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.

Yoshi’s Island 3 @ Crane Arts Gray Space

 

DoN LoVeS the Yoshi Island Video installation by Brian Franklin in the Gray Space’s side room, a perfect execution of mutlimedia music and visuals filling the space with a futuristic soundtrack, all of the art in the rest of Golden Calf benefitted from the music. Created for Super Mario Brothers video game the music is 4 soundtracks playing simultaneously, simultaneous overlapping loops of bloopy tones creating a modern sound design installation with late 20th Century video game music repurposed into new art.  As game technology advances and leaves artifacts behind, Franklin rescues the musical artifacts like a modern day monk saving information in illuminated manuscripts.  The music stand with the score displayed elevates the piece to Wagnerian dramatic heights developing a sense of nostalgia for a time when video game technology was new. 

Way Gay Cabaret, DaVinci Art Alliance Envisioning Othello Closes

Way Gay Cabaret

Friday evening, June 27th, DoN and buddy Les attended the Willy Way Cabaret benefit for Transway featuring the Keith & Tom Show.  The William Way Center is Philadelphia’s gay community center with a library, archives, on-going art exhibits, workshops and support groups and is one of the few places trans-gendered people can be welcome and comfortable, allowing men who identify as women to engage in girl talk and women who identify as men to be out and proud. The show in the upstairs ballroom featured Tom Wilson Weinberg on the piano and singer Keith Kaczorowski performing original songs and cabaret standards by Sondheim, Kurt Weil and Leonard Cohen – the last song, “Hallelujah” played in DoN‘s head for several days after. The juried art show in the lobby is first rate and unabashed with beautiful paintings, photographs and mixed media works of the highest quality.

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Likeable Art @ City Hall.

Likeable Art

DoN then scrambled over to City Hall to catch the opening of Likeable Art on floors 2 and 4. DoN believes all art is likeable – even the stuff others find distasteful – but the curators took to heart that some folks like art to be pretty, accessible and understandable. The exhibit consists of glass display cases with art arranged in themes: beach scenes, still life, babies, animals, butterflies, even abstract paintings and sculpture (in pretty colors). DoN was introduced to Juror and chair of the exhibitions committee, Cavin Jones, who explained that the process of choosing works was different than usual. ForLikeable Art there were four jurors who all had to agree on which works made it into the show; appropriately a group decision usually is the correct one since it combines the thought processes of multiple minds – kind of like on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire when the audience choice is usually the correct one. DoN asked Cavin an inappropriate question, “Which is your favorite?” – Cavin responded that the seaside amusement park scenes by Alice Dustin were images he insisted on including. Art in City Hall literally has thousands of viewers, especially on the fourth floor, and there is no commission so the artist receives 100% of the sale price. But Jones explained that sales are few – so here’s a shout-out to collectors – go to City Hall and support your local artists!!! Buy a painting, start a collection, bring your friends, brag about the deal you got and help keep arts alive in Philly.

Arthur Ostroff @ Likable Art in City Hall.

Arthur Ostroff @ Likable Art in City Hall.

Abstract art @ Likeable Art @ Art in City Hall show.

Abstract art @ Likeable Art @ Art in City Hall show.

Still Life

Still life painting @ Likeable Art in City Hall. DoN will verify the artist and give credit where credit is due – if you know who this artist is write to me.

Linoleum block print by Eileen Eckstein @ Likeable Art.

Linoleum block print by Eileen Eckstein @ Likeable Art.

Many of DoN‘s friends are included in the show including Ed Bronstein, Dale Levy, Ona Kalstein, unfortunately the pictures DoN took are blurry – take some time and go see for yourself the fine work these Philly artists have to offer.