Monthly Archives: May 2013

Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song, Michener Art Museum

Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song, Michener Art Museumpainting by Alan Goldstein, turned wood by David Ellsworth

“Combine skill of hand and depth of heart, and the spirit of the artist is born, the maker of things: beautiful things, things of mystery and meaning, things that ask questions, that tell us who we are as individuals, peoples, cultures.” – Michener Art Museum website

Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song brings together a group of living artists who evoke the ideals of this well thought out and executed educational art exhibition. Explaining art, especially abstraction and conceptual artworks, can be challenging. But the show brings together artwork, artist statements and videos by John Thornton to illuminate the shadows of modern art. With painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media, the exhibit describes the concepts, tools and techniques of each artist in an educational and entertaining tableau. Each of the eleven artists has a space dedicated to their artwork. the tableaus flow and connect as the viewer meanders the gallery. Even the museum website is extraordinarily informative offering a deeper understanding of the exhibition.

Michael Olszewski, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Michael OlszewskiCreative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

DoN learned a lot about Michael Olszewskis evocative artwork through the excellent videos produced by John Thornton at the request of the museum. The videographer was charged with profiling the artists and video monitors are integrated into the artwork. Pairs of headphones offers the museum visitor a private moment with the artist to learn about motivations, techniques and styles that are included in the show. Every effort is made to illuminate the artists inspirations, workspaces and processes offering explanations to clarify the confounding nature of contemporary art through sight, sound and text.

Check out John Thornton YouTube channel to see all the artist profiles for Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

Bruce Pollack, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Bruce Pollack, Forests in the Tree, oil on linen, collection of the artist, 2013, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

Bruce Pollacks paintings takes mark-making to a cosmic level with the simplest of forms and formulas depicting the elusive concept of a space/time continuum. When the artist works out his paintings sometimes the drawing will expand off the canvas and onto his studio walls as if the idea is so big it can’t be contained. When the painting is done though the window into the meta-magical world of fractals becomes fluid and consciousness-raising.

“I often use fractal geometry in my painrings. Fractal forms are universal archetypes that retain the same shape, whether they’re seen in a microscope or a telescope” – Bruce Pollack artist statement.

Bruce Pollack, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Bruce PollackCreative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

Throughout the gallery are spaces like this where you can sit and look at paintings, many of which are very recent and belong to the artist. To spend some alone time with meditative works like Pollack’s is deeply satisfying as the layers of time, space and thought merge in a unique visual experience.

DoN walked through the exhibition with the volunteer docents who were learning about the show and how they would explain the work to children. The museum has a large community art space where kids can learn about and make art. And the work in the show has that DIY vibe where the elements of creativity are evident and accessible. Helping kids be artists and think artistically is a worthy mission that satisfies both the young learner and the teachers simutaneously.

Jill Bonovitz, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Jill Bonovitz, Wire Composition, painted wire, collection of the artist, 2012. Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

Jill Bonovitz‘ wire sculptures hanging on the wall near her large ceramic platter-like discs use light and shadow morphing the artwork into a drawing in space. If it weren’t for the placement of tiny bit of color, a red string, a couple of beds, a piece of tape, it’s almost impossible to tell where the wire and the shadows separate. The shadows on the wall are darker than the painted wire and fade to blurred lines that convincingly look like pencil. The artist told DoN she only works with fragile mediums like the ceramics and delicate wire and that often pieces come apart, mixing them into new works invigorates the artwork and surrounding space.

Jill Bonovitz, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Jill Bonovitz, Wire Composition – 2, painted wire with berries, collection of the artist, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

“Several years ago I began experimenting with a new material, wire – still pursuing my passion for making vessels or suggesting vessel forms. The quality of fragility is common to ll my work. In the wire sculpture, I am creating the edges of what is not there. In clay, I am creating the essence of what is.” – Jill Bonovitz artist statement

Bill Scott, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Bill Scott, Perennials, oil on canvas, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child” – Pablo Picasso

The collection of paintings by Philadelphia artist Bill Scott is like walking into a garden. Many of the paintings are in fact based on his own garden, the elements of nature, light effects and lush colors have an immediacy that is counter intuitive. Even though the paintings have a quality of liveness and exuberance they take years to develop. Each shape, color and stroke of paint is considered and directed to it’s place like characters in a movie. The John Thornton video of Bill Scott offers a wonderful view into the artist’s world. The artist jokes that his paintings actually look like the world to him when he takes his glasses off.

Bill Scott, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Bill Scott, Overlapping Days, oil on canvas, 2012, collection of the artist, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

Paula Winokur, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Paula Winokur, Above and Below, porcelain and lucite,  Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

“My work has been influenced by information gathered at various “sites”, places in the natural environment that I have responded to visually. The earth itself, particularly cliffs, ledges, crevices and canyons: the effects of wind, earthquakes, glaciers and other natural phenomenon such as geological “shifts” and “faults” interest me.” – Paula Winokur website

Paula Winokur, Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song

Paula WinokurCreative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, SongMichener Art Museum

In a quiet room to itself is a collection of ceramic sculptures by Paula Winokur that punctuates the conversation started by the other artists in Creative Hand, Discerning Heart: Form, Rhythm, Song. Abstract art is actually about the world all around us, it’s just trying to explain the obvious using a language that may be hard to understand at first. But when the artist transports the viewer to another time and place just through the power of that visual vocabulary the forms and rhythms sing a song you never forget.

Jill Bonovitz
Paula Chamlee
David Ellsworth
Alan Goldstein
Ying Li
Michael Olszewski
Bruce Pollack
Stuart Rome
Bill Scott
Rochelle Toner
Paula Winokur

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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Artists Against Hunger

Sandi Neiman Lovitz, Artists Against Hunger

Sandi Neiman Lovitz, Incognito, 18 x 18″, photo courtesy of the artist, Artists Against Hunger at Da Vinci Art Alliance

ARTISTS Against Hunger Exhibition May 2-5, 2013, at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, 704 Catharine Street in South Philadelphia featured art from artists from all over the city, juried by Moe Brooker, Artist and Chairman of the Mayor’s Commission of the Arts. Many different styles and media were represented. All the work is fine art and for sale. Proceeds benefit The Food Trust. Let art nourish your soul to fed our children. The Food Trust works to improve access to healthy, affordable food and to educate children and families about nutrition. For more information, www.thefoodtrust.org – press release.

Susan DiPronio and Linda Dubin Garfield organized this excellent juried art show and fund-raising benefit at Da Vinci Art Alliance in South Philadelphia. DoN met with Susan DiPronio at the gallery to talk about the impetus behind the art show.

June Blumberg, Artists Against Hunger

June Blumberg, Doggie and Friends, mixed media, $400.00, Artists Against Hunger at Da Vinci Art Alliance

“There were sixty-four entries and thitry-six were chosen by Moe Brooker. He’s very famous. He donated a painting for us to sell and 100% goes to The Food Trust.”

DoN wondered what is The Food Trust?

The Food Trust of Philadelphia donates to other food programs like The Night Market, the Farmer’s Market, the child nutrition programs in North Philly. They did the Corner Store program in North and South Philly and disadvantaged areas where they go in and try to get corner stores to sell healthy food.

So, we’re hoping that the money from this project, we also did this last year, we’re just trying build it more. We’re hoping it will go to child nutrition programs.”

When local artists Linda Dubin Garfield and Susan DiPronio read that in parts of Philadelphia over 50% of the children go to bed hungry, they knew they had to do something. They decided to create change the only way they could- through art. They chose The Food Trust which helps bring nourishment and education to the neighborhoods in question. They created ARTISTS Against Hunger Project and planned several events such as the Pre- Fringe birthday party for Linda in May, 2012 which raised over $700 in lieu of gifts. Next, they created a “Yummy Rainbow” mural banner as part of Robert Farid Karimi’s Cooking Show: The Diabetes of Democracy at  the Asian Arts Initiative with pre-schoolers from a Head Start class in South Philadelphia also in May, 2012. They participated in the 2012 Fringe Festival doing mixed media memoir workshops focusing on What Nurtures Us and Food Deserts in September, 2012. – smart business consulting  press release.

Louise Herring, Artists Against Hunger

Louise Herring, Haybales Red, oil/mixed media, $250.00, Artists Against Hunger at Da Vinci Art Alliance

“Linda and I have a long history of collaborating together. We do writing workshops, we’ve been doing that for about seven years now. We were recipients of a Leeway Grant a few years ago and we do writing workshops with Endow A Home, Covenant House, etc. We decided to do something a little bit more, um, it’s disturbing to us when you’re in a homeless shelter or whatever, you see that, I worked twenty-five years in North Philadelphia and Camden, and it’s disturbing to see how many children don’t eat apparently anything. Did you see the painting in the back?”

Susan DiPronio pointed out a painting done from a photograph which was in a local newspaper in 2009 of a young child. The mat under the glass has a layer of Cheerios.

“The artist saw it and was totally moved by it. It’s a painting of a little girl who is diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’, she was subsisting on Cheerios and hot dogs. And that’s pretty much the basis, the gist, of what we’re getting at. It’s something that you see children running down the street and you see them with a crumpled dollar in their hand to a convenience store. And they buy a cookie and a soda and you don’t really realize that’s their dinner.

And it’s not that their parents aren’t working, maybe their parents are working two jobs and each job doesn’t even pay enough to feed a family. People complain about wait-persons in restaurants not being so good, well, the wait-person is probably working two jobs. People can work two jobs right now and still qualify for Food Stamps. That’s sad.”

Deanne Mills, Artists Against Hunger

Deanne Mills, Calm the Passion, oil,  Artists Against Hunger at Da Vinci Art Alliance

In writing DoNArTNeWs, DoN is aware of the difficult issues artists are tackling: hunger, homelessness, diseases. Artist’s like Kathryn Pannepacker teaching the homeless how to weave, Art Ability at Bryn Mawr Rehab creates big time art opportunities, Attic Graffix teaches at-risk youth production skills, Moss Rehab’s annual art show, The William Way Gay Community Center Annual Community Art Show all provide opportunities for art to make social impact.

“I think that when people are in a safe space, they’re living their lives day-to-day, and working and going home, they’re kind of in a sense of denial. As we get to more and more when people are home they’re so into their cell phone or the computer, and I think it getting worse. People are denying what they’re seeing. They think,’Yeah, we know about the homeless. But, they’re getting taken care of. Oh yeah, but these people make too much money’.

They don’t realize that a big part of the problem is the working poor. The people who are working every day and this is happening. And these children go to school and they can’t absorb or learn anything. And so it creates a cycle that will never end.”

Ellen Abraham, Artists Against Hunger

Ellen Abraham, Meet the Artist, graphite and acrylic on canvas, $375.00, Artists Against Hunger at Da Vinci Art Alliance

So, why are artists taking on this challenge? Talk about a disadvantaged group, they don’t call us starving artists for nothing.

“I know! We are starving artists. I’ve been unemployed, too. And we are starving artists, that’s true but I think for me, and for other people, as an artist, you realize that one of the reasons why you create art is because it’s a way that helps you. Because you understand yourself. You realize the curing powers of art and how important it’s been to you in your life. That passion. And you realize it’s something you need – to give back” – Susan DiPronio

Susan DiPronio, Artists Against Hunger

Susan DiPronio, Claudia and Her Mother, gelatin-silver photograph, $650.00, Artists Against Hunger at Da Vinci Art Alliance

The exhibit was organized by smART business consulting which offers business solutions for artists to reach their goals and their audience through individual consulting and coaching, small support groups and seminars as well as providing venues to exhibit art to the public both virtually online (web design and social media) and in reality (exhibitions in galleries and other public venues.)

For more information, contact www.smARTbusinessconsulting.org or smARTbusinessconsulting@verizon.net

The art show was just three days but some wonderful artworks are still for sale, contact smARTbusinessconsulting@verizon.net The current exhibit is a solo art show by Linda Dubin Garfield through May 26th, 2013. Read about her one-person show, Hear My Color, at DoNArTNeWs.com

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Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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The Endless One

The Endless One, Hilary White, Paradign Gallery

The Endless One, Hilary WhiteParadigm Gallery 

Hello DoN,
I was actually DJing an art event at the James Oliver Gallery one evening when we met briefly and you handed me your card. I like to hold onto things of that nature so I looked into what you do and it’s great! I appreciate the time and effort you put towards keeping people updated on art events in Philadelphia on your website.
I am having an art opening at Paradigm Gallery on May 24th. The title of the show is “The Endless One”. I do large scale mixed media pieces as well as screen printing. I have attached my show card for the event. The front image is also titled “The Endless One” it’s medium is hand cut wood, acrylic sheet, oil paint, acrylic paint, acrylic rod, vinyl. It’s dimensions are 77″ x 78″ x 15″ .
My website is www.hilarywhiteart.com

The Endless One, Hilary White, Paradign Gallery

The Endless OneHilary WhiteParadigm Gallery 

Read DoN‘s review on www.donartnews.com

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LTextile at Philadelphia Art Alliance

LTextile, Textiles Lithuania, Philadelphia Art Alliance

 

LTextile, Textiles Lithuania, Philadelphia Art Alliance

LTextile, Textiles Lithuania, Philadelphia Art Alliance

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013 // 6:00PM TO 9:00PM, Opening Reception: Sabrina Gschwandtner: Sunshine and Shadow, “LTextile” and Emily Spivack: Sentimental Value

FREE: Please join us for the opening reception to our Summer Exhibitions:

“LTextile”: Contemporary Textiles from Lithuania

“LTextile” brings together the work of artists and designers from Lithuania in a survey of contemporary textiles, co-organized by PAA Curator Sarah Archer and Egle Ganda Bagdoniene, Vice-Rector at the Academy of Arts in Vilnius.

Two different beers will be available from Švyturys, the oldest operating brewery in Lithuania.

More Here – Philadelphia Art Alliance website.

Read more about LTextile on DoNArTNeWs.

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Life’s a Drag

Life's a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of Femininity, Kate Brazina

Life’s a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of Femininity, Kate Brazina

Performance by Icon Ebony Fierce, Porcelain and Ann Artist, photography by Michael Valtin, video by Kate Brazina at Moore College of Art and Design Senior Exhibition 2013.

“The evolution of drag has it’s first recorded roots in the Thirteenth Century Theater and now is widespread on various platforms such as film, television, underground theater and nightclubs.” – Kate Brazina

Life’s a Drag stands out among great art installations at the Moore College of Art Senior Show because of the manipulation of context, situation, audience, history and future of public art installations. In a Warhol-ized world, art curators seek that cultural awareness nerve that will signal something is different, strange or unknown that can be discovered. The presence of three high profile Philadelphia drag queens along side the graduating class of 2013 of America’s only women’s art school was disorienting and fabulous.

Life's a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of Femininity, Kate Brazina, Porcelain

Life’s a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of FemininityPorcelain

Through facebook messaging DoN asked Kate Brazina some questions: Moore College of Art is a unique institution for women. Did your investigation into drag culture have anything to do with the school’s signification of women as separate? Is your work impacted by the male gaze?

“My interest in drag culture mostly came about because I work in nightlife with a lot of queens. But, my interest in feminism and femininity definitely came from my time at Moore.”

“Moving forward through the next 800 years drag has become a progressive form of entertainment and integral part of the gay community catering to people of all walks of life.” – Kate Brazina artist statement.

Life's a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of Femininity, Kate Brazina, Ann Artist

Life’s a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of FemininityKate Brazina, Ann Artist, Moore College of Art Senior Exhibition.

“My work has a lot to do with the male gaze and playing with comfort zones.”

Gaze is a psychoanalytical term brought into popular usage by Jacques Lacan to describe the anxious state that comes with the awareness that one can be viewed. The psychological effect, Lacan argues, is that the subject loses a degree of autonomy upon realizing that he or she is a visible object. This concept is bound with his theory of the mirror stage, in which a child encountering a mirror realizes that he or she has an external appearance. Lacan suggests that this gaze effect can similarly be produced by any conceivable object such as a chair or a television screen. This is not to say that the object behaves optically as a mirror; instead it means that the awareness of any object can induce an awareness of also being an object. – Wikipedia

Life's a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of Femininity, Kate Brazina

Life’s a Drag, Drag Performance and the Taboos of FemininityKate Brazina at Moore College of Art Senior Exhibition

Kate Brazina has tapped the zeitgeist of the gender-fuck cross-dresser as a meme for rebellion in the larger context of society in a powerful and appealing presentation including the prerequisite chairs, TVs and drag queens, the metaphorical psychological mirror.

DoN remembers watching Milton Berle on a black and white TV in the 50s prance and sissy it up in a funny sexualized way. This week America’s Next Drag Superstar, Jinkx Monsoon, was crowned on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5, a cable TV reality competition show exposing many of drag’s secrets to a curious audience. RuPaul said in a recent interview that the biggest audience for her product line is teenaged girls. Impersonating women in an all girl’s school takes, as Rupaul would say, charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent. Condragulations Kate Brazina.

ps. DoN‘s drag name is Gayla Dolly.

Read more at www.DoNArTNeWs.com about  Emerging Artists & Designers: Senior Show 2013Moore College of Art and Design 

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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