DoNArTNeWs

Rosalind Bloom @ Smile Gallery, 22nd & Walnut in Center City, Philly.

Rosalind Bloom’s model’s dummy poses in pain and peril a top a slippery slope of rock and ice.  Bloom mixes metaphors and media creating deeply intimate portraits of human emotion as if the dummies are trying to find their place in a confusing world.

Sharri Jerue, Indecision, mixed media @ Smile Gallery.

Sharri Jerue is a scenic designer who usually has to realize other people’s ideas but in the Faces and Figures show @ Smile, Sharri is able to mix and mash her ideas into anthropomorphic heads, using found materials with abandon.  The inspired combination of wacky heads and puppets in peril is the brainchild of Dr. Deb Miller who saw the neural network between simple shapes and ideas and racial memory based deeply in our brain stems stimulated by paintings and sculpture.

Curator Dr. Deb Miller, artists Rosalind Bloom and Sharri Jerue at the opening of Faces and Figures @ Smile Gallery in Center City.

Photos by DoNBrewerPhotography.

Through My Window, Da Vinci Art Alliance Members Traveling Art Show now in Millville, NJ Arts District in the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts through 7 - 10 -2010

Carol Wisker with her award winning mixed media creation, Machine: War Games Series, when the show first opened at Smile Gallery, Carol won Best in Show.  The huge gallery space at RRCA is a wonderful opportunity to see most of the original show hanging together again.  3rd Friday in Millville was really fun with live entertainment tucked into every park, alley and plaza including a glee club performance!!!  The creative vibe of the monthly event with art shows, restaurants and shops welcome visitors warmly with small town ambiance and upscale art.

Ona Kalstein, Through My Window @ Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts.

Ted Warchal @ Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts special exhibit, Through My Window, A Da Vinci Art Alliance Members Exhibit.  Ted, Ona & DoN are members of the Board of Directors of Da Vinci, thanks to all the artists & volunteers who arranged for the art to show up on time and to Dr. Debra Miller & David Foss for the expert installation, the RRCA is a wonderful exhibition space.

David Foss & Nicole Koenitzer.

Betsy Alexander’s Sci-Fi homage drew some teenage geeks into the gallery who seemed mesmerized at the depth of knowledge in the obscure references.  Burnell Yow! told DoN he was hesitant when Betsy voiced her encyclopedic idea - but beam me up!

DoN Brewer’s drawing of Paris rooftops is paired perfectly with Lilliana Didovic’s Boathouse Row painting.

The concept pf Through My Window is that more than 20 artists were offered a window to do whatever they wanted with, the result is a uniquely Philadelphian art perspective: Bobbie Adams, Betsy Alexander, Jesse Best, DoN Brewer, Rachel Citrino. Alden Cole. Lilliana Didovic, Jerry di Falco, David Foss, Carl Johnson, Ona Kalstein, Nicole Koenitzer, Gail Kotel, Rikard Larma, Lee Muslin, Liz Nicklus, Kathryn Pannepacker, Michael Shane Simmons, Mike Sweeney, Ted Warchal, Carol Wisker & Burnell Yow!

Photos by DoNBrewerPhotography.

This year DoN got to know Dr. Deb Miller of the Da Vinci Art Alliance; Miller is a driving force behind the production of themed art shows for the gallery at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, Smile Gallery, Bartram’s Garden Gallery, the Black Box Gallery @ The Lantern Theater and more.  This year art exhibits included Envisioning Hamlet, Darwin & Carnivorous Plants, Windows on the World, Heroines & Harlots.. collaborations with The Lantern Theater, Bartrams Garden, Smile Gallery & more.  As a result of these concept shows DoN won more awards for art this year than in all previous years of entering shows.  Dr. Deb always takes an extra moment to praise the artist when presenting awards, tells an anecdote about the work, shares tidbits about her life in Andy Warhol’s circle and makes sure all the artists even though they may not win anything, feel special, that it’s worth all the time & effort to produce art.  Twice, Dr. Deb has whispered in DoN’s ear during award ceremonies that she thought he should have won first prize instead of honorable mention - DoN bets Dr. Debbie says that to all the boys.

On the move - Dr. Miller makes sure the audience moves through the gallery and presents awards by the art work instead of from a fixed spot as many other juried shows do.  Her gregarious banter and knowledgeable comments always are educational, informative and frank.

Dr. Deb Miller @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.

DoN in awe of Dr. Deb’s comments on his “Botanical Print” @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.  Actually, Dr. Deb always makes sure DoN say a few words about his work and she always gets jurors to speak about their decisions.

Dr. Debra Miller, Liz Niklus, Alden Cole, David Foss & Ona Kalstein @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.  The board at the Da Vinci Art Alliance performs an essential function in the Philly art community, providing a creative outlet, a great social network and a vibrant array of shows, lectures and parties.

Dr. Deb Miller presenting DoN with an award for his digital photograph called, Denmark, for the Envisioning Hamlet Show @ The Black Box Gallery in the Lantern Theater.  DoN recently eves-dropped David Foss and heard there will be continuing collaborations with the Lantern Theater and the International Opera Theater - coolness!

Dr. Debra Miller gives a great lecture about Andy Warhol, here she’s presenting her talk @ The Fleisher Art Memorial.

Philly Art Stars @ the Windows on the World opening @ Smile Gallery.  That’s the back of Liz Niklus‘ head, Dr. Deb, Lilliana Didovic & Betsy Alexander, that was a great show, in fact the three winners are having their show at the gallery next month.

Photographer Jon Naar with Dr. Debra @ Photosynthesis 2008 @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Thanks to Dr. Debra Miller and the entire board of the Da Vinci Art Alliance for providing such an outstanding platform for artists to exercise their creative muscles.  DoN can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store at the venerable art alliance.

David Foss, The Grid, acrylic on wood panel, plastic, foam, 2009.

David Foss, Between I and Thou, acrylic on canvas & foam.  Kathryn Pannepacker, Art Trick & I Am A Magnet, embroidery coated with wax.

Kathryn Pannepacker weaves anything within reach, including yarn, rags, thread, rope, book matches, even left over aluminum foil creating other-worldly decor as if for a Star Trek set.  Both Pannepacker and Foss have an aura of tranquility and inner peace causing DoN to wonder if maybe they have been taken up, up, up…each donates much of their time doing outreach in the community.  Foss is Executive Director of Da Vinci Art Alliance mentoring and promoting art carreers and Pannepacker has created several public murals and is currently weaving art with homeless people as part of Activities and Advocacy to End Homelessness every Thursday & Friday @ Arch Street Cafe, 740 Arch Street.

David Foss, Field Shift, acrylic on canvas, plastic & foam, 2009.

Kathryn Pannepacker & David Foss at the opening of Parallel Lines @ Smile Gallery.  Matt Lyons calls the art space “the biggest little gallery in town“; the gallery continually shows modern, edgy, sometimes difficult art by a continuum of Philly’s best artists.

The Legacy of Leonardo exhibit @ The Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Induction of honorary Board Member, Matt Lyons, to the Da Vinci Art Alliance - that’s Brenda, his gorgeous wife swelled with pride in the back, the tireless efforts of the couple have enabled the success of many, many artists - DoN included. As a partner in the Smile Gallery with the Da Vinci Art Alliance there has been an ongoing exhibit of contemporary regional artists in the large gallery space on 22nd Street, a lovely neighborhood inhabited by some of Philly’s finest artists. Without the support of business people, artist’s groups would implode; the steady hand and open ear of people like Matt, creativity and community can be realized in a beautiful, sustainable way.

Induction of Thomas Wall as honorary Board Member of the Da Vinci Art Alliance - Wall’s generosity helps ensure the continuation of this vital artist collective.

Ernesto E. Ibasco, Jr. on guitar.

The fund-raising event was really cool - great food (OMG - Lilliana’s chicken salad! & canolli’s!), fun and affordable silent auctions and live music. When Dr. Deb Miller introduced the honorees her speech is very lucid and clear concerning the accomplishments of the people she’s talking about but she makes DoN, as a listener, feel like he’s participating in something important, real and intellectually stimulating. Instead of hurrying things along, Dr. Deb offers quotes, quips and kudos so that all get their due moment in the spotlight. With some exciting new projects and shows on the horizon, the venerable society is sure to continue exciting the senses with art.

Burnell Yow!, “Dolls of the Apocalypse“, Smile Gallery.

Burnell Yow!, “Mummy Barbie“.

B. Yow!, L. Parkes, D. Walters, “Exquisite Corpse #33“, giclee print, 20″ x 16″

Joroko,”March On“, mixed media.

Joroko, “Subtext“, mixed media.

Bricolage, pronounced /ˌbriːkoʊˈlɑːʒ/, /ˌbrɪkoʊˈlɑːʒ/ is a term used in several disciplines, among them the visual arts and literature, to refer to the construction or creation of a work from a diverse range of things which happen to be available, or a work created by such a process. The term is borrowed from the French word bricolage, from the verb bricoler – the core meaning in French being, “fiddle, tinker” and, by extension, “make creative and resourceful use of whatever materials are to hand (regardless of their original purpose).”

A person who engages in bricolage is a bricoleur.

Thank you Wikipedia!

Burnell’s dolls are totemic, shamanistic, zen-like, beatific, clever, ironic, dystopian creations repurposing objet trouve and doll parts.  The digital “exquisite corpse” prints are a great stealable idea - so po-mo.

Joroko’s goth skeletons populating bombed out surfaces, dancing and cavorting with stars, stripes, crosses and words perfectly counterpoints the odd dolls - somehow the energy of the room becomes a bad boy’s fantasy world of stealing your sister’s dolls and ripping the heads off and drawing war scenes with explosions, craters and bodies.  Dr. Deb Miller curated the show - deep.

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.