern culture, anywhere in the world; the scale, color sense and composition are cosmopolitan, vibrant and timeless.

“Surprise“, graphite on paper by artist Juan Gomez. A super-strong piece; DoN overheard Steve Iwanczuk advising Gomez to enter the piece in an upcoming exhibition.  There are prospectus’ available online at the Sketch Club’s website. 

 

Jose Sebourne with his watercolor, “Staci Jiggitts“. Sebourne’s technique is so precise, so refined that at first glance the image appears to be a photograph then magically melts into a nuanced painting, the folds of the jacket abstract, the light glinting on an earring really a scrape of paint, the subject a young woman lost deep in thought – a great painting.

Cultural Collision‘s Art Stars: Diana Larisgoitia, Pedro Fuller, Jose Sebourne, Dora Becerra, Carlos Pascual, LuzSelenia Salas, Albert Becerra, Sylvia Castellanos and Juan Gomez.

Friday,  9/5, the Turtulia at the Sketch Club with poety and performances by Mirelle Palmansa, Alfierus Bonilla, Gladis Montolio, Dante Sanchez, Irsa Garcia, Isida M. Brache, Iris Violete Colon-Torres, Adolfo Suarez and Carmen Torres with singer Juan Bonilla, guitarist Jose Bonilla and the Impacto Vallenato group performing between readings was theatrically spectacular.  DoN does not speak Spanish – at all – but the crowd made Shoshka, DoN and new friend Charleen feel welcome, the poetry was passionate and emotional, the songs sweet and soulful, the readings by accomplished academics, writers and performers transformative.  America is not just the USA; America extends from Canada to Chile with artists, writers, musicians and performers inhabiting each state, country, island, city, town, farm…world’s collide at Cultural Collisions.

The exhibition continues through September 24th, this Friday, September 19th, is Gala Malanga with Tango lessons, performances and an evening of dancing.  DoN apologizes to all his new latin friends for miss-spelling “Turtulia” in the last newsletter.BARE

Downstairs in the pool room @ PSC is a photo exhibition entitled BARE natural light nude, photographs by Stephen M. Kane.  Like, WOW!!!  Kane’s images are in a word – sexy.  The show brings to mind Thomas Eakin’s challenge to present the nude in a beautiful, natural manner; Kane surely is pushing the same envelop to present the human form in an intimate, artistic form; each sample of his work activates the space with energy. 

Coming Soon

 

Next DoNArTNeWs will review Ted Warchal at the Hopkins House in Camden, NJ, Rikard Larma at Smile, Second Thursday at Crane and more.

LoVe

DoN

All photographs by DoNBrewerMultimedia.