Category Archives: Fine Art Philadelphia

Fine art created by Philadelphia area artists.

Her Philadelphia Tales

Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic by DoN Brewer

DoN Brewer is proud to announce the publication of his first book, Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic (Volume 1) available now on Amazon.  Paintings by Lilliana S. Didovic and a collection of blog posts by DoN Brewer on the Philadelphia art blog Philly Side Arts, a tech start-up web site for artists and DoNArTNeWs DoN Brewer Reviews the Philadelphia Art Scene art blog with an introduction by Professor Dexiang Qian, Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic (Volume 1) is more than an art book, it is an affirmation of love, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Her biography, written by Lilliana S. Didovic and DoN Brewer, based on interviews, e-mails and conversations, is an unimaginable and fascinating adventure of one artist’s journey toward creative self-actualization.

Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic by DoN Brewer

Red, 48″ x 60″. mixed media on canvas, page 17 of Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic (Volume 1)

Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic by DoN Brewer

Philadelphia Loves Lilliana!

Cover of Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic (Volume 1)

Blogging for DoNArTNeWs and Side Arts is one of those opportunities people talk about when they say, “Do what you love,”  DoN loves writing about Philadelphia art, artists, photographers, designers, sculptors and cultural leaders of all stripes.  Helping the creative community get publicity is self serving and generative simultaneously resulting in the opportunity to publish this book.  Thank you to the Philadelphia art community for accepting DoNArTNeWs and DoN Brewer on Side Arts as a reliable art review resource .  Thank you to Philly Side Arts for helping DoN think bigger.  Thank you to Lilliana S. Didovic for trusting me with Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic (Volume 1).

www.lillianadidovic.us

www.DoNBrewerMultimedia.com

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Read more about Her Philadelphia Tales at Side Arts Philadelphia art blog.

 

LoVe

DoNArTNeWs Philadelphia Art News Blog

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Works on Paper 2012 at PSC

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler, Yes Indeed, at The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler, Yes Indeed, acrylic & pastel, Works on Paper at The Philadelphia Sketch Club 1/8/2012

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler, Yes Indeed, acrylic & pastel, “The Annual Domenic DiStefano Memorial 2012 Juried Works on Paper Exhibition”, at The Philadelphia Sketch Club through 1/21/2012.

Richard Harrington, 1956 T-bird at The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Richard Harrington, 1956 T-bird , gouache on paper at The Philadelphia Sketch Club  “The Annual Domenic DiStefano Memorial 2012 Juried Works on Paper Exhibition”.

Lisa Lawinski, Acacia Tress and Bleeding Hearts, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Lisa Lawinski Buchler, Acacia Tress and Bleeding Hearts, mixed media, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Lisa Lawinski, Acacia Tress and Bleeding Hearts, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Lisa Lawinski Buchler, Acacia Tress and Bleeding Hearts, The Philadelphia Sketch Club “The Annual Domenic DiStefano Memorial 2012 Juried Works on Paper Exhibition”

Judy Engle, Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Judy Engle, Loft Life with Ginger Cat, mixed media collage with tape at Philadelphia Sketch Club “The Annual Domenic DiStefano Memorial 2012 Juried Works on Paper Exhibition”.

Judy Engle‘s tape collage, Loft Life with Ginger Cat, has a depth and density that is confusingly 3D.  Judy told DoN that friend’s told her that tape would deteriorate but the artist has found just the opposite.  Ignoring the negative feedback, Judy Engle had both of her entries accepted into the exclusive exhibition and took home an Honarable Mention award.

Judy Engle, Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Judy Engle, Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012.  The reflected light is from the large window over the Winner’s Wall, you may even notice the model ship on the sill and the skylight which makes the gallery/studio so appealing for making art.

Harry S. Camarda, In Thought, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Harry S. Camarda, In Thought, charcoal, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Harry S. Camarda, In Thought, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

Harry S. Camarda, In Thought, charcoal, The Philadelphia Sketch Club Works on Paper 2012

The Philadelphia Sketch Club “The Annual Domenic DiStefano Memorial 2012 Juried Works on Paper Exhibition”, through January 21st, 2012, is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the variety of media, ideas and combinations of materials that constitutes art made on and with paper.  Excluding photography, the show displays exquisite works by many of Philadelphia finest artists; the first place winner Harry S. Camarda‘s In Thought, a magnificent charcoal drawing that recalls the era of Thomas Eakins, a PSC founder, and reaffirms the mission of the Philadelphia Sketch Clubwhere artists grow.

Read about New Wave Art Fine Art Products on Side Arts blog.

DoNArTNeWs Philadelphia Art News Blog

Photographs by DoN
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New Members Plastic Club 2012

Tecu’Mish Munha’ke, Put on Your Big Girl Panties and Cowgirl Up at The Plastic Club

Tecu’Mish Munha’ke, Put on Your Big Girl Panties and Cowgirl Up, three assemblages at The Plastic Club.

Tecu’Mish Munha’ke submitted three assemblages for the New Members 2012 exhibition, Put on Your Big Girl Panties and Cowgirl Up, Out of Order (a large assemblage sculpture that grabs your attention) and Feed Me.  Take that all you Untitlers out there!

Cary Galbraith, Frog Hollow, oil, at The Plastic Club New Member 2012

Cary Galbraith, Frog Hollow, oil, at The Plastic Club New Members 2012

At first glance DoN thought this languid landscape was by Robert Daniel Bohne’ but then DoN overheard someone say that she, Cary Galbraith, painted with Bohne.  The cross influences artists have on each other is one of the best parts of being involved in an art group like the Plastic Club and is a hallmark of the Philadelphia art scene.

Leon Graff, Plastic Club New Member 2012

Leon Graff, Parkside, acrylic, at the Plastic Club New Member 2012

Leon Graff was born in South Africa and was trained in South Africa and London. He has lived and exhibited in London, Seattle, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Montreal, Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. His paintings hang in many private collections in New York City, Philadelphia, Canada, Florida and Europe.”  – Fine Art Liasons website

Leon Graff‘s paintings capture the vibrancy and fun of the thriving Philadelphia art scene.  Congratulations to the New Members of The Plastic Club.  Learn more about the art club in DoN‘s interview with Bob Jackson on the Philly Side Arts blog.  Member’s of the Plastic Club looking to expand their web presence and consolidate their social networking links may consider an artist portfolio page on Side Arts.

Photographs by DoN Brewer
Kodak Digital Cameras

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Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ University of the Arts, Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ UArts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ University of the Arts, Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative, Broad and Pine Streets, Philadelphia.

DoN walked past the sculpture vitrines in front of the University of the Arts and it appeared one of the sculptures had been pulled loose.  It was January 3rd and the Mummers Parade crowd can get pretty rowdy, generally Philadelphians are art friendly but you never know.  DoN felt anger and disgust that someone had damaged a public art piece, especially since some very beautiful and ephemeral pieces have graced the vitrines over the years with no vandalism.

But, this piece looks like it was moved across the plaza.  In the light of day the reality of the installation came together – the sculpture had actually pulled itself loose from it’s mooring near the grand stairs to the Temple and crawled to the garden wall leaving a trail of wire and debris behind.  In the garden, pod-like ceramic pots are birthing televisions and computer monitors, while the master motherboard hovers nearby protecting the brood.  Smaller pots have already invaded the farther reaches of the Japanese-ish stone garden connected by umbilical cords of red wire to the mother pods.  Kevin Lehman‘s studio is in Lancaster PA.

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ UArts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ University of the Arts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative.

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change is the artist’s MFA Thesis Exhibition through January 15th, 2012.  For more information on the Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative contact jgirandola@uarts.edu

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ UArts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ University of the Arts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ UArts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Kevin Lehman, The Need for Fundamental Change @ University of the Arts Hamilton Hall Public Arts Initiative

Photos by DoN Brewer

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Keyword: Philadelphia Art

Laurentiu Todie, The One @ Art Ability Bryn Mawr Rehab Center

Laurentiu Todie, The One @ Art Ability Bryn Mawr Rehab Center

Laurentiu Todie, The One @ Art Ability Bryn Mawr Rehab Center, Malvern, PA.

DoNArTNeWs finally appears on page one in Google for the search term “Philadelphia art blogs“, thank you very much!   DoN has written more than four hundred reviews, interviews and promotions about the Philadelphia regional art scene for DoNArTNeWs.  The most frequently accessed pages include the term “Philadelphia art” in the web site statistics, “art” is the number one search term.  Philadelphia art is a search term that thousands of people are investigating because the Philly art scene is, as Mayor Michael Nutter stated at the West Collects press conference, “Strong!”  Great art has become synonymous with Philadelphia because of the high end cultural institutions like PMA and the innovative neighborhood artist enclaves, clubs, alliances and collectives that pervade the city and the region, creating an amorphous idea of what is Philadelphia art?  Is it the great art speak that PAFA teaches it’s students?  Is it the gritty allure of Fishtown, Northern Liberties or Germantown and the satisfaction of getting in early on something bohemian, eclectic, outrageous or controversial?  Is Philadelphia really the sixth borough of NYC?

Art is strong and vibrant in Philadelphia with wonderful resources but DoN has heard institutional leaders say the majority of public dollars get directed to the top tier while smaller groups compete for shrinking grant money and must endure its grueling paperwork.  Rachel Zimmerman of InLiquid, one of the oldest artist profile websites of its kind in Philadelphia, told DoN this past Summer that artists have three jobs: making art, selling art and the job to pay for buying art materials.  Artist Gregory Prestegord told DoN there are more like seven jobs to get to what he calls “a state of meditation“, the time he actually gets to spend making art, a broad circle of activities, many unrelated to art production, must happen to get to the moment of meditation when art appears out of seemingly nowhere. Art and the creative economy is enormous in Philadelphia, the competition for money is daunting, yet artists keep pushing against the obstacles and work hard to be known as a Philadelphia Artist, the second most popular search term for DoNArTNeWs‘ Philadelphia art blog.

Search Philadelphia art, who knows what you might discover?

Happy New Year!

LoVe

DoN

Read more about Art Ability at Philly.SideArts art blog and DoNArTNeWs art blog.


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