Category Archives: Philadelphia Art

Art in Philadelphia, PA.

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

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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.

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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

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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.

Tony Rubel @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

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Tony Rubel

Tony Rubel @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Tony Rubel @ PSC

The Tony Rubel exhibit @ PSC is extremely moving not only because the imagery speaks of a specific period in time when androdynous beauty and editorial content was like physical contact with the lithe nymphs portrayed in the images but that his work lives on, respectfully remembered with this wonderful retrospective of more than 40 photographs. Sexy, gorgeous girls stare into the camera, calmly, serenely calling out from the paper like mythological sirens.  A memorial for the photographer is today in the Philadelphia Sketch Club gallery.