Category Archives: Philadelphia

The Philly art scene is vibrant, filled with characters who create innovative, avant garde art in the 21st Century. New techniques and technologies are converging to develop a new vision of reality.

PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen

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PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Emily Brown, An Early Thaw, lithograph

“There’s a mix of people here, some are younger or mid-career. Some of them have never made a print before, it’s their first print, and there’s a great mix of people.” PHILAGRAfiKA director and curator Cindi Ettinger said to DoN during the opening reception for Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, 333 South 20th Street.

DoN recalled PHILAGRAfiKA coming into existence while he studied at the University of the Arts in the early 21st Century. “Philagrafika was originally the Philadelphia Print Collaborative which was a consortium of all the different organizations in Philadelphia that were involved with print-making. And then it evolved to become Philagrafika which the goal was more about festivals, printmaking and how it could be used outside the box.”

“Now, after that major festival we’re kind of scaling back and starting over, reincarnating ourselves and we are having a lecture series and have events and projects in other cities and international. So, we’re getting started all over again, right now.” DoN inquired about the connection with the chic gallery near Rittenhouse Square and Cindi explained that a member of their board is friends with Jt Christensen, the designer behind the storefront gallery/design studio. “What’s nice about this is it’s very low key and we found that the best way you can reincarnate yourself is to start small and gradually get really, really good people together and have it be much more organic. Have it be an organic process, so that’s what we’re doing.”

PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Eric Avery, Paradise Lost, four color chiaroscuro print on Okawara paper.

Eric Avery‘s, Paradise Lost describes the fourteen major infections of Adam and Eve, diseases specific to humans. The technical virtuosity and exquisite information design is masterful, the narrative deep and disturbing, the presentation at once decorative and discrete. “Most of the major human infectious diseases, including some confined to humans and absent from animals, are “new” ones that arose only after the advent of agriculture.” Can you think of one major disease specific to you as a human being?

PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints @ studio:christensen, Judith Schaechter, Child Bride, two color linocut on Somerset paper.

DoN asked about the famed stained glass artist, Judith Schaechter‘s, affiliation with PHILAGRAfiKA? “She was involved in the first portfolio and you know, she was happy to do it.” There was a schedule conflict that evening as the artist unveiled her spectacular new windows at The Eastern State Penitentiary.

“PHILAGRAfiKA is developing a 2012 portfolio, we’re just getting the artists chosen and by the end of the month will be announced on the 31st. Philagrafika is alive and well.” said Cindi Ettinger, a master printer who worked with most of the artists in the exhibit, coordinating with major print firms and universities to bring the show to life.

PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Nami Yamamoto, Miniature Garden: Trace, pigmented over beaten bleached abaca with watermark.

PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Jennifer Levonian, July in Philadelphia, digital print with dye cut.

May 31st, 6:00 pm at studio:christensen is a lecture entitled Natural Discourse, with Mary Ann Friel and Nami Yamamoto find out more how to register at the Philagrafika FaceBook Page.

Written and photographed by DoN

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BLACKWHITE ANDINBETWEEN @ 110 Church

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Trish Thompson, BLACKWHITE ANDINBETWEEN @ 110 Church Gallery

BLACKWHITE ANDINBETWEEN show is already over but DoN is still thinking about the art installation that focussed simply on black and white. The gallery in Old City installed a three person show of black and white artworks by Philadelphia region artists: Trish Thompson, Tom Hlas & Wendy Wolf. The May First Friday crawl is all about discovering new art talent and 110 Church Gallery, off of 2nd Street in a quirky store front, feels so comfortable it’s like an oasis from the art mobs on the prowl offering a delight for the eye for the weary art crawler.

Tom Hlas, BLACKWHITE ANDINBETWEEN @ 110 Church Gallery

Tom Hlas explained to DoN how he meticulously crafted the woven collage, working each edge and surface of the paper with deceptive intensity. The group of three black and white collages all had red dots, Tom was grinning ear to ear with the satisfaction that his idea reacted with his audience in the best way.

Wendy Wolf, BLACKWHITE ANDINBETWEEN @ 110 Church Gallery

Wendy Wolf installed a site specific piece composed of string and and organically shaped cut outs that resemble Locust leaves. The pristine white elements create a pattern of shadow and shades of gray that only appear because the mind has to process the information somehow. The taut strings call to mind musical instruments, the random leaves striking chords in a holographic-like space between the strings and the wall. During last weekend’s Art in the Open event at Schuylkill Banks Park the artist installed a massive mixed media piece using her unique language of simple elements in a tree near the Philadelphia Art Museum. Her work weathers well and interacts with the environment in a pleasing poetic song-like work of art, one is still on view outside the art gallery.

The next event at 110 Church Gallery:

Josette Urso: Here and Then

Written & photographed by DoN

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Bob Jackson, 100 Faces of Bob at Off the Wall Gallery

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Bob Jackson, 100 Faces of Bob at Off the Wall Gallery

100 Faces of Bob is over one hundred mixed media art objects mounted on the wall at Off the Wall Gallery created by outgoing President of The Plastic Club, Bob Jackson. Last week DoN watched a movie at The Plastic Club‘s monthly art salon, shot in 2006, of Bob Jackson‘s collections and studio, a consummate pack rat collector and inspired artist. Jackson collects objet trouve’ then transmogrifies the collected elements, found at flea markets, yard sales and antique shops into anthropomorphic portraits.

Bob Jackson, 100 Faces of Bob at Off the Wall Gallery

Off the Wall Gallery usually hosts group show but gave over the whole space to Bob Jackson’s thesis: attractive, fun, visionary art that’s affordable. Bob Jackson has been leading The Plastic Club for many years, he’s seen it all, good and bad, and synthesized the information into an art style that is aspirational and accessible. Like his ball point pen drawings on typing paper, the 100 Faces each express the artist’s hand, thought, effort and time. Anthropomorphism is practically the original art, the Venus of Willendorf speaks to us over mellenia, Bob Jackson is able to tap into our deepest cultural memories and speak to us here in the future.

Bob Jackson, 100 Faces of Bob at Off the Wall Gallery

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Bob Jackson, 100 Faces of Bob at Off the Wall Gallery

The Off the Wall Gallery consistently installs thought provoking and relevant art shows. Usually the installations are juried group shows offering emerging artists opportunities to show their work with established artists. Art is part of the business model at Dirty Franks Bar, space on their wall is coveted and their sales record is really good. 100 Faces of Bob will be remembered as one of the great moments in Philadelphia art history, the show looks like it will be sold out. Each piece is only $50.00. Bob Jackson‘s legacy will be a strong, real, measurable impact on the Philadelphia art community, DoN has personally cried on Bob’s shoulder over art matters and know’s he has counseled and supported hundreds of other artists with assurances, solutions and advice. Creating a wonderful experience design, the show offers so many lessons in art making, marketing, networking and socializing from a master Philadelphia artist, 100 Faces of Bob reveals the beautiful face of a friend.

LoVe

DoN

Marjorie Grigonis, Kristine Flannery at Third Street Gallery

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Marjorie Grigonis, Present Tense, Third Street Gallery

Marjorie Grigonis and Kristine Flannery‘s exhibit at Third Street Gallery (on Second) is a compare and contrast in action painting and abstract expressionism. Marjorie Grigonis calls her collection Present Tense, Kristine Flannery‘s exhibit is called The Multitudes; Grigonis’ mixed media and paintings uses mark-making and color fields with emotive color and Flannery’s action paintings exude energy. DoN talked with Marjorie Grigonis May’s First Friday in Old City.

Marjorie Grigonis, Present Tense, Third Street Gallery

How did you get involved with Third Street Gallery? “I’ve been part of the gallery for at least ten years. Someone invited me to put my work up and be juried in and I’ve been part of it ever since. I was one of the directors a couple years back which is a job no one covets, it gets passed on every two years. But, it’s a good gallery, it’s good people and I think a really great showing space with the windows and the location.”

Marjorie Grigonis, Present Tense, Third Street Gallery

DoN asked Marjorie Grigonis to describe her style, a combination of collage and painting, “Well, the painting is very much gestural and early was somewhat based on abstract expressionism but it’s been modified. As you can see, it’s not that free anymore. But the looseness that I started with, I find painting really hard, I struggle with it and I edit out. There’s probably six paintings underneath that painting. I just paint over, scrape off, and paint over.”

Marjorie Grigonis, Present Tense, Third Street Gallery

“I started looking at all the scraps of things in my studio and making collages and it was fun. But I realized that I was thinking , in this show particularly, that there’s not any content, and there’s not a lot of content here, but, I was thinking just about the general anxiety of personal and global and I think a lot of these sort of reflected that. The woman holding her hand, the fear itself, I think even the paintings are just a little bit anxious, not totally. I think there’s a good time going on in some of them.”

“I don’t mean to be a downer, I just think of me, there’s just a little more of a sense of that, sort of, pervading everybody and everything right now. I’m sensitive to that and I think humor is a way to deal with that and so I just thought some of these were pretty funny. Maybe ironic.”

Marjorie Grigonis, Present Tense, Third Street Gallery

DoN commented to the artist that anxiety is not what he felt from the colorful abstractions and that he overheard people saying how much they liked them, “Well, I’m glad because it’s partly just me, probably a lot of it’s me.” DoN said, “Well, you are the artist.”

Kristine Flannery, The Multitudes at Third Street Gallery

Third Street Gallery is an artist-run cooperative art gallery established in 1972.

Kristine Flannery, The Multitudes at Third Street Gallery

Kristine Flannery‘s action paintings represent movement and gesture through space. The energetic marks and swipes of paint each try to capture a moment of movement, the paint permitted to be watery and move on it’s own, sometimes smeared into submission. DoN spoke only briefly to the artist and her husband, she was fatigued at the end of the First Friday festivities but if you go to the Third Street Gallery website there’s a good statement about her goals with the show.

Written and Photographed by DoN Brewer

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Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit

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Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit

915 Spring Garden Art Studios hosts an artist’s open studio tour in the Spring and during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours in the Fall. Spike the biker, Jeff the photographer and DoN visited the artist’s studio building on a sunny but chilly Sunday afternoon, starting on the fifth floor and working our way through the studios that were open. Frankly by the time we got to the third floor we had been there three hours and we found respite in the lounge area near the old timey caged elevator. Our art crawling trio realized this was more than could be accomplished in one visit, there is just so much to see and DoN loves interviewing artists which made our visit take longer. But DoN doesn’t like to just pop in and out of studios without engaging the artists in conversation.

Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit

As a veteran of Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, DoN is aware of the extra work required to host guests in your workspace, the least DoN can do is talk to the artists. And as this series of blog posts attests, there are lessons to be learned. With a bit of renewed energy the art crawlers went to the first floor to visit the inspiring studio of long time 915 Spring Garden Art Studios, Peter Cunicelli. Peter is one of the first artists DoN blogged about on DoNArTNeWs way back in October 2008. Since that time the ceramics artist has moved his studio from an upper floor to the first and the extra effort our weary art crawl crew summoned to visit his art space was well worth it.

Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit, photograph by Jeff Stroud

Peter Cunicelli explained, “Everything here is hand built, everything’s slab form built, including other than the stand-up vases, that’s much more random. The vases are more precise, they’re templates.” DoN noted how unique each piece is an asked if the artist ever makes a series of popular styles? “…some of them, I might do a lot of them, I’m not crazy about the glaze on that one but I might redo it with a more matte glaze. Sometimes I’ll do multiples just to do multiples, you know, each one gets better. And other times I’ll do a one off, sometimes they’re too involved and I don’t want to do another.” The space is beautiful with the aspirational ceramics everywhere, DoN wondered if the artist gets inspired by his own creations? “I do, I don’t want to sound narcissistic, but a lot of those are pieces I could never sell.”

Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit, photograph by Jeff Stroud

“Sometimes it’s because there’s something wrong with them, whether it’s the glaze or a crack, or like the glaze on the green one chipped off. But I like having them there, it reminds me I keep having to like what I’m doing. There’s a lot of form up there (referring to a high shelf loaded with various vases) that I like, so I try to reuse it or do something with it. The really original stuff, almost twelve years old, I would never sell. I also have them at home, I just like being surrounded by them. I was never formally trained so I just ran with it. Do you know Doug Herren? He’s Philadelphia, his work is amazing. When I started he was doing very functional work, thrown work and a combination of thrown and hand built. I love the fullness of his forms and crisp lines, so I started trying in my own way to mimic that, that’s how I ended up developing my own style. Now he does stuff that’s very industrial, it’s all sculptural, really beautiful work.”

Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit, photograph by Jeff Stroud

DoN asked where Peter Cunicelli exhibits? “Right now, Show of Hands, 1006 Pine Street, but this year I want to get out there, get into some galleries. It has to be out of my zip code but, Show of Hands has an amazing salesman. I always admired his eye, he always has amazing stuff. I went in one day, I was with a friend of mine and I went up meekly to him and asked if knew of any craft shows or does anyone ever bring you work? He said he does but sometimes artists have delusions of grandeur. I thought, ‘Alright, I’m going for broke now’, he asked about my work and I said I have a website. So he went to the website and pulled up one image and went, ‘Gasp!’, and I wanted to say, ‘Delusions of grandeur, eh?'”

Peter Cunicelli, 915 Spring Garden Studio Visit

“So he said to me to bring six pieces, then I got a call asking for nine pieces, and then ten. I think I brought in eleven pieces the first time, he’s a salesman, a really good salesman. Most of the pottery he has in there is very traditional, so mine sticks out. And I like having that, I like it being different. I don’t want to be the best, I always say I want to be the bottom of the barrel because I want to be surrounded by greatness, but the ceramic work there is very good and very traditional. Which is nice, and I think it’s one of the reasons he’s able to sell it, it’s a good place, he’s got good craft.”

Peter Cunicelli told DoN that he has yet to sell anything from his website, using it as a portfolio of his work. He also used social media, like e-mail newsletter and FaceBook, to advertise the open studio.

Read more about 915 Spring Garden artists:

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted

Thank you to Contributing Photographer, Jeff Stroud

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