Category Archives: Philadelphia Pop Art

Pop art created by Philadelphia area artists.

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.

Art on Rittenhouse Square @ Church of the Holy Trinity

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Deborah Anne Horsting, “Two From New Hampshire”, oil on linen. The red of the fruit is so warm and juicy, the fancy napkin celebrates the impending deliciousness; the spare assured brushwork isn’t so much impressionistic as it is signified realism, loads of information in each placement of paint.

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John Baccile, “American Graffiti“. Isn’t this captivating? Especially in the baroque interior, this mash up of male icons, presented in a strong, masculine, agressive style really make Baccile’s work stand out in a crowd.

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Arthur Ostroff’s painting of Boathouse Row incorporates a subtle glitter, not in a crafty way but in a naturalistic use of an unusual material in a traditional landscape. The sparkle enhances the magesty of the iconic scene bringing to mind evening drives down Martin Luther King Blvd, even the matte has luster.

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Anders Hansen, “Jersey Meltdown“, watercolor & ink. DoN recognizes the facilty and unbridled exuberance with brush and paint Hansen injects into his paintings. The piece in the Holy Trinity show is emblematic of Anders style: limited color palette, wet in wet brushwork, zen-like meditations on energy fields either real or imagined, impeccable scale to object aspect ratio, contempory art vibe and real-world un-obtrusive presentation.

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DoN Brewer, “Memorial Hall from Laurel Hill Cemetery“, oil on canvas and “Column of Light” oil on canvas tryptych mounted in wood. Photo by Daniel Chow.

Thanks to the art team at the Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Ritten house Square for hosting such a spectacular event. It was really fun promoting the show with Jym Paris in the Flower Market, DoN walked around handing out flyers while Jym holla’d, “Buy a raffle ticket, your entree into owning a work of art!” – with a Dalinian mustache curled on his face. Mina Smith-Segal was spotted painting in the square and ladies dressed up like lemons carried cupcake pans filled with lemon halves and lemon candy straws. Direct marketing to people is a curious aspect of art, you have to be a huckster sometimes even if it’s to get people to go into a historic building with Tiffany stained glass, 100 works of art by 50 artists and music by Curtis School musicians – a wealth of riches for the taking. One guy asked if DoN was a “schmearer?” The answer is, “Yeah”.

Wolves & Deer

Wolves & Deer in art around town over the past year.

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Nexus Gallery @ Crane Art Center

 

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Rik Viola @ Philadelphia Sketch Club

 

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Darla Jackson @ CFEVA.

 

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Scott Pelnat @ CFEVA event.

 

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Jack Kelly @ Scott Pellnat’s Art House.

 

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Karen Davis @ TwentyTwo Gallery.

Hair

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Karen Stone @ Hopkins House Gallery in Camden curated by Bruce Garrity.

 

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Karen Stone @ Hopkins House Gallery. The two works above are part of a show about new directions in painting as part of the symposium “To Be or Not To Be: A Painter’s Dilemma” @ Rutgers University.

 

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Wall drawing made with hair by Brenna K. Murphy @ Center for Emerging Visual Artists on Rittenhouse Square in a show curated by Brooke Hine last summer.

 

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Brenna K. Murphy @ The Icebox in the Crane Center for the Arts InLiquid auction.

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Brenna K. Murphy @ Moore College of Art and Design for the CFEVA Introductions ’09 show. Murphy has installed hair art @ Eileen Tognini’s house.

 

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Hair on paper circles @ The Crane Center for the Arts installed in the hallway. Artist unknown. The Jullius Scissor Salon on Locust Street has a huge hair sculpture in their window.

Hair is such a meme!

Betsy & Burnell’s Art House @ Salon des Amis

Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow! of Ravenswing Studio are art collectors, their home is filled with beautiful objects of all kinds and even had a recent story about their eclectic decorating style in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The duo have recreated their art house at Salon des Amis in Malvern, asking all of their friends who have contributed to their collection to show new work in the gallery. Sunday was beautiful weather and a large gathering of their friends arrived at the gallery to find the space filled with work by more than 40 artists.

 

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Luminary artist, Alden Cole @ Art House in Salon des Amis.

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Linda Lou Horn @ Salon des Amis for the Art House opening in Malvern.

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Eileen Feigenbaum,The Blue Lady”, oil on canvas.

DoN Brewer, “light being (Rick Selvin)”, digital photograph.

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The art crowd for Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow!’s Art House @ Salon des Amis in Malvern.

Thank you Betsy and Burnell, it’s already nice just being friends with you both but when you do something so special like this art show it re-enforces the bond even more. Salon des Amis means House of Friends – so apropos!

LoVe

DoN