Category Archives: Photography Philadelphia

Philadelphia photographers and photographs.

97th Annual Members Medal Show @ The Plastic Club

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Alden Cole‘s “Lucy in the Sky“, marker. DoN sees this drawing as the work of one of Philadelphia’s master artists; the combination of illustration, foreshortening, coloration, line quality, relevance and sensitivity to the subject, immortalizing the model. Then DoN realizes it’s marker pens on paper, the same as used in graffiti, popping energy and vibration, ancient and future knowledge, high and low art all vibrating from a single moment in space and time, into the gallery space. Absorbing the power of the messages being transmitted through Cole’s art is like time-tripping through art history in an instant. When you walk up the steps into the studio gallery, this is where the eye is drawn first.

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Lois Schlachter, “Clown Fish“, acrylic. Super flat, futuristic, meticulous trips into the swirly world of Lois’ paintings is like a glimpse into a dream of the best amusement park ride you even went on, the kind that’s so fast and so thrilling that you can’t scream because it’s so much fun.
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Marie Davis Samohod, “Ionic Table“, acylic, Naomi Rubin, “The Beauty of the Land”, watercolor.

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Alan J. Klawans, Mike Guinn & Bob Jackson @ the Plastic Club’s 97th Annual Members Medal Show. Without people like these men it just doesn’t happen; the exhibition is so strong, the display so expertly installed and the experience design so inclusive, warm and inviting that it feels natural and accessible but tremendous amounts of work go into such a huge installation, these guys deserve credit for bringing out the best and making it happen. The art movement is Philadelphia is strong and determined, DoN LoVes it when people proudly tell which Philadelphia art school they went to and how organizations like the Plastic Club fill the void of the commaraderie of attending a school of art.

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DoN Brewer, “Thanksgiving“, digital photo, Jeanne Coryell, “Mandala“, watercolor and Alice Meyer-Wallace, “Vrikis And Glads“, oil.

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The Plastic Club’s 97th Annual Members Medal Exhibition award winners: Katherine Stanek, The Plastic Club Gold Medal, Jake Smith, The Plastic Club Silver Medal, John Benigno, The Zeigler Prize, Ben Wilson, The Dorothy Invernizzi Guinn Memorial Prize.

Peter Prusinowski @ Fishtown Airways

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peter prusinowski

Peter Prusinowski @ Fishtown Airways

Peter Prusinowski @ Fishtown Airways, 200 East Girard Ave. Prusinowski is a Center for Emerging Visual Artists Fellow, a great honor bestowed on outstanding artists allowing them to exhibit works in group shows, receive publicity, opportunities and support from the Center. Peter is a photography purist who works in a wet dark room and is not interested in digital photography in the least. As he explained to DoN, Peter attempts to emulate masters such as Man Ray who was able to achieve solarization on film which appears like magic in the development process.

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Prusinowski’s show at Fishtown Airways focusses on the history of Fishtown and the Penn Treaty, combining historic documents and photographs alongside his own studies of the area. A story of community and it’s importance to the early development of the USA emerges with bucolic river views, charming residences and quirky scenes from the centuries old village inhabited by long time residents and young growing families.

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A group of historic documents including old newspaper articles, graphics and papers shed light on the Penn Treaty and the importance of this river town and it’s people.

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East Girard Avenue is on the east side of the Frankford El with restaurants, bars, shops and a lively street scene. Fishtown Airways corner is bright and sunny, the gallery painted a buttery yellow, the art pops off the wall against the restful color. Proprietor , Bob Murphy is planning to open an ice cream shop along the broad avenue making this section of Fishtown a family friendly destination as well as an art outpost along with Johnnie Brenda‘s, High Wire and Bambi. Shoshka and DoN had a blast talking with the locals and hanging out on the corner.

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Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Envisioning Hamlet @ The Lantern Theater Company

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Envisioning Hamlet is an art show by members of Philadelphia’s Da Vinci Art Alliance based on Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” currently being performed at the Lantern Theater to rave reviews. Several months ago, Charles McMahon, the creative director of Lantern Theater spoke at the club and explained his concept for staging the play; set in a post WW1 dystopian landscape, the play draws the audience into the diabolical circle of deception, madness and death.

More than 30 works of art are on display in the black box theater in the basement of Saint Stephen’s Theater @ 10th & Ludlow Streets ranging from neo-expressionism to abstraction to mixed media construction and impressionism. The art show is open through May 3rd, the play has been extended through May 17th.

 

 

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“light being (Ophelia)” & “Denmark“, digital photographs by DoN Brewer.

 

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Mina Smith-Segal @ Saint Stephen Theater’s Envisioning Hamlet.

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Dr. Deb Miller, president of the Da Vinci Art Alliance, jurors Charles McMahon, creative director of Lantern Theater Company, lighting designer Drew Billiau and scenic designer Dirk Durossette.

 

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Best in Show: Chinoros Roongsakul‘s, Sin, acrylic on canvas.

 

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Alden Cole‘s, “Oh, that this too, too Solid Flesh“, oil on panel.

 

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Themes of madness, despair, symbolism and love permeate Envisioning Hamlet, the gallery is in the lower level of Saint Stephen’s Theater.

Second place awarded to Bud Boehringer, third place, Debra Miller, honorable mentions: DoN Brewer, Maria Keane and Ted Warchal.

Photographic Society of Philadelphia – Last Takedown @ Joe’s

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The long running venue at Joe’s Coffee Shop @ 1100 Walnut is coming to an end 5/27. The Photographic Society of Philadelphia has held a rotating exhibit in this cool space for many years but the shop is closing. The society is searching for a new venue – Thanks to everyone @ Joe’s for all your support.

 

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Amie Potsic – Skin Stories @ Area 919

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Amie Potsic, the terrific artist activist and enthusiast, is an accomplished artist in her own right. Area 919 on North 5th is a familiar building seen driving to Fishtown but inside the old factory was a swanky art event with furniture by Baltzell, antiques by Michael Garden and magical prints by Anna Husemoller Jeretic. Michael Garden intends to make the space an art outpost between Old City and emerging Girard Ave. art scene.

 

The pristine white room with Amie Potsic‘s large scale silver gelatin prints mounted on aluminum and floating boxes is experience design created by an artist who has encouraged the best to do better. The ultra-fine black and white photographs depict human skin scars juxtaposed with images of scars on statues of Jesus Amie took on trips to Italy, San Francisco and NYC. Amie explained to DoN that pilgrims visit these statues and touch the scars as a form of worship. The display is visceral and poetic with the mind’s eye mixing up the stone skin with the real skin and entire movie length memes playing out about how the sculptor developed such skill or what a horrible burn must feel like or the healing from a grueling surgery. Shoshka found it hard to take at first but as the eye absorbs the photography the true beauty of scars is revealed. Amie explained that one burn victim was complemented on the beauty of his scars while in San Francisco with the admirer wondering where he could get one.

 

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Amie Potsic @ Area 919, on North 5th Street. The drive along 5th Street under the Ben feels like driving through Paris and to have the destination be a chic art event in Northern Liberties with artists, hipsters, beautiful ladies in high heels and old guys with bow ties feels so contintental and suave – DoN highly recommends the trip.