Category Archives: Philadelphia Art Alliances

Philadelphia groups of artists working together to dreate opportunities for exhibitions, information sharing and support.

17 @ Twenty-Two Gallery

Jim Bloom’s “Them” @ Vivant Art Collection

1 Reply

DoN has written about other shows by artist Jim Bloom at Home & Planet in Bethlehem, PA and Outsider Folk Art in Reading PA but the current show called Them at Vivant Art Collection, 60 N. 2^nd St., Philly is a tour de force. Bloom has a knack of poking a stick in the eye of cultural prejudices from gender issues to homophobia to obesity; Jims brutalist painting style highlights how words and attitudes can be painful and ridiculous. The one-person show includes portraiture but the works using words are particularly powerful and poetic. One large canvas shows a smiling couple clicking a snapshot of them outside a concentration camp as if they were visiting Disneyland, another lampoons stereotypes of effeminacy and homophobia and another painting highlights how words are often just so much noise.

Florcy Morisset, the owner/curator of Vivant Art Collection, is thrilled with this years first show, telling DoN that she can date the century of a painting by the design of a face in a painting and that Blooms socially incorrect subject matter shows how we all are included in Them. Bloom told DoN he was discovered by Robert Bullock of Coalition Ingenu introducing him to George Veiner of Outsider Folk Art Gallery who immediately purchased his entire collection for his gallery. Since then, Bloom has been able to move forward from painting on found objects such as cardboard boxes and paper plates to canvas’ but the vibrancy and irreverence remains. Them is on exhibit through the end of January.

Jim Bloom @ Vivant Art Collection.

“Light Green Hat“, Jim Bloom @ Vivant Art Collection.

Paintings by Jim Bloom @ Vivant Art Collection in Old City.

Women’s Creative Alliance @ Zeidler Gallery

1 Reply

Catherine Zeidlers eponymous gallery at 2207 South Street has become the Womens Creative Alliance featuring the art of Philadelphia area women. The current exhibit features 3D work by Dorothy Roschen, jewelry by Barb Baur as well as pastels and paintings by Patricia Woodruff. The theme throughout the show is how spirituality is filtered through the creative arts. Roschen, who taught art in high school for many years, creates mysterious sculptures of glass, clay and objet trouve suitable sitting on a table or hanging on the wall. Dorothy develops designs exploring positive and negative space, hard and soft surface and translucence vs. solidity.

Woodruffs drawings and paintings depict sprites, spirits, fairies and gods of old in fluid, sensuous lines and serious color, her high school friend Barb Bauer creates designs reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or Celtic knots in silver. Both Woodruff and Bauer enjoy spending time in Floyd, VA, and a vibrant arts community enabling them both to find expression through the sense of community and variety of artists who migrate there. Bauer has begun experimenting with hard metals such as steel and is developing a series of pennular brooches appropriate for clasping an ancient cloak or a modern scarf.

The art party Friday evening brought out a good crowd even though it was only 19 degrees outside but with warmth and friendship found inside this great art space on South Street.

Wall sculpture by Dorothy Roschen @ WCA.

Dorothy Roschen @ WCA.

Silver jewelry by Barb Baur.

“Thought and Memory“, pastel by Patricia Woodruff depicts Odin with his ravens.

“Gentle Thoughts” by Patricia Woodruff.

Through My Window @ Smile

Leave a reply

Through My Window at Smile Gallery @ 22^nd & Chestnut Streets is a concept show involving repurposing old window frames donated by Lantern Theater Companys Charles McMahon. Member artists of Da Vinci Art Alliance were asked to take a window and create a work of art instead of the frames ending up in a dump. Each artist presented art as diverse as drawings, paintings, photos, weaving and collage, creating a conundrum for jurors Brenda and Matt Lyons. Each piece is desirable and delightful in theyre own right: Betsy Alexander based her composition on science fiction, Burnell Yow! created an homage to Buddha, Mike Sweeny dressed his frame in gold and silver communicating a comment on Americas current economic situation, Alden Coles ethereal painting draws the viewer into the spiritual realm, Girard DiFalcos photograph of a tree is simple and serene, DoN Brewer recreated the view from the apartment he rented in Paris, Ona Kalstein based her mixed media piece on the fable of the ant and the cicada and Lilliana Didovic designed a mixed media work depicting Phillys famous Boat House Row using, of all things. Swarovski Crystals.

Other artists in the show include Bobbie Adams, Kim Alsbrook, Rachel Citrino, Carl Johnson, Ted Warchal, Nicole Koenitzer, Rikard Larma, Gail Kotel, Tim McKenna, Lee Muslin, Liz Niklus, Michelle Post, Gavid Carrow and Carol Wisker.

Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi’s “Old Woman Looking Out the Window“. The duo currently have work on display at Rodger Lapelle Gallery in Old City through Feb.1, 2009.

Alden Cole @ Smile. Cole is included in a Dumpster Diver show at New Jersey’s Noyes Museum.

Mike Sweeney‘s award winner @ Smile’s “Through My Window.”

Burnell Yow!‘s award winning composition will allow him to be part of a group show @ Smile in January 2010 – get to work Burnell!!

Betsy Alexander‘s sci-fi inspired mixed media collage was a hit with the crowd creating a vibrant conversation about everyone’s fantasy favorites. Betsy’s home was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Design section, you can read the story here. Betsy is also the mom of the famous Nora the Piano Playing Cat – check out Nora’s latest videos on YouTube.

Kathryn Pannepacker’s simple yet elegant mixed media piece incorporates weaving. Pannepacker recently completed an amazing mural @ Broad and Lehigh Streets depicting textile styles of the world for the Mural Arts Program.

DoN Brewer’s “Vue de la Rue Rambuteau, Paris“, colored pencil on paper at Smile Gallery.

Through My Window is on display through February 7^th, 2009 and by the by Smiles Thai food restaurant is probably the best in the city BYOB and stay a while.