Category Archives: Philadelphia Art Shows

Art shows DoN has reviewed for DoNArTNeWs.

Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art and Fine Crafts @ Bryn Mawr Rehab, Malvern, PA.

Allen Bryan, digital photograph collage

The Art Ability International Juried Exhibition of Art and Fine Crafts show at Bryn Mawr Rehab Center in Malvern is an annual event that DoN looks forward to for many reasons. First, Art Ability is a great art show with outstanding work by hundreds of artists from 35 states and seven countries in all kinds of media from painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, sculpture and DoN‘s personal interest, photography. Secondly, this is the third year DoN has been included in the show, “light beings (Lorraine and Charles)“, an abstract landscape photo dedicated to my late Great Aunt and Uncle, was selected by the esteemed panel of jurors from hundreds of entries. DoN is honored to be included in the annual exclusive art event, being featured in the excellent glossy catalog and to be treated to a wonderful evening of dining, meeting artists and collectors at the Patron’s Reception held November 5, 2011.

Photography is well represented in the show, when DoN delivered his piece to Bryn Mawr Rehab he got a sneak peak at the art intake and right away was taken with several large photographs by Allen Bryan. The wide aspect ratio and densely detailed dream-scapes have all the feel of reality but with unnatural elements, transitions and oblique views, kind of like waking up from a dream. Indeed, the photo collage Open Box Story won Best in Show, the Charles W. Hennessy Artist Award with proceeds from the Charles W. Hennessy Art Ability Endowment Fund, selected by judges Teresa Jaynes, John Ollman and Ingrid Shaffner. DoN spoke with the artist at the reception and he confirmed the surrealist work is created with his own photographs which he expertly manipulates with Photoshop, the large format print and subtle frame are exquisitely crafted. The photo above is not the winning piece but if you visit his website, or better yet go to the show which is free and open to the public daily through mid January 2012, you will experience a masterful artwork that will confound and intrigue the senses.

Read more about DoN‘s Art Ability experiences at Philly.SideArts and watch for more reports about this expansive art exhibition.

DoN Brewer

Photograph by DoN Brewer shot with:

West Collection of Contemporary Art Prize Smart Phone App for People’s Choice Award Now Available for Download on iTunes

1 Reply

Download the West Collects Smart Phone App, available on iTunes. DoN Brewer is grateful for the opportunity to present his photography for consideration for the prestigious and unique art collection, please vote for DoN and all your Philly favorite artists. DoNArTNeWs and Philly.SideArts were first to report the announcement of a $100K award set aside for purchase of artwork by Philadelphia artists – we literally had Mayor Nutter’s speech on YouTube within hours. DoN highly recommends Philadelphia artists take the time to enter their artwork at the West Collection website, it’s free and easy and they offer great tech support.

Find the perfect gift at the Kodak Store!

Allison Kaufman, Artist Statement @ Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Jerry KaBa @ Crane Arts Center, Fishtown, 9/8/11

1 Reply

Jerry Kaba at The Crane Arts Center

DoN had the photos and the interview from a Second Thursday art crawl September 8th, 2011 at the Crane Center for the Arts in Fishtown. But, DoN could not find the artist’s name!?! By chance, Jerry KaBa‘s business card surfaced and DoN can now share with you the scariest Halloween costume design – ever!

Video & Photos by DoNBrewerMultimedia

Street and Free Art, Power to the People, Karen M & Anthony C

1 Reply

Karen M contacted DoN prior to the start of the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours East weekend to tip him off to drive by the baseball field on Wharton Street near Geno’s and Pat’s Steaks. Karen and DoN talked recently about the economic situation of artists, the unreliability of sales and income to cover the expense of making art. Art costs money, usually. Karen M and Anthony C have been tagging the city, graffiti style, with their own collectible paintings. Using the same technique as their high end paintings on canvas, the pair uses found cardboard and posters to paint their iconic portraits, like Wisdom Kid, with stencils and spray paint, then install them where people can steal the art. During the recent Philadelphia Open Studio Tours West, they stapled a beautiful portrait on glittery paper to the bedraggled knit-bombed telephone pole at the end of DoN‘s block. Luckily while walking KaTy the ArT DoG and Lady Doofus, the geriatric St. Bernard / Chihuahua, DoN was able to carefully retrieve the piece, the scars torn into the paper from the staples a secret prize of provenance. Collectors across South Philly follow their messages, like the one DoN was texted, to go to a particular spot for some prime art loot. It’s all the fun of stealing without any of the guilt. Karen M and Anthony C prove that art can be free and fun, provocative and intellectual, thoughtful and carefree in a public arena with no fees, no charges, no costs, no juries, dealers or committees or money. Free Art = Free Money.