Monthly Archives: July 2013

disorder: eating

disorder: eating, DoN Brewer, Feast Your Eyes, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks

disorder: eating, QR Code, inkjet print, YouTube video, DoN BrewerFeast Your EyesOff the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks

The Eighth Annual Community Art Show at Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks is titled Feast Your Eyes, a themed group art show ostensibly related to food. DoN‘s entry is a QR code that links to a YouTube video called disorder: eating that was produced in 2002 and uploaded to YouTube in 2006. When DoN made this video food had become an annoying, painful need that all the joy had seeped out of.

The video uses found video footage from early food porn TV shows that was recorded on a VCR then transferred to a computer. The clips of people eating food are played in reverse, repeated, slowed down and zoomed in creating a disorienting, revolting vision of the opposite of eating. What if food came out of your mouth instead of going in? When DoN heard that two of the judges were so grossed out they couldn’t look he knew he had struck a nerve. Art should scare the kids.

The video is a comment on the culture of food in mass media and how not all people appreciate the fact of life of the necessity of eating. The ugly/beautiful aspect of the imagery reflects the disconnect many people feel towards the importance of food. Super-model Kate Moss famously said, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

Thank you so much to Off the Wall Gallery for awarding disorder: eating the Most Bio-Engineered Award, the prize is a book titled Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook (P.S.) by Anthony Bourdain, the famous TV chef who visited Dirty Franks and introduced the art bar to the world. The Summer show is winding down, go buy some art to feed your mind and spirit. And continue your support of the Philadelphia art community and Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks by collecting art by local contemporary artists. A framed print of the disorder: eating QR code is only $20.00.

Read DoN‘s food wordplay blog about Feast Your Eyes on DoNArTNeWs Philadelphia Art News Blog.

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Art and writing by DoN Brewer.

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Dialogic

Artists explore the internal contradictions, hidden meaning, and implicit ideologies of language Glassboro NJ: Rowan University Art Gallery presents Dialogic a multi-media group exhibition of work by artists that explore the internal contradictions, hidden meaning and implicit ideologies of language as a critical component of their practice from September 3 through October 8 – 8 pm followed by a spoken word event at 8:30 pm. Both events are free and open to the public.

Curated by Gallery Director, Mary Salvante, the exhibition includes work by Jenny Holzer, Glenn Ligon, Jaume Plensa, Lesley Dill, John Giorno, Keith Brand, Erik den Breejen, DataSpaceTime, Bang Geul Han, Barbara Hashimoto, Meg Hitchcock, Dawn Kramlich, Melanie McLain, Ben Pranger, Buy Shaver, Chris Vecchio and Sue White. How language is perceived, communicated, and translated is informed by the visual qualities and symbolic power of the texts, words, and poetic phrasings incorporated into the video, sound-scapes, interactive tech-works, sculpture, paintings and works on paper included in this exhibition.

Works by Jenny Holzer, Glenn Ligon, Buy Shaver, and Dawn Kramlich reproduce text as aphorisms, precepts, and dictums to influence the thoughts and actions of the viewer.  John Giorno’s ground breaking Dial-A-Poem project, Keith Brand’s exterior soundscape, Melanie McLain’s performative video, DataSpaceTime’s  QR code mural, Bang Geul Han’s motion activated video and Chris Vecchios public art action and interactive works focus on the physical and aural complexities of language.  The sculpture, paintings, works on paper, and installations by Lesley Dill, Jaume Plensa, Barbara Hashimoto, Meg Hitchcock, Erik den Breejen, Ben Pranger and Sue White deconstruct  and recontextualize language through reimagining systems of communication found in advertisements, books, braille, poetry, Morse code and scripture.

Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public. Regular gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10 am to 5 pm (with extended hours on Wednesdays to 7 pm); and Saturday, 12 to 5 pm. For more information, call 856-256-4521 or visit www.rowan.edu/artgallery. Rowan University Art Gallery is located on the lower level of Westby Hall on the university campus, Route 322 in Glassboro, NJ. A public reception will be held on Thursday, September 12, 5:30.

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The Galleries at the Chamber

Maggie Mills, The Galleries at the Chamber

Maggie Mills, New House, oil on linen, 44″ x 52″, Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the Chamber, Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Lori Dillard Rech, President and Chief Executive Officer of Center for Emerging Visual Artists addressed the assembled guests for the innaugeral art show at the Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia’s offices on the Avenue of the Arts. The Galleries at the Chamber is showcasing contemporary Philadelphia artists in the lobby, board rooms, meeting rooms and offices on the 7th floor of the grand Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, designed in the French Renaissance style by G.W. & W.D. Hewitt.

“I am with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and we’re really thrilled to be invited to present this show. I want to thank the Karin Copeland and Miriam DeChant who really had the vision for being able to enhance these spaces, enliven these spaces in a way that’s so enriching. We’re very appreciative.”

Tremain Smith, Arts and Business Council

Tremain Smith, Mercy, oil, wax and collage on panel, Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Genevieve Coutroubis, Director, Regional Community Arts Program has been with CFEVA for about twelve years and she really began the program of starting to look at trying to customize exhibitions for businesses. We go into lobbies, hospitals, office spaces, all kinds of different non-profits use us and many businesses. We would hope that many of you would consider having an exhibition in your space. We would be more than happy to come out to talk to you about what that means. The way we curate the shows is we bring in a group of artists and we allow you to look at the works and help you find something appealing to you. And hopefully will be appealing to to your clients and what’s appropriate for you and your clients.

For many years we’ve been providing programs just like this, a wide variety of exhibitions in spaces throughout the Philadelphia area. And one of the most important things for us, in terms of our mission, is that this also gives us the opportunity to showcase the amazing artistic talent of this region. And we can give you that opportunity to do that as well. Thank you to the Arts and Business Council for this incredible opportunity to bring artists into these spaces so that the wider business community can look at it and appreciate it. And think about it for themselves.” – Lori Dillard Rech

Gregory Brellochs, The Galleries at the Chamber

Gregory Brellochs, The Hallow, Soma, Sign ink and vanish on panel, Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Gregory Brellochs, The Galleries at the Chamber

Gregory BrellochsThe Hallow, ink and vanish on panel, Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Genevieve Coutroubis introduced the artists in attendance but first pointed out that all of the artwork is for sale. The represented artists include photographer James B. Abbott, Gregory Brellochs, Kirsten Fischler, Tish Ingersoll, Eric Kennedy, Shalya Marsh, Maggie Mills, Tremain Smith and Michael Yoder.

Shalya Marsh, The Galleries at the Chamber

Shalya Marsh, ceramic, Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

“The Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (ABC) strengthens our creative sector, including arts, culture and for-profit creative businesses, by engaging the business, legal & technology communities, providing capacity-building services, and serving as a thought leader and a convener. ABC, with the support of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, is uniquely positioned to actively connect the creative sector with the business, legal and technology communities.” – The Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia mission statement.

Shalya Marsh, The Galleries at the Chamber

Shalya Marsh, ceramic (click the picture) Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

DoN asked Miriam DeChant what the Philadelphia arts community should know about the Philadelphia Arts and Business Council and Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts?

“What I think I want them to know the most is we are available for them. And we prefer to be a vaccine instead of a bandage. So, I would like them to ask questions, even if they’re not sure of what the question is because if you’re a little wiser about getting things in writing, being more careful about paying their taxes, working within copyright laws. But, in the future, we want to help people determine whether this is a legal problem or not, before it gets to the point where something actually goes wrong.

I’ve been here for five years and in the last ten years our case load had indicated that with the internet people are more aware that there might be a problem. And if they take risks they’re likely to get caught. So, there’s actually a bit of a chilling effect because people are hesitant to appropriate because they’re afraid to use other people’s work in a way their personal rights might not let them allow them to use in a ‘fair use’ way because it’s such a gray area.”

Shalya Marsh, The Galleries at the Chamber

Shalya Marsh, ceramic, Center for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

“It would be useful to talk to a lawyer about these gray areas. It’s important to talk to a lawyer and ask, ‘How big of a risk is this?’ “Is it worth getting permission or is this enough of a commentary that it’s fair use?

Appropriation is an art form of it’s own, absolutely. There’s a very large case in the Appeals Court of the 2nd Circuit involving prints about photography and approbation in a very interesting way so we’re waiting to see if that goes up to the Supreme Court or not. There’s been progress but it’s a very gray area.

If an artist has a question, they need to submit to me, to us, the work that they’re worried about that’s their’s and whatever it is that they think they are using or gaining inspiration from is legal to share. And then we can talk to them about the therapy. They can call us, there’s an application on-line, We primarily help artists in a pro-bono way for artists who have a low income or modest income, collectors and non-profits, so it’s a bit of paperwork but we’ll work with you on it.

And everyone in the office is really passionate about art.” – Miriam K. DeChant, Esq.

Michael Yoder, The Galleries at the Chamber

Michael YoderCenter for Emerging Visual ArtistsThe Galleries at the ChamberArts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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My Every Day

Kenny Duprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

Kenny Deprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

“In July I am exhibiting in the Stewart Room, at The Philadelphia Sketch Club. My work explores time and place through photography and painting. I am interested in image making that reveals my experience in the everyday, and extends the process of making to the everyday. I will be showing for the first time a body of work that consists of a gridded arrangement of 12 x 12” photo-based paintings of my daily travels around Philadelphia. I will also debut an ongoing photo-journalistic project of my wife’s family farm (The Hayford Farm, of Pittston, Maine).” – Kenny Deprez

Kenny Duprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

Kenny DeprezMy Every DayPhiladelphia Sketch Club

Kenny Deprez‘ solo art show, My Every Day, in the Stewart Room of The Philadelphia Sketch Club is cool hybrid photography, blatantly manipulated, enlivening the historic game room gallery with a modern sensibility. Kenny and DoN chatted at the opening reception held in concert with PHOTOgraphy 2013, the juried photography show, about the logistics of putting on a big solo show.

“Some of the work here goes as far back as 2008, that is where this whole series started. The painting on my photographs. Before that I was primarily a sculptor, video artist slash performance artist. And then this work, photography, sort of presented a way to continue somehow video-graphy or perform in my work. Like, I’m still in charge of the camera and the viewpoint.”

Kenny Duprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

Kenny DeprezMy Every DayPhiladelphia Sketch Club

So you think of photography as performance?

“In some ways it’s performance based but it allows me to just make the work everyday. First, it allows me to move my work to the studio or to a gallery space where it becomes more isolated. Here I can work on the ideas every day. The photographs I take, where I’m taking the photographs and then going into painting and painting them, it becomes more of the hand being at work.”

Kenny Duprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

Kenny DeprezMy Every DayPhiladelphia Sketch Club

The collection of photographs arranged formally on the gallery wall reads cinematically like a story board. Each photograph contains a separate narrative of time and place but together the images read like a graphic novel.

“I guess I was thinking, sort of, about the microcosm of this space that I’ve gone to a lot over the last eight years, I keep returning to that space and watch how it changes. It’s the Hayford Family Farm, my wife’s family farm, and some of the shots are really formal and some are more playful, some of them show the changes of a site that’s been re-visited over and over again. Some are just happenstance like the cat who runs into the photo. The arrangement reflects the microcosm aspect of it. It’s like a circle, like the whole world can exist there.”

Kenny Duprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

Kenny DeprezMy Every DayPhiladelphia Sketch Club

What inspires you to paint on the photographs?

“I guess I’ve never really felt comfortable as a photographer. So this was a way to continue to engage with the photo and figure out the next level. Traditionally I’m a sculptor, so this is a way to think of them as an object, a way to put my hands on it.

The show is called My Every Day and that has a lot to do with the things I see every day of my life. It’s personal in that way but I hope that somehow it’s not just about me. It’s more about like that art doesn’t have to be totally removed from our every day experience.” – Kenny Deprez

Kenny Duprez, My Every Day, Philadelphia Sketch Club

Kenny DeprezMy Every DayPhiladelphia Sketch Club throughout July, Gallery hours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1 PM to 5 PM.

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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Feast Your Eyes

Alexandra Orgera, Feast Your Eyes, Off the Wall Gallery

Alexandra Orgera, Sardines, digital photography, $75.00, multiple framed prints available, Feast Your Eyes, Off the Wall Gallery

Feast Your Eyes at Off the Wall Gallery is a visual smorgasbord, a mind melt sandwich, a banquet of tarts, sweets and delights, some are tasty and some are nasty. The 8th Annual Community Arts Show theme was suggested by surrealist/photographer William Myers which was the recipe for a choice menu of art. The show is free to enter but the competition for space is tough. The Off the Wall Gallery team gathers a jury of art experts to curate the show, treats them to an evening of wine and hors d’oeuvres and enough art submissions to feed the head until it explodes. Read about DoN‘s experience as a past juror here.

Off the Wall Gallery is located in Dirty Frank’s Bar at 13th and Pine Streets and is a hang-out for artists of every kind: college kids from the surrounding art schools, art club denizens from Philly’s allies, world famous painters and absolute beginners side by side at the bar. The collection of mixed media art ranges from paintings, photos and prints to video, sculpture and a QR code with an appealing appetite for the beautiful, strange and unique.

Alexandra OrgeraSardines, digital photography, $75.00, is delectable, printed on panel with a simple raised box frame the piece has the delicious power to switch identities in the mind’s eye. What looks like a classic still life painting is actually a photograph made of the ingredients of fine art. Even more tasty is how affordable the collection of photographs are and you can ask for special orders.

feast your eyes, Off the Wall Gallery

Feast Your EyesOff the Wall Gallery

Look at all the names on this list! Writing about group shows for DoNArTNeWs sometimes leaves a sour taste in DoN‘s craw because not every artist can be put on the menu. So, for a virtual degustation of this ambrosial display, DoN recommends you visit the maitre’d of the fine establishment to digest Togo Travalia‘s tasting recommendations of the gratifying show at the Off the Wall Gallery facebook page.

Even more savory is sipping Jack neat at the bar, absorbing a tantalizing arrangement of tempting creations and listening to David Bowie on the jukebox while cute couples play darts, artists sketch and photographers take pictures. It’s scrumptious.

Written by DoN Brewer. Photographs courtesy of Off the Wall Gallery.

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