Category Archives: Philadelphia Art Shows

Art shows DoN has reviewed for DoNArTNeWs.

Found Objects/New Contexts @ Davinci Art Alliance

Sho & DoN picked up Alden Cole (who has a pic in City Paper – holla!!) and arrived at the Found Objects/New Contexts show to find a constellation of art stars:

David Foss’ dust encrusted bizarro birdcage is so DuChampian, only the passage of time and benign neglect can create such a time/space distortion.

David Foss’ dust encrusted bizarro birdcage is so DuChampian, only the passage of time and benign neglect can create such a time/space distortion. 

Artist  Andrew Dyer - as his MySpace page @ Found Art.

Artist  Andrew Dyer – as his MySpace page @ Found Objects/New Contexts.

Renzo Oliva’s “Gladiator”

Renzo Oliva’s Gladiator“, mixed media piece combines metaphors and anthropomorphism by distilling disparate elements with a similar line weight into an activated object of desire, it really has the feel of drawing. Oliva explained to DoN that Davinci Art Alliance’s Found Art show is his first art show in America, having exhibited in Europe and Asia.Artists Karey Maurice and Burnell Yow!

Artists Karey Maurice and Burnell Yow! near their selections for the show; that’s Burnell’s on the pedestal, a mixed media piece using dog bone and doll parts, and the pair of Super Kawai, anime-ish sculptures on the table are Karey’s.

Artists Ted Warchal and award winner Regina Barthmaier

Artists Ted Warchal and award winner Regina Barthmaier; her wire horse sculpture made from rescued electronic parts is evocative of a time-traveling trip towards entropy. In the pic on the pedestal is Regina’s other entry in Found Objects/New Contexts.  Writer and art critic R.B. Strauss tells DoN he’ll be writing about Barthmaier’s horse-like sculpture. Ted Warchal, Alden Cole and David Foss

New Philadelphia artists, Ted Warchal, Alden Cole and David Foss @ Davinci Art Alliance. Alden Cole’s Divine Lorraine Awakened is pictured in this weeks City Paper with a color photo on-line, and an interview with Warchal as well.  Found Objects/New Contexts is one of the best shows DoN has seen in recent memory, as one guest Jean Adelman said, “Fun, not trivial.”

Deb Miller

Rowan University’s Dr. Deb Miller presenting awards at DaVinci Art Aliance’s Found Objects/New Contexts exhibit which is open through 7/29/08. 

LoVeDoN

All photography by DoNBrewerMultimedia Photography. 

 

Smile Gallery – Sunshine and Flowers

Smile Gallery

Artist Lilliana Didovic, artist Karen McDonnell and Ken Tutjamnong @ Smile Gallery opening for artists Ken Tutjamnong and Mike Sweeney.

Ken Tutjamnong’s impressionist floral paintings are exuberant with a variety of mark making techniques splashed across the canvas then scraped away to reveal subtle coloration and form.  Ken, a native of Thailand, is a dedicated painter and a member of the DaVinci Alliance – not only does he manage the most excellent  Smile Thai Restaurant which is more than a full time job, he finds time in the morning or after to work to develop his unique painterly style.  Tutjamnong’s paintings for the Sunshine and Flowers Show are absolutely happy with rich texture, color and composition; Ken obviously is working hard to realize a dream.

ken2.jpg

Painting by Ken Tutjamnong

Mile Sweeney

Artist Mike Sweeney @ Smile Gallery.

Mike Sweeney mixed paintings and photographs in Smile’s Sunshine and Flowers show. he says, “Photos are an ethereal experience, a painting  you have to live with, get to know, be there a long time.  A photo lasts forever as that moment.”  Again, time shifting and experience design create new vibrations, since DoN is a multimedia guy, it’s refreshing to see an artist freely mix the medias usually kept separate. 

Mike Sweeney

Painting by Mike Sweeney @ Smile Gallery. 

Ken and Matt

Ken Tutjamnong and his brother Matt Lyons. 

Second Thursday @ Crane Arts Center – The Gray Area

DoN posted a 30 second video on YouTube of the Super Mario Brothers music which is enchanting and magical; using the score from the video game soundtrack and sound effects from character/avatar interaction with puzzle elements in the game, the music is post-post-post modern.  The video is just part of the Golden Calf exhibit in the fabulously dark installation of paintings, photography and sculpture about decay, destruction, nausea and mysticism.  DoN found the art to be emotionally raw and psychologically dismal with elements of claustrophobia, isolation and estrangement; Hagit Barkai’s “Vomitous” is awesomely powerful, the paintings are Bacon-like in their facility, the subject charged with feelings of fear, powerlessness and despair, the paint application is expert.  The artists of Golden Calf are establishing New Philadelphia as the art center of the region, unafraid to tackle the more difficult apects of modern life.Brian Billingsley’s “Homage to Me” video and “Untitled (Saturn Devours His Son)” oil on canvas in the Golden Calf Show at Crane Art Center.

Brian Billingsley’s “Homage to Me” video and “Untitled (Saturn Devours His Son)” oil on canvas in the Golden Calf Show at Crane Art Center.

blobs

Weird little blobby things were all over the place.

Super Mario

Super Mario Music!!! 

Susan Abrams @ The Enclaves Gallery (short video clip)

 

Susan Abrams exhibit @ The Enclaves Gallery featuring Shoshana.

Susan Abrams makes her own paper, applies emulsion and exposes them to light in her darkroom; working with negatives she captures a wash-like effect, distorting reality, repurposing each line and shadow. Abrams is a teacher in her former life and watching her interact with the kids, explaining her process in simple terms, was a very enjoyable experience.  The Enclaves Gallery looks just beautiful with Susan Abrams’ work energizing the space with nature, science and impeccable presentation.   

Susan Abrams @ The Enclaves Gallery Susan Abrams (left) @ The Enclaves GallerySusan Abrams (left) @ The Enclaves Gallery.

 

During Susan Abrams reception, DoN met Stephanie Yuhas of Project 21, a collaborative project bringing together film makers, artists, designers, actors…to create teams and make a movie in 21 days, followed by a film festival.  Stephanie and DoN dished about local viral video star, Nora the Piano Playing Cat and Angry Video Game Nerd.  This is a geat opportunity for the New Media community to get to know each other better, the way the Philadelphia Sketch Club, the Plastic ClubPANMA and DaVinci Art Alliance bring together creative people. Maybe Comcast will put some videos on all those blank “public access channels”?  Or on that faboo screen in the lobby?