Wolves & Deer in art around town over the past year.
Nexus Gallery @ Crane Art Center
Rik Viola @ Philadelphia Sketch Club
Darla Jackson @ CFEVA.
Scott Pelnat @ CFEVA event.
Jack Kelly @ Scott Pellnat’s Art House.
Karen Davis @ TwentyTwo Gallery.
The Art of the Flower show at the Philadelphia Sketch Club is an annual, open juried competition for 2 or 3 dimensional works of art on the theme of the flower by prominent and emerging regional artists. This year’s juror, James P. Repenning, chose not only traditional styles of flower painting but also abstractions, photography, prints and even a neon sculpture. Rik Viola, committee co-chair, pulled together an exceptional show with a new twist on flowers in art with an opening reception that was well attended and exciting. The awards were kept secret until they were announced at the gala which added an aura of anticipation since even the winners didn’t know until the announcement. The exhibition runs through March 22nd and will be followed by the annual Small Oil Paintings show.
The winners wall at The Philadelphia Sketch Club’s annual Art of the Flower Show which overlaps the famous Philadelphia Flower Show. 1st Place, Emerging Amarylis, monotype by Rona Richter, 2nd place, Roses with Reflection, pastel by Beverly Jensen, 3rd place, Dried Flowers in a Burl Vase, pastel by Ben Cohen, 4th place, White Iris, photography award by Elizabeth Bard. Honorable mentions went to Tony Anthony, Robert Bohne, Doris Peltzman, Jessie Joern, Gus Sermas and Eve Hoyt.
DoN Brewer’s inkjet print collage, “Gingko“.
3-Dimension award winner - Luminous Flora - Neon by Eve Hoyt.
Cactus Flower, ink and watercolor, Peter Petragia.
Glories, color pencil & ink, Hal Taylor.
Black Rose, etching, Thelma Grobes.
White Orchid, digital print, Valerie Hutton.
Artist Gus Victor Sermas with his mixed media drawing, Flower 1, at The Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Art of the Flower show through March 22nd, 2009.
DoN is delighted his inkjet print collage was selected to be included in the Art of the Flower show at The Philadelphia Sketch Club. The annual show includes many of DoN’s favorite Philadelphia painters and photographers as selected by juror James P. Repenning; helping install the show was especially fun knowing DoN’s “Ginkgo” is included along side exquisite works by Peltzman, Eckstein, Monaghan, Barnes, Tony Anthony, Roschen, Camera… The reception and awards is Sunday @ 2:00. Repenning’s work on the art card is lovely but in real life is an incredible mixed media piece with dimension, depth and high style design, executed with utmost craft - really stunning.
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.
The Philadelphia Sketch Club in partnership with the Philadelphia School District presents the 25th Annual High School Student Art Exhibition from February 9, 2009 through February 22, 2009. A closing reception and awards will be held February 22nd, 2 – 5:00 PM. The invitational represents the best student artists from High Schools around the city. The 2009 exhibit was organized by Dorothy Roschen, a prominent Philadelphia sculptor and former art teacher, the jurors are Diana Larisgoitia, PH.D, Rik Viola, actor and fine artist and multimedia artist DoN Brewer.
The depth and breadth of this wonderful show demonstrates how young people can communicate through art whether through Photoshop to cut paper to traditional drawings and paintings. DoN recalls that art was his favorite class in high school, a place to escape from the difficulties of growing up during the Viet Nam War (the Vietnamese called it the American War) with the inherent fear of the draft after graduating. Today young people are dealing with multiple wars and the new-age depression yet they, too, find solace in losing themselves in paint, charcoal and pastel even if they only have brown paper to develop their ideas.
More than 20 awards are being presented but there are many students being presented with honorable mentions that will receive certificates. DoN urges you to donate funds, materials or gift certificates to the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s effort; it would be great if every kid who poured his soul into their art is able to go home with an award.
Olivia Haas mixed media piece won best in show at the 25th Annual Philadelphia High School Art Show @ PSC.
25th Annual Philadelphia High School Art Show @ PSC.
25th Annual Philadelphia High School Art Show @ PSC.
Anthony Martin’s drawing, “Good vs. Evil” won the Lois Muriel Award for Excellence in Drawing.
Art critic, writer and poet Bob (R.B.) Strauss passed away January 13th, 2009. Strauss was an enthusiastic supporter of the Philadelphia region art scene and was a presence at The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club, the Da Vinci Art Alliance and much more. Bob’s wit and wisdom, cultured eye and edgy writing style will be missed by many area artists.
Works on Paper 2009 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club features 105 artworks ranging from photorealistic paintings to abstract expressionist collage to drawings and more – the range of works selected by jurors William David Brown and Keith Moutford is a composite view of the excellent art created by Philadelphia’s best artists. Works on Paper is a difficult show to get into since it’s one of the most popular shows the club exhibits, in fact this year there were so many strong pieces that a Salon des Refuse was installed in the downstairs pool room. Exhibition Chairman Rich Harrington, a professor at Moore College of Art, worked closely with the jurors to present a show that is popular, controversial and exciting. James Toogood, a most excellent watercolorist, won the top two prizes for his astonishingly realistic paintings.
Works on Paper is on display through January 24th, you’ll find DoN Brewer’s charcoal drawing in the Salon des Refuse, along with Alden Cole, Ben Cohen, Linda Dubin Garfield and many, many more.
Arlene Arons, Anywhere but Here, mixed media collage.
Kyle Margiotta, Southport Inlet, watercolor.
Anthony Cortosi, Iris, spray paint.
Works on Paper award winners @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.
2008 has been a big year for DoN: co-chair of the Absolutely Abstract committee at The Philadelphia Sketch Club, membership in the Plastic Club and the Da Vinci Art Alliance, paintings, drawings and photos included in shows at Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks and First Impressions in Salem NJ, a one-person show at The Beauty Shop Cafe, produced videos for Paul DuSold, Henry Martin and the Philadelphia Sketch Club, DoNArTNeWs is part of Culture Pundits and a successful open studio as part of Philadelphia Open Studio Tours.
DoN with his grand-niece Jaelyn in Florida for the holidays.
DoN has made so many new friends in the art world and is grateful to all who have supported his artistic ambitions. A new member to DoN’s family along with Katy the ArT DoG is Doofie the Saint Bernard/Chihuahua mix who came to live with us because GadFly left our plane of existence to pester angels in the afterworld. It was a difficult decision made quickly to include such a large animal in a tiny row house but Doof has brought so much love and affection to Katy and DoN that all the dog hair is worth it. In these tough economic times it’s so important to help rescue animals from shelters; KaTy the ArT DoG is a rescue and the love she shares and the protection and safety DoN feels in her company is worth any price.Thanks and LoVe to Shoshana, Aldy, lola, Dee, John, David Foss, Barbara Murray, Mike Guinn, Lilliana Didovic, Karl Olsen, Anders Hansen, Mina Smith-Segal, everyone @ Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Helen & Joe, Debbie, and many others including my family who have whole-heartedly supported DoN throughout the year.
Peace & LoVe
DoN
The Legacy Show & Sale at the Philadelphia Sketch Club is a fundraiser with club members donating art for the show. Ostensibly the idea is for artists to unload some of their stock but DoN felt the tension of competition with each of the contributing artists donating work that somehow epitomizes their own particular style. 
Art by Lois Schlacter, Dorothy Roschen, DoN and others @ the Legacy Show @ PSC.
McDonnell/Cortosi @ PSC Legacy Show. The dynamic duo are showing @ Rodger Lapelle Galleries as well.
Dorothy Roschen @ PSC Legacy Show.
Michael George Jerista @ PSC Legacy.
DoNArTNeWs - DoN Brewer Reviews Philadelphia Art
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