DoNArTNeWs

Darla Jackson vs. Anne Canfield @ the Center for Emerging Visual Artists is just that – a bare knuckled cage-fight between two contemporary Philly artists, a grrl-fight for attention, a battle of wits and inventiveness, like a schoolyard brawl with each girl trying to rip out the others pierced earrings.  In one corner is Anne Canfield throwing punches with quirky drawings and mythological paintings and in the other corner is Darla Jackson doing body slams with bold black graphic sculpture.

Anne Canfield tells DoN that her imagery is born of anxiety, “the Cat is safe but could turn on you.”  Anne has developed her own visual language relying on memory and is not true to nature, that’s not what she’s going for – her mark-making is assured and brushwork amusing, like reading a favorite book.  The small cat is sometimes writ large in Canfield’s images often with a small girl (perhaps a self portrait), each staring at the other as if they were, “facing God.”

Darla Jackson, known for her sculptures of animals wearing the masks of other animals (say a bunny with a crow face mask), here invites familiar animals to witness the party in the apartment-like gallery.  Birds, kitties, bunnies, even a life sized deer inhabit the human dwelling, decked out in festive party hats, making a mess of the place as if they were partying just a little too hard.  Jackson goes for the knockout with the deer laying on the floor; life sized and appearing to be solid black metal, the scene is poignant with gallery visitors tiptoeing around the specimen, the deer’s simple red party hat knocked askew.  By anthropomorphizing the animals, Jackson brings the creatures out of hiding making them observers of the strange creatures called humans. 

Anne Canfield @ CFEVA.

Anne Canfield @ CFEVA. 

Anne Canfield with her painting, “The Mermaid and the Tiger Meet Halfway“, oil on linen.

Darla Jackson @ CFEVA. 

Party animals @ the CFEVA.  Sculpture installation by Darla Jackson.

Darla Jackson @ CFEVA.  

The battle continues through February 16th in the Felicity R. (Bebe) Benoliel Gallery. 

Art critic, writer and poet Bob (R.B.) Strauss passed away January 13th, 2009.  Strauss was an enthusiastic supporter of the Philadelphia region art scene and was a presence at The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club, the Da Vinci Art Alliance and much more.  Bob’s wit and wisdom, cultured eye and edgy writing style will be missed by many area artists.

Twenty-Two Gallery @ 236 22^nd Street in Philadelphia has a long history of exhibiting (and selling) excellent paintings and since the showcase has become an artist collective the bar has been raised even higher.  Owner Shawn Murray collaborated with artist Diane Podolsky to install a group show of superior quality with some of Philadelphia’s best artists.  Plus the artistry with which the work is displayed makes viewing even more enjoyable with excellent lighting, thoughtful groupings and perfect eye level hanging; with the huge front window offering a glimpse of what’s inside, the gallery is a great place to show and be seen.  DoN stopped in the gallery last Sunday to meet many of the artists and was truly impressed by the variety and quality of the art.

Artists included in the show are Alison Altergott, Ed Bronstein, Valerie Carroll, Eric Fausnacht, Megan Greenholt, Nancy E. F. Halbert, Carter Leidy, Dale Levy, Ed Marston, William Middleton, Bruce Murray, Sr., Diane Podolsky, Bonnie Schorske, Jerome Schwartz, Michael Smith, Lauren Sweeney and Reta Sweeney.  Ed Bronstein’s plein aire paintings of Philly are true collectables, Ed Marston’s painting of a ramshackle seaside hut is filled with light, Diane Podolsky’s pastels are mysterious and haunting, Eric Fausnacht’s rooster paintings are decorative and evocative with bold color and brushwork creating a surrealistic vision of the common bird and speaking of birds, Bonnie Schorske’s pigeon photos are a hoot especially when you learn the history of the urban pests.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday noon to 6:00 PM, the Members’ Exhibition at Twenty-Two Gallery is open through February 11^th. 

Bonnie Schorske’s pigeon photos @ Twenty-Two Gallery.

Ed Marston’s oil painting @ Twenty-Two Gallery.

Ed Bronstein @ 22 Gallery.   

Michael Smith @ 22 Gallery. 

Valerie Carroll @ Twenty-Two Gallery. 

Eric Fausnacht @ Twenty-Two Gallery. 

Diane Podolsky @ 22 Gallery. 

The 10^th Street Laundromat is the “coolest” laundromat in Philly.  Owner Lisa Budnick lets artists install a show in the maze of rooms and then hosts a party.  DoN showed up early since it was about 19 degrees outside and he knew if he went home after Jim Bloom’s show @ Vivant in Old City he wouldn’t go back out.  Being early at the South Philly corner of 10th & Elsworth allowed DoN to get some face time with self taught artist Sarah Kolker about the work she installed throughout the laundry.  While we chatted Lisa and Sarah set up party supplies while customers washed and folded clothes and DJ Under set up the sound system.

Sarah is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, was born and raised in Philly and studied in Jamaica, Philadelphia and NYC.  Sarah has worked with well-known mosaic tile artist Isaiah Zagar, the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Groundswell Community Mural Project and completed a Create Change Artist in Residency with The Laundromat Project in New York – thus the connection with 10^th Street Laundromat.  She also participated in HOAST (Harlem Open Artist Studio Tours) – cool, huh? 

And speaking of cool – the monthly art party is so much fun with food and drink, hipsters and regular folk, art on clothes-lines and spinning dryers with DJ Under spinning old school music from DoN’s youth (Blondie, Devo, Bob Marley…). Sarah’s friends from Philly and NYC were dancing and mingling, laughing and hugging, kissing and giggling at the kids ogling the weirdos – DoN insists you get on the 10^th Street Laundromat mailing list and you, too, can be cool!

 Sarah Kolker @ The 10th Street Laundromat

 Sarah Kolker @ The 10th Street Laundromat

Sarah Kolker @ The 10th Street Laundromat 

Sarah Kolker @ The 10th Street Laundromat 

DoN has written about other shows by artist Jim Bloom at Home & Planet in Bethlehem, PA and Outsider Folk Art in Reading PA but the current show called “Them” at Vivant Art Collection, 60 N. 2^nd St., Philly is a tour de force.  Bloom has a knack of poking a stick in the eye of cultural prejudices from gender issues to homophobia to obesity; Jim’s brutalist painting style highlights how words and attitudes can be painful and ridiculous.  The one-person show includes portraiture but the works using words are particularly powerful and poetic.  One large canvas shows a smiling couple clicking a snapshot of them outside a concentration camp as if they were visiting Disneyland, another lampoons stereotypes of effeminacy and homophobia and another painting highlights how words are often just so much noise.

Florcy Morisset, the owner/curator of Vivant Art Collection, is thrilled with this year’s first show, telling DoN that she can date the century of a painting by the design of a face in a painting and that Bloom’s socially incorrect subject matter shows how we all are included in “Them”.  Bloom told DoN he was “discovered” by Robert Bullock of Coalition Ingenu introducing him to George Veiner of Outsider Folk Art Gallery who immediately purchased his entire collection for his gallery.  Since then, Bloom has been able to move forward from painting on found objects such as cardboard boxes and paper plates to canvas’ but the vibrancy and irreverence remains.  “Them” is on exhibit through the end of January.  

Jim Bloom @ Vivant Art Collection.

“Light Green Hat“, Jim Bloom @ Vivant Art Collection. 

Paintings by Jim Bloom @ Vivant Art Collection in Old City. 

Catherine Zeidler’s eponymous gallery at 2207 South Street has become the Women’s Creative Alliance featuring the art of Philadelphia area women.  The current exhibit features 3D work by Dorothy Roschen, jewelry by Barb Baur as well as pastels and paintings by Patricia Woodruff.  The theme throughout the show is how spirituality is filtered through the creative arts.  Roschen, who taught art in high school for many years, creates mysterious sculptures of glass, clay and objet trouve suitable sitting on a table or hanging on the wall.  Dorothy develops designs exploring positive and negative space, hard and soft surface and translucence vs. solidity. 

Woodruff’s drawings and paintings depict sprites, spirits, fairies and gods of old in fluid, sensuous lines and serious color, her high school friend Barb Bauer creates designs reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or Celtic knots in silver.  Both Woodruff and Bauer enjoy spending time in Floyd, VA, and a vibrant arts community enabling them both to find expression through the sense of community and variety of artists who migrate there.  Bauer has begun experimenting with hard metals such as steel and is developing a series of pennular brooches appropriate for clasping an ancient cloak or a modern scarf.

The art party Friday evening brought out a good crowd even though it was only 19 degrees outside but with warmth and friendship found inside this great art space on South Street.

Wall sculpture by Dorothy Roschen @ WCA. 

Dorothy Roschen @ WCA. 

Dorothy Roschen @ WCA. 

Silver jewelry by Barb Baur. 

“Thought and Memory“, pastel by Patricia Woodruff depicts Odin with his ravens.

“Gentle Thoughts” by Patricia Woodruff. 

QBN’s NTPE4 Obama Print. 

DoN meant to mention this news in his latest newsletter since many of you know Emily and would like to learn more about this interesting ancient art.

Works on Paper 2009 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club features 105 artworks ranging from photorealistic paintings to abstract expressionist collage to drawings and more – the range of works selected by jurors William David Brown and Keith Moutford is a composite view of the excellent art created by Philadelphia’s best artists.  Works on Paper is a difficult show to get into since it’s one of the most popular shows the club exhibits, in fact this year there were so many strong pieces that a Salon des Refuse was installed in the downstairs pool room.  Exhibition Chairman Rich Harrington, a professor at Moore College of Art, worked closely with the jurors to present a show that is popular, controversial and exciting.  James Toogood, a most excellent watercolorist, won the top two prizes for his astonishingly realistic paintings. 

Works on Paper is on display through January 24^th, you’ll find DoN Brewer’s charcoal drawing in the Salon des Refuse, along with Alden Cole, Ben Cohen, Linda Dubin Garfield and many, many more.

Arlene Arons, Anywhere but Here, mixed media collage. 

Kyle Margiotta, Southport Inlet, watercolor.

Anthony Cortosi, Iris, spray paint. 

Works on Paper award winners @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club. 

“Through My Window” at Smile Gallery @ 22^nd & Chestnut Streets is a concept show involving repurposing old window frames donated by Lantern Theater Company’s Charles McMahon.  Member artists of Da Vinci Art Alliance were asked to take a window and create a work of art instead of the frames ending up in a dump.  Each artist presented art as diverse as drawings, paintings, photos, weaving and collage, creating a conundrum for jurors Brenda and Matt Lyons.  Each piece is desirable and delightful in they’re own right: Betsy Alexander based her composition on science fiction, Burnell Yow! created an homage to Buddha, Mike Sweeny dressed his frame in gold and silver communicating a comment on America’s current economic situation, Alden Cole’s ethereal painting draws the viewer into the spiritual realm, Girard DiFalco’s photograph of a tree is simple and serene, DoN Brewer recreated the view from the apartment he rented in Paris, Ona Kalstein based her mixed media piece on the fable of the ant and the cicada and Lilliana Didovic designed a mixed media work depicting Philly’s famous Boat House Row using, of all things. Swarovski Crystals. 

Other artists in the show include Bobbie Adams, Kim Alsbrook, Rachel Citrino, Carl Johnson, Ted Warchal, Nicole Koenitzer, Rikard Larma, Gail Kotel, Tim McKenna, Lee Muslin, Liz Niklus, Michelle Post, Gavid Carrow and Carol Wisker. 

Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi’s ”Old Woman Looking Out the Window“.  The duo currently have work on display at Rodger Lapelle Gallery in Old City through Feb.1, 2009.

Alden Cole @ Smile.  Cole is included in a Dumpster Diver show at New Jersey’s Noyes Museum.

Mike Sweeney’s award winner @ Smile’s “Through My Window.” 

Burnell Yow!’s award winning composition will allow him to be part of a group show @ Smile in January 2010 - get to work Burnell!! 

Betsy Alexander’s sci-fi inspired mixed media collage was a hit with the crowd creating a vibrant conversation about everyone’s fantasy favorites.  Betsy’s home was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Design section, you can read the story here.  Betsy is also the mom of the famous Nora the Piano Playing Cat - check out Nora’s latest videos on YouTube.

Kathryn Pannepacker’s simple yet elegant mixed media piece incorporates weaving.  Pannepacker recently completed an amazing mural @ Broad and Lehigh Streets depicting textile styles of the world for the Mural Arts Program.

DoN Brewer’s ”Vue de la Rue Rambuteau, Paris“, colored pencil on paper at Smile Gallery.  

“Through My Window” is on display through February 7^th, 2009 and by the by Smile’s Thai food restaurant is probably the best in the city – BYOB and stay a while.