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.

DoNArTNeWs – How to Overcome Creative Block? Go To The Plastic Club

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DoNArTNeWs began as an e-mail newsletter to a list of Philadelphia artists as suggested in the book “I’d Rather Be In The Studio“. The big idea is to make an art date with yourself, visit a gallery or museum, talk to people, learn new things and gradually the block will lift and the fear of a blank canvas or page will fade to tolerable levels. The book was originally suggested by friends, a group of guys (fellow artists) interested in improving their visibility in the art work through social networking. The newsletter is a great idea but labor intensive so DoNArTNeWs gradually evolved into this blog – a review of art dates DoN (my third party voice) makes with himself, quickly Photoshopped and posted (along with constant insertions of shameless self-promotion), even though the small art alliance has drifted apart (one guy is re-covering from a torn rotator cuff, another has a neurological problem currently under control and the third is experiencing arthritis – sheesh!). Since 2008 DoNArTNeWs has become a source of good art news in Philly. So, when DoN‘s voice became quieted due to the bodily invasion of an alien virus combined with long time chronic illness and the subsequent space-time morphing from a combination of OTC cold meds and biological disease modifying drugs, DoN is re-discovering the purpose of DoNArTNeWs and why the world around him has turned into a Philip K. Dick novel? Disaster porn, fever dreams, waking up in a different universe with each dose of medicine has transmogrified into lack of productivity and a deep well of discontent to climb out of.

Underground Man, Apollo, & Meditation, Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club through April 2011.

DoN realizes artists have come to rely on this blog for information, links and resources and is making every effort to regain his footing in the shifting art landscape and find his voice again. DoN has received many well wishes but a recent comment on Facebook thanking him for a mention in this blog sparked some energy to keep pushing on. Sunday DoN visited the Plastic Club which is filled with art, enthusiasm and creative spirit; the main floor is a boldly abstract expressionist solo show by Philadelphia painter, Tom L. Torosian, the upstairs studio is a group show of moving model studies with some spectacular drawings and mixed media and the Downstairs Gallery is a group member show including Leroy Forney, Charles Kelly, Yeoun Lee, Bill Myers and Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler. Torosian’s reception wasn’t until the evening so most of us gravitated downstairs with a lovely lunch spread out by Plastic Club president Bob Jackson who obviously is in love with the club’s professional grade range. Sitting and talking, munching ham sandwiches with a group of friends about art and culture in an historic space is a healing exercise in itself.

Relationships & Reflection, Tom L Torosian – Art is Happening Again @ The Plastic Club.

Conjunction and Three Boats, Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club. Torosian’s bold neo-expressionist paintings ferment in his mind then explode from his hand onto the canvas, the expansive show of abstractions energizes and activates the gallery with a clear vision of how art can make one man happy with his life.

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler in the Moving Model Workshop show – a group show of drawings composed while the model slowly changes poses over time. The practice helps Sibylle infuse action into her paintings of dancers which have earned her acclaim and awards. Pfaffenbichler has a group of paintings in the Downstairs Gallery and won 3rd place for the Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Small Oils exhibit; DoN saw a preview of the Small Oils show before jurying at the invitation of PSC president Bill Patterson and Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler’s fancy dancers stood apart from the hundreds of excellent contenders for the show, it was no surprise to DoN she won a prize.

Moving Model @ The Plastic Club.

Charles “Chick” Kelly @ The Plastic Club’s Downstairs Gallery.

Charles “Chick” Kelly with his paintings in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club. What a gentleman? Chick’s self deprecating wit and fearless paintings of himself reveal an authenticity and genuineness of character.

Yeoun Lee @ The Plastic Club Downstairs Gallery.

Bill Myers @ The Plastic Club’s Downstairs Gallery. Myers clever surrealistic Photoshop collages are deceivingly simple, the piece on the left is a collage of a graffiti photo with the heart bear layered in and “everyone bleeds now” text extracted from a clandestine shot of someone’s T-shirt design when combined morph into a love story with bleeding hearts, memes and symbols resonating like an orchestra of tin cans in a bag.

Bill Myers, Leroy Forney & Chick Kelly @ The Plastic Club Downstairs Gallery.

Photos by DoN.

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club – DoN Brewer, Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

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Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club – DoN Brewer, Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky. Downstairs at the Plastic club is a gallery, print shop and kitchen carved out of a once junk filled basement, now a chic venue to show art and meet with friends and peers. Even though the names are drawn from a hat, look at the well established artists DoN is associated with in this collection, it’s humbling to be included in the same sentence let alone show in the same space with artists Greenspan, Kendric, Kline and Podolsky.

Burton Greenspan, Sun Lee, oil, DoN Brewer, light being (Joey Ramone), digital photograph, Diane Podolsky, Star Gazer, multicolor reduction linocut and Another Part of Town, collograph/watercolor in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club.

Diane Podolsky, The Cat, oil stick and Burton Greenspan, Gilda, oil in The Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club.

Mervyn Kline @ The Down Stairs Gallery in the Plastic Club.

DoN Brewer, light beings, digital photographs @ The Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club. The opportunity to exhibit in one of America’s oldest art clubs is a tremendous honor; with the luck of the draw, DoN was able to assemble some of his favorite images in a representative selection of his “light being” theme of reflected light on urban surfaces titled after friends and family who have transmogrified into spirits traversing the universe as beams of light. DoN‘s Grandma would be so proud.

Photos by DoN.

Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011, Huge Art Show of Little Works of Art on the Avenue of the Artists

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Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011.

Paige Ozaroski, Closer Look, photograph, Gaby Heit, Morning, Sugar, watercolor. 246 works are included in the blockbuster event, the Plastic Club continues to draw out the best of artists as they each join the competition for the prestigious awards – imagine what went through the mind of juror Murray Desener when he learned the task ahead of him, he did a fantastic job.

Nick Brown @ Plastic Club‘s small Worlds 2011. Nick sketches from life on ceramic then scratches out relief for the glaze. Caroline Maw-Dies, Woven Stoneware Basket, woven stoneware.

Mervyn Kline @ The Wanderer, print @ Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011. Mervyn & DoN are included in the show in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club; Merv’s stylish renderings are retro futuristic with an ancient lost civilization vibe. DoN will write a separate post about the show including Burton Greenspan, Diane Podolsky & Cara Kendric – DoN feels blessed to be included with such a fabulous group of fine artists, DoN has seven photos on display at the Plastic Club, a true honor.

Plastic Club‘s small Worlds 2011, 246 artworks are on display at the Plastic Club, each small world unique yet when grouped cohesive in a simplistic, natural way – the above tableau of monochromatic works with touches of color is curatorial excellence considering the blockbuster size of the exhibit.

Sylvia Schreiber @ Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011. The actual drippy painting isn’t much bigger than the image on this page but packs a bold punch of color in person.

Don McPartland, Kicker Conspiracy, mixed media @Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011; Don McPartland made a splash when he became a new member of the Plastic Club this year, 46 new artists, now capturing first prize with his soothingly complex confection, comfortably nestled in a niche in the dining room.

Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011, click the thumbnail.

Sung Ham, Joo Hooy, oil, Mervyn Kline, Picasso Blues, digital print, Jen Tsui, Post Card, mixed media @ small Worlds 2011, The Plastic Club’s annual small art extravaganza.

Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011, each nook and cranny holds a universe of small Worlds – Patricia Wilson-Schmid, Vortex, acrylic, Gail Zelikovsky, Landscape of Mars, silk painting, David DiDonato, Recycled Garden, acrylic, Lois Schlachter, Anxiety Dream, acrylic, Veronica Meekins, Nude Figure, pencil.

Phil Juska, Meatloaf at Gilleys, 2AM, construction @ Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011

Caroline Maw-Deis, Put de Lime in de Coconut, fiber, Dorothy Roschen, Smoke-Made Landscape, smoke fired clay @ Plastic Club’s small Worlds 2011, a huge art show of little works of art.

DoN is sad for Japan. “Smile, even though your heart is breaking.” With new eyes, look at the wonderful culture, community, vibrancy and beauty we are surrounded with every day and cherish each moment as if it could all be swept away in an instant. “Life is still worth while, if you just smile.”

The Work of Art

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Since DoN‘s last post he stopped by the Philadelphia Sketch Club to meet with executive director Barbara Murray who manages the constant whirl of activity at America’s oldest art club and catch up. Barbara was on the phone so DoN went upstairs to preview the Art of the Flower show and Professor Rich Harrington of Moore College of Art and Design was organizing the extensive catalog and labeling system required to mount a major exhibition. Rich was multitasking to such an extent that DoN was flabbergasted, during the take-in of art there was a numbering glitch requiring the team of volunteers to justify the entries by removing and replacing dozens of art works, he had recall of virtually every entry and where the piece was in the room, 100s of different images! DoN can recognize some artists’ styles & work by sight but Harrington knew all the artists and he’s also going through finals at Moore with students bombarding him with presentations. The catalog that results from all the hard work is a a collectible, many artists save in their files – to be juried into the prestigious art show is exciting, having a beautiful, informative memento is like a confirmation of acceptance in the art world.

Philadelphia Sketch Club, Art of the Flower 2011 – the reception & awards is March 6th, 2 – 4:00 PM.

DoN popped into the Plastic Club to preview the gigantic Small Worlds exhibit and his own mini-exhibition, part of a group show including Diane Podolsky, Burton Greenspan, Mervyn Kline & Cara Kendric in the Downstairs Gallery, and found all the numbering and information sheets completed and ready for the show. The Plastic Club uses a numbering system instead of labels which is less cumbersome, the Plastic Club allows all member artists to include their work in most shows and the Philadelphia Sketch Club usually shows a selection from a mass of entries, the tradition of a name tag is expected. Either way, there’s someone at a computer organizing Excel spreadsheets or Word docs or Photoshop files to create the information design of art show memorabilia and advertising. It takes a village and organizing volunteers is a job unto itself, join in, helping is fun.

The Plastic Club, Small Worlds exhibition of art.

Gallery sitting can be a drag, Saturday DoN invited friends to visit the Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery to talk about Search Engine Optimization for Artists which easily made two hours pass in a flash; DoN loved the bemused information overload on the artists faces after the discussion, asking them to think about their brand, what people think of them, how they want to be recognized and then how to make it appear on page one in Google. Creating an event, inviting friends and designing an experience really helped to bring people into the gallery; opening receptions are expected by the art crawlers, keeping people coming back to the gallery is the challenge. Thanks to all the volunteers who make the Philly art community thrive and grow. Visit your local art gallery today, you might make a new friend.

Yeoun Lee @ Diverse Perspective, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, South Philly.

Today there are receptions at both the Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Plastic Club on Camac Street, the Avenue of the Artists, both are free and open to the public. The Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery is open today, too, artist Yeoun Lee will be gallery sitting for the Diverse Perspectives group show even though she’s included in the Art of the Flower show with two gorgeous paintings and the Small World‘s show. Please stop in the historic gallery in South Philly and tell her how much you like her work, Yeoun and Charles are becoming quite the art power couple around town, both volunteered to help install the massive Small Worlds show at the Plastic Club, too. Art work isn’t just painting after all, it’s real, hard, tedious work designed to make people feel good about themselves and the world around them. Enjoy!

DoN Brewer Photography: Perkins Center for the Arts, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Plastic Club and The Philadelphia Sketch Club

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DoN is running this town just like a club! Art clubs, that is – with fine art photography in open and juried art shows in five major art spaces in South Jersey & Philly. The Art of the Flower show @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club is a juried competition with an enormous turnout of talented artists; DoN feels great relief that his decision to include an inkjet print photograph collage of Carnivourous Plants @ Bartram’s Garden has been recognized by the jurors to be included in the highly coveted show.

DoN Brewer, Carnivorous Plants @ Bartram’s Garden, digital photograph, Photoshop collage, inkjet print @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s annual Art of the Flower Exhibition, a blind juried competition of all types of art.

DoN helped install the Small Worlds show @ The Plastic Club; the team of volunteers hung over three hundred small images through out the old town house, each room, gallery and hall is filled with a myriad selection of art. The tremendous trove of work is smooshed in but exhibitions chair Alan Klawans foresees a day when cuts will have to be made. And, listen to DoN when he says – prepare your art properly for installation and rough handling, DoN had an artist’s piece literally come part in his hands and Plastic Club President Bob Jackson spent extra hours kindly adding wire to art submitted by artists, after spending two days logging art by hand in the log book and then hanging work on the walls Bob really doesn’t need to prepare your work for you. Really, if they have to make cuts, the first to go will be poor presentation, artist Art Ostroff & DoN griped about the lost skills of presentation. Ironically, DoN was a wire offender but took his work home to fix himself – if Bob Jackson wired your art for you to be in a huge show like Small Worlds, you owe him a big favor. Speaking of favors, DoN doesn’t know who dropped out but he has five photographs included in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club, a prestigious honor bestowed only on members in good standing. DoN is presenting a group of abstract landscape photographs from his series, light beings, several new images have been added to DoN‘s on-line gallery.

DoN Brewer, Panama Street, digital photograph, Photoshop, inkjet print, 8 x 10″ @ The Plastic Club’s Small Worlds art extravaganza.

The opening reception for Diverse Perspectives @ Da Vinci Art Alliance was super fun, DoN will write a separate review of the group show in South Philly. The group that came together organically and easily, organized an art show that DoN is proud to be a part, truly diverse, artistic and eclectic – just like DoN!

DoN Brewer Photography @ Diverse Perspectives at Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, South Philly. DoN will be hosting a discussion, Search Engine Optimization for Artists, Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 2 – 4:00 PM.

The Perkins Center for the Arts Photography 30 Show is almost over, it has been such an honor to be included in the exclusive annual photography event. The show is truly inspirational, aspirational & astounding – no kidding. As photographer Bonnie Schorske said, “…it’s a feather in your cap!” Thank you to Uncle Dave and Aunt Barbara, Cousin Carla & friends, Shoshka, Lola, Rob, Bonnie and all my friends & family who cheered me on and braved the snow to visit the beautiful mansion in Moorestown, NJ. You got to tip on the tightrope!

DoN has a new piece on display @ Bonte’s, 9th & Walnut that is a departure from the abstraction he’s known for, a church lady hat store window titled South Street Chapeaux, a documentary still life composition that Shoshka will love. The on-going show promoted by the Photographic Society of Philadelphia is a cool spot to show along with fellow photography enthusiasts; the PSoP events @ The Plastic Club are always informative, the recent talk by photographer Ed Snyder and graphic designer John Bacille about how to produce your own book was inspiring and a recent field trip to the Wistar Institute for the Nikon Small World show is exclusive and informative.

DoN Brewer, South Street Chapeaux @ Bonte’s Cafe, 9th & Walnut Streets. Thank you so much to the good people at the Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club and Da Vinci Art Alliance for providing the art opportunities, diverse creative outlets and intellectual peer support in the heart of the coolest city in the world.

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