Category Archives: Da Vinci Art Alliance

Envisioning Romeo & Juliet @ The Da Vinci Art Alliance

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Romeo & Juliet

 

An awards exhibition by members of Da Vinci Art Alliance, in collaboration with International Opera Theater, of art inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy and IOT’s interpretation, a new opera Romeo e Giulietta, directed by Karen Saillant, with music by Emily Wong, libretto by Tommaso Sabbatini, costumes/sets by Mi-Kyoung Lee, world premiered in Teatro degli Avvaloranti, Citta’ della Pieve, Italy, in August 2008.

 

Da Vinci Art Alliance members interpret the Shakespearean play with paintings, collage, objet trouve and prints.  Above is Lilliana Didovic’s mixed media piece incorporating red fabric the singers use to evoke emotion; Karen Saillant gave a wonderful lecture at the alliance explaining how she selected singers based on their ability to interact expressively with the fabric.  Here a sweet love notion , like a candy heart box drenched in red.

 

Awards Judges: Karen Saillant and Mi-Kyoung Lee, International Opera Theater.  Lee designed the costumes and is a UArts alum -Holla!

 

Romeo & Juliet

 

First prize winner, Rachel Citrino‘s, expressive mixed media installation is wildly bold, intefrating new technology with a special red color.

 

Romeo & Juliet

 

June Blumberg, “Romeo and Juliet in Love“, Pitt Pen.

 

Romeo & Juliet

 

3rd place winner, Francine Strauss, expanded the blue – a visual metaphor the opera employs to convey a change in mood – by repurposing her own old prints into a new collage.

 

Romeo & Juliet

 

Ted Warchal, 2nd prize – Dr. Deb Miller explained the metaphor of the coffin/cigar box conveniently branded Romeo Y Julietta.

 

A special surprise during the awards was an acapella performance of songs from the Italian opera by Elias Hendricks – Romeo – which had everyone in tears, a great artist in blossom.  Artistic director Karen Saillant of the International Opera Theater is searching for an appropriate Philadelphia venue after the successful production world premiered in Teatro degli Avvaloranti, Citta’ della Pieve, Italy, in August 2008.

Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Envisioning Hamlet @ The Lantern Theater Company

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Envisioning Hamlet is an art show by members of Philadelphia’s Da Vinci Art Alliance based on Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” currently being performed at the Lantern Theater to rave reviews. Several months ago, Charles McMahon, the creative director of Lantern Theater spoke at the club and explained his concept for staging the play; set in a post WW1 dystopian landscape, the play draws the audience into the diabolical circle of deception, madness and death.

More than 30 works of art are on display in the black box theater in the basement of Saint Stephen’s Theater @ 10th & Ludlow Streets ranging from neo-expressionism to abstraction to mixed media construction and impressionism. The art show is open through May 3rd, the play has been extended through May 17th.

 

 

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“light being (Ophelia)” & “Denmark“, digital photographs by DoN Brewer.

 

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Mina Smith-Segal @ Saint Stephen Theater’s Envisioning Hamlet.

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Dr. Deb Miller, president of the Da Vinci Art Alliance, jurors Charles McMahon, creative director of Lantern Theater Company, lighting designer Drew Billiau and scenic designer Dirk Durossette.

 

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Best in Show: Chinoros Roongsakul‘s, Sin, acrylic on canvas.

 

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Alden Cole‘s, “Oh, that this too, too Solid Flesh“, oil on panel.

 

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Themes of madness, despair, symbolism and love permeate Envisioning Hamlet, the gallery is in the lower level of Saint Stephen’s Theater.

Second place awarded to Bud Boehringer, third place, Debra Miller, honorable mentions: DoN Brewer, Maria Keane and Ted Warchal.

William Lukens – Recent Paintings @ Da Vinci Art Alliance

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William Lukens 

William Lukens @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

william Lukens 

 William Lukens @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

DoN attended the lecture about Hamlet, the play & Romeo e Gulietta, the opera and noticed how marvelously these paintings complemented the discussion about language and story telling.  Lukens paintings reach out to the viewer with signing, signature and the signed – Karen Saillant, artistic director of the International Opera Company said her players must have “aus strahlung” – an emanation or outer radience.  Lukens ist wie äußere Strahlung zur Unendlichkeit und jenseits.

 

 

Through My Window @ Smile

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“Through My Window” at Smile Gallery @ 22nd & Chestnut Streets is a concept show involving repurposing old window frames donated by Lantern Theater Company’s Charles McMahon.  Member artists of Da Vinci Art Alliance were asked to take a window and create a work of art instead of the frames ending up in a dump.  Each artist presented art as diverse as drawings, paintings, photos, weaving and collage, creating a conundrum for jurors Brenda and Matt Lyons.  Each piece is desirable and delightful in they’re own right: Betsy Alexander based her composition on science fiction, Burnell Yow! created an homage to Buddha, Mike Sweeny dressed his frame in gold and silver communicating a comment on America’s current economic situation, Alden Cole’s ethereal painting draws the viewer into the spiritual realm, Girard DiFalco’s photograph of a tree is simple and serene, DoN Brewer recreated the view from the apartment he rented in Paris, Ona Kalstein based her mixed media piece on the fable of the ant and the cicada and Lilliana Didovic designed a mixed media work depicting Philly’s famous Boat House Row using, of all things. Swarovski Crystals. 

Other artists in the show include Bobbie Adams, Kim Alsbrook, Rachel Citrino, Carl Johnson, Ted Warchal, Nicole Koenitzer, Rikard Larma, Gail Kotel, Tim McKenna, Lee Muslin, Liz Niklus, Michelle Post, Gavid Carrow and Carol Wisker. 

McConnell Cortosi

Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi’s “Old Woman Looking Out the Window“.  The duo currently have work on display at Rodger Lapelle Gallery in Old City through Feb.1, 2009.

Alden Cole

Alden Cole @ Smile.  Cole is included in a Dumpster Diver show at New Jersey’s Noyes Museum.

Mike Sweeney

Mike Sweeney‘s award winner @ Smile’s “Through My Window.” 

Burnell Yow!

Burnell Yow!‘s award winning composition will allow him to be part of a group show @ Smile in January 2010 – get to work Burnell!! 

Betsy Alexander 

Betsy Alexander‘s sci-fi inspired mixed media collage was a hit with the crowd creating a vibrant conversation about everyone’s fantasy favorites.  Betsy’s home was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Design section, you can read the story here.  Betsy is also the mom of the famous Nora the Piano Playing Cat – check out Nora’s latest videos on YouTube.

Kathryn Pannepacker 

Kathryn Pannepacker’s simple yet elegant mixed media piece incorporates weaving.  Pannepacker recently completed an amazing mural @ Broad and Lehigh Streets depicting textile styles of the world for the Mural Arts Program.

 Don Brewer

DoN Brewer’s “Vue de la Rue Rambuteau, Paris“, colored pencil on paper at Smile Gallery.  

“Through My Window” is on display through February 7th, 2009 and by the by Smile’s Thai food restaurant is probably the best in the city – BYOB and stay a while.