DoNArTNeWs

To all those who understand my obsession with the LightTro color changing bulb which I have been using for the past 4 years, both here at 717 Federal, and in many luminaries sold over the past 5 years - somewhere around 280 of those bulbs have passed through my hands since 2004, when Betsy introduced me to them - I am devastated. Phillips Color Kinetics, the maker of LightTro, DISCONTINUED making them (some time ago, as I found out this morning). And the distributor has only 36 left. I’m the second one in line for those last 36. And I have one unopened package left of these bulbs, up at the South Street Gallery. Auction time?

Oh well, end of an era in my output. Hold onto your bulbs. They can last a long long time. Seriously, it’s a shame that such a beautiful GREEN item should be discontinued. Perhaps it will nudge me out of the luminary business and back into painting. Those bulbs were as good as it gets in terms of night lighting. On to the next phase…

Alden Cole

Sparkling City and Soft Abstractions - The Art of Lilliana Didovic and Chinoros Roongsakul curated by Dr. Debra Miller is a visual delight with vibrant color, unusual materials and fresh ideas. As a celebration of the second anniversary of Ken Tutjamnong’s restaurant and gallery, Smile, Dr. Deb has created a wonderland experience combining the abstract expressionist nature shapes of Roongsakul and the glamour, style and intensity of Didovic’s landscapes and logos. Ken considers both artists to be his best friends and brought them together from across the globe making Philly the nexus of this collision of art and love; Didovic is from Sarajevo and Roogsakul is an art professor from Bangkok.

Artist Lilliana Didiovic has incorporated, at the urging of Dr. Debbie, Swarovsky crystals into the skylines of famous Philly landmarks, applying hundreds and hundreds one at a time. The effect is luscious, drawing on a craving for bling, nostalgia and unique style.

Lilliana Didovic @ Smile.

The Spring evening was perfect for an art crawl, DoN brought Katy the ArT DoG and her pal Doofie, the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix along for the walk. The dogs enjoyed hanging out on hip 22nd Street - with Smile, TwentyTwo, Good Karma and hip boutiques the broad avenue has lots to offer.

Lilliana Didovic @ Smile Gallery.

Lilliana LoVeS Philly!!!

Dr. Debra Miller and Chinoros Roongsakul @ Smile Gallery.

Philadelphia Night 1 by Chinoros Roongsakul @ Smile; Roongsakul created all the paintings here in town while visiting his friend Ken.

Chinoros Roongsakul @ Smile Gallery.

Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow! of Ravenswing Studio are art collectors, their home is filled with beautiful objects of all kinds and even had a recent story about their eclectic decorating style in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The duo have recreated their art house at Salon des Amis in Malvern, asking all of their friends who have contributed to their collection to show new work in the gallery. Sunday was beautiful weather and a large gathering of their friends arrived at the gallery to find the space filled with work by more than 40 artists.

Luminary artist, Alden Cole @ Art House in Salon des Amis.

Linda Lou Horn @ Salon des Amis for the Art House opening in Malvern.

Philly photographer, Armond Scavo with his work at Salon des Amis. Scavo has just published a book of photographs of Rittenhouse Square, a favorite locale for artists to find inspiration, Through an Artists’ Eye - Philadelphia can be purchased from Scavo’s website.

Eileen Feigenbaum, “The Blue Lady”, oil on canvas.

DoN Brewer, “light being (Rick Selvin)”, digital photograph.

The art crowd for Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow!’s Art House @ Salon des Amis in Malvern.

Thank you Betsy and Burnell, it’s already nice just being friends with you both but when you do something so special like this art show it re-enforces the bond even more. Salon des Amis means House of Friends - so apropos!

LoVe

DoN

The Philadelphia Dumpster Divers have overtaken Outsiders Folk Arts in the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, a major cultural hub of the Reading region. DoN saw families tumbling out the door after some sort of recital, there’s an art show of students who have taken classes in the center, there’s an enourmous wood shop that smells so good. The Goggleworks is a magnet for artists of all stripes finding access to a wide array of opportunities and is really cool space itself, packed with studios, galleries, show spaces and art. The Dumpster Divers are definitely grooving on the vibe of the place and have installed unique, quirky objects which will inspire many budding artists as well as attracting collectors, since Viener’s artistic eye is well respected.

George Viener is a collector of folk art, outsider art and self-taught art; even though the many of the Divers are professional artists in their own right, collectively the group has a simple basic principle of being creative with what’s on hand, art doesn’t have to be expensive to make and rescueing lost objects ala Marcel DuChamp is de riguer. DoN thinks that counts as self-taught, it’s new, unfiltered raw ideas bubbling to the surface; Dada.

Len Davidson, Queen of the Gnomes, @ Outsider Folk Arts in Reading, PA.

Randal Cleaver, Space Time @ Outsider Folk Arts.

Warren Muller, Philadelphia light artist @ Outsider Folk Arts in the Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading.

   class_flyer_march.pdf

The Plastic Club @ 247 South Camac Street is hosting a new art show – small WORLDS exhibition.  All works in the show must be less than 16” in any direction including 2D and 3D works by hundreds of artists; there are 182 artworks in the show, no small feat to install.  But, the committee performed wonders in creating groupings, tableau and mise en seine drawing the visitor into tiny spaces packed with authenticity, superior craftsmanship and creativity.  Karl Olsen’s “A” is a masterful painting of his ubiquitous hat, Alden Cole entered a wildly erotic fantasy, Doris Peltzman’s “Portrait of Amber” is haunting and masterful…

small WORLDS opens February 1^st – here’s a sneak peek. 

DoN Brewer’s “light being (Chink)“, Ellen Grenwell’s “4:12 AM, Please Kitty“, Rob Willis‘ “Ichibano” & Hugo Hsu’s “Tenguska“. 

small Worlds @ The Plastic Club. 

Alden Cole’s “Embrace No. 2“. 

The opening reception and awards is Sunday, February 1st, 2009, 2 - 5:00 PM.

Catherine Zeidler’s eponymous gallery at 2207 South Street has become the Women’s Creative Alliance featuring the art of Philadelphia area women.  The current exhibit features 3D work by Dorothy Roschen, jewelry by Barb Baur as well as pastels and paintings by Patricia Woodruff.  The theme throughout the show is how spirituality is filtered through the creative arts.  Roschen, who taught art in high school for many years, creates mysterious sculptures of glass, clay and objet trouve suitable sitting on a table or hanging on the wall.  Dorothy develops designs exploring positive and negative space, hard and soft surface and translucence vs. solidity. 

Woodruff’s drawings and paintings depict sprites, spirits, fairies and gods of old in fluid, sensuous lines and serious color, her high school friend Barb Bauer creates designs reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or Celtic knots in silver.  Both Woodruff and Bauer enjoy spending time in Floyd, VA, and a vibrant arts community enabling them both to find expression through the sense of community and variety of artists who migrate there.  Bauer has begun experimenting with hard metals such as steel and is developing a series of pennular brooches appropriate for clasping an ancient cloak or a modern scarf.

The art party Friday evening brought out a good crowd even though it was only 19 degrees outside but with warmth and friendship found inside this great art space on South Street.

Wall sculpture by Dorothy Roschen @ WCA. 

Dorothy Roschen @ WCA. 

Dorothy Roschen @ WCA. 

Silver jewelry by Barb Baur. 

“Thought and Memory“, pastel by Patricia Woodruff depicts Odin with his ravens.

“Gentle Thoughts” by Patricia Woodruff. 

DoN meant to mention this news in his latest newsletter since many of you know Emily and would like to learn more about this interesting ancient art.

“Through My Window” at Smile Gallery @ 22^nd & Chestnut Streets is a concept show involving repurposing old window frames donated by Lantern Theater Company’s Charles McMahon.  Member artists of Da Vinci Art Alliance were asked to take a window and create a work of art instead of the frames ending up in a dump.  Each artist presented art as diverse as drawings, paintings, photos, weaving and collage, creating a conundrum for jurors Brenda and Matt Lyons.  Each piece is desirable and delightful in they’re own right: Betsy Alexander based her composition on science fiction, Burnell Yow! created an homage to Buddha, Mike Sweeny dressed his frame in gold and silver communicating a comment on America’s current economic situation, Alden Cole’s ethereal painting draws the viewer into the spiritual realm, Girard DiFalco’s photograph of a tree is simple and serene, DoN Brewer recreated the view from the apartment he rented in Paris, Ona Kalstein based her mixed media piece on the fable of the ant and the cicada and Lilliana Didovic designed a mixed media work depicting Philly’s famous Boat House Row using, of all things. Swarovski Crystals. 

Other artists in the show include Bobbie Adams, Kim Alsbrook, Rachel Citrino, Carl Johnson, Ted Warchal, Nicole Koenitzer, Rikard Larma, Gail Kotel, Tim McKenna, Lee Muslin, Liz Niklus, Michelle Post, Gavid Carrow and Carol Wisker. 

Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi’s ”Old Woman Looking Out the Window“.  The duo currently have work on display at Rodger Lapelle Gallery in Old City through Feb.1, 2009.

Alden Cole @ Smile.  Cole is included in a Dumpster Diver show at New Jersey’s Noyes Museum.

Mike Sweeney’s award winner @ Smile’s “Through My Window.” 

Burnell Yow!’s award winning composition will allow him to be part of a group show @ Smile in January 2010 - get to work Burnell!! 

Betsy Alexander’s sci-fi inspired mixed media collage was a hit with the crowd creating a vibrant conversation about everyone’s fantasy favorites.  Betsy’s home was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Design section, you can read the story here.  Betsy is also the mom of the famous Nora the Piano Playing Cat - check out Nora’s latest videos on YouTube.

Kathryn Pannepacker’s simple yet elegant mixed media piece incorporates weaving.  Pannepacker recently completed an amazing mural @ Broad and Lehigh Streets depicting textile styles of the world for the Mural Arts Program.

DoN Brewer’s ”Vue de la Rue Rambuteau, Paris“, colored pencil on paper at Smile Gallery.  

“Through My Window” is on display through February 7^th, 2009 and by the by Smile’s Thai food restaurant is probably the best in the city – BYOB and stay a while. 

DoN opened his studio to the public again this year with hundreds of other Philly artists participating in Philadelphia Open Studio Tours.  Visitors signed the giant “Hello My Name Is…” sign that he received as part of Newstoday Print Exchange 4.  DoN’s MoM, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends stopped by to view recent drawings, paintings and prints.  POST is a great way to meet other artists and make new friends as well as sell some art.  Thanks so much to good friends Shoshana and Alden with their help and support; it’s a lot of work.  KaTy the ArT DoG and her pal Doofie, the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix greeted visitors with wagging tails and lots of slobber.  This year the tour started West of Broad Street so DoN didn’t get to visit friends such as Paul DuSold or Betsy and Burnell but DoN’s MoM did and is still talking about how Nora the Piano Playing Cat plinked out a tune for her - thanks Nora!  Panoramic shot of DoN’s Nude Room.

East of Broad Street was super-exciting with dumpster diver Alden Cole’s spectacular display of drawings, paintings, luminaries and found object constructions.  Alden has returned to his painting roots and is producing interesting compositions packed with metaphors, narrative and deeply personal spiritual art works.  Obviously it’s too much to see all the studios in one wekend but I’m sure if you contact Alden he would be more than happy to allow you to explore four floors of art.Panoramic shot of Alden Cole’s kitchen gallery.  Cole is having an exhibition at Smile Gallery in November. 

Robert Stauffer in his quirky alley gallery @ 7th & Federal.  Stauffer’s mixed media, paintings and photos were super-fun especially viewed in one of Philly’s famous narrow alleyways.

Dr. Doris Peltzman with friend Reta Sweeney at Morris Street Studios deep in South Philly.  Peltzman is having a one woman show at the prestigious Carspecken Scott Gallery in Wilmington as well as a group show at Artist’s House. You go girl!!!  Doris is truly gifted and dedicated to producing work that stretches her limits with brilliant coloration, bold brushwork and subtle compositions.

Painting master, Francis Tucker, also at Morris Street Studio displayed just a few of his masterworks and demonstrated his proficiency at framing.  Tucker was DoN’s first painting mentor back in the day when UArts was still PCA and still teaches emerging artists skills involving materials and technique.

Artist Arthur Ostroff, also of Morris Street Studios, explained to DoN his plans for a one man show which has turned into a retrospective of his lifes work.  The exhibit, Arthur Ostroff Then and Now, will be at Montgomery County Community College West Campus Art Gallery, November 1 through December 19, 2008.

Mixed media collage by Art Ostroff.

Painting by Charles Cushing and sculpture by Carol Cole @ 915 Spring Garden art studios.

Frances Galante’s studio was humming with activity and filled with masterful landscapes and still iife paintings. DoN asked Galante about including architecture in her works, “I like to include architecture because it shows the human element and gives scale to painting.”  This past summer Frances painted at Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine at an artist’s colony.

Frances Galante’s Sailboat on the Delaware.

Ana B. Hernandez’ flamenco inspired hanging sculpture.  Ana tells DoN her work, “… attempts to capture the movement and energy as a visual vocabulary of the skirt of the dancer.”

Ana B. Hernandez @ 915 Spring Garden.

Wendy Wolf has a system of layering paint and then scraping away bits to reveal the layers, she then saves the bits in little boxes as a separate art object.  Wolf is also a jeweler producing beautiful necklaces and bracelets, she says, “…life is charmed.”  An MFA graduate of Tyler Art School, Wolf has been at 915 Spring Garden for more than two years.

The left over bits from a Wendy Wolf painting displayed in clear plastic boxes.

Peter Cunicelli’s studio @ 915 Spring Garden.  Each piece is handmade from slabs of clay allowing Peter to create space-age style ceramics perfect for contemporary interiors; Peter is working on producing multiples so he can offer table wares in his unique style.  Cunicelli was included in this summer’s Art of the State exhibit in Harrisburg. Congrats!

Brooke Hine’s studio displayed her ubiquitous organic ceramics; always interesting, delicate and absorbing sculptures in a style all her own.  Hine recently curated a fabulous show at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and was also included in the Art of the State show in Harrisburg.  DoN LoVeS Brooke!!!

LoVe

DoN All photos by DoNBrewerMultimedia.

CFEVA Introduction 2012
Blick Art Materials