Category Archives: Mixed Media Art

Mixed media art by Philadelphia artists.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours West & East

DoN Brewer POST sign in board

DoN opened his studio to the public again this year with hundreds of other Philly artists participating in Philadelphia Open Studio Tours.  Visitors signed the giant “Hello My Name Is…” sign that he received as part of Newstoday Print Exchange 4.  DoN‘s MoM, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends stopped by to view recent drawings, paintings and prints.  POST is a great way to meet other artists and make new friends as well as sell some art.  Thanks so much to good friends Shoshana and Alden with their help and support; it’s a lot of work.  KaTy the ArT DoG and her pal Doofie, the St. Bernard/Chihuahua mix greeted visitors with wagging tails and lots of slobber.  This year the tour started West of Broad Street so DoN didn’t get to visit friends such as Paul DuSold or Betsy and Burnell but DoN‘s MoM did and is still talking about how Nora the Piano Playing Cat plinked out a tune for her – thanks Nora! DoN’s Nude Room Panoramic shot of DoN‘s Nude Room.

East of Broad Street was super-exciting with dumpster diver Alden Cole’s spectacular display of drawings, paintings, luminaries and found object constructions.  Alden has returned to his painting roots and is producing interesting compositions packed with metaphors, narrative and deeply personal spiritual art works.  Obviously it’s too much to see all the studios in one wekend but I’m sure if you contact Alden he would be more than happy to allow you to explore four floors of art.Panoramic shot of Alden Cole’s kitchen gallery.  Cole is having an exhibition at Smile Gallery in November.Panoramic shot of Alden Cole‘s kitchen gallery.  Cole is having an exhibition at Smile Gallery in November. 

Robert Stauffer in his quirky alley gallery @ 7th & Federal.

Robert Stauffer in his quirky alley gallery @ 7th & Federal.  Stauffer’s mixed media, paintings and photos were super-fun especially viewed in one of Philly’s famous narrow alleyways.

Dr. Doris Peltzman with friend Reta Sweeney at Morris Street Studios deep in South Philly.

Dr. Doris Peltzman with friend Reta Sweeney at Morris Street Studios deep in South Philly.  Peltzman is having a one woman show at the prestigious Carspecken Scott Gallery in Wilmington as well as a group show at Artist’s House. You go girl!!!  Doris is truly gifted and dedicated to producing work that stretches her limits with brilliant coloration, bold brushwork and subtle compositions.

Painting master, Francis Tucker.

Painting master, Francis Tucker, also at Morris Street Studio displayed just a few of his masterworks and demonstrated his proficiency at framing.  Tucker was DoN‘s first painting mentor back in the day when UArts was still PCA and still teaches emerging artists skills involving materials and technique.

Artist Arthur Ostroff, also of Morris Street Studios.

Artist Arthur Ostroff, also of Morris Street Studios, explained to DoN his plans for a one man show which has turned into a retrospective of his lifes work.  The exhibit, Arthur Ostroff Then and Now, will be at Montgomery County Community College West Campus Art Gallery, November 1 through December 19, 2008.

Mixed media collage by Art Ostroff.

Mixed media collage by Art Ostroff.

Painting by Charles Cushing and sculpture by Carol Cole @ 915 Spring Garden art studios.

Painting by Charles Cushing and sculpture by Carol Cole @ 915 Spring Garden art studios.

Frances Galante

Frances Galante‘s studio was humming with activity and filled with masterful landscapes and still iife paintings. DoN asked Galante about including architecture in her works, “I like to include architecture because it shows the human element and gives scale to painting.”  This past summer Frances painted at Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine at an artist’s colony.

Frances Galante’s Sailboat on the Delaware.

Frances Galante’s Sailboat on the Delaware.

Ana B. Hernandez’ flamenco inspired hanging sculpture.

Ana B. Hernandez’ flamenco inspired hanging sculpture.  Ana tells DoN her work, “… attempts to capture the movement and energy as a visual vocabulary of the skirt of the dancer.”

Ana B. Hernandez @ 915 Spring Garden.

Ana B. Hernandez @ 915 Spring Garden.

Wendy Wolf

Wendy Wolf has a system of layering paint and then scraping away bits to reveal the layers, she then saves the bits in little boxes as a separate art object.  Wolf is also a jeweler producing beautiful necklaces and bracelets, she says, “…life is charmed.”  An MFA graduate of Tyler Art School, Wolf has been at 915 Spring Garden for more than two years.

Wendy Wolf

The left over bits from a Wendy Wolf painting displayed in clear plastic boxes.

Peter Cunicelli’s studio @ 915 Spring Garden.

Peter Cunicelli’s studio @ 915 Spring Garden.  Each piece is handmade from slabs of clay allowing Peter to create space-age style ceramics perfect for contemporary interiors; Peter is working on producing multiples so he can offer table wares in his unique style.  Cunicelli was included in this summer’s Art of the State exhibit in Harrisburg. Congrats!

Brooke Hine

Brooke Hine’s studio displayed her ubiquitous organic ceramics; always interesting, delicate and absorbing sculptures in a style all her own.  Hine recently curated a fabulous show at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and was also included in the Art of the State show in Harrisburg.  DoN LoVeS Brooke!!!

LoVe

DoN All photos by DoNBrewerMultimedia.

CFEVA Introduction 2012
Blick Art Materials

 

 

Beneath the Din

A collaborative exhibit by Michael Sweeney and Danielle Thierry @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.Mike Sweeney

Mike Sweeney’s “Conscious/Subconscious” @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.  At first glance the image appears to be a sculpture but it’s actually a mixed media installation with Sweeney swathed in white sitting in a cardboard apse. Sweeney tells DoN, “The tree represents the subconscious and the figure the conscious.”  The show ran through 10/26.Mike Sweeney

Mike Sweeney @ The Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Lilliana Didovic & Shoshana Aron @ Da Vinci

Art Party @ Da Vinci Art Alliance.

Mike Sweeney

DoN LoVeS this piece by Mike Sweeney, “Lichen 2” an 8″ x 10″ photo.  DoN recalled the photo from Mike’s show @ Smile but did not get to write about it then or for his last DoNArTNeWsLetter; the photo of green moss is perfectly complemented by the appropriate mat color and lustrous gold frame.  Sweeney’s show @ Da Vinci was a wonderful combo of paintings, photography and mixed media, hopefully we’ll see more of this talented artist in the near future.  Stripping away the extraneous put against nature Sweeney allows us to see the stark contrast of our own minds. 

InLiquid Art Auction in the Icebox. Cool!

Inliquid’s art auction was a feast for the eyes, jam-packed with hundreds of artworks from some ofDoN‘s favorite Philly artists:  Alden Cole, Francine Strauss, John Karpinsky, Lependorf/Shire,Burnell Yow!, Tremain Smith, Genevieve Coutroubis, Carol Cole, Brooke Hine…OMG! Amy Stevens‘ cake photos, and Susan Abrams‘ hand made paper photos.  So much great art for such a good cause – read about it at InLiquid’s site.  The Icebox consistently installs the best of the best; the evening offered wonderful, affordable opportunities to own a cool objet d’art.

Alden Cole’s luminary sold at silent auction!  Holla!

Alden Cole’s luminary sold at silent auction!  Holla!

Francine Strauss’ Totem Fetish Doll, 2003.

Francine Strauss’ Totem Fetish Doll, 2003.

John Karpinski @ The Icebox.

John Karpinski @ The Icebox.

dadart

dardart

dadart tell’s DoN he’s not,”…a Gay Republican, I’m a straight constitutionalist.”

Warren Muller @ The Icebox’s InLiquid Auction event.

Warren Muller @ The Icebox’s InLiquid Auction event.

 

Alden Cole @ Outsiders Folk Art with Harriet Wiseman

Alden Cole

Alden Cole with his Aldenized art chair @ Outsider Folk Art Gallery @ Goggleworks.  

Ostensibly, the star of the show is self-taught artist Harriet Wiseman with her Modigliani-esque paintings of ladies and mise en seine on wood, palettes and ledger covers.  Wiseman told DoNshe had never heard of Modigliani until people started telling her about the resemblence to the master and others like Chagall and Kokoschka – nice company to keep!  She began studying art books in the library and soon understood the references; Wiseman is extremely prolific and has truly established a unique style all her own.Harriey WisemanOil painting by Harriet Wiseman @ Outsider Folk Art Gallery.Wild Palms II, paint on cardboard, Jim Bloom @ Outsider Art Gallery.Wild Palms II, paint on cardboard, Jim Bloom @ Outsider Art Gallery.

Owner, George Viener, is an extensive self-taught art collector and expert in contemporary folk and outsider art; at one time he held 250 of Blooms paintings.  Curator Emily Christenson toldDoN that Jon Clark of Home and Planet in Bethlehem cherry-picked the most angst-ridden pieces for the superb show held earlier this year in his gallery.

Alden Cole‘s dumpster-diver art perfectly suits the space, it wasn’t long before someone took the painted, re-upholstered chair off it’s pedestal to take a load off and it seemed as if everyone took a turn sitting on the art-chair.  Alden’s fantastical luminaries softly glowed around the room, it was super-fun to watch the patrons with dropped jaws staring at the hypnotically changing lights.

The Goggle Works in Reading is a wonderful art space with five floors of studios and galleries as well as a recently installed LED light show in the windows of the old brick facade brightening the downtown scene with art and innovation.  DoN and friends are planning a trip back to Reading to view more, more, more…

Alden Cole will be participating in the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours as well as an up-coming show at Smile Gallery, make sure you visit his gallery/studio in South Philly the second weekend in October.

Panorama of Outsider Folk Arts

Panoramic shot of Outsider Folk Arts Gallery in Reading, PA. 

 

Kelly and Weber Gallery @ Crane Arts Center, Virginia Bradley & Chris Malcomson

Kelly and Weber Gallery on the second floor is showing wall sculptures by artist Mike Steifel; highly imaginative and exquisitely constructed objects reek of found art but are actually all hand crafted.  Steifel tells DoN he used to even make his own screws; each piece is tooled and constructed to evoke old machine parts melded with blurry magnifying lenses and screwy bolts and hardware.  On the south wall of the gallery Mike has panels of wood with inlaid mother of pearl representing constellations from the southern sky and vice versa on the north wall – at first glance the dots appear to be nail heads until the glint of light highlights the pearlescent glow from the shell-stars.

Southern Cross, wood and mother of pearl by Mike Steifel @ K&W.

Southern Cross, wood and mother of pearl by Mike Steifel @ K&W.

Artist, Mike Steifel and his wife at the opening party @ Crane Arts.

Artist, Mike Steifel and his wife at the opening party @ Crane Arts.

Alden Cole reflected in Mike Steifel’s amazing mirrored wall sculpture @ K&W.  Steifel tells DoN he has, ” …a fetish for materials.  Abalone is luxurious.”

 Alden Cole reflected in Mike Steifel’s amazing mirrored wall sculpture @ K&W.  Steifel tells DoN he has, ” …a fetish for materials.  Abalone is luxurious.” 

So, back to Virginia Bradley who shares a studio with her husband, Chris Malcomson, on the second floor at Crane Arts.  Bradley’s side of the room displays her paintings of icons mashed-up with modern pattern design along side Malcomson’s equally iconic geometric paintings.  DoN especially likes the big circles on wood. 

Chris Malcomson

Chris Malcomson in the studio he shares with Virginia Bradley at Crane Arts Center.

Chris Malcomson

Painting by Virginia Bradley

Painting by Virginia Bradley in the studio she shares with Chris Malcomson.  Chris told DoN he met Virginia in Chelsea where he had a studio and immediately fell in love and followed her to Philly four years ago.  Aw!  Learn more about Malcomson at his website.