Category Archives: DoNBrewer

The Plastic Club Members Exhibit

The Plastic Club’s annual member’s exhibit brought out the best in the historic art club’s world class creations; from oils, to drawings, to watercolors to digital media, the Plastic Club allows each member to enter two pieces which were then juried and honored with awards. The receptions at the Plastic Club are always fun and with the new six burner stove in the basement kitchen Bob Jackson’s monthly dinners are extra special.

The Winners of the Plastic Club’s annual Members Exhibit.

Members works at the Plastic Club’s Members Exhibit (that’s DoN‘s oil painting of Bartram’s Garden on the right)

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club’s gallery/studio on the second floor of the historic space.

Watercolor by Anders Hansen @ Plastic Club Members exhibit.

The Plastic Club offers free membership to several student artists each year. John Baccile, an undergrad at the University of the Arts, won first prize for one of his digital compositions (not this one). The digital collages are printed on canvas and truly stood out from the crowd with vivid color, original compositions and masterful computer manipulation. UArts is DoN‘s alma mater, it’s gratifying to see wonderful new talent continuing to thrive on the Avenue of the Arts.

Plastic Club’s members exhibit (that’s another one of DoN‘s painting upper right).

Legacy Show & Sale @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

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The Legacy Show & Sale at the Philadelphia Sketch Club is a fundraiser with club members donating art for the show. Ostensibly the idea is for artists to unload some of their stock but DoN felt the tension of competition with each of the contributing artists donating work that somehow epitomizes their own particular style.

Art by Lois Schlacter, Dorothy Roschen, DoN and others @ the Legacy Show @ PSC.

McDonnell/Cortosi @ PSC Legacy Show. The dynamic duo are showing @ Rodger Lapelle Galleries as well.

Dorothy Roschen @ PSC Legacy Show.

Michael George Jerista @ PSC Legacy.

Under $100 @ Off the Wall @ Dirty Franks Bar

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Tonight is the opening of the Under $100 show at Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks Bar. DoN is delighted that his photo, Chick, has been selected by the jury to be included in the show. Chick was shot with a 35mm camera on black and white film, developed in the darkroom at Philadelphia University by DoN (gotta say that as much fun as Photoshop is theres nothing like un-spooling the film in complete darkness, then developing the negatives with liquid chemicals; whoever invented this process must have been touched somehow by a higher being). The negative was then scanned and enlarged in the computer and printed on pearlized photo paper on a digital printer. So even though in theory the image can be endlessly reproduced, the piece in the show is one-of-a-kind since the printer no longer feeds paper properly and the printer heads are worn out. DoN now uses Shutterfly for most of his photo printing and sometimes Kodak. Its so much more cost effective to produce art this way since all the hassles of paper jams and ink running out are handles by a vendor plus they do a really good job. DoN now uses the rather expensive Epson printer to print letters and such; maybe he shouldnt have tried to feed through that thick watercolor paper just to see how it would turn out.

In a Kerouac-ian manner, DoN is posting this from warm and rainy Florida, so he wont be at the opening tonight to hang out with the groovy art crowd Dirty Franks attracts but hopes that the party is fun and that Chick wont be coming home to roost in DoNs studio but will find a new home instead.

Download full size copies of the poster by clicking here. Chick is featured in the lower right.

Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

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Over the Summer, Alden Cole and DoN made regular trips to Bartrams Garden in West Philly to work on paintings for the Da Vinci Art Alliances Art of the Tree exhibit. Today on a snowy cold day, I remember sitting in the humid heat painting the fantastic lotus in full bloom in the water Lilly pond, including in the composition an unusual tree with large thorns and small shiny leaves. DoN wondered aloud what type of tree it was and a voice from behind said, Its a Toothache Tree. One of the many gardeners had been watching DoN paint and was very helpful in explaining the many plants in the historic garden. The anesthetic effect of the thorns from the Toothache Tree was used by the Indians to soothe sore gums.

Alden Cole’s “DoN Painting in Bartram’s Garden”, oil on recycled cutting board.

Mixed media by Liz Niklus.

Carved wood by R.J Wallner in Bartram’s Garden Gallery.

Solid brass owl sculpture by Michelle Post.

Painting by Ken Tutjamnung

Paintings on left by DoN Brewer, paintings on right by Victoria Necins and Alden Cole, luminary by Alden Cole.

Another day DoN painted a landscape with a Carolina Silverbell Tree with a hint of the Schuylkill River peeking through the trees; painting plein air can be intoxicating and tiring, DoN has to bring all the supplies to the location hopefully not forgetting something important. Art friend, Aida accompanied DoN one sunny day and we both produced decent paintings. Check out the Bartrams Garden website for the history of this amazing nature space, even better visit the garden and wander the paths along the river.

“Carolina Silverbell” by DoN Brewer. oil on canvas.

“Bartram’s Garden” by DoN Brewer, oil on canvas.

“Lotus and the Toothache Tree” by DoN Brewer, oil on rag board.

Da Vinci Art Alliance art party @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery in America’s oldest barn.

Alden and DoN each completed three paintings appropriate for the show which ran the weekend of October 23^rd starting with a lovely cocktail party and awards presented by Dr. Deb Miller. Shoshana, Shirleen and Alden sipped wine and nibbled snacks with members of the Da Vinci Art Alliance and watched the sun set over the Philadelphia skyline.

DoN cant wait for Spring and the chance to paint the beautiful flowers and trees in this lovely, restful space hidden on the edge of Philadelphia.

Absolutely Abstract @ Philadelphia Sketch Club

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Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Absolutely Abstract Opening Reception and Awards

Sunday 11-16-2008 2-5:00 PM

Juror Lecture by Hitoshi Nakazato “Eat This, and Have a Cup of Tea“, Friday 11/14 8:00 PM

Gallery Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1 – 5:00 PM

Absolutely Abstract Exhibition Committee:

Deborah Riccardi, Chair

DoN Brewer, Co-Chair

William H. Patterson, III

William Taylor

Yeoun Lee

Dorothy Roschen

Deborah Horsting

Lois Schlachter

M. Bruce Vieth

Pat Wilson-Schmid

James Bongratz

Steve Iwanczuk

Rik Viola

Ben Cohen

Dr. Dick Goldberg

Sy Hakim

Lynn Matheos

Joyce Mansfield-Devine

Jurors

Cameron McMillan and Hitoshi Nakazato

Exhibitions Committee Co-Chairs:

Lois Schlachter and Stephen Iwanczuk

Philadelphia Sketch Club President

Bill Patterson

Executive Director

Barbara Murray

Catalog of Artists

1. Untitled, Eva Meyer – Inkjet print. $200

2. Hair, Eileen Eckstein – Scan & Digital $100

3. Patty’s Hat, Pat Hill – Oil$750

4. Think Tank, Lois Schlachter – Acrylic $600

5. Opus 7, Arlene Arons – Mixed Media$175

6. “Crassula”, Michael G. Young – Acrylic, Mixed Media. $500

7. Saturn’s Wing, Susan Ellis – Photomicrograph $125

8. Dancing in the Street, Rose Marie Strippoli – Acrylic $1,200

9. Circle Series #7, Katy Lin – Oil on Canvas$450

10. Kudzu, Merle Spandorfer – Pulp Painting $900

11. Apprehension vs Dread, Douglas Smith – Black & White Giclee $165

12. August II, Jack Myers – Acrylic on Masonite, gesso $350

13. The God Circuit, David Foss – Acrylic$900

14. light being (Rick Selvin), DoN Brewer – Digital Photograph $350

15. Low Light, William Montgomery – Giclee $675

16. My Garden, Anne Martin – Oil on Canvas $950

17. Orifices III, Eileen Ballerino – Pastel $700

18. End Cut, William Montgomery – Giclee $675

19. Dakota Winter, Nancy Alter – Collagraph $900

20. Origins, James F. Watkinson – Pencil & Ink on Book Covers $1,500

21. In Repeat, Abby Schmidt – Melted Crayon $400

22. Conflagration Self-Portrait, PJ Foster – Oil Mixed Media Collage $20,000

23. light being (Anne D’Harnoncourt), DoN Brewer – Digital Photograph $200

24. Light and Shadow, Naomi Rubin – Water-Based Ink Hand-Pulled Print $425

25. Tracey Love 1, Douglas Smith – Hand Colored Black & White $165

26. Ecollage #40, Marlene M. Robinson – Mixed Media $450

27. Things That Matter, James Moss – Acrylic on Canvas $500

28. Population Sample, Karen Steen – Mixed Media $500

29. The Reef, Ben Cohen – Watercolor/Metal $250

30. Firepie, Lisa Lawinski – Acrylic & Crayon $900

31. Receiving Your Qualities, Michelle Marcuse – Digital print $2,000

32. Black & White (K)not, David Foss – Acrylic $450

33. River, Daniel Buchler – Mixed Media on Board $250

34. Colander Lattice, Hunter Stabler – India Ink and Graphite $1,800

35. Figment, Andrew Werth – Acrylic on Canvas $800

36. Black Fragments, Emily Brett Lukens – Ink $450

37. Flutter, S. Mallary Johnson – Pencil on Paper $300

38. Abstractions in Shades of Orange, James F. Watkinson – Pencil & Ink on Bookcovers $1,200

39. Earliest Landscape, M. Bruce Vieth – Oils $275

40. Passing Through, Romano Zamprioli – Acrylic $950

41. Untitled, Naomi B. Rubin – Mixed Media $395

42. Great Day for Lizards, Jane Hilles – Acrylic on Paper $160

43. Fishing, Emma Ehrenthal – Watercolor $800

44. Musical Score, Language Drawing Series, Pamela Birmingham – Ink on Mylar $1,000

45. Cognitional Abstracts, Mina Smith-Segal – Watercolor $295

46. Final Examination, Michael G. Jerista – Mixed Media on Canvas $550

47. Parade, Margo Tassi – Mixed Media $400

48. Iron, Ben Cohen – Watercolor/Graphite $500

49. New Space I, Joanne Bosack – Oil $1,800

50. Distance Radience, Richard Hamwi – Watercolor, Ink Collage $5,000

51. 71-44, Roger LaPelle – Drawing $700

52. Midnight Jewels II, Arlene Renee Finston – Encaustic $1,500

53. Lush, M. Frank Rush – Oil $425

54. Remains of the Day, Arthur B. Ostroff – Oil pastel $425

55. Bushkill Falls, Deborah Riccardi – Oil on Canvas $1,250

56. The Swamp #2, Jessica Milby – Etching $180

57. Growth Series: Maple Tree, Heather Siple – Gelatin Silver Rayogram $300

58. Emerging, Woody Carter – Pastel $400

59. Rulying?, Carolyn K. Coyce – Acrylic $600

60. Burning Man, Cynthia Groya – Cinecolle Etching $350

61. Sunday Dot-to-Dot, Judy Engle – Color Photo From Paper Negative $450

62. Topographic Calligraphy, Lee Muslin – Color Photograph $175

63. Rust 2, Neal Knobler – Photograph $150

64. Orvieto Copper, Elizabeth Bard – Digital Photograph $225

65. Conundrum, Karen Frank – Acrylic $500

66. The Fiery Tilt, Jed Williams – Mixed Media on Board $250

67. Tone Poem 2, Myra Ryan – Pastel $350

68. Late Autumn, Dorlynn Starn – Ink on Paper $500

69. Channels #1, Laura Marconi – Oil on Treated Paper $700

70. Relentless Passion, Sandi Neiman Lovitz – Acrylic on Canvas $1,700

71. Blue Rush #1, Rai Delnoce Senior – Inkjet Print $150

72. Jean’s Night, Favi Dobo – Oil $600

73. Tumult, Harvey Alpert – Mixed Media $900

74. Gate, Harold Venable – Acrylic $950

75. Mandela #2, Bob Minnick – Acrylic $100

76. First Fig, Clifford E. Bailey – Oik on Canvas $400

77. Maze, Scott L. Dickson – Acrylic, Pencils on Tin $200

78. Candy Coated, Melissa Quinter – Mixed Media $250

79. Verdant Complex 100, Bill Cechak – Oil $1,200

80. Snacks Time, Katy Lin – Acrylic on Canvas $450

81. Rothrock’s Red Gum, Susan Ellis – Photomicrograph $125

82. Stroll, Mark Weber – Oil, Graphic $300

83. Colony, Karen Steen – Mixed Media $500

84. Flight, Marlene M. Robinson – Watercolor $100

85. Tree Pattern, E. S. Holmes – Black&White photo plus Enhancement $350

86. Scent of an Angel, Michelle Marcuse – Digital print $2,000

87. Ce n’est absolument pas concret – This is Absolutely Not Concrete, William Taylor – Photograph $150

88. Scrittura, Love Letter Series, Pamela Birmingham – Ink, Mylar, Xerox Transfer $800

89. Abstract #2, Ron Morley – Oil $250

90. Ensnared, Carole J. Meyers – Monotype $800

91. Junctures, Mark Weber – Oil, Graphic $600

92. She Hoisted One Pastel Sheet to the Wind, Judy Engle – Collage $450

93. Wood & Fabric, Jess Joern – Oil $850

94. Boundaries, Cara Liguori – Graphite/Colored Pencil $750

95. Metalic Universe, Eileen Ballerino – Mixed Media $900

96. Morse Code, Lee Muslin – Color Photograph $175

97. Pompeii, Italy, Don Camera – Chromagenic Print. $0

98. Into the Woods, Frances Du Bon – Gouache $200

99. Gentle Reminders, Sandra Benhaim – Mixed Media on Birch $975

100. Circumambient Love, Rick Nicholas – Mixed Media $850

101. Vessels, Evalyn F. segal – Digital $200

102. Lotus Exotica, Bonnie Randall – Mixed Media $450

103. Wave, Cynthia Groya – Cinecolle Etching $350

104. Remains of the Season, Marie Davis Samohod – Acrylic $400

105. Asia, Arlene Arons – Mixed Media $175

106. Open Your Mouth and Close Your Eyes, Lynn Costomivis – Collograph. Board, Gesso $1,300

107. Fanfare, Arnold Winkler – Digital Composite $260

108. Joyous Color, Frances Du Bon – Gouache $400

109. Winterscape, Elizabeth Wilde – Mixed Media $250

110. Gold Rush #1, Rai Delnoce Senior – Mixed Media $150

111. Autumn Abstract #2, Christine Leinbach – Acrylic $250

112. Can’t let Go, Joan M. Palmer – Oil on Canvas $400

113. White Spots with Ink, Emily Brett Lukens – Ink $450

114. Plate, Robert Solomon – Wax, Canvas Pigment $1,800

115. Stream Ripples, Arthur B. Ostroff – Etching $185

116. Effulgence, Karen Frank – Acrylic $500

117. Cove II, Lisa Lawinski – Acrylic & Crayon $425

118. Key West, Michael G. Jerista – Acrylic $1,275

119. Edge of the Woods, Jane Hilles – Gouache $300

120. Untitled, Donna Quinn – Mixed Media on Canvas $875

121. Painting: Red Rock, Brian Boutwell – Oil on Canvas $300

122. Father Sky, Mother Earth, Sarah Baltzell – Film, Photoshop $300

123. Poseidon’s Possession, Carole J. Meyers – Monotype $880

124. PODS, S. Mallary Johnson – Pencil on Paper $300

125. Insect, Gail Bracegirdle – Watercolor and Collage $325

126. Bell Painting, Cameron McMillan

127. Hiroshima Series #1692, Hitoshi Nakazato

Jurors Biographies

Cameron McMillan

Originally from Indiana, Cameron McMillan has been teaching and showing her work on the east coast for 20 years. She has a B.F.A. from Indiana University, a Post-Graduate Diploma from the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, and an M.F.A. from Yale University. Cameron has received a Ford Foundation Grant and two Andrew Grant Fellowships. She has taught at Georgetown University, American University, Rowan University and a number of art schools in Washington, D. C. and the Philadelphia area. Her paintings are large mixed media pieces inspired by her love of color, walking in the woods, and deep connection with the figure. She received The Cultural Incentive Grant for a recently completed mural and the Bucks Foundation Grant. She also was a curator for shows and wrote two catalogs. The one she is the proudest of is the “Women Mentoring Women” Show at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

Artist’s Statement:

“I paint all the things in life that move me. Sometimes these are events or images that cause me pain and sometimes these are events or images that give me great joy.”

Bell Painting, Cameron McMillan

Hitoshi Nakazato

Born in Tokyo 1936, received his BFA Tama Art University; M.S., University of Wisconsin and MFA, University of Pennsylvania. He lives in NYC. He has exhibited in New York, Philadelphia, Japan, and Europe. He is presently working on “Young New York Poets and Hitoshi Nakazato&#xu201D; Exhibition in Hiroshima that is opening August 6, 2009. He also has a one-man show at the Machida International Print Museum, Tokyo in 2010. Hitoshi is an internationally known Master printmaker and painter. Hitoshi taught for forty years at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania. Other honors include the John D. Rockefeller III Fund (1967); Creative Artists Public Service, NY (1975); Japan/United States Consortium for Environmental Planning and Design Education (1982). Solo exhibitions include Erikson Gallery, Philadelphia (1999); Gallery Kuranuki, Osaka, Japan (1998); Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo (1993, 1982, 1979,1977)

Public Collections :

Museum of Modern Art, NY, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan, Pennsylvania Academy of Fines Arts, Phila., Hyogo Museum of Modern Art, Kobe, Japan, Brooklyn Museum of Art , NY, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, Tochigi Museum of Art, Utsunomiya, Japan, Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan, Takamatsu Museum of Modern Art, Takamatsu, Japan, Shizuoka Museum of Art, Shizuoka, Japan, Setagaya Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, Okayama Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan, Ohara Museum of Modern Art, Kurashiki, Japan, Wakayama Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, Japan Foundation, Kokusai Koryu Kikin, Tokyo, Japan, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL, Tikotin Museum of Haifa Museum, Haifa, Israel, Utsunomiya Museum of Art, Ibaragi, Japan

Artist’s Statement:

“New possibilities may dwell outside what is known. Believing that the Line Outside Series would lead me there, I continue to paint the homage to Sengai who had reached the Terra Incognita. (Sengai, written as Monk on Cliff or Line Outside) The Monado Series is based on the idea that all the philosophers since the Greeks painted pictures of the universe applying Monadology or elementology. On this concept, painting is about building my own micro-cosmos with paintery elements.” Hitoshi Nakazato on April 10, 2007.