Category Archives: Collage

A collage (From the French: coller, to glue) is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole.

A collage may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork, photographs and other found objects, glued to a piece of paper or canvas. The origins of collage can be traced back hundreds of years, but this technique made a dramatic reappearance in the early 20th century as an art form of novelty.

The term collage derives from the French “coller” meaning “glue”.[1] This term was coined by both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in the beginning of the 20th century when collage became a distinctive part of modern art.
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Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

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Carla Lombardi, Gavaciolli, high fire stoneware, Shinoglaze, @ Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery on 22nd Street.  Decameron is presented in conjunction with the world premier of Karen Saillant‘s new opera of the same name presented by the International Opera Theater and inspired by Il Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio.  The stories of the ten people who escaped the Black Plague to a country estate is operatic in scope with so much source material from the tens of tens of stories told while the world collapsed around them that the tales of love, lust, morality and sin still ring true and wise in the modern age.  The artists reached deep to connect the dots of our common deep past with our futuristic present through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and photography.

Ona Kalstein Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Ona Kalstein, Lisbetta Weeps, 4th day, 5th tale,  ink & colored pencil on vellum.

Rosalind Bloom Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Rosalind Bloom, Danse Macabre – The Black Death, watercolor, acrylic, collage.

Ted Warchal Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, Tale 5 – 2, Gastanza Sails to Tunis, assemblage Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery.

Ted Warchal Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal @ Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery.  Tale 6-1o – The Relic of Archangel Gabriel reminds us of a time when zealots professed to own bits of Saints which could be viewed at a price, Warchal’s magical assemblage holds a golden feather and a bone.

Rachel Citrino Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Rachel Citrino @ Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery.  Citrino created a 100 block grid of images relating to Italy and the hundred tales of the Decameron, printed on canvas, the digital collage pops with hits of color amidst the stark black and white memories of a distant world.

DoN Brewer Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Rosalind Bloom, The Embrace..., oil & mixed media collage and DoN Brewer, Heliotrope, digital photograph, digital print.  Roz’s painting refers to the boils caused by the Black Plague called Caviciolli like some pasta, but when you got a boil you’re dead in 3 days. DoN‘s Heliotrope does not refer to the color but the magic stone offering the power of invisibility.

Alden Cole Decameron, Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery

Alden Cole‘s painting depicts the rise of humanism and the lesson of living in the moment filled with love.

Sadly, this is the last Da Vinci Art Alliance show at Smile Gallery, Ken Tutjamnong‘s restaurant has become so popular that he needs the room for diners he has been turning away and he can show his own outstanding artwork as he does in the dining room at street level.  Admittedly the art drew people to the restaurant and the gallery offered DVAA space outside the club’s gallery to do theme show’s like Decameron.

 

Photos by DoN.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 – South Philly

Dan Welch Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Dan Welch Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Collage walls by Dan Welch @ OCDan on Fitzwater Street.  The handy-dandy POST guide says,”surreal, alchemical, flux.”  Yup!  The first stop on a beautiful Saturday was a third floor walk-up to OCDan’s trippy studio he shares with Emily Smith, their art resonates on different vibes but the space has room for both.

Emily Smith Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Emily Smith, watercolors.  Smith says she does a lot of self-portraits because no one will pose for her. she likes to mix beauty and the grotesque because people are monsters yet beautiful. “I like it when people hate my work, take away what you want.”

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Mosaic mural near South Street – we tried to get into the Magic Garden but it was crowded, this little diversion helped satisfy the urge.

Nangelini - Nancy - Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Nancy @ Nangellini on South Street makes Dream-Catchers from hand pulled, hand died yarn; the shop carries artisanal yarns made from exotic threads from near and far.  Although not part of the POST tour, Nangellini is a welcome stop on South Street to take in a heady mix of art and fashion.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Studios @ The Purl, 1138 South 9th Street – jewelry, clever scarves, photography created by a five artist collective in that strip along the Italian Market waiting to become cool, on the other side of Washington Ave.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Studios @ The Purl is a good example of how many smaller galleries and collectives participated in this years art crawl, in this tough economy we have to band together to keep the dream alive.  Philly has a rich heritage of art and culture requiring support if we are to survive as a hub of the regional creative economy.  Studios @ The Purl includes Jurgita Centuke, Zivile Pupinyte & SoulPurl 77 Design.

DoN is working on a separate story about 1241 Carpenter Street and his Sunday tour of Kensington area studios and galleries.

 

Photos by DoN.

Embodiment of Desire – Ted Warchal & Nicole Eiland @ Smile Gallery

Nicole Eiland @ Smile Gallery

Nicole Eiland @ Smile Gallery.  Nicole told DoN she likes the smell of burning paper and she is inspired by the wonder of nature.  Eiland uses a lot of book forms symbolizing human symbiosis destroying and creating.

Ted Warchal @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, Rotterdam at Low Tide, collage.

Ted Warchal @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, Mig Alley, collage @ Smile Gallery, Embodiment of Desire through 11/8/2010.

Ted Warchal @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, All Through the Censures, She Wears Her Cool Like Perfume, collage, acrylic, wood panel.

Ted Warchal explained to DoN that late Winter, early Spring he started to work small, a diversion from his found object sculptures he is so well known for.  He began creating meticulously tiny collages that look like little paintings, clustered together the pieces are subtle but on closer inspection each collage is a deep, secretive introspection on life, love and desire.

 

Photos by DoN.

Art Show Ops – Deja Vu @ Off the Wall, Picturing the Decameron @ Smile & CFEVA Fellowship Application

Arists ask DoN about art show opportunities frequently, here are some heady themes to get your creative juices flowing:

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition:

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks - Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition:

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition Prospectus

Da Vinci Art Alliance

 

 

Picturing

 

The Decameron

An awards exhibition of Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Galleryfeaturing art inspired by International Opera Theater’s new  production of Boccaccio’s Decameron

Picturing the Decameron Da Vinci Art Alliance Prospectus

 For artists interested in participating in the November Da Vinci @ Smile show based on our collaboration with International Opera Theater’s production of Boccaccio’s Decameron (prospectus attached), here’s a list of the scenes Karen Saillant will feature (with references to the day, story numbers in the book):

Prologue, Florence, Calandrino
I, 1:  Ciappelletto di Prato – evil notary
IX, 1:  Federigo and his Falcon – poor knight
VIII, 3:  Maso del Saggio and the Enchantment of Calandrino – lapidary
IV, 1:  Ghismunda and the Heart in a Goblet – princess of Salerno
IX, 2:  The Habit of Mother Usimbalda
V, 8:  The Wedding of Nastagio degli Onesti
X, 10:  Griselda and the Marquis of Saluzzo
Postlude, Calandrino

Please note:  you can submit up to 3 entries; depending on the number of entries received, we will do our best to install all works.

Decamero

world premiere

Based on Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio

Music: Efrain Amaya, Michael Djupstrom, Daniel Shapiro,

Adam Silverman, Tony Solitro, Thomas Whitman, Ya- Jhu Yang,

Libretto: Karen Saillant

Italian Translation: Tommaso Sabbatini

November 12 and 13 at 8 PM

November 14 at 3 PM

The Prince Music Theater

ACT I Prologue;

Calandrino (who comes out of his giant costume, which consists of large pieces of fabric with scribbling all over them) speaks to the audience about The Plague and implores all of the individuals sitting in front of him to leave the premises immediately because The Plague is killing everyone!! (Gavoccioli-the name of the large boils that appear on the body as a result of The Plague)

Calandrino narrates in English

·         First Day: First Story– Thomas Whitman, composer
The scoundrel Ser Cepperello manages to pass himself off as a virtuous man during his last confession. After his death, he is remembered as Saint Ciappelletto and people pray to him for favors and believe him capable of performing miracles.

Calandrino narrates in English

·         Fifth Day: Ninth Tale
A young gentleman by the name of Federigo falls in love with a beautiful lady named Monna Giovanna. He spends large amounts of money trying to gain her attention but she remains indifferent to his love. Eventually he loses everything and is forced to live in poverty in a little farm with only his beloved pet falcon for company. Meanwhile Monna Giovanna’s husband dies and her son falls very ill. The sick child asks his mother to get him Federigo’s falcon. She goes to visit Federigo to ask for the falcon. As she arrives at Federigo’s house, he is very distressed to see her and not having any food in the house to offer her  and not knowing the cause of her visit, Federigo kills his falcon and makes it into a meal for his beloved lady. After dinner Monna Giovanna reveals the reason for her visit. Federigo is devastated that he cannot help her and she has to leave empty-handed. Monna Giovanna’s son dies. After a period of mourning, Monna Giovanna, who is rich and still young and beautiful, rewards Federigo’s loyalty by marrying him.

Calandrino narrates in English.

·         Eighth Day, Third Story

Calandrino overhears the lapidary, Maso del Saggio, talking to himself about a place where mountains are made of parmesan cheese and vines are hanging with sausages. Calandrino is enchanted with the idea of visiting this place and is especially determined when he learns about the stone called The Heliotrope that it will make him invisible. He shares the story of the heliotrope with his friends Buffalmacco and Bruno and they continue the ruse as they pellet him with stones all the way home from The Mungone River.

Calandrino narrates in English

·         Fourth Day, First TaleTancredi, Prince of Salerno and father of Ghismunda, slays his daughter’s lover, Guiscardo, and sends her the heart of her lover in a golden cup: Chismunda pours upon it a poisonous distillation, which she drinks and dies.

ACT I

Ninth Day, Second Tale
An abbess rises in haste and in the dark, with intent to surprise an accused nun in bed with her lover: thinking to put on her veil, she puts on instead the breeches of a priest that she has with her. The nun, after pointing out her abbess’s head covering, is acquitted by the abbess. The abbess extols the virtues of love and thenceforth allows all members of the order to find it easier to meet with those interactions which bring them to greater love.

Calandrino narrates in English

Fifth Day: Eighth Story
Wealthy Nastagio degli Onest is in love with a lady of noble lineage who despises him. Discouraged, Nastagio leaves town and, in the wilderness, witnesses the frightening scene of a young woman who is chased down by a knight and murdered by having her back slit open and all of her organs pulled out of her and throw to wild dogs. The knight explains to Nastagio that they are both souls in torment, doomed to repeat the scene for years. The deed is part of his punishment for his having committed suicide in despair at being rejected by the lady. The lady in turn is punished for her pride and cruelty in rejecting the love of the knight. Nastagio has the idea of making arrangements to have his beloved witness the scene. Once she sees the naked woman murdered for her cruel and cold heart, she changes her mind about Nastagio and agrees to be his wife.

Calandrino narrates in English

·         Tenth Day: Tenth Story
The nobleman Gualtieri marries Griselda, a peasant woman. At first he treats her well but then decides to test her obedience. He speaks to her abusively and takes away their two infant children, suggesting to her that they are to be killed (in reality, they are taken to Bologna and raised by friends). Griselda bears this with patience. Her husband then expresses his wish to divorce Griselda and sends her back to her father’s peasant house. Pretending to be making arrangements for his new wedding, Gualtieri calls back Griselda and orders her to take care of all the preparations, including the welcoming of the new bride and her brother. Putting up with it all, Griselda obeys and graciously receives the beautiful young woman. Gualtieri then reveals the truth and announces that the supposed bride and her brother are really their own children, now nineteen and twenty years old. Griselda is congratulated on her heroic patience and obedience and welcomed back as the lady of the home.

Prologue: Calandrino returns to book, admonishing everyone to be attentive and leave town as quickly as possible.

Main Issues of Decameron Opera:

  • Main colors will be red, black and white (but Artist should not limit themselves to these colors if they do not want to.
  • literal and symbolic meaning of The Plague
  • The Plague as symbol for the healing that can take place after a great tragedy
  • Condition and direction of society in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance and as it speaks to us today
  • SYMBOLS:
  • Apple, its seeds, especially the center of the apple, known as the pentacle
  • Blood Stone: Heliotrope, known as the bloodstone.
  • Land of Bengodi (similar to idyllic land of Cockaigne )
  • Stories as “mirrors” of vices and virtues
  • literature as medicine for healing society
  • costumes modern, with taste of Middle Ages
  • emergence of playful, light-hearted, human, and humane view of life after a great traged-
  • critique of human vices marked by understanding and humor rather than heavy moralizing.
  • hypocrisy of religious and moral authorities; superstitions and the gullibility of people.
  • Beauty, pleasure, love, laughter and play as privileged values
  • carpe diem ethos of work
  • mixing of people from different social levels and classes;
  • more egalitarian society where merit is based on actions and character,rather than birth or inherited wealth

Both of these long running art spaces have track records for attendance, participation and recognition in Philadelphia – support your local art galleries by entering the shows, visiting the galleries and volunteering to help produce these events.  Thanks to Dr. Deb Miller of DVAA and Jody Sweitzer @ Dirty Franks for their efforts!

Center for Emerging Visual Artists

 Artist, Career Development Program Fellowship

Organization: The Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Job Categories:Curatorial, Education, Marketing & Public Relations, Philadelphia County (PA), Artist Development & Residencies, Foundations/Fellowships, Visual Arts

Free two-year fellowship in the Career Development Program at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists. The Center for Emerging Visual Artists strives to provide the essential support services and programs emerging artists need to build sustainable careers. Our Career Development Program Fellowship offers a select group of talented artists the following: a two-year fellowship period and lifelong alumni affiliation, group exhibitions around the region and beyond, a three person show in the second year of the fellowship, professional development workshops, mentorship, community, volunteer opportunities, individual career counseling, and alumni solo exhibitions and travel grants.

To Apply:Eligibility requirements include the following: Applicants cannot be full-time students. Applicants must live within 100 miles of CFEVA (all of New York City and boroughs included). Applicants cannot have a contractual agreement with a commercial gallery or gallery representation. For the online application and further eligibility requirements, go to http://www.cfeva.org/cfeva_programs_career.aspx  For more information, contact Amie Potsic, Director of the Career Development Program at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, 1521 Locust Street, Lower Level, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-546-7775 x 12, amie@cfeva.org, www.cfeva.org.

Deadline: 11/01/2010

Good Luck!

LoVe

DoN

 

 

 

 

Through My Window @ Perkins Center for the Arts

Lilliana Didovic- Through My Window @ Perkins Center for the Arts

Lilliana Didovic, Boat House Row, mixed media with crystals @ The Perkins Center for the Arts presents Through My Window, a Da Vinci Art Alliance Event.  Lilliana is one of the artists who painted the Philly Phanatics which were waving to us from all over the city last summer – Lilliana Didovic & writer Ronnie Norpel‘s piece sold at a charity auction for a bundle, Congratulations!

Lilliana’s painting with crystals representing the iconic lights outlining the architecture of the houses glitters in the huge, open gallery at the The Perkins Center for the Arts in Collingswood, NJ.  Didovic’s window on the world finds glamor and glitz among the darkness of the night and the intimidating rushing river; the crystals as LEDs is genius, both forms will send us light far longer than the old incandescent bulbs stretched across the boat houses.  DoN misses the old lights, though, with the hidden narrative of guys climbing high ladders and walking along rooftops to replace light bulbs but the new lights are totally groovy.

Through My Window @ Perkins Center of the Arts

Through My Window @ Perkins Center for the ArtsDoN is honored to have his drawing featured in the catalog for this exciting art venture, the adjunct to the more famous Moorestown art center, is riding the renaissance wave of artistic and cultured lifestyle that is washing down Haddon Avenue with plush restaurants and historic architecture.

Executive Director, Alan Willoughby told DoN that the town has been very supportive offering the building to be renovated into an art space with workshops, galleries and vitality.  As the center goes through it’s first round of renovation, Willoughby sees a positive potential for growth in a small town with a lot of character.  Watch for a review in this week’s Philadelphia Inquirer, Da Vinci Art Alliance board members Dave Foss & Alden Cole were interviewed about their perspective on this unique exhibition.

Through My Window @ Perkins Center of the Arts

Perkins Center for the Arts, Collingswood, NJ.

Michael DiPrinzio Through My Window @ Perkins Center of the Arts

Michael DiPrinzio, mixed media @ Perkins Center for the Arts, Through My Window, A Da Vinci Art Alliance traveling exhibition through November 11th, 2010 with a special event today called Creating the Poem- 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.  Hurry up, get over there!

 

Photos by DoN.