DoNArTNeWs

Alden Cole @ Galleria Deptford - Deptford Municipal Building, 1011 Cooper Street, Woodbury NJ.

While Alden installed his fantastical display of luminaries he was constantly stopped by the flow of visitors to the lobby of the Deptford Municipal Building, everyone wants to know what they are or they have a story about one of the components or their grandmother had a lamp just like that.  Cole takes memories, shakes them up in his mind, recombining the pieces into objects with the logic of dreams; people are drawn to the glowing objects, filled with little stories, overflowing with light and love.  And people are drawn towards him to find out how he figures this out and if he wants their grandmothers old lamps or why didn’t they think of that?  Alden has a story for each luminary and a moment for each admirer.

Stars Stairway, in Alden Cole’s gallery/studio in South Philly.

Starlings Under Glass #4, oil on glass, Alden Cole @ The Plastic Club, Red White & Green Show.

Memento Mori #1, marker, Alden Cole @ Conscious World of Art.  Alden is influenced by Nicholas Roerich and Mati Klarwein - Roerich was the first artist to win a Nobel Peace Prize and Klarwein created the famous Santana album cover.  Alden Cole’s art brings people together, his art works the room like a good conversation, creating a buzz, upping the voltage with voodoo god-heads & peaceful warriors.  Alden’s Starlings series taps into a deeply seated symbol pattern recognition with his sprightly characters playing out human emotions and exhibitionism in a playful accessible way.  James Warhola just acquired one of Alden Cole’s pieces at the Da Vinci Art Alliance’s current show.

Starlings #2 & Delicious, shown here @ The Plastic Club, now available @ Dumpster Divers Gallery, 734 South Street.  Don’t worry, be happy.  Alden Cole currently has work available at the Deptford Municipal Building Galleria Deptford (psst…really great prices, big selection), The Plastic Club’s Red, White & Green show, the Da Vinci Art Alliance Under $200, SOTA on Pine Street, Home & Planet in Bethlehem, the Dumpster Divers Gallery on South Street and @ The Conscious World Art of Alden Cole Gallery/Museum.

DoN LoVeS this photo with Alden Cole’s Light Beings and DoN’s “light being (Rick Selvin)” @ Galleria Deptford.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe, 20th & Fitzwater Street.

Niki Bombshell, Hands, oil & ink on canvas board, 9.5 x 12.5″.

Niki Bombshell, Word Vomit, ink & pencil on paper.

Niki Bombshell, Outline (Purple), ink on canvas.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe.

The Beauty Shop continues their history of promoting exciting new artists; the current show by artist/illustrator/designer Niki Bombshell combines brutalist abstract expressionism, naive primitivist drawings and bold drippy paintings.  Unframed and tacked to the walls, the works are real eye-catchers and very reasonably priced.  DoN especially enjoyed the sloppy hand-written labels and the total lack of self consciousness in presentation; you can tell the artist loves splashing paint, layering images, ripping the edges and moving on to the next project.  And, oh yeah, the coffee is great - The Beauty Shop Cafe has totally transformed the neighborhood from a place to avoid to a destination for hipsters, moms and geeks - thanks Jon!

Christian “Patch”ell, self-promo @ Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Phillustration ‘09.

Rich Harrington gathered the region’s finest illustrators to participate in the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s annual illustration show - Philly is a hub of creative talent called on to promote products, tell stories, illuminate text and create memorable images.  With almost 100 images in the sunny upstairs gallery the exhibition was informative and amusing.

Hal Taylor, Riki- Tiki-Tavi, book.

Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Phillustration 2009.