Category Archives: Philadelphia Art

Art in Philadelphia, PA.

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours Opening Night Gala @ The Institute of Contemporary Art

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Go to DoN‘s YouTube page, DoNNieBeat, to see a short video clip of the evening.  It was really a fun night in West Philly; Shoshana and DoN dressed up and mingled with the crowd of artists while video projectors displayed examples of many of the POST artists works, an efficient way to honor the artists in the prestigious art museum.Last weekend was the West of Broad Street Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, DoN exhibited new drawings, photographs, paintings and video with a special display of NTPE 1 & 4 prints.  NTPE = Newstoday Print Exchange.  Newstoday, now QBN.com is a website dedicated to mostly multimedia and graphic designers who exchange ideas, chat and help each other.  The Friday Photoshop Battles are hysterical.  For NTPE, artists and designers send a print to people on a list and each then sends one to you. DoN participated in the first event and the most recent, fourth, exchange.  NTPE is a wonderful experiment in trust, commitment, ingenuity and style with each artist doing their best to impress even the most jaded fellow designer.

 

InLiquid Art Auction in the Icebox. Cool!

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Inliquid’s art auction was a feast for the eyes, jam-packed with hundreds of artworks from some ofDoN‘s favorite Philly artists:  Alden Cole, Francine Strauss, John Karpinsky, Lependorf/Shire,Burnell Yow!, Tremain Smith, Genevieve Coutroubis, Carol Cole, Brooke Hine…OMG! Amy Stevens‘ cake photos, and Susan Abrams‘ hand made paper photos.  So much great art for such a good cause – read about it at InLiquid’s site.  The Icebox consistently installs the best of the best; the evening offered wonderful, affordable opportunities to own a cool objet d’art.

Alden Cole’s luminary sold at silent auction! Holla!

Alden Cole’s luminary sold at silent auction!  Holla!

Francine Strauss’ Totem Fetish Doll, 2003.

Francine Strauss’ Totem Fetish Doll, 2003.

John Karpinski @ The Icebox.

John Karpinski @ The Icebox.

dadart

dardart

dadart tell’s DoN he’s not,”…a Gay Republican, I’m a straight constitutionalist.”

Warren Muller @ The Icebox’s InLiquid Auction event.

Warren Muller @ The Icebox’s InLiquid Auction event.

 

Alden Cole @ Outsiders Folk Art with Harriet Wiseman

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Alden Cole

Alden Cole with his Aldenized art chair @ Outsider Folk Art Gallery @ Goggleworks.  

Ostensibly, the star of the show is self-taught artist Harriet Wiseman with her Modigliani-esque paintings of ladies and mise en seine on wood, palettes and ledger covers.  Wiseman told DoNshe had never heard of Modigliani until people started telling her about the resemblence to the master and others like Chagall and Kokoschka – nice company to keep!  She began studying art books in the library and soon understood the references; Wiseman is extremely prolific and has truly established a unique style all her own.Harriey WisemanOil painting by Harriet Wiseman @ Outsider Folk Art Gallery.Wild Palms II, paint on cardboard, Jim Bloom @ Outsider Art Gallery.Wild Palms II, paint on cardboard, Jim Bloom @ Outsider Art Gallery.

Owner, George Viener, is an extensive self-taught art collector and expert in contemporary folk and outsider art; at one time he held 250 of Blooms paintings.  Curator Emily Christenson toldDoN that Jon Clark of Home and Planet in Bethlehem cherry-picked the most angst-ridden pieces for the superb show held earlier this year in his gallery.

Alden Cole‘s dumpster-diver art perfectly suits the space, it wasn’t long before someone took the painted, re-upholstered chair off it’s pedestal to take a load off and it seemed as if everyone took a turn sitting on the art-chair.  Alden’s fantastical luminaries softly glowed around the room, it was super-fun to watch the patrons with dropped jaws staring at the hypnotically changing lights.

The Goggle Works in Reading is a wonderful art space with five floors of studios and galleries as well as a recently installed LED light show in the windows of the old brick facade brightening the downtown scene with art and innovation.  DoN and friends are planning a trip back to Reading to view more, more, more…

Alden Cole will be participating in the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours as well as an up-coming show at Smile Gallery, make sure you visit his gallery/studio in South Philly the second weekend in October.

Panorama of Outsider Folk Arts

Panoramic shot of Outsider Folk Arts Gallery in Reading, PA. 

 

Rickard Larma @ Smile

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Rikard Larma is an Associated Press photographer originally from Bosnia where he covered the war but is now a true blue Philadelphian.  Larma’s exhibit at Smile Gallery on 22nd Street is called Painting with Light; clicking the shutter while moving the camera, Rikard captures streaks and swirls of light like what the eye sees when you spin around.  The dizzy images look like abstract paintings since Larma invested in the gear to print his digital images on canvas; the deep, rich colors and ebullient compositions invigorated the second floor space with energy, light and life.  Larma had visitors vote for their top three favorites, a unique approach to interacting with art patrons, sort of American Idol in it’s popular appeal.  Speaking of voting, sever al of Larma’s AP buddies were at the opening and held the rapt attention of patrons with tales of press abuse and the scars and scabs to prove it from the RNC.  Yikes!

Rikard Larma @ Smile.

Fine art photographer, Rikard Larma @ Smile’s Painting with Light. 

Ink on canvas by Rikard Larma @ Smile. 

Rikard Larma @ Smile’s Painting with Light.

 Rikard Larma @ Smile’s Painting with Light.