Category Archives: Mixed Media Art

Mixed media art by Philadelphia artists.

Information Translated – University of Delaware @ Crane Arts Center

Information Translated - University of Delaware @ Crane Arts Center

Information Translated - University of Delaware @ Crane Arts Center

Ashley Pigford & Troy Richards, Vanishing Point combines computer graphics, motion sensors and robotics in the Information Translated exhibit in the University of Delaware‘s art department adjunct gallery in the Crane Arts Center curated by Anthony Vega.

Information Translated - University of Delaware @ Crane Arts Center

Troy Richards, The Hoarders II – Information Translated @ Crane Arts Center.

The University of Delaware faculty exhibit, Information Translated, is a futuristic trip into an art world where video projectors follow the actors around the room on a robotic platform (a movie called Knock by Lance Winn & Toronto artist Simone Jones), Legos and computers work in conjunction with movement and sound to create an experience design and normal appearing prints reveal underlying messages as if a computer memory kernel has exploded.  The show restores DoN‘s appreciation of how video can be incorporated into an art show without seeming like a knock-off of Warhol.  By utilizing off-the-shelf components combined into innovative new forms, the UD faculty have created an inspirational, aspirational show that is sure to trigger new neural pathways for UD art students.  The space is an adjunct gallery for University of Delaware artists to display their work away from campus in the heart of one of Philly’s vibrant, emerging art centers.  The downstairs space is especially exciting with several video/robot installations that excite the eye and confuse the senses.  Check out the UD website for a statement about the show, but really, this show has to be seen to be believed.

Energy & Matter – Diane Podolsky & Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22

Energy & Matter - Diane Podolsky & Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22

Gallery 22 in Center City West is an artist collective under the direction of Shawn Murray with rotating exhibits of member artists as well as an ongoing group exhibit.  The space is lovely with wonderful light and excellent presentation – the current show Energy & Matter was installed by Shawn and member artist Diane Podolsky, pairing the expressive paintings by Podolsky with photographer Bonnie Schorske.  Before last Sunday’s meet & greet DoN had the opportunity for some quiet conversation with Diane Podolsky while Katy the ArT DoG & Lady Doofie (the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix) lounged on the sidewalk on 22nd Street.

Over the Summer Podolsky held a teaching fellowship with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists to work on an inter-generational art project bringing together young people and residents of a nursing home.  The gist of the program was to get older people to pass along stories of their lives to the youngsters, incorporating the tales of their lives into an upcoming art installation.  The kids were captivated by the stories told by an ex-professional baseball player from the Negro Baseball League in Philly, a former jazz club singer and folks who lived in simpler times in Germantown.  The project involves cut out paper flowers & leaves and paper clothes to be hung on a clothes line in a nine foot long installation with the stories written on the elements.  Diane was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed hearing the stories and sewing the paper clothes – many of them had never threaded a needle let alone actually sewing.  DoN will keep you posted as to when the completed work with be displayed.

Energy & Matter - Diane Podolsky & Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22

Olea Europaea Biceps Popeyi, Bonnie Schorske, digital capture archival print and Thorns, Diane Podolsky, oil & graphite.

Energy & Matter - Diane Podolsky & Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22

Make a Wish, Diane Podolsky, oil & graphite and Olea Europaea Deja II, Bonnie Schorske, digital capture archival pigment print.

Energy & Matter - Diane Podolsky & Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22

Bonnie Schorske @ Gallery 22.

Diane is quite self effacing about her work even though the bold works are expressive, intriguing and vibrant.  Her style is abstract yet naturalistic, combining brushy strokes of muted color with recognizable objects such as chicken wishbones, woody tree shapes and animal forms.  Matched with Bonnie Schorske’s impeccable black and white photographs of Majorica, the overall effect is transcendent as if following Alice down the rabbit hole.  Bonnie told DoN there is a hidden narrative in the installation which is fun to investigate – kind of like “Where’s Waldo” on an highly sophisticated level.  The skill and beauty of the artists’ work is perfectly complementary with dreamy photo realism aligned with neo-geo paintings; Energy & Matter is on display through November 8th to be followed by a one person show of paintings by the incomparable Ed Bronstein, Explorations…..in the Neighborhood featuring paintings created in Katy & Lady Doofie’s favorite place, the dog park!

Gallery 22

The group show @ Gallery 22.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe, 20th & Fitzwater Street.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

Niki Bombshell, Hands, oil & ink on canvas board, 9.5 x 12.5″.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

Niki Bombshell, Word Vomit, ink & pencil on paper.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

Niki Bombshell, Outline (Purple), ink on canvas.

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

Niki Bombshell @ The Beauty Shop Cafe.

The Beauty Shop continues their history of promoting exciting new artists; the current show by artist/illustrator/designer Niki Bombshell combines brutalist abstract expressionism, naive primitivist drawings and bold drippy paintings.  Unframed and tacked to the walls, the works are real eye-catchers and very reasonably priced.  DoN especially enjoyed the sloppy hand-written labels and the total lack of self consciousness in presentation; you can tell the artist loves splashing paint, layering images, ripping the edges and moving on to the next project.  And, oh yeah, the coffee is great – The Beauty Shop Cafe has totally transformed the neighborhood from a place to avoid to a destination for hipsters, moms and geeks – thanks Jon!

DoN Brewer – Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2009

DoN Brewer & Arthur OstroffDoN Brewer with artist Arthur Ostroff @ DoNBrewerMultimedia, POST – X, 2009.

Mina Smith-Segal

 

Artist, Mina Smith-Segal checking out DoN’s central command post.  Mina leads the studio workshops at the Philadelphia Sketch Club.

 

Clif AndersonArtist, Clif Anderson visited DoN‘s open studio with his lovely wife Henny.  Clif is a terrific musician and artist, his work will be on display at Bryn Mawr Rehab Center’s annual exhibit, Art Ability fearturing work by artists from around the world – opening 11/7/2009.

POST 2009

Neighbor Melody, DoN & artist/framer/teacher Rob Stauffer @ DonBrewerMultimedia POST-X 2009.

POST 2009

Photographer, Morris Klein @ DoN‘s POST open house.  Klein is VP of The Photographic Society of Philadelphia.

Saturday afternoon, DoN hosted more than 25 visitors to his studio – art dogs KaTy & Doofie (the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix)  guarded the gate and made sure all visitors are dog lovers.

DoNBrewerMultimedia – POST-X 2009

DoN Brewer

DoN Brewer, self portrait, acrylic, collage, 1976.

Ben Cohen

Ben Cohen, pastel, 2008.

Kim Martin

Kim Martin, oil, 2009.

Mike Guinn

Mike Guinn, pencil, 2009.

Karl Olsen

Karl Olsen, oil, 2009.

Paul DuSold

Paul DuSold, oil, 2007.

Alden Cole

Alden Cole, oil on wood, 2008.

POST 2009

Michael Tantaros, pencil, 2009.

Participating in the annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours means really putting yourself out there for all to see.  Being an artist model also puts one under a focussed gaze, the experience inspired DoN to ask some of his artist friends to contribute works created when DoN modeled at The Plastic Club and the Philadelphia Sketch Club.  Thank you to all the fine artists who provided their work, it feels so narcissistic but DoN LoVeS the attention!

Legacy of Leonardo

DoN Brewer, self portrait, charcoal, chalk & conte on paper @ The Da Vinci Art Alliance.