Category Archives: Art Spaces Philadelphia

Art galleries, shops, showrooms, lobbies, hallways, studios, warehouses, lofts, workshops, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, and any space where art is displayed in and around Philadelphia.

Eli VandenBerg @ The William Way Art Gallery

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The William Way Gay Community Center for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community seeks to encourage, support, and advocate for the well-being and acceptance of sexual and gender minorities through service, recreational, educational, and cultural programming. The lobby of the center at 1315 Spruce Street is an art gallery currently hosting an outstanding one-person show of drawings in pen and ink and woodcut prints by Eli VandenBerg. The art is contemporary in style with topical themes of gender identity, cultural confusion and urban isolation. The strong, expressive lines impressed DoN, the dark, sloppy drips serving to express the emotional context of the exhibit, which runs through 2/27.

The staff at the center is very friendly and helpful and provides important services not just to the gay community but also to the benefit of all who need help, guidance and support. The Barbara Gittings library is a unique source of information relating to gay history.

VandenBerg has shown in international and national exhibitions including the National Queer Arts Festival. His work has also appeared in books and magazines including the anthology Self-Organizing Men: Conscious Masculinities in Time and Space. VandenBerg will exhibit drawings from two series: Passing which explores gender transition and Place and Home which focuses on discovering and rediscovering origins. (WayGay website)

“When You’re Sitting, Spread Your Legs. Take Up Space.” Eli VandenBerg @ William Way Gallery.

“New Body, Pholio“, woodcut, Eli VandenBerg.

Eli VandenBerg @ William Way Community Center Art Gallery.

It’s a small, small World @ The Plastic Club

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The opening reception at the Plastic Club this past Sunday for the small Worlds exhibition was very entertaining. The membership of the club is so welcoming and warm, the food and wine so delicious and the art so extraordinary that its impossible to not have a good time. With over 180 works in the show, virtually every Philly fine artist, whether aspiring or accomplished, was present; DoN said, Hi, to Doris Petzman, Sue Barnes, Reta Sweeney, Pat Monaghan and Cyna, Karl Olsen, Jym Paris, Eileen Eckstein, Morris Klein, Art Ostroff, Mina Smith-Segal, Rob Willis, Deb Weber, Mike Guinn, Bob Jackson and many more familiar faces that it will take DoN a while to remember all the names.

The awards were dominated by younger artists which DoN finds very satisfying considering the concentration of art schools in the hood.

1st Prize David Golas, Self Portrait, A Closer Look

2^nd Prize Jill Sprague

3^rd Prize Louise LaFond

Honorable Mentions: Lucy Pistilli, Robert Bohne and Nathan Irvin

Juror: Joseph Kazimierczyk.

1st Prize winner David Golas is an intensely personal self portrait.

Photo by Rick Wright and 2 paintings by Reta Sweeney.

A superb plein air by Sue Barnes; the scudding clouds warning of an incoming storm at the Jersey shore.

Karl R. Olsen‘s “B”.

Irma Shapiro‘s “It’s Just A Story“, acrylic.

Susan DiProno‘s “Smokin’ Claudia III“, photo. Bob Jackson talked to the crowd about the importance of excellent presentation, this piece tells the story with a simple frame, unobtrusive mat and non-glare glass not to mention the stunning composition.

Karen Frank’s, “Duck, Meet Unicorn“, prismacolor. DoN LoVeS this one.

Lucy Pistilli, “Dream 2“, Pencil.

The winners circle at small Words @ The Plastic Club.

Bob Jackson cooking delectable tidbits for the party on the new stove in the Plastic Club’s basement kitchen – YuMMy!!!

It’s A small World After All

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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 Olsens A is a masterful painting of his ubiquitous hat, Alden Cole entered a wildly erotic fantasy, Doris Peltzmans “Portrait of Amber” is haunting and masterful

small WORLDS opens February 1^st heres 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.

Darla Jackson vs. Anne Canfield @ CFEVA

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Darla Jackson vs. Anne Canfield @ the Center for Emerging Visual Artists is just that a bare knuckled cage-fight between two contemporary Philly artists, a grrl-fight for attention, a battle of wits and inventiveness, like a schoolyard brawl with each girl trying to rip out the others pierced earrings. In one corner is Anne Canfield throwing punches with quirky drawings and mythological paintings and in the other corner is Darla Jackson doing body slams with bold black graphic sculpture.

Anne Canfield tells DoN that her imagery is born of anxiety, the Cat is safe but could turn on you. Anne has developed her own visual language relying on memory and is not true to nature, thats not what shes going for her mark-making is assured and brushwork amusing, like reading a favorite book. The small cat is sometimes writ large in Canfields images often with a small girl (perhaps a self portrait), each staring at the other as if they were, facing God.

Darla Jackson, known for her sculptures of animals wearing the masks of other animals (say a bunny with a crow face mask), here invites familiar animals to witness the party in the apartment-like gallery. Birds, kitties, bunnies, even a life sized deer inhabit the human dwelling, decked out in festive party hats, making a mess of the place as if they were partying just a little too hard. Jackson goes for the knockout with the deer laying on the floor; life sized and appearing to be solid black metal, the scene is poignant with gallery visitors tiptoeing around the specimen, the deers simple red party hat knocked askew. By anthropomorphizing the animals, Jackson brings the creatures out of hiding making them observers of the strange creatures called humans.

Anne Canfield @ CFEVA.

Anne Canfield with her painting, “The Mermaid and the Tiger Meet Halfway“, oil on linen.

Darla Jackson @ CFEVA.

Party animals @ the CFEVA. Sculpture installation by Darla Jackson.

Darla Jackson @ CFEVA.

The battle continues through February 16th in the Felicity R. (Bebe) Benoliel Gallery.

17 @ Twenty-Two Gallery

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Twenty-Two Gallery @ 236 22^nd Street in Philadelphia has a long history of exhibiting (and selling) excellent paintings and since the showcase has become an artist collective the bar has been raised even higher. Owner Shawn Murray collaborated with artist Diane Podolsky to install a group show of superior quality with some of Philadelphias best artists. Plus the artistry with which the work is displayed makes viewing even more enjoyable with excellent lighting, thoughtful groupings and perfect eye level hanging; with the huge front window offering a glimpse of whats inside, the gallery is a great place to show and be seen. DoN stopped in the gallery last Sunday to meet many of the artists and was truly impressed by the variety and quality of the art.

Artists included in the show are Alison Altergott, Ed Bronstein, Valerie Carroll, Eric Fausnacht, Megan Greenholt, Nancy E. F. Halbert, Carter Leidy, Dale Levy, Ed Marston, William Middleton, Bruce Murray, Sr., Diane Podolsky, Bonnie Schorske, Jerome Schwartz, Michael Smith, Lauren Sweeney and Reta Sweeney. Ed Bronsteins plein aire paintings of Philly are true collectables, Ed Marstons painting of a ramshackle seaside hut is filled with light, Diane Podolskys pastels are mysterious and haunting, Eric Fausnachts rooster paintings are decorative and evocative with bold color and brushwork creating a surrealistic vision of the common bird and speaking of birds, Bonnie Schorskes pigeon photos are a hoot especially when you learn the history of the urban pests.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday noon to 6:00 PM, the Members Exhibition at Twenty-Two Gallery is open through February 11^th.