DoNArTNeWs

light beings (Sid & Nancy), digital photograph, 2009, DoN Brewer @ The Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown, NJ.  The Photography 30 show is the cover story of the Weekend magazine section of the Philadelphia Inquirer!

DoN uploaded a new group of photographs from his “light being” series to DoNBrewerPhotography.com, click on the slide-show button in the top bar.

Today is a good day!

DoN

On a cold Saturday night, DoN walked over to the Fleisher Art Memorial Gallery on Christian Street for the closing party of Rick Wright’s long running exhibition, Late Petroleum Age Vessels; a unique portrait collection of ordinary household plastic containers, bottles and jugs.  The anthropomorphic effect embedded in the rich black and white photographs of plastic bottle faces actually activated the face recognition technology in DoN’s new camera - a Kodak Z981 with 14 megapixels and 26x zoom!

But, Rick dimmed DoN’s camera shine a bit by demo-ing an iPhone app that simulates a variety of SLR cameras from a Brownie to a Leica with a wide selection of “film” and developing effects; no wonder the camera was so cheap, it’s already obsolete!?! - camera’s are not only everywhere, they’re in everything.  The ubiquity of cameras and smart phones has created a nation of photographers, to be noticed in a sea of competition you have to step outside the boat and create an experience for viewers, the same way musicians now depend on creating a live experience since the bottom fell out of traditional music marketing.  Rick Wright’s photographs engage the viewer in a staring contest, some of the faces so alien and strange that an awkward exchange of glances like meeting a foreigner speaking a different language takes place.  Fortunately, Rick is a photography teacher at Fleisher Art Memorial, his grasp of the language of photography, image-making, symbolism, content, composition, light and texture not to mention his depth of knowledge of print making in all manner of media is impressive making his art understandable.  Rick is very approachable and sharing, by helping others, by teaching and lecturing he has set himself apart as a “real” photographer who is also a fine artist.

Rick Wright will be presenting a lecture at Perkins Center for the Arts, 395 Kings Highway, Moorestown NJ, February 27th, 2011, 2 - 4:00PM.  Wright is the sole juror of the Photography 30 annual photography exhibit at the august art space, DoN is honored to be included in this year’s show - the opening reception is January 30th, 2011, 1 - 4:00PM.

Rick Wright, Late Petroleum Age Vessels @ Fleisher Art Memorial

The Photographic Society of Philadelphia holds monthly meetings at The Plastic Club with lectures by expert Philadelphia photographers, last week’s lecture was presented by super-blogger and uber-cool photographer Kyle Cassidy, author of Armed America: Portraits of Gun Owners in Their Homes and Who Killed Amanda Palmer, a Collection of Photographic Evidence, his talk a sort of primer on how to get un-stuck in the creative process by involving his audience and using exquisite corpse techniques in exhibitions to involve the community and stimulate interest in his work.  By using social media Cassidy has connected with fans and followers, currently he has an exhibition of photographs traveling the world and cities across the USA, at each stop a new image, selected in a process DoN did not completely comprehend, is added to the collection.  During the Q&A, Kyle was asked how he selects his models and he replied they needed to live in a 3 block radius; Cassidy involves his friends and beautiful wife, Trillian Stars, in impromptu photo shoots, creating characters, narrative and dramatic effects with often really simple cameras and ambient light.  Like Rick Wright, Kyle Cassidy is also glued to his iPhone, tweeting his fans with pics and ideas, keeping his brand in the public eye in a friendly, inclusive, tech-savvy manner, creating a model for the new reality of self-promotion in the art world.  DoN has resisted a smart phone so far, seeing the glowing blue faces walking the streets like zombies is off-putting, but he may soon join the pod people.

The Photographic Society of Philadelphia maintains an on-going exhibit of member photographers at the Bonte’s Cafe’s in Center City.  Even though it’s coffee shop space, the vibe is insider artist with photographers working together to keep photography viable as a sale-able product in a world full of available free images and home schooled photographers.  DoN wanted to show off his new camera to PSoP VP, Morris Klein,  but he was trumped by Klein’s Photoshop app on his freakin’ smart phone - it’s 4G, whatever that means.

Obviously, photography is in a state of flux with new, faster technology putting high-end features in the hands of the masses; digital photography bumped traditional photography and is now being bumped by smart phones and social media.  DoN sees people sharing pictures on their phones with each other, clustered around the tiny glowing screens, oohing and ahhing.  Lady Gaga has introduced a new line of Polaroid cameras incorporating instant pictures, with social media upload capability and a little wireless printer you can send pictures to from your phone so you can print them out and share with friends.  Photography is inherently friendly but can be isolating and frustrating when people misunderstand the meaning of image making.

The Center for Emerging Visual Artists is very supportive of photography as art; a school of photography is growing with each new group of fellows completing their fellowships.  Leagues of photographers like Amie Potsic, Julia Blaukopf, Genevieve Coutroubis, Peter Prusinowski are working in consort, teams and individually, imprinting a new vision of how to create, produce and market photography to a generation of collectors who think photography is easy.

DoN’s photography will be included in a group show of photographers and painters, Bud Boehringer, Yeoun Lee, Bill Myers, Lorna Kent, Lee Muslin, Edna Santiago & Marcy Morris, at the Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery opening February 25th, reception 5 - 8:00 PM.

Hold your phones up!

DoN Brewer’s light beings (Sid & Nancy) is included in Photography 30 @ Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ.  DoN’s Grandparents lived in Moorestown and family still lives there, DoN is so proud to represent the Hayes clan especially in a photo competition ; )  Photography has been big deal in DoN’s family for a long time, his first photography experience was developing film with a kit Grandpa gave him with a red light bulb; Grandpa was a teacher, engineer, photographer and filmmaker, it must be genetic.  DoN’s MoM is going to freak out that her son is in a show in her home town!

Photography 30
The opening reception will be Sunday, January 30, 2011
from 1:00 to 4:00 PM with an awards ceremony at 2:30. Free and open to the public.
Gallery Hours, January 30-March 6:
Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Roz Bloom @ Da Vinci Art Alliance, Apocalypse Soon 2012.

Carol Wisker, Through My Window, a Da Vinci Art Alliance event at Smile Gallery, Carol won First Prize; the exhibit went on to be shown at Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville, NJ and the Perkins Center for the Arts in Collingswood, NJ.

Da Vinci Art Alliance -  Seven, a Da Vinci Art Alliance members exhibit went on tour to the Noyes Museum of Art in Hammonton, NJ.

Seven @ Da Vinci Art Alliance - Year in Review 2010.

Seven  @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Seven a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Noyes Museum of Art, Hammonton NJ.

The Black Light show @ Smile Gallery, a  Da Vinci Art Alliance event - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010

Rachel Citrino, Picturing the Decameron, a Da Vinci Art Alliance event in collaboration with the International Opera Theater @ Smile Gallery.

Alden Cole @ Bartram’s Garden, What’s the Buzz? a Da Vinci Art Alliance event in collaboration with Bartram’s Garden Art Gallery in the oldest barn in Philadelphia. DoNArTNeWs - Year in Review 2010

DoN Brewer, Shared Passion, @ Bartram’s Garden, What’s the Buzz?  A Da Vinci Art Alliance event - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010

Lilliana Didovic @ Bartram’s Garden, a Da Vinci Art Alliance event, What’s the Buzz? - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010.

Ted Warchal @ Bartram’s Garden, a Da Vinci Art Alliance event - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010.

Through My Window, a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010

Through My Window, a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Perkins Center for the Arts - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010.

Karen McDonnell & Anthony Cortosi @ Da Vinci Art Alliance Tis the Season - Karen & Tony are such good friends and great artists, their collaborative spirit spills over into all areas of the Philly art scene, representing what is possible when people work together.

Tis the Season Da Vinci Art Alliance - DoNArTNeWs Year in Review 2010.

Thank you so much to the Da Vinci Art Alliance for offering innovative, inspirational opportunities to create art, meet fellow artists, and stretch the imagination.  Being a part of the board of directors is an honor, DoN edits the Vitruvian newsletter, the talent and determination of the team is strong.  Thank you to Dr. Debra Miller, President, Lucrezia Minniti, Recording Secretary, Lilliana Didovic, Treasurer, Alden Cole, Sharri Jerue, Ona Kalstein and Ted Warchal, being included in decision-making of such an august and revered alliance is a lifetime achievement.

Happy New Year

LoVe

DoN

Deja Vu - 6th Annual Juried Competition @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Frank’s.  DoN missed the opening party for Deja Vu but art friends reported the place was packed with artists and friends celebrating the amazing collection of art gleaned from the many submissions.  Off the Wall has a long art history in Philly and being included in the group show, especially with such esteemed  jurors, is a real honor.  When lola & DoN sipped cocktails at the bar, a feeling of pride and accomplishment surges through his system, even the Jack neat doesn’t quell the vibration.  Having photographs hang next to Rick Wright, Bonnie Schorske, Ed Snyder…feels so validating.  Entering art competitions is like buying lottery tickets, you can’t win unless you play.

Yeoun Lee, Marion Lioppo…Bill Myers’ phot0 collage is totally Dada, Rick Wright corners anthropomorphism in household objects, Erin Lynn O’Connor tackles surrealism - the show is really trippy.  Deja Vu - 6th Annual Juried Competition @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Frank’s.

Deja Vu - 6th Annual Juried Competition @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Frank’s.

Deja Vu - 6th Annual Juried Competition @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Frank’s.

Thank you so much to the team at Dirty Franks, Jody & Togo, for maintaining this long tradition of art competition, friendship and networking which offers Philadelphians a glimpse into the best of the local art scene, artists a groovy venue and quality that many times foreshadows art trends -  with cocktails!

I first met Jon Paul Hammond on an art crawl to the galleries one Friday evening a few years ago; somehow, without a car, he could travel to multiple venues all across the city in one evening and have a glass of wine with the art-erati, himself a visual sensation drawing attention from the art.  Jon Paul was a culture vulture, like me, and we instantly became confidantes, dishing the dirt on the pretensions and hoaxes we often encountered as well as superlatives for thought-provoking art we liked.  It was comforting to know that when I ventured out alone to an art show, I was sure to see a friendly face, a hug & kiss and a funny anecdote from a friend.  Jon Paul is missed in the Philly art community and his passing reminds me to re-invigorate my art adventures, support my artist friends, search out emerging talent, explore new neighborhoods and challenge my endurance because tomorrow I may be gone.  A lovely memorial webpage has been established in Jon Paul’s honor with thoughtful commentaries from his friends.

DoN Brewer & Jon Paul Hammond @ The Warwick Hotel’s, The Coffee Bar, DoN’s “light beings Art Talk“, Summer 2010.  Jon Paul Hammond offered me encouragement to continue making art and have pride in what I do; what is an art world without knowledgeable art enthusiasts?  I’ll miss Jon Paul’s exuberance and style and his insightful opinions as I explore and report on the Philly arts scene.

Photo by Danny Reilly.

light being (Jon Paul Hammond), digital photograph, DoN Brewer, 2010.

Deja Vu - 6th Annual Juried Competition @ Off the Wall Gallery in Dirty Frank’s.   DoN is honored to be represented in this show, the requirements were stringent and the jury big league. the opening party is Thursday, December 2th, 2010, 7 - 9:00 PM.

DoN Brewer, I Was Here, digital photograph, inkjet print @ Deja Vu - 6th Annual Juried Competition @ Off the Wall Gallery.

Carla Lombardi, Gavaciolli, high fire stoneware, Shinoglaze, @ Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery on 22nd Street.  Decameron is presented in conjunction with the world premier of Karen Saillant’s new opera of the same name presented by the International Opera Theater and inspired by Il Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio.  The stories of the ten people who escaped the Black Plague to a country estate is operatic in scope with so much source material from the tens of tens of stories told while the world collapsed around them that the tales of love, lust, morality and sin still ring true and wise in the modern age.  The artists reached deep to connect the dots of our common deep past with our futuristic present through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and photography.

Ona Kalstein, Lisbetta Weeps, 4th day, 5th tale,  ink & colored pencil on vellum.

Rosalind Bloom, Danse Macabre - The Black Death, watercolor, acrylic, collage.

Ted Warchal, Tale 5 - 2, Gastanza Sails to Tunis, assemblage,  Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery.

Ted Warchal @ Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery.  Tale 6-1o - The Relic of Archangel Gabriel reminds us of a time when zealots professed to own bits of Saints which could be viewed at a price, Warchal’s magical assemblage holds a golden feather and a bone.

Rachel Citrino @ Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery.  Citrino created a 100 block grid of images relating to Italy and the hundred tales of the Decameron, printed on canvas, the digital collage pops with hits of color amidst the stark black and white memories of a distant world.

Rosalind Bloom, The Embrace..., oil & mixed media collage and DoN Brewer, Heliotrope, digital photograph, digital print.  Roz’s painting refers to the boils caused by the Black Plague called Caviciolli like some pasta, but when you got a boil you’re dead in 3 days. DoN’s Heliotrope does not refer to the color but the magic stone offering the power of invisibility.

Alden Cole’s painting depicts the rise of humanism and the lesson of living in the moment filled with love.

Sadly, this is the last Da Vinci Art Alliance show at Smile Gallery, Ken Tutjamnong’s restaurant has become so popular that he needs the room for diners he has been turning away and he can show his own outstanding artwork as he does in the dining room at street level.  Admittedly the art drew people to the restaurant and the gallery offered DVAA space outside the club’s gallery to do theme show’s like Decameron.

Photos by DoN.

Philadelphia Photo Arts Society presents Philly Photo Day, 10/28/2010 - the concept is shoot & upload one image shot that day to their site, they then printed out groups of submissions on huge sheets of photo paper in alphabetical order.  Sarah Stolfa is a PR genius with the show in the fabu Gray Area @ the Crane Building, the raffle of great door prizes, the opportunity to meet other artists, the populist view that people in Philly have taste and can participate in grass roots projects with great results.  Martin McNamara of Gallery 339 told DoN he hopes next year’s project will be even bigger; the current show has over 300 submissions.  Read about the unique purchasing opportunity @ Philadelphia Photo Arts Center’s website - $20. for an 8 x 10″!!!

DoN Brewer, #28, Philly Photo Day, 10/28/2010.

William Parker, Caribbean Dream, colored pencil.  William Parker, a Philadelphia artist, is included in the 15th Annual Art Ability International Art Exhibition and Sale of art and fine crafts by people with disabilities in the Bryn Mawr Rehab Center, his portrait of a pretty girl with flowers sprouting from her head is pure exuberant joy.  Using a mouth-stick, the ebullient Parker explained to DoN that depending on the subject a drawing such as a face may take two weeks to draw, a simpler drawing only a few hours; the smooth contoured shapes describing the head are sinuous and silky, the color saturated into the paper’s surface with Dada-ist comparisons between lips and roses in subtle tones.  Parker said this is a new beginning for him, he did an abstract and thought, “this is really nice!”

Sheryl Yeager, Pittsburgh PA, Happy As A Rose, pastel @ Art Ability in Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli, PA.  Sheryl is planning a series of greeting cards for her popular animal pastels; the originals are popular, too.  Sheryl originally got into art as therapy but now is presenting mature inspired works that touch your inner animal spirit.  Yeager’s primitivist style dials right into the art collector psyche with signified shapes, rich layered color and impeccable presentation, a real self advocate, Sheryl promotes her art by participating in art show across western Pennsylvania.

Sheryl Yeager, Giraffe, pastel, 3rd Prize winner for Works on Paper, the Marjorie M. Schwartz Memorial Award.

Arnie Segal, Hippopotamus in a Pink Tutu, sculpture @ Art Ability 2010 @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli, PA.

DoN Brewer, light being (Walt), digital photograph @ Art Ability 2010 @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli, PA.

DoN had the opportunity to talk with Art Ability Committee member Doris Gordon’s role in putting on the massive art show which had thousands of entries and is showing over 500 works this year?  Originally the committee’s goal was to collect art for a permanent collection, and there is a superb selection, but after a few years the concept of an international juried art show by artists with disabilities was conceived and is now, after 15 years, the focus of the group.  Doris told DoN that the committee works so well together it took only 3 major meetings to delegate this year’s duty’s from the take-in to the jurying to the hanging to the most excellent, informative catalog.

Daniel Neufeld with his paintings in the Art Ability annual art exhibition at Bryn Mawr Rehab Center.  The Patron’s Preview Party was really fun with artists mingling with patrons, supporters and enthusiasts over wine, tasty appetizer stations, roving waiters with hors d’oeuvres, light dinner and yummy dessserts; the attentive sales staff promoting the art guided patron’s through the maze of halls lined with one fantastic piece after another.

Allison Merriweather, mixed media @ Art Ability’s annual art extravaganza.

Carla Laws, Valid Points, computer graphic.

Cynthia Lyon, Red Hot Ice, oil.  Is this awesome or what?  The trompe l’oeil effect of the super-kawaii painting is pun fun yet artistically on point with it’s Pop Art reference with placement between hospital charts and everyday objects.

Al Walton, The Fix, woodcut print.  First Prize for Works on Paper, In Memory of Jacqueline Van Handel.

Kurt Weston, Stained Glass Cathedral Woods, photograph.  Weston is from Huntington Beach California.

Gregory Gans, The Near Shore, photograph @ Art Ability 2010 @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli, PA.  Gregory Gans’ creates deeply emotive works with photography and post production, his narrative style is like leaves drifting on the water sweeping the viewer into a mystical vista.

d’Elaine Johnson & Robert Davis Art Ability 2010 @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli, PA.

Victor Mordasov, Italian Girl, oil.

Beth Livingston, The Fourth of July, mixed media.  DoN spotted this awesome piece right away during the drop off of work, the distinctive red stripes vibrating all the way across the room.  Every inch of the mixed media piece is packed with information, the spools weaving a panoply of rich color, the corrugated material suggesting waves, the sparkling embroidery of melting stars as poignant as the National Anthem.

Kathryn Pannepacker, mixed media @ Art Ability 2010 @ Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Paoli, PA.  Kathryn Pannepacker is included in the permanent collection of Bryn Mawr Rehab but she too has evolved beyond the original kernel idea into a true art star, creating murals throughout the city preserving textile patterns of the world, a woven mural on Ludlow Street, the handmade by the homeless weaving project on South Street and so many more philanthropic, selfless exercises in beauty and kindness that she truly epitomizes the spirit of this show, that art heals the body, mind and soul.

 Photos by DoN.