Monthly Archives: October 2013

Off the Wall Autumn Invitational 2013

Anders Hansen, Midnight Sun

Anders Hansen, Midnight Sun, charcoal and gesso on paper.

Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks Bar Autumn Invitational 2013 features new artwork from their award-winning, top-selling artists: Jim Biglan, Bob Gorchov, Anders Hansen, Yeoun Lee, Jesse r Lentz, Bill Myers, Lance Pawling and Syd Torchio.

The gallery located in the corner bar has developed a reputation for discovering new artists, creating exciting art experiences and generating sales. Located near art schools, artist clubs and art galleries, Dirty Franks is a hub of artistic energy and talent. It’s not unusual to rub elbows with famous artists or aspiring art students, chef Anthony Bourdain even shot a segment of his show there and got a bit drunk while shooting the show (click his name to see the episode).

Curated by the multitalented Jody Sweitzer, who recently was celebrated with a one-person show at The Plastic Club with an eighteen year retrospective, Off the Wall Gallery is a unique venue which welcomes all kinds of art and artists. Togo Travalia, manager of the bar, tirelessly promotes the shows with outstanding publicity efforts including keepsake catalogs, posters and inventive facebook posts helping create the environment that the art is indeed for sale.

Anders Hansen, Somewhere in France

Anders Hansen, Somewhere in France, ink on paper

“I want my work to have density, complexity, movement, expressiveness. I like my materials to have a life and play of their own – ink that’s inky, charcoal that’s earthy, paint that’s rich, lines that cavort.” – Anders Hansen artist statement excerpt

Anders Hansen’s artwork never fails to surprise yet is totally accessible and decorative. Maybe his limited palette and fluid lines are the secret to his success, allowing the viewer to enjoy his art as it seeps into their consciousness with beautiful simplicity. But the work is the result of determined practice and years of work achieving a level of artistry that is reminiscent of the masters like Pollack or De Kooning. I’m not being flattering here, look for yourself, and you’ll see why collectors seek out his art to fill voids in their collections.

Bill Myers, Everyone Bleeds Now

Bill Myers, Everyone Bleeds Now, digital collage

Bill Myers mashes up original photography with found art to create his signature brand of surrealism. I love it that not everyone get’s it because the best art is often confusing. An accomplished professional photographer, Myers’ artwork mixes metaphors and memes with aplomb creating a balancing act between the real and unreal.

“My art mixes reality or fantasy and combines them to create a storyline that is TOTALLY TRUE OR FALSE!!!” – Bill Myers artist statement excerpt

Lance Pawling, Life on the Line

Lance Pawling, Life on the Line, found object assemblage

Lance Pawling has established himself as an important influence on the creative community of Philadelphia. As a performer with the Dumpsta Players, an employee of the Philadelphia Art Museum and an award-winning fine artist he demonstrates that living the artistic life can be fun and functional. His art, like his life, mixes what he finds into pleasing compositions of exotica, multi-media and history. Unafraid of criticism he laughs with the viewer when he puts Ben Franklin in drag, spoofs the Last Supper or assumes the personality of a Super-Star!

“I find inspiration everywhere I look. The spark might  emerge from the shadow of reflected light,or follow the path of a leaf delicately dancing through the air, set aloft by a passing bus. The delight of creation is all around me.” – Lance Pawling artist statement excerpt

Lance Pawling, Diamond J

Lance Pawling, Diamond J, found object assemblage

Lance Pawling, a Philadelphia-based artist, does performance art and creates handcrafted goods. Lance’s performance art takes the form of drag and female impersonation intended to delight his audience while making them squirm. Lance’s handcrafted art is made largely through found objects—often broken or discarded items—which he transforms into another state of material being that the viewer may not otherwise have seen or expected.” – Lance Pawling website

Bob Gorchov, untitled (Aves)

Bob Gorchov, Untitled (Aves), acrylic, watercolor, ink and pencil on paper

With naive abandon, Bob Gorchov, mixes media and styles to create exuberant creations that recall great artists like, you know, Picasso, Kandinsky, Bourgeois…seriously, before you buy copy-cat art from a big box store buy a Gorchov and you will own an original that no one else has.

Picasso famously said, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

“About my recent paintings, I can say that the use of color is bolder, less somber and more varied than in previous works. This probably has little to do with conscious choice. I start wirth a line or image and see where it leads me. Then it’s one accident after another – or almost.” – Bob Gorchov artist statement

Yeoun Lee, Spring Shades

Yeoun Lee, Spring Shades, acrylic on canvas

The Autumn Invitational show has some amazing tableaus spread across the wall but Yeoun Lee‘s work, even though it stands fully on it’s own, complements the works nearby. Paired with Anders Hansen‘s mysterious abstractions her brilliant colors deepen the darkness of Hansen’s moody artworks. Placed next to Syd Torchio‘s exquisite portraiture, her work sings the song you hear in your head but with color. Adjacent to Bob Gorchov‘s child-like exhuberance, Yeoun Lee‘s paintings act like the adult in the room. There are several of Lee’s award-winning paintings in this show that belong in collections. #BuyArt

“My greatest source of inspiration to paint comes from nature, which gives me the freedom to express myself and to forget about the darkness and hardships that are inherent in the journey of life. With nature as my inspiration, I feel completly free to my own colors and techniques to create my own world on canvas. In this respect, I consider myself a colorist, using techniques such as dripping, layering, overlapping, and brushwork in my paintings. – Yeoun Lee website

“We’re all affected by what we see around us, by our experience and also by our moods. My great source of inspiration comes from nature and colors. Through observation, memory and my imagination, nature inspires me.” Yeoun Lee artist statement excerpt

Off the Wall Gallery Autumn Invitational 2013

Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks Bar Autumn Invitational 2013 features new artwork from their award-winning, top-selling artists: Jim BiglanBob GorchovAnders HansenYeoun LeeJesse r LentzBill MyersLance Pawling and Syd Torchio.

Jesse r Lentz, Off the Wall Gallery

Jesse r Lentz and Jim BiglanOff the Wall Gallery

The vitrine in the corner of the bar is dedicated to Jesse r Lentz‘ and Jim Biglan’s sculptures, drawings, paintings and mixed media objects with quirky mash-ups and objet trouve that makes me think that Dirty Franks invented the concept of ‘pop-up shop’. Like a mini museum, the glass case contains a fantastical array of the artists’ work that would enhance an urbane mantle, brighten a kitschy kitchen or add animal totem’s to a bedroom to occupy your dream-scapes. Lentz says, “I genuinely feel my small works can live peacefully in the dimly lit environment of Dirty Franks.”

Jesse r Lentz is a sculptor who focuses mainly on the idea of toy and touch. The physicality of an interactive sculpture has been a primary part of her sculptural work since she began practice. Learning the lost wax process of bronze sculpture as well as jewelry casting, welding, and other metal working techniques influenced her relationship to materials and craft. Animals and the human form have been a major inspiration point in all her studies.” – Jesse r Lentz artist statement excerpt from RAWartists.org

“This artwork represents three different avenues I’ve been exploring: 1) small humorous drawings sometimes using text, 2) my ‘moving drawings’, with slots, tabs, pulleys, etc., that can be manipulated to alter the drawing or reveal new areas; and small sculptures that are an extension of my love of mask and puppet-making.” – Jim Biglan artist statement

2013 Autumn Invitational at Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Franks Bar, 13th and Pine Streets, Philadelphia on view through November 22nd.

The next show is called Coupling – the deadline for entry is 10/31/13

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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Sun Young Kang + Anne Canfield

Sun Young Kang + Anne Canfield, University City Arts League

Sun Young Kang + Anne CanfieldUniversity City Arts League, Artist’s reception October 25th, 6:00 – 8:00pm.

“Nearly every facet of life that we understand is dependent on our visual perception of the world, predisposing us to only see the “present.” But it is not difficult to perceive that our world is composed of two antithetical ideas: presence and absence, life and death. These ideas can be understood in the Buddhist philosophy of “Emptiness”—every existence, every single moment that has ever existed, can only conceived as between the past and the future. The abstract nature of this concept is often difficult to grasp, but my work is an attempt to secularize this fundamental idea.” – Sun Young Kang artist statement excerpt

Anne Canfield, University City Arts League

Anne Canfield, University City Arts League (click for larger image)

“I draw and paint on a tiny scale and am inspired in particular by Early Netherlandish and Indian Miniature paintings. I use a variety of media as point of departure, ranging from personal photography to elements of film. Loosely narrative, my pieces reveal quiet, solitary moments when a sense of time or place is trapped and brought to stand still. The viewer of my work perceives something strange and unsettling but also sweet and familiar. In this way these paintings and drawings pay homage to classic tales of lore.” – Anne Canfield artist statement

ARTIST’S RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY: October 25th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm,
Show will close this Sunday, Oct 27th. Gallery is open Monday to Friday, 10:00am – 7:00pm,  Saturday & Sunday by appointment. University City Arts League, 4226 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, 215) 382-7811, lpg@ucartsleague.orghttp://www.ucartsleague.org/

“The University City Arts League( UCAL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and cultural enrichment in the arts. UCAL serves people of all ages in our diverse community.”

Images courtesy of the artist.

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Deep Six

Deep Six, Da Vinci Art Alliance

Deep Six, Da Vinci Art Alliance, November 3rd – 29th, 2013

Six artists presenting individual bodies of work cordially invite you to attend a Reception and Meet the ArtistsSheldon Strober, Mikel Elam, Rex Sexton, Susan Richards, John Benigno and Melvin A. Chappell: Sunday, November 3rd, 2013, 1:00 – 4:00pm, Da Vinci Art Alliance, 704 Catherine Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147

Featured Presentations:

Sunday November 10th, 2013, 1:00 – 3:00pm, Panel with Susan Richards and Sally WillowbeeTalk Trash with Dumpster Divers and Rex Sexton reading from his novel, Paper Moon

Sunday November 17th, 2013, 1:00 – 5:00pm, John Benigno: How to Photograph Your Own Art (rsvp johnbenigno@hotmail.com)

Gallery hours: Wednesday 5:00 – 8:00pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 – 5:00pm. For more information call 267-257-3430

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Three Perspectives

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives: Frank RauschRobert ReinhardtEd Snyder at The Plastic Club through October 27th, 2013. Closing reception Sunday, October 20th, 2:00 – 5:00pm.

Three accomplished photographers have taken over the historic galleries of The Plastic Club filling each room with a broad range of photographic art. Each photographer is known for their documentary work regarding cemeteries, in fact the trio have a show in the Free Library of Philadelphia on the Parkway focused on the historic cemeteries of Philadelphia: Mount Mariah Cemetery, Laurel Hill Cemetery and Woodlands Cemetery titled Sacred to the Memory.

Although the Three Perspectives show does include cemetery photographs, each artist is displaying a wide range of subjects from landscapes and still life to abstract and documentary images. The exhibit is beautifully displayed and offers each artist’s work a space of it’s own, hung gallery style as opposed to the salon-style exhibits of juried art shows for which The Plastic Club is recognized. Displayed throughout the Main Hall, the Tea Room, the Bob Jackson Gallery and the Sheikman Studio/Gallery the range and distinct styles is inspiring and often astonishing.

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic ClubEd Snyder

“Using film, digital, and toy cameras, I create something out of nothing. The large part of my work, which utilizes cemetery statuary as subject, merges art and photography with society’s desire to come to terms with death and dying. It is an attempt to reacquaint us with Victorian mourning arts. My latest work is a bit lighter –images created with toy cameras. The creative processes of photography have always helped me deal with the world, with personal issues, and even to judge myself. In retrospect, psychiatry would’ve been cheaper. However, I believe that spending time in cemeteries has helped me to prepare myself for the loss of loved ones. Seeing others find meaning in the work is an unexpected gift.” Ed Snyder artist’s statement

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club,  Robert Reinhardt

Three Perspectives, Robert Reinhardt

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club,  Robert Reinhardt

“The reason we exhibited together is because besides our obvious overlap with cemetery photography we share many of the same aesthetic concerns for the images within our photographs. The interesting part is how we mine it from our own creative expression. I felt that all three of us visually completes the sentence the other starts. Frank may be more painterly, Ed has solid documentation strength, and I hover over texture/surface/composition. I am honored to be the in same space as the other two.” – Robert Reinhardt

Three Perspectives, Robert Reinhardt

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club,  Robert Reinhardt, photograph provided by the artist.

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club, Frank Rausch, Robert ReinhardtEd Snyder

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club, Frank RauschEd Snyder

” Thanks to all who helped promote the ‘Three Perspectives’ Show. The support we received from family and friends on our opening reception was very humbling . Thanks to my friends Ed and Bob for putting up with my computer illiteracy this last couple of months. The best is yet to come , both the library show “Sacred To The Memory -Historic Cemeteries Of Philadelphia” and “Three Perspectives” at The Plastic Club are still going strong. Ed, Bob and I invite all to attend our second reception at The Plastic Club on October 20, 2013 from 2:00 – 5:00pm. Help us finish off our BEER and WINE ,see some great photography and better yet do some early holiday shopping and pick up some beautiful photos as gifts.” – Frank Rausch

Three Perspectives.Frank Rausch

Frank Rausch was born and raised in Connecticut. His love of nature and the outdoors was nurtured by his rural upbringing and from the many fishing and hunting excursions he took with his father and a neighborhood best friend.

His passion for photography blossomed later in life when he decided to capture some of the inspiring images through the lens of a camera. His use of color, composition, and light come from years of being a flower shop owner and designer. His photographic diversity is reflected in his choice of subjects- from landscape to abstract images where he captures different moods, textures and geometric designs. Being able to share with you through his photographic art those special moments in time is a privilege he hopes to continue for a long long time. – Frank Rausch bio

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club, Frank Rausch, Robert ReinhardtEd Snyder

Three Perspectives, Frank Rausch, Robert Reinhardt, Ed Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic ClubEd Snyder

Three Perspectives at The Plastic Club is an opportunity to view photographic art by three of Philadelphia’s most dedicated and accomplished photographers. As well as their photography, the trio participates in Social Practice art activities such as restoring cemeteries. Ed has been leading the restoration efforts at Mount Mariah in Philadelphia, Robert travels to Edinburgh, Scotland to work on cemetery restoration and Frank was the former grounds foreman at Laurel Hill Cemetery and still resides in the grand entrance building.

Thank you to Frank RauschRobert Reinhardt, and Ed Snyder for providing images for this blog post.

The Plastic Club is located on the Avenue of the Artists at 247 South Camac Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107.

Frank Rausch:

Robert Reinhardt:

Ed Snyder:

The Plastic Club‘s home is a historic double townhouse located on one of Philadelphia’s “little streets” in the heart of the city. Built in 1824, it houses the club’s spacious studio, gallery spaces, offices and dining facilities. The club purchased the property in 1909, and expanded it to include the house next door in 1910. In the past ten years the building has undergone many rennovations so that it now functions like a 21st century building, but still retains its 19th century charm. – The Plastic Club website

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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Galleria Deptford

Steven Park, Galleria Deptford

Steven Park, Before the Storm, $100.00, photograph, Galleria Deptford

Galleria Deptford is located in the Deptford Municipal Building at 1011 Cooper Street, Deptford, NJ. The on-going art installations are curated by Pauline Jonas, an arts maven who connects artists with opportunities. The current photography exhibition is by members of Artists of Southern New Jersey. The mission of ASNJ is to:

  • Provide opportunities for local artists to display and share their artwork.
  • Membership is open to local artists and persons interested in supporting and participating in the visual arts.
  • Our partnershops with local libraries and other venues provides a home for local artists to exhibit their artwork.
  • ASNJ is a not for profit organization and does not collect fees or commissions.

Galleria Deptford doesn’t collect commissions either allowing artists to show their work in a heavily trafficked venue with all sales going directly through the artist. Several photographs in the current exhibit sold before the show even had the opening reception.

Jan Narducci, Steven Park, Galleria Deptford

Jan Narducci, A Study in White, photograph, $75.00, Steven Park, One Way, photograph, $100.00, Galleria Deptford

Galleria Deptford has a professional hanging system and lighting as well as warm natural light during the day. Since the site is a municipal location there is ample free parking, handicapped access and elevators for viewing work on the upper level.

The ASNJ photography show includes a wide range or works by twenty-two artists including landscapes, still life, portraits, abstracts and experimental works.

David Slack, Galleria Deptford

David Slack, Laces, photograph, Galleria Deptford

Bob Reid, Galleria Deptford

Bob Reid, Nina, photograph, $125.00, Galleria Deptford

“As a lifelong educator and student of photography as art, my goal is to help others look at the ordinary and see the extra ordinary. To this end I have developed a series of courses at Gloucester County College. My goal is to help people tap their creative energy not the technical side of Digital Photography by seeing the world with an artist’s eye. To me Digital Photography is not so much about capturing an image or even creating an image. Digital Photography is a tool to help us recognize the abundance that surrounds us every day. A photograph is a byproduct of the glorious luminosity that is the banquet before us.” – Bob Reid artist statement

Henry Fickenacher, Galleria Deptford

Henry Fickenacher, Seneca White Deer, photograph, $100.00, Galleria Deptford, (photo Les Howard)

The Seneca White Deer are a rare herd of deer living within the confines of the former Seneca Army Depot in Seneca County, New York. When the 10,600-acre (43 km2) depot was created in 1941, a 24-mile (39 km) fence was erected around its perimeter, isolating a small herd of White-tailed deer, some of whom had white coats. – Wikipedia

Kevin Helmes, Galleria Deptford

Kevin Helmes, Train Track to Oblivion, photograph, $45.00, Galleria Deptford(photo Les Howard)

Train Track to Oblivion reminds me so much of growing up in South Jersey. My buddies and I spent a lot of time walking the tracks and sitting by in the weeds while the trains rumbled by. Sometimes we would try putting pennies or nails on the rails to see if we could get them flattened. Even now when I hear the train whistle blow in South Philly I remember my childhood adventures of looking for spikes that had been shaken loose, our flattened pennies and balancing on the rails.

David Slack, Galleria Deptford

David Slack, Fresh Lobsters, $105.00, Galleria Deptford (photo Les Howard)

The exhibit at Galleria Deptford includes a couple of works that are not actual photographs such as Fresh Lobsters, a digital creation evoking natural elements but stretching the boundaries of the concepts of photography to the limit.

Jeff Stroud, Galleria Deptford

Jeff Stroud, For Ever Wave, photograph, $175.00, Galleria DeptfordRead more about Jeff Stroud‘s photography and philosophy at www.DoNArTNeWs.com Philadelphia Art News Blog

Thank you to Les Howard for providing photographs.

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

Galleria Deptford located in the Deptford Municipal Building, 1011 Cooper Street, Deptford, NJ. The building is opening Monday through Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm.

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