Category Archives: Philadelphia Sketch Club

DoN Brewer @ The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Members Art Show & Sale

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

DoN Brewer @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale.

Being part of an art group and observing the social dynamics in the art world is as interesting as the art.  The recent artist receptions at the historic art clubs, The Plastic Club & The Philadelphia Sketch Club, drew crowds of artists to the Avenue of the Artists in Center City to celebrate the best of the best.  It is so much fun to be the fly on the wall when someone is looking at your work; having pieces in both shows was especially gratifying and when people observe to DoN they remember his photos from one show or the other show it feels so good to know they remember the images.  DoN entered his digital photograph from Da Vinci Art Alliance‘s Envisioning the Decameron show titled Heliotrope in PSC‘s art sale (the image will represent DoN‘s work in the forthcoming DVAA 80th Anniversary art book), an abstract found architectural detail photo that confounds observers – it looks like a painting but it’s a photo, Heliotrope is a color but it’s also a magic stone that was thought to cure the plague.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Heliotrope, digital photo & print, DoN Brewer.

Meeting artists is as much fun as looking at the art and drinking wine: painter Garth Herrick and DoN chatted about how he exclusively does commissions now, Steve Iwanzuk PSC Exhibitions chair told a story about once putting Mark Zuckerberg in his place, Chick Kelly was dressed to the nines in a dashing hat, Karen McDonnell, the Queen of Hip Hop Grafitti, looked HoT! in black, Scott Affleck posed with DoN for photos since our work is hanging next to each other…it was a really good art day.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Panoramic view of the Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Members Art Show & Sale – that’s PSC President Bill Patterson in the middle, it was a wonderful moment when DoN saw Bill shaking hands with Mike Guinn, Plastic Club past president, at The Plastic Club’s Members Medals show, the two leaders are essential to the success of the historic art clubs.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

The Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Members Art Show and Sale.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

The Plastic Club’s Members Medals Show – center bottom row is DoN‘s Rune, digital photo printed on matte paper.  DoN picked this photo to go after a prize because to him it represents painting, photography and printing all at once – even though the image is glossy, the paper is matte, creating an illusion.  Oh well, it’s great just to be nominated.  Congratulations to Lois Schlachter for winning the Gold Medal.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit – that’s artist Yeoun Lee in both ends of the photo!

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Upstairs at the Plastic Club.

Both art shows end this week, DoN recommends you find time to see these important art events because they represent some of the best of Philly’s contemporary artists and what they think is their best work.

 

Photos by DoN.

 

148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Eric Hall 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Eric Hall, Collimation No.40 (Harbor 3) @ 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Arthur Ostroff 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Arthur Ostroff, A Patch of Spring @ 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club on the Avenue of the Artists.

148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Patrick Monaghn 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Patrick Monaghan, Roses and Mango @ 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.  Monaghan’s presentation is among the best with the black wood frame and gold liner drawing the viewer into the moment, accentuating the painting with it’s own light, really tasteful and desirable.

148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Jon Redmond & Sybylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler,  148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Jurors James J. Himsworth III, Julien Robson & Alexandra Tyng managed to include two thirds of the submissions with a mind blowing presentation of contemporary regional oil painters represented in a wide variety of styles; the exhibition committee is to be commended on the wonderful narrative the show communicates with vignettes, groupings and highlights.

Peter Schnore 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Peter Schnore won a special abstraction award in The 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch ClubDoN found the minimalistic, boundary busting, in your face simplicity of this simple block of color to be true genius.

David M. Stallings 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

David M. Stallings, Summer’s Last Eve @ 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Albert Tacconelli 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Albert Tacconelli, Daniel’s Dilemma (Reflections on 9-11) @ 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

The award winners of the spectacular 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club; it’s like the American Idol of the Philadelphia Art Scene – who’s your favorite painter?  DoN often jokes that when a Susan Barnes or a Doris Peltzman painting is entered in a show then you know where at least one prize is going; DoN has observed these fast friends grow from art class buddies into accomplished Philadelphia artists with gallery shows, awards and sales, it’s so cool to see them winning!

Philadelphia Sketch Club president Bill Patterson takes great pride in this show, it’s his baby; DoN eves-dropped on a conversation Bill was having with a visitor and heard him say, “I’m interested in helping these artists sell their work.”  DoN saw some red dots, too; awards are great but sales is the ultimate reward and compliment for an artist.  Patterson is generous, supportive, energetic and business oriented assuring the stability of a major Philadelphia art institution many artists rely on for exposure.

Faith Corman 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Faith Corman @ 148th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.  Faith is not a painter, she’s a loyal art patron and accomplished jewelry designer, Faith Corman is selling her custom “Sun earrings” to benefit Japan relief efforts.  She didn’t want her picture taken (pretty women never do) but DoN thinks she’s fabulous!

 

Photos by DoN.

The Work of Art

Since DoN‘s last post he stopped by the Philadelphia Sketch Club to meet with executive director Barbara Murray who manages the constant whirl of activity at America’s oldest art club and catch up.  Barbara was on the phone so DoN went upstairs to preview the Art of the Flower show and Professor Rich Harrington of Moore College of Art and Design was organizing the extensive catalog and labeling system required to mount a major exhibition.  Rich was multitasking to such an extent that DoN was flabbergasted, during the take-in of art there was a numbering glitch requiring the team of volunteers to justify the entries by removing and replacing dozens of art works, he had recall of virtually every entry and where the piece was in the room, 100s of different images!  DoN can recognize some artists’ styles & work by sight but Harrington knew all the artists and he’s also going through finals at Moore with students bombarding him with presentations.  The catalog that results from all the hard work is a a collectible, many artists save in their files – to be juried into the prestigious art show is exciting, having a beautiful, informative memento is like a confirmation of acceptance in the art world.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Art of the Flower 2011

Philadelphia Sketch Club, Art of the Flower 2011 – the reception & awards is March 6th, 2 – 4:00 PM.

DoN popped into the Plastic Club to preview the gigantic Small Worlds exhibit and his own mini-exhibition, part of a group show including Diane Podolsky, Burton Greenspan, Mervyn Kline & Cara Kendric in the Downstairs Gallery, and found all the numbering and information sheets completed and ready for the show.  The Plastic Club uses a numbering system instead of labels which is less cumbersome, the Plastic Club allows all member artists to include their work in most shows and the Philadelphia Sketch Club usually shows a selection from a mass of entries, the tradition of a name tag is expected.  Either way, there’s someone at a computer organizing Excel spreadsheets or Word docs or Photoshop files to create the information design of art show memorabilia and advertising.  It takes a village and organizing volunteers is a job unto itself, join in, helping is fun.

Plastic Club Small Worlds 2011

The Plastic Club, Small Worlds exhibition of art.

Gallery sitting can be a drag, Saturday DoN invited friends to visit the Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery to talk about Search Engine Optimization for Artists which easily made two hours pass in a flash; DoN loved the bemused information overload on the artists faces after the discussion, asking them to think about their brand, what people think of them, how they want to be recognized and then how to make it appear on page one in Google.  Creating an event, inviting friends and designing an experience really helped to bring people into the gallery; opening receptions are expected by the art crawlers, keeping people coming back to the gallery is the challenge.  Thanks to all the volunteers who make the Philly art community thrive and grow.  Visit your local art gallery today, you might make a new friend.

Diverse Perspectives @ Da Vinci Art Alliance: Bud Boehringer, DoN Brewer, Lorna Kent, Yeoun Lee, Marcy Morris, Lee Muslin, William Myers & Edna Santiago

Yeoun Lee @ Diverse Perspective, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, South Philly.

Today there are receptions at both the Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Plastic Club on Camac Street, the Avenue of the Artists, both are free and open to the public.  The Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery is open today, too, artist Yeoun Lee will be gallery sitting for the Diverse Perspectives group show even though she’s included in the Art of the Flower show with two gorgeous paintings and the Small World‘s show.  Please stop in the historic gallery in South Philly and tell her how much you like her work, Yeoun and Charles are becoming quite the art power couple around town, both volunteered to help install the massive Small Worlds show at the Plastic Club, too.  Art work isn’t just painting after all, it’s real, hard, tedious work designed to make people feel good about themselves and the world around them.  Enjoy!

DoN Brewer Photography: Perkins Center for the Arts, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Plastic Club and The Philadelphia Sketch Club

DoN is running this town just like a club!  Art clubs, that is – with fine art photography in open and juried art shows in five major art spaces in South Jersey & Philly.  The Art of the Flower show @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club is a juried competition with an enormous turnout of talented artists; DoN feels great relief that his decision to include an inkjet print photograph collage of Carnivourous Plants @ Bartram’s Garden has been recognized by the jurors to be included in the highly coveted show.

 DoN Brewer Photography: Perkins Center for the Arts, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Plastic Club and The Philadelphia Sketch Club

DoN Brewer, Carnivorous Plants @ Bartram’s Garden, digital photograph, Photoshop collage, inkjet print @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s annual Art of the Flower Exhibition, a blind juried competition of all types of art.

DoN helped install the Small Worlds show @ The Plastic Club; the team of volunteers hung over three hundred small images through out the old town house, each room, gallery and hall is filled with a myriad selection of art.  The tremendous trove of work is smooshed in but exhibitions chair Alan Klawans foresees a day when cuts will have to be made.  And, listen to DoN when he says – prepare your art properly for installation and rough handling, DoN had an artist’s piece literally come part in his hands and Plastic Club President Bob Jackson spent extra hours kindly adding wire to art submitted by artists, after spending two days logging art by hand in the log book and then hanging work on the walls Bob really doesn’t need to prepare your work for you.  Really, if they have to make cuts, the first to go will be poor presentation, artist Art Ostroff & DoN griped about the lost skills of presentation.  Ironically, DoN was a wire offender but took his work home to fix himself – if Bob Jackson wired your art for you to be in a huge show like Small Worlds, you owe him a big favor.  Speaking of favors, DoN doesn’t know who dropped out but he has five photographs included in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club, a prestigious honor bestowed only on members in good standing.  DoN is presenting a group of abstract landscape photographs from his series, light beings,  several new images have been added to DoN‘s on-line gallery.

Plastic Club Small Worlds DoN Brewer

DoN Brewer, Panama Street, digital photograph, Photoshop, inkjet print, 8 x 10″ @ The Plastic Club’s Small Worlds art extravaganza.

 The opening reception for Diverse Perspectives @ Da Vinci Art Alliance was super fun, DoN will write a separate review of the group show in South Philly.  The group that came together organically and easily, organized an art show that DoN is proud to be a part, truly diverse, artistic and eclectic – just like DoN!

Diverse Perspectives @ Da Vinci Art Alliance: Bud Boehringer, DoN Brewer, Lorna Kent, Yeoun Lee, Marcy Morris, Lee Muslin, William Myers & Edna Santiago

DoN Brewer Photography @ Diverse Perspectives at Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, South Philly.  DoN will be hosting a discussion, Search Engine Optimization for Artists, Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 2 – 4:00 PM.

The Perkins Center for the Arts Photography 30 Show is almost over,  it has been such an honor to be included in the exclusive annual photography event.  The show is truly inspirational, aspirational & astounding – no kidding.  As photographer Bonnie Schorske said, “…it’s a feather in your cap!”  Thank you to Uncle Dave and Aunt Barbara, Cousin Carla & friends, Shoshka, Lola, Rob, Bonnie and all my friends & family who cheered me on and braved the snow to visit the beautiful mansion in Moorestown, NJ.  You got to tip on the tightrope!

DoN has a new piece on display @ Bonte’s, 9th & Walnut that is a departure from the abstraction he’s known for, a church lady hat store window titled South Street Chapeaux, a documentary still life composition that Shoshka will love.  The on-going show promoted by the Photographic Society of Philadelphia is a cool spot to show along with fellow photography enthusiasts; the PSoP events @ The Plastic Club are always informative, the recent talk by photographer Ed Snyder and graphic designer John Bacille about how to produce your own book was inspiring and a recent field trip to the Wistar Institute for the Nikon Small World show is exclusive and informative.

DoN Brewer Photography: Perkins Center for the Arts, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Plastic Club and The Philadelphia Sketch Club

DoN Brewer, South Street Chapeaux @ Bonte’s Cafe, 9th & Walnut Streets.  Thank you so much to the good people at the Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club and Da Vinci Art Alliance for providing the art opportunities, diverse creative outlets and intellectual peer support in the heart of the coolest city in the world.

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 – 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 - 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 – 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 - 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Fred Wagner An American Painter is curated by the artist’s great-grand nieces Cyndy Drue and Susan Brendlinger-Smith, who also co-authored a biography of the Philadelphia artist (available for sale at the Philadelphia Sketch Club), filling both the main gallery and the pool room with exquisite paintings of Philadelphia scenes, portraits, equine compositions and water scenes.  The Philadelphia Sketch Club looks beautiful with the incredible collection of historic paintings gathered together in a space where the artist actually worked with his friends.  An artist can only wish that their work will be preserved but Fred Wagner is cherished by his family, collectors and the art community of Philadelphia.

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 - 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Fred Wagner, The River Harbor, watercolor study, 8 x 9 ” collection of Cyndy Drue Smith @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 - 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Fred Wagner, Downtown Toms River, oil on canvas.

Fred Wagner An American Painter 1860 - 1940 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club

Visit the galleries at The Philadelphia Sketch Club on the Avenue of the Artists and take a step back in time to when Thomas Eakins and Thomas Anshutz encouraged artists to get out and paint, some of the original easels are still there.  This year is the club’s 150th anniversary, the oldest art club in America, the Fred Wagner show wasn’t there long but the upcoming Legacy Show offers an opportunity for collectors to buy art by Philadelphia’s current and future masters.

 

Photos by DoN.