Category Archives: Design

Design.

CFEVA Art Show House

Saturday, Shoshka and DoN visited the Center for Emerging Visual Artists Show House at 1634 South 13th Street, the former home and studio of artistScott Pellnat.  The townhouse is filled with art by CFEVA artists including Anne Canfield, Katie Murken, Julia Blaukopf, Kara Rennert, Caleb Nussear, Darla Jackson, Jennifer Chapman, Serena Perrone and of course Scott Pellnat‘s wonderfully wacky constructions.  Pellnat is an accomplished woodworker and avid dumpster diver creating mechanical constructs out of marquetry of colored pencils, found objects and wood, there’s even a hidden room behind bookshelves which open by pulling on a book ala the Addams Family revealing robotic creatures pulling ropes and strings producing a dramatic diorama.Looking up into the turret Pellnat built on the roof.

Looking up into the turret Pellnat built on the roof.

Looking down from the turret into the house - the walls are covered in colored pencil marquetry and the floors are spray painted through lace and stencils.

Looking down from the turret into the house – the walls are covered in colored pencil marquetry and the floors are spray painted through lace and stencils. 

The top floor is filled with a knitted installation with tendrils swooping through the room like some kind of giant alien brain cell.  The site specific piece was created by Katie Murken.Scott Pellnat in his “secret studio”.

 Scott Pellnat in his “secret studio”.

 

As if the room isn’t creepy enough, there’s a gravity distortion which turns the room sideways!?! 

Close up shot of Scott Pellnat’s intricate woodwork.

Close up shot of Scott Pellnat‘s intricate woodwork.

 Anne Canfield’s “Swim Team: Snippets from Yuki’s Memory Book”.

Anne Canfield‘s “Swim Team: Snippets from Yuki’s Memory Book“.

 Serena Perrone’s “Dreaming of Flying Fish”, oil and charcoal on panel, diptych.

Serena Perrone‘s “Dreaming of Flying Fish“, oil and charcoal on panel, diptych.

Scott Pellnat’s Grandfather Clock

Scott Pellnat’s Grandfather Clock – one must crank the handle on the side to raise the clock but the cranker can’t see the clock!?!

Stag by Jake Kehs @ CFEVA Show House.

Stag by Jake Kehs @ CFEVA Show House. (Kehs is not a CFEVA artist, his work is part of Pellnat’s collection including an amazing wolf sculpture on the first floor ready to pounce from a cardboard mountain.) 

Silver point drawings by Caleb Nussear called “#3XUL Diminished”.

Silver point drawings by Caleb Nussear called “#3XUL Diminished“.

CFEVA keeps finding new venues and interesting events to promote Philly’s fine artists including the upcoming Philadelphia Open Studio Tours this October.  DoN will keep you POSTed. 

 

Comcast HD LCD Monitor

On the way home DoN wandered into the new Comcast building and just happened to be there as an elegant party was going on – a herd of men in suits with gray ponytails and a flock of ladies in Prada and Manolo’s munching on canapes and sipping wine – for the premier of the world’s largest high definition LCD TV screen in the sprawling lobby.  The wall looks like the paneling in the rest of the room when the show’s not on but magically transforms into hyper-realistic video causing DoN to wonder if he was witnessing real actors scrambling up the wall, dancing to The Mashed Potato or swinging from cables ala Cirque du Soliel. The color, vibrancy, choreography and special effects are truly a gift to the city.  The sculptures of people traversing beams high up in the soaring atrium are amazing as well with stereotypical workers metaphorically balancing life and commerce above the lobby floor.

Comcast HD LCD monitor

Sculpture in the Comcast Tower lobby, Philadelphia

Sculpture in the Comcast lobby. 

These are not real people - HD LCD Dancers doing the Mashed Potato @ Comcast.

These are not real people – HD LCD Dancers doing the Mashed Potato @ Comcast.

World’s largest HD LCD monitor @ Comcast.

World’s largest HD LCD monitor @ Comcast. 

Boy Wonder, Will Power, Dirty Frank’s, Othello…

Boy Wonder

Monday’s at World Cafe Live on Walnut Street is open mic night (no cover charge), art friend Henry Martin was on the bill so Shoshka and DoNarrived early to find a comfortable table with the intention of video taping Henry’s performance. The show is emceed by Boy Wonder with acts ranging from singer/songwriters to rap/hip-hop to jazz groups, folk-rockers and rock bands – the featured group was Philly’s own HEAD who totally rocked the house with a five song set. DoN videotaped two songs and hopes to get permission to share the LoVe because HEAD’s lead singerLexi Greene is HOT and sing’s like an illegal clone of Grace Slick and Alanis Morissette, backed up by keyboardist/singer Tori Ryzner, drummer Ryan Jarrell, Mark Greene on bass and Michael Zimney on guitar the tight rocking songs left DoN’s ears ringing and the crowd cheering. Boy Wonder keeps the show rolling with early acts getting to do three songs, then the HEADliner gets five, then more groups get to do three songs, then back to singers/songwriters who get to perform two, the last few performers get to sing one song. DoN will have some clips of Henry and some of the other performers ready soon.

DoN and Sho felt bad for the two guys who had to follow all the rock bands but they totally took on the challenge with an acoustic guitar and an accordian!?! Ironically, DoN bumped into Patrick Welsh in Rittenhouse Square and found out his group is called The Writers Club and the accordian player hangs out in the Beauty Shop Cafe (DoN knew he looked familiar). DoN congratulated both guys for the gumption to get up and sing while the buzzed crowd talked over their set of Americana/Ghettotech/Folk songs. Hey, this what they call,”paying dues.” Another standout performer was Elle, a sultry, sophisticated Philly girl singer who has a new album coming out – Elle totally dominated the room with her soulful pop songs.

DoN‘s gonna have to get a MySpace page so he can “friend” all this great talent but there was a joke in The New Yorker a while back – “What’s worse than your Dad having a MySpace page? Your Dad’s band having a MySpace page!” Since DoN isn’t a dad or have a band but is a great-uncle of adorable Jaelynn he’s been reticent, but watch for DoN on MySpace soon.

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American Spirit in the Arts

Spirit of the Artist

SOTA (Spirit of the Artist) on Pine Street in the heart of famous Antique Row only sells art and crafts made in America by artists owner Frank Burkhauser knows personally.  A simple concept; socially conscious business practices benefiting the community, artists and the gallery, creating a vibrant, entrancing art experience.  DoN and Shoshana joined artist Alden Cole as he replenished his stock of unique luminaries – lamp-like art objects created from new and old parts fitted with energy efficient LED bulbs which magically change color.  Burkhauser has been a long time supporter of Cole’s art including his paintings, DoN could tell their friendship is long and deep with great mutual respect. SOTA Gallery owner Frank Burkhauser with artist Alden Cole (that’s Alden’s latest luminaries on the shelf over his head - very cool!)

SOTA Gallery owner Frank Burkhauser with artist Alden Cole (that’s Alden’s latest luminaries on the shelf over his head – very cool!)

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Flower Power, Animalia, Olde City Arts…

DoN visited the  Flowers Galore show at The Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square which is held in conjunction with the Rittenhouse Square Flower Market for Children’s Charities.  Not only is the elaborate Norman style interior stunningly decorated, there is beautiful stained glass from English, French and American studios including five by Tiffany and one by Luc Olivier Merson.  The church is a wonderful supporter of local artists and DoN was surprised by how many of the fifty displayed he’s familiar with; the simple display of each painting on an easel with it’s own spotlight was inventive and a wonderfully modern twist to the Romanesque space.  Holy Trinity’s next show is June 6th – June 12th – DoN recommends you not miss this wonderful city landmark and the great images by local artists.Alden Cole @ Flowers Galore

Alden Cole @ Flowers Galore.

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