DoNArTNeWs

Ron Hartman Sand Mandala, DoN Brewer light being (Ann D Harnoncourt), light being (JRR Tolkien) and Ron Hartman Kimono Bow @ Galleria Deptford Annual Photography Show.

Annual Photography Exhibition @ Galleria Deptford, Deptford Municipal Building, 1011 Cooper Street, Woodbury NJ.  Curator Pauline Jonas has gathered together six photographers with distinct and diverse styles from landscape to portrait to abstract, from C prints to inkjet to traditional dark room color prints.  The municipal building has been hosting art exhibits for 8 years, offering exhibition opportunities to art groups, theme shows and retrospectives - without enthusiatic coordinators like Pauline, events like these don’t happen.  DoN was invited to show ten works, choosing favorites from his “light being” series, abstract landscape photographs of light reflections named after the dearly departed ie., friend, “light being (Rick Selvin)“, grandparents, “light beings (Nana & Dada)”…  Pauline mixed the various artists works together in loose categories creating a wonderful salon experience and getting the artists & their groupies to mix and meet.

DoN Brewer, light being (Edward Hopper), digital photo, inkjet print and light being (Ophelia), digital photo, inkjet print on drawing paper.  Edward Hopper has been exhibited at Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Photography 2008 and Philadelphia Art in City Hall’s, In Your Dreams, 2009; Ophelia was shown at Lantern Theater Company’s Black Box Gallery for Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Envisioning Hamlet show.

DoN Brewer, light being (Leo Seeger) and light being (Nana & Dada) - Seeger was included in PSC’s Photography 2007 and  ArtFirst in Princeton & Nana has been seen @ Ardmore Initiative.

Ann Coretti, Perspective & Armchair, digital prints @ Galleria Deptford.  DoN’s 2nd cousin Alex, age 3, liked Armchair the best, he totally got the joke - even though it’s a visual pun, the image really deserves second looks for quality of composition and the mixed metaphors from plaid, to brick to wood.

Leroy Hickman, Jr @ Galleria Deptford Annual Photography Exhibit.  Hickman’s nature photographs draw the viewer into his world of wonderment of wildlife; Leroy was also prepared with swag to give out including ballpoint pens with the Ravendark Photography logo along with 2010 mini-calendars with varying images from his photo collection.

Ron Hartman @ Galleria Deptford Annual Photography Exhibit.

Mary Waddington @ Galleria Deptford Annual Photography Exhibit.

Horse Bowl by Deborah Waddington Smith.  Even though the show was primarily photography, the exhibit included several accomplished sculptures by Waddington Smith - this wonderful Rodin-like bowl is transcendental in concept, design and execution.

Sculpture by Deborah Waddington Smith @ Galleria Deptford.

Pauline Jonas discovered DoN Brewer’s “light being (Larry Angel)” in Alden Cole’s art collection, contacted him, meeting at Galleria Deptford last Summer she invited DoN to participate in the Annual Photography Exhibit.  The opportunity to exhibit in DoN’s hometown of Deptford (Class of ‘71 Most Artistic) is exhilarating - The Gloucester County Times mentioned the show on page one!

Alden Cole’s luminaries are featured in the display case (DoN will post a story about Alden soon) and DoN’s “light being (Rick Selvin)” is displayed right next to the cabinet.  Ironically, the photo (which is named after one of DoN’s first great art patron’s & supporters) was shot across the intersection from Cole’s studio/gallery/museum/workshop @ 7th & Federal in South Philly.  The spirit of the photograph resonates with Alden’s luminous “beings of light” - each of his creations seems to have a particular personality all their own.  To say it’s an honor to be exhibited alongside one of Philly’s “famous” artists is totally an understatement.

Thanks to Pauline Jonas for inviting DoN to participate in Galleria Deptford’s Annual Photography exhibit.  Thanks to the Hayes family for their love & support, the Regional Art Association for longevity of friendship, Dr. Ross Beitzel for promoting the arts in South Jersey, painting mentor Paul DuSold (we just launched his new homepage design), artist Clif Anderson, Alden Cole for providing the magical showcase, Michael Hogan for presenting wonderful C print landscapes doing brisk sales of the book The Natural Wonders of the Jersey Pines and Shore filled with lush color photos about wildlife in the Pinelands of South Jersey and all the other artists who make art fun, enlivening a warm and friendly arts event which runs through January 20th, 2010.  DoN encourages you to discover this unique art installation in the heart of South Jersey.

The Photographic Society of Philadelphia installed their inaugural show of small scale photographs at 922 Walnut Street.  The board of directors arranged for the picture hangers to be laid out in advance and then with specific framing & wiring instructions, like a flash mob, a gang of photographers swarmed the contemporary space, jovially jostling each other for prime real estate on the warm toned walls.  The range of subject and style considering the parameters of inclusion is mind expanding and hanging out with fellow photography enthusiasts is artistically satisfying.

Eileen Eckstein (left) and Morris Klein are primarily responsible for developing the multiple venues Bonte Waffle Restaurants has offered to PSoP, the cafe at Walnut & Juniper even advertises the show on their sidewalk sandwich board claiming it draws customers.  While Shoshka & DoN installed his latest photograph, light being (Max Ernst), they both were struck by people actually looking attentively at the art - it’s fun being a fly on the wall.  The cafe at 17th & Walnut will promote one person shows soon, the Walnut & Juniper location features 16×20″ works.

Dr. Debra Miller presented an informative, witty, insider view to Andy Warhol and his critics as compared to past masters like Caravaggio who was also harshly and publicly criticized by his contemporaries.  Dr. Deb writes arts reviews for the Inferno and like DoN prefers not to write bad reviews, but, some reviewers get more exposure for being nasty and saying dismissive statements in the press.  Andy Warhol would have now have been 80 years old, Dr. Deb’s slideshow included lots of clues and tips to the content of his work, it was great seeing the Andy Warhol Superstars being compared to Birth of Venus and Vermeer’s use of the camera obscura compared to Andy’s appropriation of newspaper images for his Death & Disaster series.

The Sunday afternoon lecture was fun and interactive, Dr. Deb Miller’s fact filled, myth busting monolog followed with a great Q&A is a terrific way to pick up quips and quotes:

• image hunger of the masses
• the cheaper more despicable the better - Lucy Lippard
• the reason Andy painted soup is because he ate it everyday

Alden Cole’s “Lucy in the Sky“, marker. DoN sees this drawing as the work of one of Philadelphia’s master artists; the combination of illustration, foreshortening, coloration, line quality, relevance and sensitivity to the subject, immortalizing the model. Then DoN realizes it’s marker pens on paper, the same as used in graffiti, popping energy and vibration, ancient and future knowledge, high and low art all vibrating from a single moment in space and time, into the gallery space. Absorbing the power of the messages being transmitted through Cole’s art is like time-tripping through art history in an instant. When you walk up the steps into the studio gallery, this is where the eye is drawn first.

Lois Schlachter, “Clown Fish“, acrylic. Super flat, futuristic, meticulous trips into the swirly world of Lois’ paintings is like a glimpse into a dream of the best amusement park ride you even went on, the kind that’s so fast and so thrilling that you can’t scream because it’s so much fun.

Marie Davis Samohod, “Ionic Table“, acylic, Naomi Rubin, “The Beauty of the Land”, watercolor.

Alan J. Klawans, Mike Guinn & Bob Jackson @ the Plastic Club’s 97th Annual Members Medal Show. Without people like these men it just doesn’t happen; the exhibition is so strong, the display so expertly installed and the experience design so inclusive, warm and inviting that it feels natural and accessible but tremendous amounts of work go into such a huge installation, these guys deserve credit for bringing out the best and making it happen. The art movement is Philadelphia is strong and determined, DoN LoVes it when people proudly tell which Philadelphia art school they went to and how organizations like the Plastic Club fill the void of the commaraderie of attending a school of art.

DoN Brewer, “Thanksgiving“, digital photo, Jeanne Coryell, “Mandala“, watercolor and Alice Meyer-Wallace, “Vrikis And Glads“, oil.

The Plastic Club’s 97th Annual Members Medal Exhibition award winners: Katherine Stanek, The Plastic Club Gold Medal, Jake Smith, The Plastic Club Silver Medal, John Benigno, The Zeigler Prize, Ben Wilson, The Dorothy Invernizzi Guinn Memorial Prize.

Peter Prusinowski @ Fishtown Airways, 200 East Girard Ave. Prusinowski is a Center for Emerging Visual Artists Fellow, a great honor bestowed on outstanding artists allowing them to exhibit works in group shows, receive publicity, opportunities and support from the Center. Peter is a photography purist who works in a wet dark room and is not interested in digital photography in the least. As he explained to DoN, Peter attempts to emulate masters such as Man Ray who was able to achieve solarization on film which appears like magic in the development process.

Prusinowski’s show at Fishtown Airways focusses on the history of Fishtown and the Penn Treaty, combining historic documents and photographs alongside his own studies of the area. A story of community and it’s importance to the early development of the USA emerges with bucolic river views, charming residences and quirky scenes from the centuries old village inhabited by long time residents and young growing families.

A group of historic documents including old newspaper articles, graphics and papers shed light on the Penn Treaty and the importance of this river town and it’s people.

East Girard Avenue is on the east side of the Frankford El with restaurants, bars, shops and a lively street scene. Fishtown Airways corner is bright and sunny, the gallery painted a buttery yellow, the art pops off the wall against the restful color. Proprietor , Bob Murphy is planning to open an ice cream shop along the broad avenue making this section of Fishtown a family friendly destination as well as an art outpost along with Johnnie Brenda’s, High Wire and Bambi. Shoshka and DoN had a blast talking with the locals and hanging out on the corner.

Mary Ann Strandell @ Stedman Gallery.  The large scale 3D lenticular print, “Loving Monkey“, 2008, is just fabulous.  Pop and nostalgia blended with painterly and studied drawing is like a psychedelic flash forward - imagine these panels really big and everywhere, the images are never quite repeated drawing the viewer into layers of design, signifiers and simulacra.

Mary Ann Standell, “The Meme Tree“, sumi and gouache drawing with 3D lenticular prints Tiki Town Red, Wander, Making Water, Monkey Orb.  DoN LoVeS MeMeS!!!

The future of painting and image-making was the core of two day symposium at Rutgers University Fine Arts. With introductions to more than a dozen amazing painters, fantastically futuristic images, meme trees, 3D linticular prints and vast amounts of computer-based presentations in four information packed presentations.   DoN likes to go someplace cool for his birthday like NYC but Bruce Garrity one of the coordinators reached out to DoN about the symposium; it turns out Camden is pretty damn cool.  Libby Rosoff of artblog (OMFG!! - a blog legend) was the moderator for Friday’s panel, “Painting,  So What?“, Libby & DoN had only met through Facebook and now we actually know each other in real life.  Rosoff lead a strong discussion of the relevance of painting and what constitutes painting in the world today and really kept the discussion and presentations on target.  Each artist did a video presentation and talk about their art and then Libby moderated questions from the audience with the panel offering thoughtful opinions on what constitute art today.  

The symposium was organized by Margery Amdur and Bruce Garrity who authoritatively and wisely organized panel discussions about art and the relevance of image-making in the post-modern age.  The art on view in The Stedman Gallery is post-post modern contemporary with a futurist beam of thought-bubbles enveloping the diverse media on view in the galleries.  The future is here and it’s about “experience design”, from Camden to Outer Space and back, the dual show at Stedman Gallery and Hopkins House is a retrofitted future fantasy.

 Amy S. Kauffman - a UArts Alum, Holla Back, Girl! - makes her mark by folding tootsie roll, gum and candy wrappers in endless numbers of little paper boats or paper chains such as this enormous coil @ Hopkins House Gallery.  

Pam Longobardi mixes objects that have drifted loose from the giant plastic pollution blob floating in the middle of the oceans with images of plastic bits that have been deformed and reshaped by the ocean and cast up on the beach - check out driftwebs.com .  Pam’s story of how she discovered these objects is totally engrossing, as are her paintings such as “Surge” a painting full of the tension of tidal waves and fragile power grids.

DoN collected so much information to share about the other panelists including Carol Prusa’s entrancing dome drawings with fiber optic lights, Liz Brown’s dioramas of mismatched dumb stuff and Steve Pauley’s gravestone-like carvings of vending machines, anthrax letters and homeland security advisory guides…deep.

Congratulations Kathryn, from all the Da Vinci Art Alliance members on your upcoming cover story in American Craft magazine!!!

The article below on Kathryn will appear in the April/May issue of American Craft magazine with the cover story called Urban Fabric which details her career in murals, fiber art, social activism, painting, and making Philadelphia a better place to live.  Kathryn, who is currently on the Board of Directors and was past Director of Da Vinci, we are so proud and happy for you Kathryn.  Pick up a copy of American Craft in bookstores in April or go to their website to get a preview, with many photos of Kathryn’s many projects.

Congrats Kathryn, we love you!!!!!  

David Foss, executive director Da Vinci Art Alliance (from his e-mail to the Da Vinci Art Alliance).  

The story on American Crafts online magazine is really cool, too.  DoN LoVeS Kathryn; she’s an artist who actually affects change on our urban fabric, the murals at Broad & Lehigh will aid in the revitalization of the city.

Mimesis ; ape-ish copying.  The technical definition is simple but Carter and Carlin exhibit considerable skill in creating atmospheric naturalism, magic realism and ecclesiatical ecstatic images designed to stir the soul and portray the mystery of life through painting.

Neilson M. Carlin @ The Pierre S. DuPont Art Center, Wilmington, DE.

Neilson M Carlin.  DoN overheard Neilson tell a gallery visitor, “you have to scare the kids; raw meat and naked men.”  Carlin has a really great website representing the artist effectively, his understanding of interface design on the web and what he calls “Memesis” in painting is powerful; Carlin has his own painting school in  Kennett Square with a dedicated following. 

Panoramic shot of preparatory drawings for a major painting.

Allen G. Carter, Sr. @ The Pierre S. Dupont Art Center.  Carter wrote an article for International Artist’s magazine - visit the cool website with Allen’s article here.  Carter exhibited works in process including color palettes and diagrams of the design included in the magazine article, utilizing and energizing the space with knowledge and learning.  The school has a really excellent gallery space with the room to explain everything that goes into creating a classically modern masterpiece even displaying full-scale cartoons by Carlin used to create a large scale mural.

Allen G. Carter, Sr. @ Mimesis Exhibit in The Pierre S. DuPont Art Center. 

Artist and teacher - Allen G. Carter, Sr. with his painting teacher and mentor Neilson M. Carlin @ the opening reception for Memesis in The Pierre S. DuPont Center for the Arts in Tower Hill  School.