Category Archives: Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

The Lightroom – Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis & John Karpinski

The Lightroom  Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinsk

Amie Potsic’s photo series – Made in China: Poor Working Conditions, Poverty, Tainted Exports & Made in China @ Lightroom Salon in the Fairmount neighborhood.  Potsic’s Asian motif pairs exquisitely with Julia Blaukopf‘s print of a collage made from her own photographic source material.  The photography takes the visitor on a trip to the Far East with a finely honed American gaze, like the Impressionists, DoN is still attracted to the shapes and color of the East.

The Lightroom  Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia  Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinsk

Julia Blaukopf, digital print on fabric @ Lightroom Salon.  Julia is a fellow of the Center of Emerging Visual Artists, it it so cool to see how the relationship building and social networking of the artist development team at CFEVA creates a great merger of styles, personalities and techniques; the synergy of the exhibit feels so personal and memorable with the vibe real friendship and cooperation.

The Lightroom  Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinsk

Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinski, photograph with drawing and Julia Blaukopf prints lined along the mantle.  The gallery on Wallace Street is elegant and welcoming, it’s really fun to get to see the old world architecture.

The Lightroom  Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinsk

Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinski – the turtle is a symbol of long life, the dream of all artists if not for themselves then their art.  The art team involves trust, understanding and strength in creating powerful narrative and clear composition; viewing a successful collaboration makes DoN remember working in teams is still possible.

The Lightroom  Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinsk

Jill Katz, Yamdrok Yso Lake en route to Gyantse, Tibet and Everest Base Camp (elevation 17,060 ft.), archyval pigment print.  The colorful scarves emanate prayers into the wind, a transcendent thought to merge with the images.

The Lightroom  Photographs by Amie Potsic, Jill Katz, Julia Blaukopf and Genevieve Coutroubis &  John Karpinsk

Julia Blaukopf is experimenting with photography and tile – cool-hunting tip!

 

 

Photos by DoN.

Philadelphia Art Season, Fall 2010

Charles Cushing

Charles Cushing @ Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Festival, mid September 2010.

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Festival attracts artists and collectors to the famous park in Center City, the perimeter lined with white tents each artist displaying their collection in the late Summer heat.  DoN talked with Philly favorite, fine artist Charles Cushing about the large scale painting attracting crowds to his booth – he worked on the oil painting over several months creating a nose-bleed view of the ball park all the way down town.

The Philly Fall art scene explodes this weekend with Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Photography 2010 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia Images @ The Plastic Club and DoN Brewer‘s one-person show, Dark Matter, @ Bonte’s Cafe, 17th & Sansom Sts., a Photographic Society of Philadelphia event- this is the weekend to plan your art crawl carefully to experience the unique, open, accessible art world embedded in Philadelphia culture.  And the Phillies clinch fourth straight playoff berth – Go Phillies!

 

Photo by DoN, 2010.

Kodak Digital Cameras


www.DickBlick.com - Online Art Supplies

Selections From Cluster @ CFEVA

Jacob Koestler @ Selections From Cluster

Jacob Koestler ,Window, Rochester, NY, photograph, 2010.

Jacob Koestler lives in Johnstown, PA. near Pittsburgh where he is a member of a shared art space called 709 Railroad Street, his photographs are included in a group show at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, his second time showing in Philly.  Three years ago Koestler’s work was included in the first collabo with Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in the space on Rittenhouse Square.  In Selection From Cluster, the photographer was invited by Amie Potsic to include the group of photos based on a revenge dream narrative where a rich boy who wants to be a rock star inherits the perfect secluded mansion in Rochester, NY, equipped with all required to live the life of the privileged, surrounded by collaborators, a dream home for him in contrast to the suburban dream home his own father is building for himself.  The series is like a metaphor for art killing the father, each generation must claim their own turf.

Michael Sherwin True North

Michael Sherwin, True North, pigment prints mounted to steel.  The series of prints explore fuzzy animism & techno-geek virtuosity – mounting the prints on steel is very cool, calculated & hard yet amorphous and squirmy like finding ancient artifacts from Mars.

“This exhibition exchange is part of an ongoing collaboration by CFEVA and PF/PCA Created in order to strengthen the artistic dialogue between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Cluster was originally presented at The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and curated by Adam Welch. The Philadelphia presentation of this exhibition was curated by Amie Potsic. Participating artists: Dee Briggs, Connie Cantor, Nayda Collazo-Llorens, Kyle Houser, Ben Kehoe, Jacob Koestler, Michael Sherwin, Lenore Thomas.”  CFEVA Website.

Dee Briggs @ CFEVA Selections From Cluster

Dee Briggs

The steel draws lines of shadows in the alcove @ CFEVA Gallery, as the airy shape slowly rotated the play of light & dark created a living drawing.  DoN observed people dreamily staring, imagining how they could clear out their living room to make space for Dee Briggs sculpture – the artists website is cool, too.  CFEVA  @ 15th & Locust Sts.

Nayda Callazo -Llorens @ CFEVA Selections From Cluster

Nayda Collazo-Llorens, Test 32, gesso, ink & pigmented marker on canvas.  The large drawing is engrossing like looking at a Chuck Close.  Little blobby shapes coalesce and entwine, connecting dots in the brain, melding mind maps spread out across the canvas like an alien landscape, coordinates marks each other trying to signal and cooperate with all elements to capture your attention.  DoN loves marker art.

Selection From Cluster is a unique opportunity to view art from PA’s other big city – Jacob Koestler described to DoN a vibrant downtown art scene/district in Pittsburgh with a fun First Friday.  Thanks to CFEVA for opening the lines of communication with artists across PA.

2010 Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

2010 Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

 

2010 Philadelphia Open Studio Tours –  pdf

Register @ http://www.philaopenstudios.com/Opportunities.aspx

 

 

DoNBrewer light beings @ The Coffee Bar

DoNBrewer light beings @ The Coffee Bar

DoN Brewer @ his artist reception.  All event photos by Peter Prusinowski.

The Center for Emerging Visual Artists hosted an artist reception for DoN Brewer and the Philadelphia Art-erati turned out in full force – friends & colleagues from the past, present & future converged on the Coffee Bar @ 17th & Locust to support DoN‘s explorations into photography.  Amie Potsic of CFEVA (& fellow photographer) and Ann Koivunen worked with the Coffee Bar to have a POST (Philadelphia Open Studio Tours) artist show in their recently remodeled cafe – the buttery walls and excellent lighting is so satisfying and easy on the eyes the photos have never looked better – and out of 30 artists the team presented, they picked DoN.  What an incredible honor & pleasure to represent Philadelphia Artists in the venerable Warwick Hotel, a landmark & planetary crossroad; DoN overheard languages from all over the world, it is so gratifying to have the work stand on it’s own, this being the largest collection of DoN‘s “light being” series to date.

DoNBrewer light beings @ The Coffee Bar

Muralist David Guinn, his Dad & Plastic Club former President Mike Guinn, the back of Ted Warschal‘s head, Cynthia Arkin (manager of The Plastic Club website), UArts’ Regina Barthmeier, DoN, Ona Kalstein and Rob Stauffer (Rob mounted, matted and framed most of the show, his outstanding presentation skills enhances the work immeasurably) @ the Artist Reception for “light beings“.

Regina & Lisa

Enhabitues of the Philly art scene, Regina & Lisa lounge below light being (Thelma) @ the artist reception for DoN Brewer‘s light beings show @ The Coffee Bar – these intrepid art crawlers have been extremely supportive of DoN‘s career and have been present at almost every art event important to his reputation.  Having friends be there when you need them is so important to an artists ego – Merci!

Ann Koivenen

Ann Koivunen of The Center for Emerging Visual Artists manages the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours submissions (going on now) and took DoN’s feeble attempt at image size accuracy and created the terrific transparent labels, a beautiful bio book and documentation – Thank you Ann for your patience!

light being (Leo Seeger)

light being (Leo Seeger), DoN Brewer @ The Coffee Bar, The Radisson Warwick Hotel through July 2010.  This image has appeared in several art shows from the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Absolutely Abstract Show to The University of Princeton Medical Center’s ArtFirst show to The Beauty Shop Cafe @ 20th & Fitzwater – DoN LoVeS it when people start seeing “light beings” in the wild.

Thanks to Shoshana Aron, Alden Cole & Les Howard for helping hang the show, Rob Stauffer for framing and the Center for Emerging Visual Artists for their tireless support of artists in Philadelphia.  DoN will be announcing an artist talk date soon.

Special thanks to Peter Prusinowski for photographing the event and his support and friendship, it’s such a good feeling to be recognized as an artist by peers – Philadelphia XOXO.