Category Archives: Philadelphia Artists

Artists DoN has met in and around Philadelphia.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Models @ The Plastic Club

Jessica Hummel, Self Portrait took first prize with her photographic trilogy.

The Plastic Club on Camac Street is hosting an outstanding show of art by artists models; who else but models have insight into the world of artists, absorbing and intuiting the complexities of visual arts.  Many of the plastic club models have been mentored by the fine artists they pose for and artists are grateful for the intricacy and nuance of posing.  Susan Stromquist is included in Off the Wall Gallery’s Summer Show of past award winners – her folded chalk and pastels are Rorschach pop melded with classic atmospheric naturalism.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Karl Richard Olsen, Jeno, POR – looks like a bargain since this appears to be what’s known in the art biz as a masterpiece.  Olsen draws and paints everyday, even while walking, honing his eye and exploring new ways to express his vision.  Karl’s Flickr page is very cool and he’s currently completing one self portrait each day for 30 days.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Rob Willis, Self Portrait – you know, DoN had to double check but he knew this drawing is by Willis, last year’s Model’s Show big winner, since a definite style has emerged over time – he’s really handsome, too.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Jenn Warpole @ The Plastic Club’s Model Artists Exhibit.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Echo Shi @ The Plastic Club

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Rob Willis @ The Plastic Club

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Rob Willis – the paint job on this chopper is Super Kawai, super flat, super cool – DuChamp for everyday life.

Models @ The Plastic Club

Jym Paris, Shooting for the Moon & The Night Has A Thousand EyesDoN LoVeS Jym’s fearless style, infectious personality and spontaneous gesture.  As Antony & the Johnsons sing, “I’m a little boy now, but when I grow up I’ll be a beautiful woman.”

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club

Deborah Dias, Ratamandala.

Model Artists @ The Plastic Club through 8/22 – the club is holding special event workshops with moving model Stephanie Hyland – imagine long, slow croqui’s with the model slowly , steadily changing.  Contact the club for dates and times.

Little Show of Horrors: Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

DoN Brewer & Ted Warchal @ Bartram’s Garden

Da Vinci Art Alliance is sponsoring the fabulous show, “Little Show of Horrors” @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery; alliance members were challenged to create works commemorating Charles Darwin’s 150th anniversary of “The Origin of Species”and carnivorous plants and all the artists went crazy on the theme of the fabled bug eaters.  Above is Ted Warchal’s mixed media dream box and DoN Brewer‘s digital photo collage.

Dexiang Qian, Girl with Venus Flytrap

Dexiang Qian, Girl with Venus Flytrap, oil on canvas @ Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.  An honorable mention award winner, the painting explores the mystery and allure of collecting exotic plants.  The display of carniverous plants in Bartram’s Garden is unbelievably fascinating, DoN highly recommends seeking out the display while the Summer is still hot.  Venus Flytraps are indigenous to the Carolina’s and their habitat is being encroached upon, Bartram’s Garden offers a glimpse into a strange & wondrous world of ecology and botany and it’s fragility.

Alden Cole “Starlings” @ Little Show of Horrors

Alden Cole’s Starlings tap into a deep psychological pattern recognition much like ancient man must have reacted to the Venus of Willendorf; the simple play of line and shape is loaded with narrative, a single line of graphite tingling the hive memory deep in our genetic code.

Michael Diprinzio @ Bartram’s Garden “Little Show of Horrors”

Michael Diprinzio @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery “Little Show of Horrors” featuring Da Vinci Art Alliance members.

Emily Orb “Garden of Earthly Delights” @ Bartram’s Garden

Emily Orb with Bartram’s Garden director Louise Turen with “The Garden of Earthly Delights“, silk  painting was honored with Best in Show.  The reinvention of Bosch’s iconic dream scape is rendered with modern characters and technique, filling an entire wall of the historic space.

Dr. Deb Miller @ Bartram’s Garden “Little Shop of Horrors”

Dr. Debra Miller presenting awards @ Little Show of Horrors.  The Bartram’s Garden Gallery is in the oldest barn in Philadelphia and a wonderful space for art shows with the rough stone white-washed walls, wide wood plank floors and ancient windows – and air conditioning!

Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

Rachel Citrino, Ted Warchal (Most Creative winner) and the painting duo Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi @ Little Show of Horrors.  The show runs though August 22nd and members of the alliance will be gallery sitting, Alden & DoN will be on sight all day Wednesday.

Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery

The art party opening for Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery sponsored by the Da Vince Art Alliance.  For a free downloadable version of DoN Brewer‘s Honorable Mention winner, “Botanical Print”, click here.

The Messenger is Already Dead – CFEVA Gallery @ 1521 Locust St.

CFEVA @ 1521 Locust St Philadelphia

 Katie Murken @ Center for Emerging Visual Artists Gallery.

Katie Murken

Katie Murken’s contribution to The Messenger is Already Dead includes the Brancusi-esque columns and layered photo collages (a great steal-able idea – it took her three years to think it up, you can have it for free!).  The cool thing about Murken’s work is the logical conclusions – like, “duh?” – why didn’t DoN think of that; a great meme is hard to find, impossible to control.  In the corner are Scott Pellnat‘s “Land of Horror’s 1 – 4, wax and Barbie dolls”.

 Peter Prusinowski

Peter Prusinowski is a master of the dark room, the gelatin silver prints of Fishtown are evocative of the neighborhood’s long established quirkiness and history.  The blacks are rich and deep, the grays iridescent, the framing & lighting excellent so that the narrative readily absorbs into the consciousness with symbols and signs of civilization.

Peter Prusinowski

Peter Prusinowski @ CFEVA’s The Messenger is Dead.  With Peter’s work the medium is the massage.

CFEVA @ 1521 Locust St Philadelphia

Scott Pellnat‘s room-sized installation is fantastically inventive and enthralling; created in his North Jersey back yard, the sprawling construction is a dream scape of shipwrecks, collapsed highways, hidden chambers and fools gold.  Like a nightmare, there is no beginning or end, only feedback and feelings; Scott explained to DoN not all the teeny bookcases were filled with itsy-bitsy books as if the piece was still a work in progress.  To get to the gallery push the black button in the elevator and you will be transported to a world of dreams, nightmares and extraordinary reality.

View a video clip here.

78th Annual Fundraiser @ Da Vinci Art Alliance

 

 

Legacy of Leonardo @ Da Vinci Art Alliance
The Legacy of Leonardo exhibit @ The Da Vinci Art Alliance.
Legacy of Leonardo @ Da Vinci Art Alliance
Induction of honorary Board Member, Matt Lyons, to the Da Vinci Art Alliance – that’s Brenda, his gorgeous wife swelled with pride in the back, the tireless efforts of the couple have enabled the success of many, many artists – DoN included. As a partner in the Smile Gallery with the Da Vinci Art Alliance there has been an ongoing exhibit of contemporary regional artists in the large gallery space on 22nd Street, a lovely neighborhood inhabited by some of Philly’s finest artists. Without the support of business people, artist’s groups would implode; the steady hand and open ear of people like Matt, creativity and community can be realized in a beautiful, sustainable way.
Legacy of Leonardo @ Da Vinci Art Alliance
Induction of Thomas Wall as honorary Board Member of the Da Vinci Art Alliance – Wall’s generosity helps ensure the continuation of this vital artist collective.
Legacy of Leonardo @ Da Vinci Art Alliance

Ernesto E. Ibasco, Jr. on guitar.

The fund-raising event was really cool – great food (OMG – Lilliana’s chicken salad! & canolli’s!), fun and affordable silent auctions and live music. When Dr. Deb Miller introduced the honorees her speech is very lucid and clear concerning the accomplishments of the people she’s talking about but she makes DoN, as a listener, feel like he’s participating in something important, real and intellectually stimulating. Instead of hurrying things along, Dr. Deb offers quotes, quips and kudos so that all get their due moment in the spotlight. With some exciting new projects and shows on the horizon, the venerable society is sure to continue exciting the senses with art.