Category Archives: Philadelphia Art Installations

Art installations in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 – South Philly

Dan Welch Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Dan Welch Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Collage walls by Dan Welch @ OCDan on Fitzwater Street.  The handy-dandy POST guide says,”surreal, alchemical, flux.”  Yup!  The first stop on a beautiful Saturday was a third floor walk-up to OCDan’s trippy studio he shares with Emily Smith, their art resonates on different vibes but the space has room for both.

Emily Smith Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Emily Smith, watercolors.  Smith says she does a lot of self-portraits because no one will pose for her. she likes to mix beauty and the grotesque because people are monsters yet beautiful. “I like it when people hate my work, take away what you want.”

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Mosaic mural near South Street – we tried to get into the Magic Garden but it was crowded, this little diversion helped satisfy the urge.

Nangelini - Nancy - Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Nancy @ Nangellini on South Street makes Dream-Catchers from hand pulled, hand died yarn; the shop carries artisanal yarns made from exotic threads from near and far.  Although not part of the POST tour, Nangellini is a welcome stop on South Street to take in a heady mix of art and fashion.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Studios @ The Purl, 1138 South 9th Street – jewelry, clever scarves, photography created by a five artist collective in that strip along the Italian Market waiting to become cool, on the other side of Washington Ave.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2010 - South Philly

Studios @ The Purl is a good example of how many smaller galleries and collectives participated in this years art crawl, in this tough economy we have to band together to keep the dream alive.  Philly has a rich heritage of art and culture requiring support if we are to survive as a hub of the regional creative economy.  Studios @ The Purl includes Jurgita Centuke, Zivile Pupinyte & SoulPurl 77 Design.

DoN is working on a separate story about 1241 Carpenter Street and his Sunday tour of Kensington area studios and galleries.

 

Photos by DoN.

Embodiment of Desire – Ted Warchal & Nicole Eiland @ Smile Gallery

Nicole Eiland @ Smile Gallery

Nicole Eiland @ Smile Gallery.  Nicole told DoN she likes the smell of burning paper and she is inspired by the wonder of nature.  Eiland uses a lot of book forms symbolizing human symbiosis destroying and creating.

Ted Warchal @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, Rotterdam at Low Tide, collage.

Ted Warchal @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, Mig Alley, collage @ Smile Gallery, Embodiment of Desire through 11/8/2010.

Ted Warchal @ Smile Gallery

Ted Warchal, All Through the Censures, She Wears Her Cool Like Perfume, collage, acrylic, wood panel.

Ted Warchal explained to DoN that late Winter, early Spring he started to work small, a diversion from his found object sculptures he is so well known for.  He began creating meticulously tiny collages that look like little paintings, clustered together the pieces are subtle but on closer inspection each collage is a deep, secretive introspection on life, love and desire.

 

Photos by DoN.

October is Mural Arts Month in Philadelphia – MAM10

October is Mural Arts Month in Philadelphia

Meg Saligman re-imagined the mural (the previous two artists Bill Friedman & Sam Donovan were unavailable) @ Broad & Vine Streets incorporating LED lights that will morph the painting into a multimedia art installation that is one of a kind in the world.  The three panels tell a story about nursing from personal care to record-keeping-to technological expertise in the dreamy style Saligman has developed in her many beautiful walls through the city but this one lights up – Cool!.  The Mural Arts Program has twenty-two separate events throughout October, Jane Golden said there are thousands of sites seeking murals.  The mural @ Broad and Vine is dedicated to Florence Nightingale and all nurses everywhere.

October is Mural Arts Month in Philadelphia

Many local nurses are portrayed in the enormous painting; DoN has always relied on the kindness of nurses, his favorite Aunt Fran is a nurse, still helping even in retirement.  Meg Saligman made sure to invite all the participating artists and models to take the stage with her, the platform was crowded with volunteers and artists alike, a testament to Meg’s ability to make people team up and the crowd cheered their achievement.

October is Mural Arts Month in Philadelphia

Jane Golden introduced Mayor Nutter to the crowd attending the dedication of the mural; Philadelphia’s Mayor addressed the crowd to celebrate the mural and it’s importance to the city, he praised Jane Golden and her team of artists at the Mural Arts Program and the value of nurses and medicine to Philadelphia.  DoN really likes Mayor Nutter and his support for the arts in Philly but in a surreal twist, the mayor’s speech was cut short by protesters from ADAPT, a very organized group of demonstrators of disabled people trying to close nursing homes and encourage group home living instead.

Kathryn Pannepacker - Woven Mural

This mural @ 13th & Ludlow Streets is a handmade woven mural, master-minded by Super-Artist Kathryn Pannepacker in association with the Mural Arts Program, using mats made by homeless and disaffected people living in shelters.  When people start weaving they start to heal and learn a skill, find self satisfaction and hope.  The piece was created as part of the Finding Home Project gaining Katheryn and the project kudos on NPR’s Dr. Dan Gottleib, Volunteers of America website and American Craft Magazine.  You can help by shopping at the handmade by the homeless Gallery on South Street and talking to your representatives about rights for people who can’t help themselves.

Kathryn Pannepacker - Woven Mural

detail of the woven mural @ 13th & Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia.

 

Photos by DoN.

Philadelphia Images: Places, People and Objects @ The Plastic Club

Michael Guinn @ Philadelphia Images: Places, People and Objects @ The Plastic Club

Michael Guinn, Chinatown Street, ink @ Philadelphia Images: Places, People and Objects, The Plastic Club on Camac Street.  Mike, a former club president, was presented with the Jurors Award; Guinn was elated saying, “This is the first award I’ve ever received from the club!”  Board members are ineligible for prizes, even though they take on the biggest burden of work – Mike Guinn continues to provide essential support and guidance to the historic art space.  A video is in production attempting to tell the story of the historic art club.

Leroy Fournay, Cherry Street Looking West- Philadelphia Images: Places, People and Objects @ The Plastic Club

Leroy Fourney, Cherry Street Looking West, oil – 3rd Prize award winner, this small painting pack a lot of information and sense of place on a small panel.  The Philadelphia Images show at the Plastic Club is a must see experience with images of Philly from many unexpected perspectives.

Eileen Eckstein Philadelphia Images: Places, People and Objects @ The Plastic Club

Eileen Eckstein’s photograph, Mummer Witch, not only captures the spirit of the season but the essence of the exhibition with this painterly image – and she won Honorable Mention.  Eileen Eckstein is the president of the Photographic Society of Philadelphia.

Morris Klein - Philadelphia Images: Places, People and Objects @ The Plastic Club

Duck Crossing, Morris Klein, photograph, remembers a moment in time that has probably ended forever, the quaint image tells a story which begins with Summer fun and is finished in the viewers mind with unbelievable tragedy.  Morris Klein is the vice president of the Photographic Society of Philadelphia.

 

Photos by DoN.

Art Show Ops – Deja Vu @ Off the Wall, Picturing the Decameron @ Smile & CFEVA Fellowship Application

Arists ask DoN about art show opportunities frequently, here are some heady themes to get your creative juices flowing:

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition:

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks - Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition:

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition

 

Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition Prospectus

Da Vinci Art Alliance

 

 

Picturing

 

The Decameron

An awards exhibition of Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Galleryfeaturing art inspired by International Opera Theater’s new  production of Boccaccio’s Decameron

Picturing the Decameron Da Vinci Art Alliance Prospectus

 For artists interested in participating in the November Da Vinci @ Smile show based on our collaboration with International Opera Theater’s production of Boccaccio’s Decameron (prospectus attached), here’s a list of the scenes Karen Saillant will feature (with references to the day, story numbers in the book):

Prologue, Florence, Calandrino
I, 1:  Ciappelletto di Prato – evil notary
IX, 1:  Federigo and his Falcon – poor knight
VIII, 3:  Maso del Saggio and the Enchantment of Calandrino – lapidary
IV, 1:  Ghismunda and the Heart in a Goblet – princess of Salerno
IX, 2:  The Habit of Mother Usimbalda
V, 8:  The Wedding of Nastagio degli Onesti
X, 10:  Griselda and the Marquis of Saluzzo
Postlude, Calandrino

Please note:  you can submit up to 3 entries; depending on the number of entries received, we will do our best to install all works.

Decamero

world premiere

Based on Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio

Music: Efrain Amaya, Michael Djupstrom, Daniel Shapiro,

Adam Silverman, Tony Solitro, Thomas Whitman, Ya- Jhu Yang,

Libretto: Karen Saillant

Italian Translation: Tommaso Sabbatini

November 12 and 13 at 8 PM

November 14 at 3 PM

The Prince Music Theater

ACT I Prologue;

Calandrino (who comes out of his giant costume, which consists of large pieces of fabric with scribbling all over them) speaks to the audience about The Plague and implores all of the individuals sitting in front of him to leave the premises immediately because The Plague is killing everyone!! (Gavoccioli-the name of the large boils that appear on the body as a result of The Plague)

Calandrino narrates in English

·         First Day: First Story– Thomas Whitman, composer
The scoundrel Ser Cepperello manages to pass himself off as a virtuous man during his last confession. After his death, he is remembered as Saint Ciappelletto and people pray to him for favors and believe him capable of performing miracles.

Calandrino narrates in English

·         Fifth Day: Ninth Tale
A young gentleman by the name of Federigo falls in love with a beautiful lady named Monna Giovanna. He spends large amounts of money trying to gain her attention but she remains indifferent to his love. Eventually he loses everything and is forced to live in poverty in a little farm with only his beloved pet falcon for company. Meanwhile Monna Giovanna’s husband dies and her son falls very ill. The sick child asks his mother to get him Federigo’s falcon. She goes to visit Federigo to ask for the falcon. As she arrives at Federigo’s house, he is very distressed to see her and not having any food in the house to offer her  and not knowing the cause of her visit, Federigo kills his falcon and makes it into a meal for his beloved lady. After dinner Monna Giovanna reveals the reason for her visit. Federigo is devastated that he cannot help her and she has to leave empty-handed. Monna Giovanna’s son dies. After a period of mourning, Monna Giovanna, who is rich and still young and beautiful, rewards Federigo’s loyalty by marrying him.

Calandrino narrates in English.

·         Eighth Day, Third Story

Calandrino overhears the lapidary, Maso del Saggio, talking to himself about a place where mountains are made of parmesan cheese and vines are hanging with sausages. Calandrino is enchanted with the idea of visiting this place and is especially determined when he learns about the stone called The Heliotrope that it will make him invisible. He shares the story of the heliotrope with his friends Buffalmacco and Bruno and they continue the ruse as they pellet him with stones all the way home from The Mungone River.

Calandrino narrates in English

·         Fourth Day, First TaleTancredi, Prince of Salerno and father of Ghismunda, slays his daughter’s lover, Guiscardo, and sends her the heart of her lover in a golden cup: Chismunda pours upon it a poisonous distillation, which she drinks and dies.

ACT I

Ninth Day, Second Tale
An abbess rises in haste and in the dark, with intent to surprise an accused nun in bed with her lover: thinking to put on her veil, she puts on instead the breeches of a priest that she has with her. The nun, after pointing out her abbess’s head covering, is acquitted by the abbess. The abbess extols the virtues of love and thenceforth allows all members of the order to find it easier to meet with those interactions which bring them to greater love.

Calandrino narrates in English

Fifth Day: Eighth Story
Wealthy Nastagio degli Onest is in love with a lady of noble lineage who despises him. Discouraged, Nastagio leaves town and, in the wilderness, witnesses the frightening scene of a young woman who is chased down by a knight and murdered by having her back slit open and all of her organs pulled out of her and throw to wild dogs. The knight explains to Nastagio that they are both souls in torment, doomed to repeat the scene for years. The deed is part of his punishment for his having committed suicide in despair at being rejected by the lady. The lady in turn is punished for her pride and cruelty in rejecting the love of the knight. Nastagio has the idea of making arrangements to have his beloved witness the scene. Once she sees the naked woman murdered for her cruel and cold heart, she changes her mind about Nastagio and agrees to be his wife.

Calandrino narrates in English

·         Tenth Day: Tenth Story
The nobleman Gualtieri marries Griselda, a peasant woman. At first he treats her well but then decides to test her obedience. He speaks to her abusively and takes away their two infant children, suggesting to her that they are to be killed (in reality, they are taken to Bologna and raised by friends). Griselda bears this with patience. Her husband then expresses his wish to divorce Griselda and sends her back to her father’s peasant house. Pretending to be making arrangements for his new wedding, Gualtieri calls back Griselda and orders her to take care of all the preparations, including the welcoming of the new bride and her brother. Putting up with it all, Griselda obeys and graciously receives the beautiful young woman. Gualtieri then reveals the truth and announces that the supposed bride and her brother are really their own children, now nineteen and twenty years old. Griselda is congratulated on her heroic patience and obedience and welcomed back as the lady of the home.

Prologue: Calandrino returns to book, admonishing everyone to be attentive and leave town as quickly as possible.

Main Issues of Decameron Opera:

  • Main colors will be red, black and white (but Artist should not limit themselves to these colors if they do not want to.
  • literal and symbolic meaning of The Plague
  • The Plague as symbol for the healing that can take place after a great tragedy
  • Condition and direction of society in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance and as it speaks to us today
  • SYMBOLS:
  • Apple, its seeds, especially the center of the apple, known as the pentacle
  • Blood Stone: Heliotrope, known as the bloodstone.
  • Land of Bengodi (similar to idyllic land of Cockaigne )
  • Stories as “mirrors” of vices and virtues
  • literature as medicine for healing society
  • costumes modern, with taste of Middle Ages
  • emergence of playful, light-hearted, human, and humane view of life after a great traged-
  • critique of human vices marked by understanding and humor rather than heavy moralizing.
  • hypocrisy of religious and moral authorities; superstitions and the gullibility of people.
  • Beauty, pleasure, love, laughter and play as privileged values
  • carpe diem ethos of work
  • mixing of people from different social levels and classes;
  • more egalitarian society where merit is based on actions and character,rather than birth or inherited wealth

Both of these long running art spaces have track records for attendance, participation and recognition in Philadelphia – support your local art galleries by entering the shows, visiting the galleries and volunteering to help produce these events.  Thanks to Dr. Deb Miller of DVAA and Jody Sweitzer @ Dirty Franks for their efforts!

Center for Emerging Visual Artists

 Artist, Career Development Program Fellowship

Organization: The Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Job Categories:Curatorial, Education, Marketing & Public Relations, Philadelphia County (PA), Artist Development & Residencies, Foundations/Fellowships, Visual Arts

Free two-year fellowship in the Career Development Program at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists. The Center for Emerging Visual Artists strives to provide the essential support services and programs emerging artists need to build sustainable careers. Our Career Development Program Fellowship offers a select group of talented artists the following: a two-year fellowship period and lifelong alumni affiliation, group exhibitions around the region and beyond, a three person show in the second year of the fellowship, professional development workshops, mentorship, community, volunteer opportunities, individual career counseling, and alumni solo exhibitions and travel grants.

To Apply:Eligibility requirements include the following: Applicants cannot be full-time students. Applicants must live within 100 miles of CFEVA (all of New York City and boroughs included). Applicants cannot have a contractual agreement with a commercial gallery or gallery representation. For the online application and further eligibility requirements, go to http://www.cfeva.org/cfeva_programs_career.aspx  For more information, contact Amie Potsic, Director of the Career Development Program at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, 1521 Locust Street, Lower Level, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-546-7775 x 12, amie@cfeva.org, www.cfeva.org.

Deadline: 11/01/2010

Good Luck!

LoVe

DoN