DoNArTNeWs

4th Generation, Janelle Adamska, acrylic scrim/screenprint and burn-out.  Janelle told DoN she uses a wood burning tool to burn out the negative space of the design totally time-tripping DoN back to the old Sears Dream Book with the cool wood-burning tools, remember the smell?  The artist fell in love with a borrowed tool so a friend gave her one of her own, Adamska’s scene-stealing piece sure isn’t like drawing a horse head into a piece of pine.

Tic-Tac-Toe, Beverly Godfrey, tapestry, 2009.

Text, Leslie Haas, paper.  This simple paper construct is such a great meme with little scrolls stuffed in a box like memories of futures passed crammed with lots of overlapping narratives and keepsakes.  Sweet.

Margin Notes, Pat depaula Klein, hand stitched with cotton floss.

Sorry, DoN doesn’t have the artist’s name for these super-kawaii postcards like old fashioned pot holders with stitched cliche’ greetings.

Pondering the Possibilities, Francine Strauss, quilted mixed media wall hanging.

Pop Can Patchwork, Caroline J. Maw-Dies, pop can labels, nails, wood in traditional patchwork/quilt/basket-weave pattern, 2009.  Like tramp art of old this collage of metal embodies that home-spun crazy quilt vibe of the DIY movement, instead of bottle top ropes or toothpick clocks Pop Can Patchwork is informed by invasive advertising and cultural collapse.  Maw-Dies represents the 21st Century Gleaner, recycling and re-purposing detritus into modern beauty and contemporary design.

Saturday evening Kathryn Pannepacker, curator of the TeXt/TeXtiLe, a Philagrafika event, held a pot luck dinner and movie party @ Da Vinci Art Alliance with a great turn out of artists, good food and chummy conversation.  The homey comfortable-ness of the event, lively with old and new friends, is sure to become a tradition - it’s a great way to get people to come see an art show.  The movie was about the current DIY scene across the country featuring artists working in art & crafts and “making a living” - DoN flashed back to December’s First Friday, it was freezing and wet out and 2nd Street had maybe a hundred kids trying to sell paintings, T-shirts, hats, fudge…while the movie was fast paced, very informative and offered insight into successful models for art business’, there’s still an underlying sense of a new kind of tactic to simply survive the Great Recession by one’s own means.

Today while walking KaTy the ArT DoG & Lady Doofus, the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix, through Rittenhouse Square, DoN spotted a tree wearing a colorful crocheted legging - a secret crafter mafia tagging style with fiber instead of stickers or spray paint.  Obey!

P. J. Smalley, Girl on Toilet, oil/digital print @ The Plastic Club.

Donna P. Collins, Our Love Dissolved, photograph.

Donna P. Collins, One Way Out, photograph.

Julianna Struck, Untitled, oil @ The Plastic Club New Members Exhibition 2010.

Karen Frank, Effervesence, acrylic.

New Member Exhibition 2010 @ The Plastic Club.  Corel Topel, Baby #1, pen & ink, Armand Scavo, 101 Walnut Street #1, photograph and Karen Freeman, Modiglianni Girl, ink.

Serena Perrone, Dreaming of Flying Fish, oil/charcoal/graphite.

Welcome to the 24 new members of the Plastic Club; the current show is super-strong with technical virtuosity, broad variety of styles, big personalities and aspirational contemporary ideas from established and new members of the Philly Art Community.

This year DoN got to know Dr. Deb Miller of the Da Vinci Art Alliance; Miller is a driving force behind the production of themed art shows for the gallery at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, Smile Gallery, Bartram’s Garden Gallery, the Black Box Gallery @ The Lantern Theater and more.  This year art exhibits included Envisioning Hamlet, Darwin & Carnivorous Plants, Windows on the World, Heroines & Harlots.. collaborations with The Lantern Theater, Bartrams Garden, Smile Gallery & more.  As a result of these concept shows DoN won more awards for art this year than in all previous years of entering shows.  Dr. Deb always takes an extra moment to praise the artist when presenting awards, tells an anecdote about the work, shares tidbits about her life in Andy Warhol’s circle and makes sure all the artists even though they may not win anything, feel special, that it’s worth all the time & effort to produce art.  Twice, Dr. Deb has whispered in DoN’s ear during award ceremonies that she thought he should have won first prize instead of honorable mention - DoN bets Dr. Debbie says that to all the boys.

On the move - Dr. Miller makes sure the audience moves through the gallery and presents awards by the art work instead of from a fixed spot as many other juried shows do.  Her gregarious banter and knowledgeable comments always are educational, informative and frank.

Dr. Deb Miller @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.

DoN in awe of Dr. Deb’s comments on his “Botanical Print” @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.  Actually, Dr. Deb always makes sure DoN say a few words about his work and she always gets jurors to speak about their decisions.

Dr. Debra Miller, Liz Niklus, Alden Cole, David Foss & Ona Kalstein @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.  The board at the Da Vinci Art Alliance performs an essential function in the Philly art community, providing a creative outlet, a great social network and a vibrant array of shows, lectures and parties.

Dr. Deb Miller presenting DoN with an award for his digital photograph called, Denmark, for the Envisioning Hamlet Show @ The Black Box Gallery in the Lantern Theater.  DoN recently eves-dropped David Foss and heard there will be continuing collaborations with the Lantern Theater and the International Opera Theater - coolness!

Dr. Debra Miller gives a great lecture about Andy Warhol, here she’s presenting her talk @ The Fleisher Art Memorial.

Philly Art Stars @ the Windows on the World opening @ Smile Gallery.  That’s the back of Liz Niklus‘ head, Dr. Deb, Lilliana Didovic & Betsy Alexander, that was a great show, in fact the three winners are having their show at the gallery next month.

Photographer Jon Naar with Dr. Debra @ Photosynthesis 2008 @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Thanks to Dr. Debra Miller and the entire board of the Da Vinci Art Alliance for providing such an outstanding platform for artists to exercise their creative muscles.  DoN can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store at the venerable art alliance.

 

 

 

Bob Makoid @ Nouns: people places things

In November, the Da Vinci Art Alliance hosted a group show called  NOUNS: people places things, including the work of 6 artists - black and white photography by Carolyn Harper Cohen, watercolors by Diane Lachman, acrylics by Sandi Neiman Lovitz, pastels by Bob Makoid, photography by Ligia Richter and pastels by Liora Seltzer. The exhibit, curated by Bobbie Adams, member of Da Vinci Art Alliance, is organized by Linda Dubin Garfield, president of smART business consulting and member of Da Vinci Art Alliance.

DoN only saw the show on the closing day - time flies! - but the show is memorable still for the variety and quality of art which Bobbie Adams gathered together, creating groupings of each artist so that the art work really shined.  DoN could tell Bob (who was gallery sitting) was happy with the show even though artists (like DoN) were delivering work for the next/current show.

Bob Makoid, pastel @ Da Vinci Art Alliance

DoN recognized Bob from the evening drawing workshops at the Plastic Club, it was a nice surprise to get to spend some face time with him in the gallery @ Da Vinci Art Alliance where he exhibited several pastels in a group show.  Makoid’s loose style captures the vacation vibe of a lakeside cabin, the sunny aura of a palm tree or the scale of a high mountain cliff in clear color, simple shapes and spare composition - less is more and more color is better.

Pastels by Bob Makoid @ Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Nouns: people places things.

Bob Makoid @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Judy Engle @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.  If Eileen Tognini says packing tape art is in - then DoN says listen to her!  If you can’t afford a Mark Khaisman before his packing tape drawings increase in value, then buy Engles layered clear tape collage @ Da Vinci Art Alliance for under $200.00 - in real life this small piece is 3D and deep, with layers and layers of tiny bits of color.  Another great steal-able idea.

Judy Engles, photograph.

DoN LoVeS how DVAA displays art - Judy Engle’s photo paired with DoN’s digital print is so elegant and thoughtful, the pieces really work together.  DoN was inspired to print “Autum Oak“, a digital photograph from a few years ago after seeing Amie Potsic’s tree photos @ Area 919 - the most expensive of DoN’s Under $200.00 entries is $129.00.

Lilliana Didovic, Alden Cole & Karl Johnson @ Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Under $200 show.  The DVAA always has such terrific, fun events, even though it was a snowy night, plenty of artists showed up to party - the board is to be commended on their careful attention to detail and making everyone comfortable and welcome.

Francine Strauss @ Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Under $200.00

Gerard Di Falco, etching @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Leon Rainbow @ DVAA - he not only produces these funky paintings, Rainbow provides web design services to the esteemed organization.  DoN is grateful for the publicity the links provide, the slide-show of member’s art on the website is cool.

Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi collaborate on these stencil & spray-paint images replete with peeling paint, drippy spray, coarse edges and mashed up cultural icons - the Carmen has such a skate punk sneer mixed with Hollywood glamor - Grrrl!.

 Karen McDonnell, Tony Cortosi & Ray Costello @ Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Under $200.00 opening party.

Photographer, Bill Myers @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.  Bill is also an active member of the Photographic Society of Philadelphia; Myers creates photo montage with clashing images mushed into contextual morphs - incredible.There are some really great art bargains for sale at the Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Under $200.00 show.  You can own a David Foss for $100, an Art Ostroff for a Benjamin or so…the Lee Muslin prints are gorgeous, an incredible Dexiang Qian for exactly $200.00!?!  The art show itself is amazing - all the participating members really put in memorable, desirable pieces and James Warhola signed his book Uncle Andy’s Cats;  he took a moment with each autograph to draw a kitty in the front pages and engaged everyone in a personal way - Warhola signed books for 3 hours!  He was still signing books when DoN left.

The American Color Print Society is celebrating their 70th anniversary with their 70th member exhibition at The Plastic Club which is coincidentally 70 years old.  The exhibition includes not just color prints (the group came together because many galleries only allowed black and white prints) but many excellent examples of black and white prints.  Like many other art forms, the boundaries have expanded to include mixed media, collage, textile and more.  With works submitted by artists from all over the country this show is a mixture of styles, tastes, techniques and ideas from abstract expressionism to atmospheric naturalism to impressionism to pop incorporating every type of printmaking imaginable.

Marlene Grolnic, Ancestral Headgear, collagraph/collage.

Elaine B. Rothwell, Poker Cross. 4 plate color etching.

Ron Wyffels, Untitled, etching/drypoint/drawing.

Carole J. Meyers, Check It Out, monotype.  Meyers explained to DoN how she paints an image on thin plastic sheets with water-based inks then pulls them through a roller to produce her expressionistic prints.

 

American Color Print Society 70th exhibition @ The Plastic Club on the Avenue of the Artists.

Carole J. Meyers, Holding Court, monotype.

Thelma Grobes, Acrobat And Horses, etching.

Lois M. Johnson, (The Cowgirl in the City), was awarded the lifetime achievement award by The American Color Print Society.  Johnson has taught printmaking at The University of the Arts for 40 years and is preparing to retire.  A native of North Dakota she has made a great impact on the art scene in Philadelphia by helping aspiring print-makers realize their potential.  DoN asked Lois how she reacts to the popular skate-punk esthetic so prominent with today’s youth and she responds that she doesn’t judge but reacts to what is put before her, helping her students improve technique and style, the substance is up to the artist.  The American Color Print Society sponsors a printmaking scholarship for students attending UArts, DoN’s sure the school is going to miss Lois Johnson’s influence and tenacity.

Lois M. Johnson was honored with a solo exhibition in the Board Room of the Plastic Club; Johnson’s prints mix photography, drawing, scribbles and metaphorical references to her western roots and metropolitan style.

The American Color Print Society was awarded with a certificate of appreciation from Philadelphia City Council on their 70th anniversary and exhibition.  Congratulations!

Gallery 22 in Center City West is an artist collective under the direction of Shawn Murray with rotating exhibits of member artists as well as an ongoing group exhibit.  The space is lovely with wonderful light and excellent presentation - the current show Energy & Matter was installed by Shawn and member artist Diane Podolsky, pairing the expressive paintings by Podolsky with photographer Bonnie Schorske.  Before last Sunday’s meet & greet DoN had the opportunity for some quiet conversation with Diane Podolsky while Katy the ArT DoG & Lady Doofie (the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix) lounged on the sidewalk on 22nd Street.

Over the Summer Podolsky held a teaching fellowship with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists to work on an inter-generational art project bringing together young people and residents of a nursing home.  The gist of the program was to get older people to pass along stories of their lives to the youngsters, incorporating the tales of their lives into an upcoming art installation.  The kids were captivated by the stories told by an ex-professional baseball player from the Negro Baseball League in Philly, a former jazz club singer and folks who lived in simpler times in Germantown.  The project involves cut out paper flowers & leaves and paper clothes to be hung on a clothes line in a nine foot long installation with the stories written on the elements.  Diane was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed hearing the stories and sewing the paper clothes - many of them had never threaded a needle let alone actually sewing.  DoN will keep you posted as to when the completed work with be displayed.

Olea Europaea Biceps Popeyi, Bonnie Schorske, digital capture archival print and Thorns, Diane Podolsky, oil & graphite.

Make a Wish, Diane Podolsky, oil & graphite and Olea Europaea Deja II, Bonnie Schorske, digital capture archival pigment print.

Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22.

Diane is quite self effacing about her work even though the bold works are expressive, intriguing and vibrant.  Her style is abstract yet naturalistic, combining brushy strokes of muted color with recognizable objects such as chicken wishbones, woody tree shapes and animal forms.  Matched with Bonnie Schorske’s impeccable black and white photographs of Majorica, the overall effect is transcendent as if following Alice down the rabbit hole.  Bonnie told DoN there is a hidden narrative in the installation which is fun to investigate - kind of like “Where’s Waldo” on an highly sophisticated level.  The skill and beauty of the artists’ work is perfectly complementary with dreamy photo realism aligned with neo-geo paintings; Energy & Matter is on display through November 8th to be followed by a one person show of paintings by the incomparable Ed Bronstein, Explorations…..in the Neighborhood featuring paintings created in Katy & Lady Doofie’s favorite place, the dog park!

The group show @ Gallery 22.

 Foxy Brown, Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi @ Heroines and Harlots:  Women in History  Annual Juried Exhibition  9-27 September 2009.

Alden Cole, The Charge of the Goddess, drawing.  Cole won honorable mention for this enigmatic mixed media drawing; drawing is the root of all design and communication.

 

 Da Vinci Art Alliance member artists Liz Nicklus & Regina Barthmaier with their entries to Heroines & Harlots.  DoN LoVeS Regina’s Industrial Barbie print with hand-pressed type collaged onto the frame - really beautiful, decorative and slyly subversive.  Liz’s Pandora’s Box is such a fantastic meme - DoN really wants to know what’s inside?

Liz Nicklus, Pandora’s Box, mixed media.

Heroines and Harlots:  Women in History  Annual Juried Exhibition  9-27 September 2009 - Da Vinci Art Alliance

First Prize, Jason Scuilla, Pallazzo with Spirits, Dance of Salome, etching.  As Dr. Deb Miller and H & H judge Kathryn McFadden of Fleisher Art Memorial pointed out, there are no women in the image, only the results of decisions made by women are portrayed in the etching.  DoN heard a statistic the other day that highlighted if more women were in positions of power there would be less conflict in the world.

Little Red Riding Hood Avenging Grandma, Anna Volburgh.  Grrrl!!! (more…)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: ANN KOIVUNEN

The Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Studio Tours and Exhibitions  Manager

215-546-7775 x 13, ann@cfeva.org

 

 

 

This October,

 

Find the Visual Artists

in Center City West!

 

 

 

Artwork by Don Brewer and Kevin Broad (L to R)

 

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2009

 

Featuring:

 

24 Artists in Center City West

 

Studio Tours on October 10-11, 2009

…

 

Blowout Birthday Party on Friday September 25

 

Friends of CFEVA Guided Tour on Sunday October 4

 

Selections from The Studio Opening Reception on Thursday October 8

 

Citywide Studio Tours during the first two weekends in October

Over 300 participating artists and community partners

…

 

Philadelphia, PA – This October, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists™ is pleased to bring you the 10^th Annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours. Join over 300 professional visual artists, local businesses, arts organizations and galleries to celebrate 10 years of studio art!  Artists and event partners in every neighborhood from Chestnut Hill to South Philly will open their doors free to public in the largest event of its kind in Philadelphia.

 

This year, the Open Studio Tours is happy to feature the following artists in the Center City West neighborhood:

Madeline Adams

Betsy Alexander

DoN Brewer

Kevin Broad

Mark Bullen

Estelle Carraz-Bernabei                                                                                                                                           Carraz-Bernabei

Elizabeth Core

Deborah Deery

Jerry-Gerard Di Falco

Eric Frantz

Katherine Fraser

Carolyn George / CRG Studios                                                                                                                                George / CRG Studios

Thomas Kohlmann

Melanie Miller

Ted Mosher

Maria Nevelson

Nicole Pellegrini

Paul Rider

Carlo Russo

Jane Steinsnyder

Lauren Sweeney

Aleksandra Vasic-Lalovic

Angela Victor

Ernest Villareal

Burnell Yow!

In addition, we are working with Heavy Bubble, Icon Magazine, PhillySide Arts, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Tsirkus Fotografika, and Utrecht as Community Partners to provide support and information about the event. Visit philaopenstudios.org for detailed information about participating artists and community partners.

 

The 10^th Anniversary Festivities are just around the corner! For details on the comprehensive schedule of POST-related activities, including artist workshops, receptions, exhibitions, neighborhood parties, and more, visit philaopenstudios.com/Events.aspx. Following is a schedule of this year’s official events:

 

Blowout Birthday Party
Friday September 25, 5 – 10pm

The Institute of Contemporary Art at 36th and Sansom

Kick off the POST season with a party at  the ICA: Cake, candles, drinks, entertainment by Jasa Li, Tsirkus Fotografika, and projected video installation of and by participating artists. This is one you don’t’ want to miss!

Artist Studios EAST of Broad Street
The weekend of October 3-4, 2009, noon-6pm
All tours are self-guided and free
Visit artists working in South Philly, Bella Vista, Queen Village, South Street, Center City, Old City, Northern Liberties, Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond

Artist Studios West of Broad Street
The weekend of October 10-11, 2009, noon-6pm
All tours are self-guided and free
Visit artists working in Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Manayunk, Roxborough, West Philly,  North Philly, Fairmount, Center City, and Graduate Hospital 

POST Guided Tour
Sunday October 4, 1 – 4 pm
Meet at 1521 Locust Street
Want to visit artist studios, but not sure where to start? Join us for the Friends of CFEVA Guided Tour, and enjoy select artist studios with transportation and refreshments provided. Tickets are $75 each; reservations required. To reserve a space or for more information, contact the Center for Emerging Visual Artists at 215-546-7775 x16 or holly@cfeva.org.

Selections From The Studio
Opening Reception, Thursday October 8, 5 – 7 pm
Exhibition runs from Monday September 28 to Friday October 16, 2009
Group exhibition featuring POST artists selected by Julien Robson, PAFA Curator of Contemporary Art. The Gallery at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists is located at 1521 Locust Street, Lower Level, and the Gallery Hours are noon to 4pm M-F.

…

For a full list of artists; high resolution images; profiles of specific artists;
or more details on events, promotions or sponsorship,
please contact Ann at 215-546-7775 x13 or ann@cfeva.org

…

 

Da Vinci Art Alliance is sponsoring the fabulous show, “Little Show of Horrors” @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery; alliance members were challenged to create works commemorating Charles Darwin’s 150th anniversary of “The Origin of Species”and carnivorous plants and all the artists went crazy on the theme of the fabled bug eaters.  Above is Ted Warchal’s mixed media dream box and DoN Brewer’s digital photo collage.

Dexiang Qian, Girl with Venus Flytrap, oil on canvas @ Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.  An honorable mention award winner, the painting explores the mystery and allure of collecting exotic plants.  The display of carniverous plants in Bartram’s Garden is unbelievably fascinating, DoN highly recommends seeking out the display while the Summer is still hot.  Venus Flytraps are indigenous to the Carolina’s and their habitat is being encroached upon, Bartram’s Garden offers a glimpse into a strange & wondrous world of ecology and botany and it’s fragility.

Alden Cole’s Starlings tap into a deep psychological pattern recognition much like ancient man must have reacted to the Venus of Willendorf; the simple play of line and shape is loaded with narrative, a single line of graphite tingling the hive memory deep in our genetic code.

Michael Diprinzio @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery “Little Show of Horrors” featuring Da Vinci Art Alliance members.

Emily Orb with Bartram’s Garden director Louise Turen with “The Garden of Earthly Delights“, silk  painting was honored with Best in Show.  The reinvention of Bosch’s iconic dream scape is rendered with modern characters and technique, filling an entire wall of the historic space.

Dr. Debra Miller presenting awards @ Little Show of Horrors.  The Bartram’s Garden Gallery is in the oldest barn in Philadelphia and a wonderful space for art shows with the rough stone white-washed walls, wide wood plank floors and ancient windows - and air conditioning!

Rachel Citrino, Ted Warchal (Most Creative winner) and the painting duo Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi @ Little Show of Horrors.  The show runs though August 22nd and members of the alliance will be gallery sitting, Alden & DoN will be on sight all day Wednesday.

The art party opening for Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery sponsored by the Da Vince Art Alliance.  For a free downloadable version of DoN Brewer’s Honorable Mention winner, “Botanical Print”, click here.