Category Archives: Off the Wall Gallery

2019

2019 AUTUMN INVITATIONAL, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

2019 Annual Autumn Invitational at Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

The annual AUTUMN INVITATIONAL, which officially opens THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 7-10 PM, is one of our favorite shows. For good reason.

By showcasing the artists who have achieved notable success over the past year, measured by sales and jury awards, it welcomes back artists who are truly fan favorites. And with this year’s edition in particular, it gives us a more in-depth look at the work of three exceptional artists:

* This marks the fourth time CAROL TASHJIAN has shown her work in our space. Across different media and subject matters, a common thread has emerged: a disciplined approach to her craft, which strips away the extraneous in favor of essence. When Carol has shown one or two works, viewers sometimes have to seek out the quiet refuge of her art. This time, with 19 works, we are happily immersed in her approach, with the litho crayon rubbings of trees on the right side of the Wall practically creating a meditative arboretum of sorts (to the extent that’s possible at Dirty Frank’s!).

* For WILD TYPE, aka, ORI ROE, the Invitational marks a third turn at OFF THE WALL and this time is indeed the charm, with 13 works that, as with Carol, finally create a critical mass and enable us to enter her unique worlds at the intersection of science and art. Wild Type takes her nom d’artiste from a wild-type strain — there are ori sequences in the mitochondrial DNA of such a mutated strain; similarly, Wild Type’s art-making practice applies fundamentals of organic chemistry to create “worlds with X, Y and Z coordinate space,” and to begin answering such deep questions as “What does it mean to exist in space?”

* As we count down, RUSTY EVELAND is returning for just the second time, after a tour de force debut in BREAKTHROUGHS FOR SHEILA. His art runs a wide gamut. Across eight pieces, spanning figure studies, an animated short projected in our 3D space, and mixed-media and found-object assemblages, Rusty never aspires to Carol’s introspection or Wild Type’s exploration but rather embraces an energy and enthusiasm that naturally draws audiences into his work.

* And it’s worth noting that while this show’s headliner is usually the winner of the Mary-Rowe Memorial Jury Prize, last year’s honoree, LINDSEY WAVREK, will next be on the Wall this coming March and April as a MARY LIZ FELLOW, the highest honor we bestow on any artist in our community.

We look forward to seeing you THURSDAY EVENING, and for those of you who would like to transcend mere attendance and become a PARTICIPATING ARTIST at our next Opening Reception, on November 17, please make sure to pick up an entry form for UNDER $100, our upcoming JURIED EXHIBITION.

We are accepting entries for the show — which invites any and all media and subject matters, priced at $95 or less — now through October 17. Take the top prize and you’ll not only be in that show; per the above note about Lindsey Wavrek, you’ll automatically be part of the 2020 AUTUMN INVITATIONAL!

UNDER 100 Entry Guidelines Poster, OTWGallery, September 2019
15th Annual Juried Exhibition, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

Thank you to Togo Travalia, Manager, OFF THE WALL GALLERY at Dirty Frank’s for the content of this post. (He’s a really good writer!)

NE Corner, 13th & Pine Streets, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

offthewallgallery@gmail.com

facebook.com/OTWDirtyFranks

@OTWDirtyFranks

(215) 732-5010 (bar)(484) 357-6440 (cell)

Celebrating 40 years of revolutionary art

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Young

YOUNG AT ART 3, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

YOUNG AT ART 3, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks

Looking for an art show that’s a breath of fresh air? Perhaps one where the artists’ love of creativity shines through — no agenda, just passion? LOOK NO FARTHER.

THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1 to 4 PM, we will gather to welcome 22 very young artists to OFF THE WALL. They are the forces behind YOUNG AT ART 3, the newest edition of the occasional juried show we inaugurated in 2013.


Our Opening Reception will put a kid-centric twist on our normal light hors d’oeuvres — pizza, fruit salad and juice boxes, plus mini-cupcakes from our friends and neighbors at SWEET BOX — and you’ll have the chance to meet more than half the artists.


Our creatives run the gamut in age from 3-4 years old — AUGUST KILLESTEFAN NAU and ORLA VECCHIO — up to 11 and 12 — including JAYDEN O’HALLORANMARY MINEI and YOUNG AT ART veterans KYLIE GROVEMO HINCHEY-MODGLINSKYLAR WILLENBORG and EMI and NOA TRAVALIA.

The Travalia girls also remind us that this time around we’re showcasing sibling synergy with five such sets: EMI and NOAISE and SAJ EVANS MCNALLANDARIUS and STEFAN NAUA.J. and SADIE PENNINGTON and CORMAC and ORLA VECCHIO.


Across their work — ranging from paintings and drawings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, charcoal and oil stick, to photography and collage to August’s whimsical sculpture, which takes flight in our 3D case — you witness SHEER JOY.


It buoys our firm belief that each and every person is BORN TO CREATE. The love of art and art-making is genuinely innate. Life erodes this instinct rather than reinforce it — unless we lift up an artist as early as possible.

 
So come join us as much to elevate as to celebrate. And if your party includes other kids, more power. Yes, normally you would be carded — but not for these three hours and a little bit more (unless you order alcohol). Let’s take in great art and have fun!
See you Sunday,
Togo

Togo Travalia
Manager OFF THE WALL GALLERY at Dirty Frank’s, NE Corner, 13th & Pine Streets, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

offthewallgallery@gmail.com

facebook.com/OTWDirtyFranks

@OTWDirtyFranks

(215) 732-5010 (bar)

(484) 357-6440 (cell)

Celebrating 40 years of revolutionary art

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12th

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowBrooke Jana, Pussy Hat

RESIST

Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

12th Annual Community Juried Show

In a way, RESIST, our 12th Annual Community Juried Show OPENING THIS THURSDAYis a sequel — perhaps an unfortunate one — to last summer’s HOW WOULD YOU SAVE THE WORLD? We do need some saving. Right now.

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowChloe Pinero, Pose

But rather than offer ideas for evolution, the 34 artists of RESIST — 16 of them brand-new to our space — are often more closely attuned to the frequency of revolution. They tap into this energy and harness it to power their creativity.

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowChloe Pinero, Titi’s House

The results just as easily can be ad hominems or odes to courage:

* We see the many faces of the demagogue who needs exposing (not exposure), painted in a JIM BIGLAN lampoon, spliced together in an ALYSE C. BERNSTEIN collage, made into the stuff of children by LANCE PAWLING and JOSH TODD, as well as…
* The heroes of the Resistence, from WOODLEY WHITE‘s recognizable leaders and CHLOÉ PIÑERO‘s resolute fighters to ALONZO TROY HUMPHREY‘s haunting figures and BOB GORCHOV‘s ultimately triumphant angel.

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowChris Vecchio, RESIST #2
But if RESIST were composed merely of perceived good and evil, our show, shackled to this dichotomy, would fail to aspire or inspire. Instead our jury uncovered greater depths.
DAVID R. EVANSON adds four images from his compelling “Strange Fruit” series, which shows racial injustice and resistance in a visual language of his own invention.
BROOKE JANA makes words one of her media, inviting you to spend time inside her intricate constructions.
* Look up to take in HEATHER RAQUEL PHILLIPS and CHIARA NO‘s hangable book, which predicts a banner day for empowerment.
MONK E BURNSWELL dominates the 3D case with a measure of last resort that channels both Duchamp and Cornell.

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowDavid R. Evanson, Incarceration

So can RESIST mean something apolitical? Sure it can. It always has. To wit:
ELIZABETH H. “BETTY” MACDONALD‘s cockroachs, the never-say-die warriors from the insect world,
NOA TRAVALIA‘s tangled web of foods we love…though we know we really shouldn’t, and,
CHRIS VECCHIO‘s carved “ohmage,” which returns resistance to its electrical origins.

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowDavid R. Evanson, Selma

And we’re not halfway through our show. So even after you experience these works in person, you will have plenty more to discover firsthand.

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowBrooke Jana, BANFIRE

And if you choose to purchase art, you will be doing more than speaking out. You will be speaking up for members of our community. 20% OF ALL SALES benefit two urgently needed nonprofit organizations in our own backyard: the WOMEN’S MEDICAL FUND (womensmedicalfund.organd SUNDAY BREAKFAST RESCUE MISSION (sundaybreakfast.org).

RESIST, 12th Annual Juried ShowLance Pawling, All the King’s Horses

Plus, as is always the case with our OPENING RECEPTIONS, there will be light hors d’oeuvres to nibble…your favorite drinks poured by none other than JODY SWEITZER, our host and curator…tunes playing on the juke…and much, much livelier conversation offline. In addition, a handful of our artists will be singled out with JURY CITATIONS, which we will announce at the Opening, roughly an hour into our party. And don’t pay too close attention to the end time; we’re sure to keep going well past 10:00.

HARD TO RESIST, RIGHT?!?

We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening!

Togo

Togo Travalia
Manager

OFF THE WALL GALLERY at Dirty Frank’s

NE Corner, 13th & Pine Streets, Philadelphia, PA  19107

offthewallgallery@gmail.com

(215) 732-5010 (bar)

(484) 357-6440 (cell)

Philly’s pioneering alternative art space, since 1978.

June 4th to August 4th, 2017

Opening Reception June 8th, 7:00 – 10:00pm

Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s, 13th and Pine Streets, Philly

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Resist

RESIST, Off the Wall Gallery

RESIST

Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

12th Annual Community Juried Show

“I’m pleased to announce that Off the Wall Gallery and our jury have decided to donate a portion of the commission (not your proceeds!) of each sale to support two underfunded nonprofit organizations serving our immediate community:

WOMEN’S MEDICAL FUND (formerly the Greater Philadelphia Women’s Medical Fund)

http://www.womensmedicalfund.org

and

SUNDAY BREAKFAST RESCUE MISSION

http://www.sundaybreakfast.org

While not all of our art is politically motivated, once our show is up the call for social justice and voices against the current administration will be clear. What better way to back up our creative ideas and outspoken voices than the ensure we are expanding the safety net just a little and helping support more neighbors in need?!” – Togo Travalia

June 4th to August 4th, 2017

Opening Reception June 8th, 7:00 – 10:00pm

Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s, 13th and Pine Streets, Philly

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Paros

I Love Paros, Off the Wall Gallery

I Love Paros!, Winter Getaway Show at Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s

“GETAWAY ALREADY?: While it’s the first day back for most of us, it’s also never too early to think about vacations ahead. That is exactly what our WINTER SHOW, which goes up this Saturday, will conjure in your head. On display will be the output of 10 talented artists, including several OFF THE WALL veterans, who traveled to the Greek island of PAROS last year — under the guidance and tutelage of ALICE MEYER-WALLACE – to create, celebrate life, collaborate, find inspiration and then create some more! Please mark your calendars for the OPENING RECEPTION on THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 7:00 – 10:00pm. We look forward to seeing you then and getting away — if only for a few hours…and only through the power of art!” – Togo Travalia

  • Linda Avila
  • Meri Collier
  • Anders Hansen
  • Alice Meyer-Wallace
  • Jess Perlitz
  • Ron Ploeg
  • Susan Ploeg
  • Susan Stromquist
  • Phillis Dyer Weldon
  • Rick Wright

“Paros is a Greek island in the central Aegean Sea. One of the Cyclades island group, it lies to the west of Naxos, from which it is separated by a channel about 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide. It lies approximately 150 km (93 miles) south-east of Piraeus. The Municipality of Paros includes numerous uninhabited offshore islets totaling 196.308 square kilometres (75.795 sq mi) of land. It’s nearest neighbor is the municipality of Antiparos, which lies to its southwest.

Historically, Paros was known for its fine white marble, which gave rise to the term “Parian” to describe marble or china of similar qualities. Today, abandoned marble quarries and mines can be found on the island, but Paros is primarily known as a popular tourist spot.” – Wikipedia

The Dirty History of Franks, in a shot glass:

  • Dirty Frank’s opened its doors as “Franks” on November 8th, 1933, and was owned by Lou Silverman.
  • Prohibition was repealed December 5th, 1933 (how did Lou know?).
  • Frank Vigderman was the second owner. Apparently due to his hygiene, the name ‘Dirty Frank’s’ was born.
  • John Segal was the third owner from 1959-1978. He tried to change the name to the ‘347 bar’ but it never really stuck. In August of 1965 Dirty Frank’s was closed for 45 days as penalty for serving minors. John took the opportunity to tear down the dividing wall between the two rooms and to build the horseshoe-shaped bar that we still have today.
  • Jay McConnell became the fourth owner from 1978 – 2011. He completely embraced and embodied the Dirty Frank’s persona.
  • The Off the Wall Gallery was launched in 1979 by by Jay with Mary Liz, Bunky Devichios, and Phil Sumpter.
  • Since 2011,  Dirty Frank’s is owned by Brad Pierce and Jody Sweitzer, two longtime employees of the “institution”.

There you have it. And, as they say, much is still to be written…

Thank you to Togo Travalia for the content of this post.

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