Category Archives: Philadelphia Art Alliances

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

Violent Silence

As DoN listens to DJ PolishedSolids weekly internet radio broadcast on Mixlr.com, the adrenaline from the past few days is dispersing with the music. The set this week is called Violent Silence, a genre hopping music mix with violence as this week’s theme. Maybe it’s the full moon but some folks are acting crazy as a Zombie Apocalypse out there.

As you might imagine, DoN‘s e-mail inbox is maxed out – over 10,000 un-read messages! With house-keeping in mind, DoN un-subscribed to dozens of newsletters and deleted hundreds of messages without malice of intent. All of the newsletters thanked me for my patronage – except one. DoN opened an e-mail thinking it would be another “are you sure?” message and instead it said, “Since you are being such an ass about things please unsubscribe “name withheld” form you banal reviews.” Note the typos.

DoNArTNeWs had reviewed this artist’s work about a dozen times over the years; all posts mentioning the artist have been deleted from this blog. To be clear, DoN receives no compensation for writing this blog. In fact, it costs money to maintain this site, travel to events and post blog stories. Even though the site has advertising through Amazon and CJ.com, the niche market DoN writes about does not produce any income. DoN writes for his own enjoyment, intellectual development and support for the Philadelphia art community he loves.

If you are using social media to promote your art, take it from DoN, insulting your promoters will not bring you more business or happiness. DoNArTNeWs will continue to post reviews about art in the most positive light possible, focussing on emerging artists, small galleries and studios. If a story about you doesn’t get posted, it’s not that DoN doesn’t like you or your work, only that time has run out since DoN is an army of one. Except for the wonderful Jeff Stroud who shares his photography with us with grace and gratitude.

In the coming days DoN will be posting stories about Michelle Post‘s Tronies show at Da Vinci Art Alliance, More Photographs About Buildings and Food at Gallery 339Robert Bohne at Artists’ House Gallery, the fabulous show of drawings at The Philadelphia Sketch Club curated by Bill Scott and Alex Kanevsky and more, more more…this is the 496th blog post on DoNArTNeWs. Thanks DJ PolishedSolid for the inspiration.

LoVe

DoN

DoN Brewer

Written and Photographed by DoN Brewer

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Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Lilliana Didovic, Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Lilliana Didovic, Kater StreetCollage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club is 121 unique works of art using every sort of media imaginable from traditional magazine rip-outs to Swarovsky crystals. The tradition of the art gallery is to hang every entry, this show was open to non-members, and then awards are selected from the entire show. This policy offers new artists a place to show along side more established ones but usually the quality is high, prize winners can be first time artists or art veterans. The collage show is fun and quirky, with Dada-esque ready-mades and Dali-inian surrealism, sculptures and photo-montages, micro to macro, the ground is evenly covered with eye catching extravagance.

Lindsey Dickson, Earth Angel, Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Lindsey Dickson, Earth AngelCollage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Alan J. Klawans, Bill Myers, Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Alan J. Klawans, One, Two, Three, Bill Myers, Love Junk Taxi ParkCollage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Regina Barthmaier, Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Regina Barthmaier, UntitledCollage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Kira Grennan, Brooklyn Room, Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Kira Grennan, Brooklyn RoomCollage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club

Kira Grennan won First Prize for her collage of photos taken while living with friends in Brooklyn, thus the title. The artist explained to DoN that the artwork uses traditional collage techniques but is atmospheric and loaded with narrative of her time in NYC.

Collage and Mixed Media at The Plastic Club is on exhibit through September 22nd, 2012.

Written and Photographed by DoN Brewer

Follow DoN on Twitter @DoNNieBeat58

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Reborn/Reconfigured – Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

Rosalind Bloom describes the title and theme of her show Reborn/Reconfigured this way, “All of the pieces are made from pre-existing bits of this and that. That either belongs to work that I triaged out of inventory or found material that I have saved thinking that I would use at some point. That includes fireplace ash, dried leaves, some of the pieces I stained with tea…so it’s all things that existed in the world in one form and I’ve transformed, they’ve been reborn as something else, into a new life.”

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper

“They are the parts of old paintings, for me it’s always been about transformation and how things change from one state to another. I’ve gone back to what was my way of working for many, many years where I don’t have an over-riding concept or narrative, I’m allowing myself to just play. Each piece becomes whatever it wants to become.”

Roz continues, “The two series that came before this series, there was a theme, a narrative, a concept that kind of dictated the way things would go. I didn’t do that this time…I have given myself permission to just let it be, to play and whatever happens, happens.”

Reborn/Reconfigured Rosalind Bloom Paintings and Works on Paper at Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA – click here for dates and hours.

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer



DoN Brewer, Abstract Photography

DoN Brewer, Abstract Photography, Sky Holes, digital photograph, inkjet print © DoN Brewer

DoN Brewer, Abstract Photography, Sky Holes, digital photograph, inkjet print

Sky Holes, a photograph of tree shadows on garden gates has been accepted in this year’s Art Ability International Juried Arts Exhibit for People Living with Disabilities at Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Malvern, PA. The image plays a few optical tricks and color ways that are intriguing – the gray color on the left where the sun hits the black wood is the same tone as the shadow falling on the white door on the right, the green in the middle appears in the shadow but turns white in the light. The illusion of soft focus is the result of light shining through the spaces between the leaves and branches of the trees making sky holes of illumination. The term abstract is appropriate to apply to this landscape photograph because the image modifies the objects in the setting to patterns and colors, separates the elements from a concrete reality and emphasizes generalized shapes.

DoN Brewer, Abstract Photography, light being (Dee), digital photo, © DoN Brewer

DoN BrewerAbstract Photography, light being (Dee), digital photo

This photo appeared in The Plastic Club‘s Members Choice Art Show in August, read my story about light being (Dee) at SideArts.com.

DoN Brewer, Abstract Photography, light being (Frank), digital photo, © DoN Brewer

DoN BrewerAbstract Photography, light being (Frank), digital photograph, 2012

light being (Frank) is for all the departed Franks – Zappa, Sinatra, Anne – but the title is influenced by a favorite dance song called Frank Sinatra by Felix da Housecat – the lyrics go:

every night with my star friends

we eat caviar and drink champagne

sniffing in the v.i.p. area

we talk about frank sinatra

you know frank sinatra?

he’s dead…dead?

ha, ha, ha

The first DoNster who guesses the location where light being (Frank) was shot will get a free print.

Through SideArts.comDoN is offering online and in-person one-on-one consulting services to visual and craft artists and art businesses.  Read all about it here.

Written and Photographed by DoN Brewer

Follow DoN on Twitter @DoNNieBeat58

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Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Wayne Franks, Row House Rose, oil

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Wayne Franks, Row House Rose, transparent oil on panel

The Art of the Flower show at The Philadelphia Sketch Club usually coincides with the Philadelphia Flower Show in March while it’s still cold and drab outside after the long Winter. But moving the annual celebration of floral art to the dog days of Summer is a good reminder to appreciate the gorgeous gardens in full bloom during this withering weather. The Art of the Flower show is a favorite of the member artists, it’s theme of natural splendor a motif filled with evocative beauty and drama.

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Ruth K. Fackenthal, Day Lilies, acrylic on linen

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Ruth K. Fackenthal, Day Lilies, acrylic on linen

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club click the thumbnail for larger image

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Kathy C. Lin, Hugging, oil

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Kathy C. Lin, Hugging, oil

This painting just makes me happy. The way the composition flips back and forth from abstract to still life to impressionist to naive expressionism is just plain fun.

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Elizabeth MacDonald

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Elizabeth MacDonald

Betty MacDonald’s piece is multiple mono-prints on paper transferred from common paint stir sticks. The sense of storytelling and descriptive imagery ties together a lifetime of experiences. References to painting as utilitarian and decorative practices, flowers as design and symbols of nature and inferences to embroidery, handwork and decorative art creates a narrative of how art influences our lives and nature influences our art.

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club click the thumbnail for large image.

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club

The gallery at The Philadelphia Sketch Club is brimming like a huge bouquet of flowers of all kinds presented in all manner os media but to my eye painting is dominant. Whether watercolor, oils, or acrylics, artists find flowers irresistible for study and painting, images of flowers were found buried at Pompeii and have long been symbols of personalities or special occasions. You can’t help but feel good when you see all the exuberant color, fluid shapes and sensuous compositions interpreted by serious artists.

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Pearl Mintzer, Magenta Blossom, acrylic

Art of the Flower at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Pearl Mintzer, Magenta Blossom, acrylic

The Art of the Flower show is only on exhibit through August 18th check the website for gallery hours and experience the many interpretations and inspirations of floral art.

Through SideArts.comDoN is offering online and in-person one-on-one consulting services to visual and craft artists and art businesses.  Read all about it here.

Written and Photographed by DoN Brewer

Follow DoN on Twitter @DoNNieBeat58

Affiliate Marketing [disclosure page] Shop on-line at Amazon.com and help support DoNArTNeWs.