Category Archives: Paintings Philadelphia

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Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

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Lois Schlachter Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011

Lois Schlachter,  @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011

 Steve Iwanczuk Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Steve Iwanczuk @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.  That’s Steve reflected in the drawing on the right.

Lois & Steve have collaborated as the co-chairs of the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Exhibition Committee for years, lately Lois is focused on her own art career, continuing to volunteer but now making new art, showing in galleries and entering competitions. Schlachter has had the unique experience of viewing virtually thousands of artworks submitted to the venerable art club’s competitions and exhibitions and now is creating her own memorable art, fractured planes, vibrant color, dreamy narratives like a mix of Charles Dumuth and Takashi Murakami.  Steve Iwanczuk teaches graphic design but his drawings are surreal and photographs technically exact, in this show he shows three sides of his persona, each piece strange and deep.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Mina Smith-Segal Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Mina Smith-Segal Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Deborah Ann S. Horsting Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Deborah Ann S. Horsting @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne – Gift Shop!  Many of the artists brought prints, cards and posters to sell, Art Space‘s lay-out is multi-purpose and really fun to wander through.  Art Space is a major component in the art vibe of Lansdowne, many of the locals came out to the show, the support of the neighbors is so important if art is the force communities use to stay vibrant and relevant.

Dorothy Roschen Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Dorothy Roschen @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

John Schmeichen Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

 John Schmeichen @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Karen McDonnell & Anthony Cortosi Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Karen McDonnell & Anthony Cortosi @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne.  Karen & Anthony are collaborative by nature, often taking on responsibilities others don’t want to do ensuring art events can jump off.  The duo work together on their art, drawing and cutting stencils, spray-painting and decorating their canvasses until layers of memes, myths and memories are mashed-up like a DJ Shadow mix.

Rich Harrington Karen Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne

Rich Harrington @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.

Volunteering is a good way to make friends, learn new things, experience different ideas and stretch social skills; sometimes it feels really good, sometimes it’s hard work but in the end people working towards a common goal, solving problems, creating opportunities, being selfless and inclusive is an art form unto itself.  Thank you so much to the Philadelphia Sketch Club and Art Space, DoN LoVeS seeing his work flanking Lois Schlachter and Steve Iwanczuk‘s art, to be included in their company is an honor.  Not all the volunteers are represented in this blog post many other artists are in the expansive show, take the drive out to Lansdowne to see the show, support the volunteers and the view of the city on the drive back is spectacular, a fine reward.

 

Photos by DoN.

 

VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

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Rebekah Wilhelm VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Rebekah Wilhelm, VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center.

Rebekah Wilhelm VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Rebekah Wilhelm, Untitled, detail

Rebekah Wilhelm VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Rebekah Wilhelm, Untitled, VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center in Fishtown.

Rebekah Wilhelm‘s most excellent print display @ UD Crane is filled with information, tightly packed into clever, spare prints like an art lesson on less is more.  The prints of swirling words explains how viewers interact with vision, her chain link fence prints are confounding and restrictive and the reams of paper spread in a long swipe across the floor is provocative yet simple and easy. Wilhelm already has plans to go to work teaching at the University of Delaware and is considering studio space in Philly.  DoN chatted with UD Crane curator Anthony Vega, he highlighted how there was more focus on craft and skill in traditional media and no video this year.  C. Grant Cox, III includes multimedia and mechanics in his sculpture but there was a noticeable absence of flat screens and projections in the gallery.

Tara Russell VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Tara Russell,  VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center.

Jacob Smiley VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Jacob Smiley, VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center.

Tia Santana VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Tia Santana, VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center.  Tia Santana’s performance/installation anchored the lower gallery by the stairs with the artist studiously braiding what looked a lot like hair into long dreads.  Dressed in white, Santana focused on expanding the mound of braids, weaving memes like “roots”, “identity” and “work” into a fascinating presentation of a simulacra-like archetype that a week later is still vibrant in DoN‘s mind.

Daniel Jackson VIII - 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center

Daniel Jackson, VIII – 2011 MFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Delaware Department of Art @ Crane Arts Center.  Check out Jackson’s web site for a good look at his work, his paintings exhibit not just vibrancy and virtuosity but thoughtful content, decorative panache and strong painting science.  The glossy panels thick with layers of saturated color and ancient technique are mashed up with a contemporary sense of irony; Jackson’s paintings illustrate Vega’s observation of skill being penultimate.

Congratulations to Matt Giel for his desirable photographs, Leontien Rotteveel’s beatific objet trouve-like sculpture/installation and the entire class of UD 2011 for a refreshing look at the endurance of art.  The gallery is University of Delaware‘s outpost away from school, offering students a really cool space to show their work, creating an aspirational vibe and a real clarity of vision of who artists can be after college.

 

Photos by DoN.

Envisioning Shakespeare – Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

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Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Through April 26, 2011 at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, in collaboration with the Da Vinci Art Alliance, presents “Envisioning Shakespeare” an exhibition of art by 24 members artists relating to the works of William Shakespeare in the lobby of Wilson Hall which houses Rowan’s Pfleeger Theatre.

Artists in the exhibition include:  Bobbie Adams, Betsy Alexander, Rosalind Bloom, Bud Boehringer, DoN Brewer, Alden Cole, Lilliana Didovic, David Foss, Linda Dubin Garfield, Sharri Jerue, Carl Johnson, Ona Kalstein, Marie Keane, Rikard Larma, Carla Lombardi, Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi, Deb Miller and Ray Costello, Liz Nicklus, Patricia O’Halloran, Francine Strauss, Ted Warchal, Carol Wisker, Burnell Yow! 

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Click the thumbnails for panoramic views of Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance Event @ Rowan University, Glassboro NJ.

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Envisioning Shakespeare @ Rowan University.  Da Vinci Art Alliance is an 80 year old art gallery cooperative located in South Philly; the expansive show of art gleaned from Shakespeare themed art shows from the past examines images, themes and ideas from Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Hamlet and Henry IV, Part 1 by artists working in all types of media.

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Lilliana Didovic – Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Rowan University.

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Carl Johnson@ Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event.

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

DoN Brewer and Mina Smith-Segal – Envisioning Shakespeare – Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University.

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Rowan University

Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Rowan University.  Thank you to the great work by the Da Vinci Art Alliance team for installing the exhibition; director Dave Foss, board members Alden Cole and Ted Warchal transported and hung the show in a coherent, flowing retrospective in the handsome lobby of the Pfleeger Theater with each artwork resonating and reinforcing the messages from the works in proximity.  But, Dr. Deb Miller, Da Vinci Art Alliance Board President is the master-mind behind the series which has brought this collection of Philadelphia artists together in a bright, welcoming setting where the art can be seen by theater-goers and students at Rowan University.  The on-going series of theme shows allows artists to interpret Shakespeare in their own styles and media, most recently interpreting A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Black Box Gallery at the Lantern Theater Company.

Envisioning Shakespeare - Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Lantern Theater Black Box Gallery

Lilliana Didovic has participated in each of the Da Vinci Art Alliance Envisioning Shakespeare exhibitions and won First Prize this time for her painting in the Envisioning A Midsummer Night’s Dream (the dreamy blue night scene above).  Lilliana is dedicated to Da Vinci Art Alliance, volunteering her time and creating art even as she worked at achieving her Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago this Spring.

Envisioning “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” @ The Lantern Theater’s Black Box Gallery.

Nadia Kunz was thrilled to be exhibiting for the first time with Da Vinci Art Alliance for the Envisioning A Midsummer Night’s Dream art show; Nadia’s construction is a whimsical interpretation of the famous play created with found objects.

Envisioning “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” @ The Lantern Theater’s Black Box Gallery.

Envisioning “A Midsummer Night’s Dream“ @ The Lantern Theater’s Black Box Gallery.  DoN know’s that’s Ted Warchal’s Puck in the middle but he needs help identifying the others, if you know who’s who in any of these photos please comment so credit can be given to the artists.

Envisioning “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” @ The Lantern Theater’s Black Box Gallery.

Envisioning Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Black Box Gallery at Lantern Theater.  See the Da Vinci Art Alliance Facebook page for more photos. Thank you to the Lantern Theater for giving DoN exclusive access to the gallery, normally only theater-goers get to see the art show, the underground gallery has a bohemian vibe synchronizing with the eclectic artist collective’s esthetic, Da Vinci Art Alliance has been invited back for next year’s Shakespeare production.

Photos by DoN. shot exclusively with Kodak Digital Cameras

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

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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 Club.  DoN 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.

Dale Levy, Perception @ Twenty-Two Gallery

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Dale Levy, Perception @ Twenty-Two Gallery

Dale Levy, Perception @ Twenty-Two Gallery.

Tonight is the Center City Art Crawl but last Friday DoN attended the opening reception for Dale Levy‘s Perception one-person show at Twenty-Two Gallery.  Dale told DoN that Helen Frankenthaler is an influence for her abstract expressionist paintings; the wild colors which appear so immediate actually takes a lot of time as each color dries before the next is added.

Dale Levy, Perception @ Twenty-Two Gallery

Dale Levy, On Edge, acrylic on canvas.

At the opening party a group of Dale Levy’s college girl friends were snapping pictures and hanging out with their old friend in support of her great artistic achievement.  Encouragement and persistence is so essential to an artist’s ability to persevere.  Dale Levy has developed her own recognizable style that looks back to the invention of abstraction but with a contemporary palette and stylish presence.  Make 22nd Street part of your art crawl tonight.

 

Photos by DoN.