Category Archives: Philadelphia Art Clubs

Art clubs are members only groups with a mission to promote the development of artists; DoN is a member of several Philadelphia area art clubs.

Marilee Morris, One Eye Sees the Other Feels, Kay Kanayama, Evidence in The Stewart Room Gallery @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

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The Artist in his Garden, oil on canvas, Marilee Morris @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

On a swampy Philly Summer evening, DoN attended the opening reception for artists Marilee Morris and Kay Kanayama, the steamy walk through Center City was worth the sweat. The venerable Stewart Room of the Philadelphia Sketch Club is reserved for member artists of the club who are chosen at random after a period of time as a member is met, the odds of getting a show are tough. The Sketch Club calendar says Steve Iwanzcuk is scheduled, he’s the Exhibitions Chair, DoN isn’t positive but Steve must have offered the space (which is OK by club rules) to Marilee & Kay, both devoted volunteers and aspiring painters, resulting in a beautiful show of paintings by emerging artists.

Marilee Morris is an excellent example of an artist who knows they want to be an artist but doesn’t have the technical skills to paint with oils, it’s like a science with all the emulsions, chemicals and mixtures, a lot to learn, right? Marilee starting taking workshops at the Sketch Club, working side by side with many fine artists who take advantage of the affordable studio with models and soaked up the talent around her. Many times DoN has stopped by the club and Marilee is painting alone, off hours, in the sunny studio, focused on finding her visual voice in a challenging media. The result is a collection of lush landscapes and evocative portraits of family and friends, loved ones and children, animals and trees, there is a real feeling of how much she loves her life.

Danielle, oil on canvas, Marilee Morris @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Le Chevalier de la Legion D’Honneur, oil on canvas, Marilee Morris @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Click the thumbnail for a good look at Marilee Morris‘ portrait of WWII hero and French Legion of Honor Medal recipient, Ben Cohen, one of the fine artists DoN alluded to, posing in a tuxedo with his award. With subtle allusions to the French origins of this historic moment, the painting is restrained yet emotionally uplifting; Ben Cohen is very humble about his heroism but Morris captures the true dignity, character and pride of this great man, a true American hero who saved thousands of lives in the great war, in a painterly, atmospheric, yet documentary painting. Ben is an incredible resource of information about the business of being an artist and a wonderful mentor for Marilee. This painting will live forever. And they were speaking French, DoN felt like he was back in Paris.

All About Cornbread, oil on paper, Kay Kanayama @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Reign Over You, Kay Kanayama @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

This painting is one of DoN‘s favorites, the combination of portraiture and abstract expressionism is euphoric, joyful and dreamy. Kanayama is another active volunteer at the oldest art club in America, deliberate in her pursuit of atmospheric naturalism mixed with expressive bold brushwork and vivid color. She calls her part of the show Evidence and hopes her art will help bring forth evidence for you of your own perceptions and emotions. The show is emotional on many levels resonating with joyful artistic expression and thoughtful narratives in paint.

Kay Kanayama @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Marilee Morris, One Eye Sees the Other Feels, Kay Kanayama, Evidence in The Stewart Room Gallery @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Photos by DoN.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

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Lois Schlachter, @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011

Steve Iwanczuk @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011. That’s Steve reflected in the drawing on the right.

Lois & Steve have collaborated as the co-chairs of the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Exhibition Committee for years, lately Lois is focused on her own art career, continuing to volunteer but now making new art, showing in galleries and entering competitions. Schlachter has had the unique experience of viewing virtually thousands of artworks submitted to the venerable art club’s competitions and exhibitions and now is creating her own memorable art, fractured planes, vibrant color, dreamy narratives like a mix of Charles Dumuth and Takashi Murakami. Steve Iwanczuk teaches graphic design but his drawings are surreal and photographs technically exact, in this show he shows three sides of his persona, each piece strange and deep.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Mina Smith-Segal Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Deborah Ann S. Horsting @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne – Gift Shop! Many of the artists brought prints, cards and posters to sell, Art Space‘s lay-out is multi-purpose and really fun to wander through. Art Space is a major component in the art vibe of Lansdowne, many of the locals came out to the show, the support of the neighbors is so important if art is the force communities use to stay vibrant and relevant.

Dorothy Roschen @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

John Schmeichen @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Karen McDonnell & Anthony Cortosi @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne. Karen & Anthony are collaborative by nature, often taking on responsibilities others don’t want to do ensuring art events can jump off. The duo work together on their art, drawing and cutting stencils, spray-painting and decorating their canvasses until layers of memes, myths and memories are mashed-up like a DJ Shadow mix.

Rich Harrington @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Volunteering is a good way to make friends, learn new things, experience different ideas and stretch social skills; sometimes it feels really good, sometimes it’s hard work but in the end people working towards a common goal, solving problems, creating opportunities, being selfless and inclusive is an art form unto itself. Thank you so much to the Philadelphia Sketch Club and Art Space, DoN LoVeS seeing his work flanking Lois Schlachter and Steve Iwanczuk‘s art, to be included in their company is an honor. Not all the volunteers are represented in this blog post many other artists are in the expansive show, take the drive out to Lansdowne to see the show, support the volunteers and the view of the city on the drive back is spectacular, a fine reward.

Photos by DoN.

DoN Brewer @ The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Members Art Show & Sale

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DoN Brewer @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale.

Being part of an art group and observing the social dynamics in the art world is as interesting as the art. The recent artist receptions at the historic art clubs, The Plastic Club & The Philadelphia Sketch Club, drew crowds of artists to the Avenue of the Artists in Center City to celebrate the best of the best. It is so much fun to be the fly on the wall when someone is looking at your work; having pieces in both shows was especially gratifying and when people observe to DoN they remember his photos from one show or the other show it feels so good to know they remember the images. DoN entered his digital photograph from Da Vinci Art Alliance‘s Envisioning the Decameron show titled Heliotrope in PSC‘s art sale (the image will represent DoN‘s work in the forthcoming DVAA 80th Anniversary art book), an abstract found architectural detail photo that confounds observers – it looks like a painting but it’s a photo, Heliotrope is a color but it’s also a magic stone that was thought to cure the plague.

Heliotrope, digital photo & print, DoN Brewer.

Meeting artists is as much fun as looking at the art and drinking wine: painter Garth Herrick and DoN chatted about how he exclusively does commissions now, Steve Iwanzuk PSC Exhibitions chair told a story about once putting Mark Zuckerberg in his place, Chick Kelly was dressed to the nines in a dashing hat, Karen McDonnell, the Queen of Hip Hop Grafitti, looked HoT! in black, Scott Affleck posed with DoN for photos since our work is hanging next to each other…it was a really good art day.

Panoramic view of the Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Members Art Show & Sale – that’s PSC President Bill Patterson in the middle, it was a wonderful moment when DoN saw Bill shaking hands with Mike Guinn, Plastic Club past president, at The Plastic Club’s Members Medals show, the two leaders are essential to the success of the historic art clubs.

The Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Members Art Show and Sale.

The Plastic Club’s Members Medals Show – center bottom row is DoN‘s Rune, digital photo printed on matte paper. DoN picked this photo to go after a prize because to him it represents painting, photography and printing all at once – even though the image is glossy, the paper is matte, creating an illusion. Oh well, it’s great just to be nominated. Congratulations to Lois Schlachter for winning the Gold Medal.

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit – that’s artist Yeoun Lee in both ends of the photo!

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit.

Upstairs at the Plastic Club.

Both art shows end this week, DoN recommends you find time to see these important art events because they represent some of the best of Philly’s contemporary artists and what they think is their best work.

Photos by DoN.

Envisioning Shakespeare – Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

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Through April 26, 2011 at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, in collaboration with the Da Vinci Art Alliance, presents Envisioning Shakespeare” an exhibition of art by 24 members artists relating to the works of William Shakespeare in the lobby of Wilson Hall which houses Rowans Pfleeger Theatre.

Artists in the exhibition include: Bobbie Adams, Betsy Alexander, Rosalind Bloom, Bud Boehringer, DoN Brewer, Alden Cole, Lilliana Didovic, David Foss, Linda Dubin Garfield, Sharri Jerue, Carl Johnson, Ona Kalstein, Marie Keane, Rikard Larma, Carla Lombardi, Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi, Deb Miller and Ray Costello, Liz Nicklus, Patricia OHalloran, Francine Strauss, Ted Warchal, Carol Wisker, Burnell Yow!

Click the thumbnails for panoramic views of Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance Event @ Rowan University, Glassboro NJ.

Envisioning Shakespeare @ Rowan University. Da Vinci Art Alliance is an 80 year old art gallery cooperative located in South Philly; the expansive show of art gleaned from Shakespeare themed art shows from the past examines images, themes and ideas from Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Hamlet and Henry IV, Part 1 by artists working in all types of media.

Lilliana Didovic – Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Rowan University.

Carl Johnson@ Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event.

DoN Brewer and Mina Smith-Segal – Envisioning Shakespeare – Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University.

Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Rowan University. Thank you to the great work by the Da Vinci Art Alliance team for installing the exhibition; director Dave Foss, board members Alden Cole and Ted Warchal transported and hung the show in a coherent, flowing retrospective in the handsome lobby of the Pfleeger Theater with each artwork resonating and reinforcing the messages from the works in proximity. But, Dr. Deb Miller, Da Vinci Art Alliance Board President is the master-mind behind the series which has brought this collection of Philadelphia artists together in a bright, welcoming setting where the art can be seen by theater-goers and students at Rowan University. The on-going series of theme shows allows artists to interpret Shakespeare in their own styles and media, most recently interpreting A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Black Box Gallery at the Lantern Theater Company.

Lilliana Didovic has participated in each of the Da Vinci Art Alliance Envisioning Shakespeare exhibitions and won First Prize this time for her painting in the Envisioning A Midsummer Night’s Dream (the dreamy blue night scene above). Lilliana is dedicated to Da Vinci Art Alliance, volunteering her time and creating art even as she worked at achieving her Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago this Spring.

Nadia Kunz was thrilled to be exhibiting for the first time with Da Vinci Art Alliance for the Envisioning A Midsummer Night’s Dream art show; Nadia’s construction is a whimsical interpretation of the famous play created with found objects.

Envisioning “A Midsummer Night’s Dream“ @ The Lantern Theater’s Black Box Gallery. DoN know’s that’s Ted Warchal’s Puck in the middle but he needs help identifying the others, if you know who’s who in any of these photos please comment so credit can be given to the artists.

Envisioning Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Black Box Gallery at Lantern Theater. See the Da Vinci Art Alliance Facebook page for more photos. Thank you to the Lantern Theater for giving DoN exclusive access to the gallery, normally only theater-goers get to see the art show, the underground gallery has a bohemian vibe synchronizing with the eclectic artist collective’s esthetic, Da Vinci Art Alliance has been invited back for next year’s Shakespeare production.

Photos by DoN. shot exclusively with Kodak Digital Cameras