light beings (May & Andy), DoN Brewer, digital photograph.
The Coffee Bar at The Radisson Warwick Hotel @ 17th & Locust Streets in Philly is spotlighting fourteen photographs from DoN’s series titled “light beings“, February 26th through July 30th, 2010. Strictly landscape, the images of reflections on urban surfaces seem mysterious or manipulated, the photographs evoke thoughts of what we may become - beings of light traveling at unimaginable speeds in all directions of the universe at once.
DoN was contacted by Amy Potsic of the Center for Emerging Visual Artists inquiring if he could mount a one person show with only two weeks notice? Duh? Amy and Ann Koivunen selected 14 images out of twenty-two, Rob Stauffer helped DoN with framing, custom mats & non-glare glass, Shoshka, Aldy & Les helped install the show - art is hard work, man! You have to know math!?! The Coffee Bar space is fabu, good light, great Einstein coffee, yummy food and it’s a bar at night! How cool is that?
Kara Rennert, Le Dresseur (foreground) & Le Cirque, ceramic, low fire glaze @ CFEVA’s The Landscape Within.
The Landscape Within @ The Center for Emerging Visual Artists is a “spotlight exhibit” of art which transports the viewer to worlds within - alien landscapes, thought bubbles & dreamy reveries. The gallery space @ 15th & Locust encapsulates the work of three artists whose work is completely different (sculpture, painting & photography) yet communicates themes of desolation, introspection and confusion like TV channel surfing and somehow a narrative emerges by combining cartoons, war news and commercials. DoN enjoys being alone in the echoeing gallery absorbing the contents in quiet solitude but the art party Thursday evening drew a swell noisy crowd to celebrate the accomplishments of sculptress Kara Rennert, painter Sean O’Neil & photographer James B. Abbott.
Kara Rennert, Rat Princess #1, ceramic, low fire glaze.
Even though Kara Rennert‘s sculptures of mythic women seem to have Kara’s eyes she insists she finds inspiration for the female faces in magazines and online. Each sculpture is one of a kind and not made from molds, if Rennert tries to duplicate a favorite she finds that the new piece is somehow better than the first. DoN commented that the elongated fingers of the figures seem Medieval, Kara explained that the hands are simply more expressive when the fingers are unusually long and perhaps she’s unconsciously obsessed with the sense of touch.
Sean O’Neil, American Dream #2, acrylic on canvas.
Amie Potsic told DoN that when she saw Sean O’Neil’s paintings she thought, “I wish I’d done that!“ O’Neil’s large paintings combine All American memes: home-sweet-home, boys to men, war mongering and altered states. Even though Sean’s style is sort of super-flat, there is no irony or kawaii, in fact some of the paintings are scary. DoN’s nephew has decided to join the army, he wishes the young man could see war through the eyes of an artist; there surely is glamor in donning a uniform and shooting high powered guns but his world is sure to be turned upside down. Sean shares studio space with cake artist Amy Stevens; DoN wonders if she leaves tasty treats for her studio mate and why he’s not as big as a house.
Sean O’Neil, Meet Your Master, Beautiful Boy & American Dream #2, acrylic on canvas.
James B. Abbott, Peaked Hills Dunes in Winter, toned silver gelatin print.
James B. Abbott is a long time habitue of 3rd Street in Old City but many of the mysterious images in The Landscape Within exhibit are the result of his Dune Shack Residency on Cape Cod. Imagine this: you are driven to a remote salt box shack on the curly peninsula with only well water to drink, an out-house, a few weeks supply of food and your old Graflex Polaroid camera with the goal of doing nothing but attempting to capture the denuded landscape. James told DoN that the extended daylight on the Cape allowed him to work mornings and evenings and nap in the afternoon. The panoramic combo compositions are so evocative of the wintry landscape DoN could almost hear the wicked wind but the single landscape shots with the vestiges of the polaroid negative process along the edges like Space Invaders are simultaneously abstract and editorial. Like many artist, Abbott made a living as a commercial photographer, bending to the whims of editors and clients but is now able to use that experience to produce his own product - great photographs.
James B. Abbott, Beach Forest Pond, Cape Cod National Seashore, toned gelatin silver prints @ CFEVA’s The Landscape Within.
Final thought - art isn’t just for adults. When DoN saw a kid running around he thought, “Uh-Oh!“, there goes Kara Rennert’s doll-like figures perched on pedestals but it turns out little 5 year old Sophia is a big fan and as she left with mom, Nina, she hollered back to Kara, “I love you!“
DoN Brewer with artist Arthur Ostroff @ DoNBrewerMultimedia, POST - X, 2009.
Artist, Mina Smith-Segal checking out DoN’s central command post. Mina leads the studio workshops at the Philadelphia Sketch Club.
Artist, Clif Anderson visited DoN’s open studio with his lovely wife Henny. Clif is a terrific musician and artist, his work will be on display at Bryn Mawr Rehab Center’s annual exhibit, Art Ability fearturing work by artists from around the world - opening 11/7/2009.
Neighbor Melody, DoN & artist/framer/teacher Rob Stauffer @ DonBrewerMultimedia POST-X 2009.
Saturday afternoon, DoN hosted more than 25 visitors to his studio - art dogs KaTy & Doofie (the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix) guarded the gate and made sure all visitors are dog lovers.
DoN Brewer, self portrait, acrylic, collage, 1976.
Ben Cohen, pastel, 2008.
Kim Martin, oil, 2009.
Mike Guinn, pencil, 2009.
Karl Olsen, oil, 2009.
Paul DuSold, oil, 2007.
Alden Cole, oil on wood, 2008.
Michael Tantaros, pencil, 2009.
Participating in the annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours means really putting yourself out there for all to see. Being an artist model also puts one under a focussed gaze, the experience inspired DoN to ask some of his artist friends to contribute works created when DoN modeled at The Plastic Club and the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Thank you to all the fine artists who provided their work, it feels so narcissistic but DoN LoVeS the attention!
Amy Stevens cakes @ POST 10 party at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Amy Stevens - CFEVA 2008 Alumni - made the art cakes for the POST 10th Anniversary party in University City.
Art Party People - Ed Bronstein (a POST founder), photographer Danny Reilly (who’s having a one-person show @ Bonte’s on 17th this October), Ron (we studied together @ Fleisher with James Dupree), Andrew Pirie (former CFEVA rep)…Shoshka, Alden & DoN ate cake & sipped wine with Margaret Anderson of heavybubble.com, Brooke Hine, CFEVA director Holly Lentz, Genevieve Coutroubis (with her pretty baby), Tremain Smith (encaustic artist), and so many more. Hopefully the tradition of having the kickoff parties for future POST events at the ICA continues since it’s the epitome of contemporary art spaces in Philly.
Textile artist & muralist, Kathryn Pannepacker arrives via moped at the POST 10th Anniversary party @ the ICA.
Paul Rider, Chance 1 - 20, photographic prints each 16″ square.
Keiko Miyamori,Birdcage, mixed media installation.
Cecelia Rembert, Given, oil on canvas.
Paul Rider, Primitive 1 - 3, photographic prints.
Art shows don’t hang around long enough but DoN got to see In conversation with the Oracle at the Center for Emerging Visual Artist’s gallery twice. Both times spending time alone with the art was engrossing and thought provoking: Paul Rider’s photographs of blades of grass read like charcoal mark-making, Keiko Miyamori’s birdcage installation bring mythological stories to mind of caged beauties or harpies, Cecelia Rembert’s paintings are bold reminders of how much fun paintings can be.
The cul-de-sac seems to be a particular spot of inspiration for artist’s, Miyamori’s sculptures speak with each other adding color to the myths hidden in the art - the use of found material is particularly romantic, not the lovey dovey kind of romance but the romance of danger and fear as if an adventurer returned with a giant strange bird which has escaped it’s confines.
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
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Philadelphia, PA – This October, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists™ is pleased to bring you the 10th 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:
The 10th 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 ofOctober 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.
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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
Author and art-marketing consultant Alyson B. Stanfield, of ArtBizCoach.com, focuses on sharing the artwork directly with potential buyers through electronic and traditional communication outlets—in a manner that is comfortable, not artificial. Artists match Internet marketing strategies with sincere personal skills to take charge of their art careers.
The book includes online worksheets and downloads.
