Category Archives: Philadelphia Pop Art

Pop art created by Philadelphia area artists.

Dumpster Divers on South Street

An incredible thing has happened.  The business community of South Street offered empty store fronts to artists rent free if they pay the utilities; DoN first heard of this from David Foss, director of the Da Vinci Art Alliance.  The Dumpster Divers jumped at the chance and have installed an exciting mixed media art show of museum quality – a lot of the work has been exhibited in actual museums and are scheduled to show in upcoming museum shows.  The Grand Opening is March 15th but there’s plenty to absorb now as the huge space at 723 South Street is transformed.

DoN says when the grid goes down the artists will become the tribal leaders: storytellers, image makers, re-purposers, builders, makers, artists, musicians and those able to carry the history forward and preserve culture.

dumpster divers

Dumpster Divers on South Street.

dumpster Divers on South Street

Dumpster Diver outsider, couturier Shoshana Arons with Diver multimedia artist Alden Cole @ 723 South Street.

dumpster divers 

Burnell Yow!‘s “52 Collages in 52 Weeks” @ The Dumpster Divers installation on South Street.

dumpster divers 

Through My Window @ Smile

“Through My Window” at Smile Gallery @ 22nd & Chestnut Streets is a concept show involving repurposing old window frames donated by Lantern Theater Company’s Charles McMahon.  Member artists of Da Vinci Art Alliance were asked to take a window and create a work of art instead of the frames ending up in a dump.  Each artist presented art as diverse as drawings, paintings, photos, weaving and collage, creating a conundrum for jurors Brenda and Matt Lyons.  Each piece is desirable and delightful in they’re own right: Betsy Alexander based her composition on science fiction, Burnell Yow! created an homage to Buddha, Mike Sweeny dressed his frame in gold and silver communicating a comment on America’s current economic situation, Alden Cole’s ethereal painting draws the viewer into the spiritual realm, Girard DiFalco’s photograph of a tree is simple and serene, DoN Brewer recreated the view from the apartment he rented in Paris, Ona Kalstein based her mixed media piece on the fable of the ant and the cicada and Lilliana Didovic designed a mixed media work depicting Philly’s famous Boat House Row using, of all things. Swarovski Crystals. 

Other artists in the show include Bobbie Adams, Kim Alsbrook, Rachel Citrino, Carl Johnson, Ted Warchal, Nicole Koenitzer, Rikard Larma, Gail Kotel, Tim McKenna, Lee Muslin, Liz Niklus, Michelle Post, Gavid Carrow and Carol Wisker. 

McConnell Cortosi

Karen McDonnell and Anthony Cortosi’s “Old Woman Looking Out the Window“.  The duo currently have work on display at Rodger Lapelle Gallery in Old City through Feb.1, 2009.

Alden Cole

Alden Cole @ Smile.  Cole is included in a Dumpster Diver show at New Jersey’s Noyes Museum.

Mike Sweeney

Mike Sweeney‘s award winner @ Smile’s “Through My Window.” 

Burnell Yow!

Burnell Yow!‘s award winning composition will allow him to be part of a group show @ Smile in January 2010 – get to work Burnell!! 

Betsy Alexander 

Betsy Alexander‘s sci-fi inspired mixed media collage was a hit with the crowd creating a vibrant conversation about everyone’s fantasy favorites.  Betsy’s home was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Design section, you can read the story here.  Betsy is also the mom of the famous Nora the Piano Playing Cat – check out Nora’s latest videos on YouTube.

Kathryn Pannepacker 

Kathryn Pannepacker’s simple yet elegant mixed media piece incorporates weaving.  Pannepacker recently completed an amazing mural @ Broad and Lehigh Streets depicting textile styles of the world for the Mural Arts Program.

 Don Brewer

DoN Brewer’s “Vue de la Rue Rambuteau, Paris“, colored pencil on paper at Smile Gallery.  

“Through My Window” is on display through February 7th, 2009 and by the by Smile’s Thai food restaurant is probably the best in the city – BYOB and stay a while. 

Hobo Orona @ The Beauty Shop Cafe

The Beauty Shop Café consistently displays forward thinking art, curator Jon has transformed this formerly dingy corner to a really nice hangout for locals.  The recent art opening for hobo orona, two art girls going to PAFA, each with their own distinct point of view, is quirky and deep.  The happening was fun and thoughtful, bringing out friends and neighbors to hear a local musician (whose name escapes me – I’ll get it soon.) The journals by Jamie with the repurposed book covers with lovely papers inside are cleverly displayed.  Her mom told me how a potential customer asked her to create wedding invitations from the pages of a love story, sadly the project was too big but is a wonderful meme.  The drawings and collages by Tate O are clever and thoughtful.

beauty shop

Jamie’s journals with repurposed book covers. 

beauty shop 2 

 

beauty shop 3

Paper cutout with collage – cool. 

beauty shop 4 

Art party @ The Beauty Shop Cafe for “hobo orona”. 

 

Absolutely Abstract @ Philadelphia Sketch Club

logoAbsolutely AbstractAbsolutely Abstract

Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Absolutely Abstract Opening Reception and Awards 

Sunday 11-16-2008 2-5:00 PM

Juror Lecture by Hitoshi Nakazato “Eat This, and Have a Cup of Tea“, Friday 11/14 8:00 PM

Gallery Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1 – 5:00 PM

Absolutely Abstract Exhibition Committee:

 

Deborah Riccardi, Chair

DoN Brewer, Co-Chair

William H. Patterson, III

William Taylor

Yeoun Lee

Dorothy Roschen

Deborah Horsting

Lois Schlachter

M. Bruce Vieth

Pat Wilson-Schmid

James Bongratz

Steve Iwanczuk

Rik Viola

Ben Cohen

Dr. Dick Goldberg

Sy Hakim

Lynn Matheos

Joyce Mansfield-Devine

 

Jurors

 

Cameron McMillan and Hitoshi Nakazato

 

Exhibitions Committee Co-Chairs:

 

Lois Schlachter and Stephen Iwanczuk

 

Philadelphia Sketch Club President

 

Bill Patterson

 

Executive Director

 

Barbara Murray

Catalog of Artists

1. Untitled, Eva Meyer – Inkjet print. $200

2. Hair, Eileen Eckstein – Scan & Digital $100

3. Patty’s Hat, Pat Hill – Oil$750

4. Think Tank, Lois Schlachter – Acrylic $600

5. Opus 7, Arlene Arons – Mixed Media$175

6. “Crassula”, Michael G. Young – Acrylic, Mixed Media. $500

7. Saturn’s Wing, Susan Ellis – Photomicrograph $125

8. Dancing in the Street, Rose Marie Strippoli – Acrylic $1,200

9. Circle Series #7, Katy Lin – Oil on Canvas$450

10. Kudzu, Merle Spandorfer – Pulp Painting $900

11. Apprehension vs Dread, Douglas Smith – Black & White Giclee $165

12. August II, Jack Myers – Acrylic on Masonite, gesso $350

13. The God Circuit, David Foss – Acrylic$900

14.  light being (Rick Selvin), DoN Brewer – Digital Photograph $350

15. Low Light, William Montgomery – Giclee $675

16. My Garden, Anne Martin – Oil on Canvas $950

17. Orifices III, Eileen Ballerino – Pastel $700

18. End Cut, William Montgomery – Giclee $675

19. Dakota Winter, Nancy Alter – Collagraph $900

20. Origins, James F. Watkinson – Pencil & Ink on Book Covers $1,500

21. In Repeat, Abby Schmidt – Melted Crayon $400

22. Conflagration Self-Portrait, PJ Foster – Oil Mixed Media Collage $20,000

23. light being (Anne D’Harnoncourt), DoN Brewer – Digital Photograph  $200

24. Light and Shadow, Naomi Rubin – Water-Based Ink Hand-Pulled Print $425

25. Tracey Love 1, Douglas Smith – Hand Colored Black & White $165

26. Ecollage #40, Marlene M. Robinson – Mixed Media $450

27. Things That Matter, James Moss – Acrylic on Canvas $500

28. Population Sample, Karen Steen – Mixed Media $500

29. The Reef, Ben Cohen – Watercolor/Metal $250

30. Firepie, Lisa Lawinski – Acrylic & Crayon $900

31.  Receiving Your Qualities, Michelle Marcuse – Digital print $2,000

32. Black & White (K)not, David Foss – Acrylic $450

33. River, Daniel Buchler – Mixed Media on Board $250

34. Colander Lattice, Hunter Stabler – India Ink and Graphite $1,800

35. Figment, Andrew Werth – Acrylic on Canvas $800

36. Black Fragments, Emily Brett Lukens – Ink  $450

37. Flutter, S. Mallary Johnson – Pencil on Paper $300

38.  Abstractions in Shades of Orange, James F. Watkinson – Pencil & Ink on Bookcovers $1,200

39. Earliest Landscape, M. Bruce Vieth – Oils $275

40. Passing Through, Romano Zamprioli – Acrylic $950

41. Untitled, Naomi B. Rubin – Mixed Media $395

42. Great Day for Lizards, Jane Hilles – Acrylic on Paper $160

43. Fishing, Emma Ehrenthal – Watercolor $800

44. Musical Score, Language Drawing Series, Pamela Birmingham – Ink on Mylar $1,000

45. Cognitional Abstracts, Mina Smith-Segal – Watercolor $295

46. Final Examination, Michael G. Jerista – Mixed Media on Canvas $550

47. Parade, Margo Tassi – Mixed Media $400

48. Iron, Ben Cohen – Watercolor/Graphite $500

49. New Space I, Joanne Bosack – Oil $1,800

50. Distance Radience, Richard Hamwi – Watercolor, Ink Collage $5,000

51. 71-44, Roger LaPelle – Drawing $700

52. Midnight Jewels II, Arlene Renee Finston – Encaustic $1,500

53. Lush, M. Frank Rush – Oil $425

54. Remains of the Day, Arthur B. Ostroff – Oil pastel $425

55. Bushkill Falls, Deborah Riccardi – Oil on Canvas $1,250

56. The Swamp #2, Jessica Milby – Etching $180

57. Growth Series:  Maple Tree, Heather Siple – Gelatin Silver Rayogram $300

58. Emerging, Woody Carter – Pastel $400

59. Rulying?, Carolyn K. Coyce – Acrylic $600

60. Burning Man, Cynthia Groya – Cinecolle Etching $350

61. Sunday Dot-to-Dot, Judy Engle – Color Photo From Paper Negative $450

62. Topographic Calligraphy, Lee Muslin – Color Photograph $175

63. Rust 2, Neal Knobler – Photograph  $150

64. Orvieto Copper, Elizabeth Bard – Digital Photograph $225

65. Conundrum, Karen Frank – Acrylic $500

66.  The Fiery Tilt, Jed Williams – Mixed Media on Board $250

67. Tone Poem 2, Myra Ryan – Pastel $350

68. Late Autumn, Dorlynn Starn – Ink on Paper $500

69. Channels #1, Laura Marconi – Oil on Treated Paper $700

70. Relentless Passion, Sandi Neiman Lovitz – Acrylic on Canvas $1,700

71. Blue Rush #1, Rai Delnoce Senior – Inkjet Print $150

72. Jean’s Night, Favi Dobo – Oil $600

73. Tumult, Harvey Alpert – Mixed Media $900

74. Gate, Harold Venable – Acrylic $950

75. Mandela #2, Bob Minnick – Acrylic $100

76. First Fig, Clifford E. Bailey – Oik on Canvas $400

77. Maze, Scott L. Dickson – Acrylic, Pencils on Tin   $200

78. Candy Coated, Melissa Quinter – Mixed Media $250

79. Verdant Complex 100, Bill Cechak – Oil $1,200

80. Snacks Time, Katy Lin – Acrylic on Canvas $450

81. Rothrock’s Red Gum, Susan Ellis – Photomicrograph $125

82. Stroll, Mark Weber – Oil, Graphic $300

83. Colony, Karen Steen – Mixed Media $500

84. Flight, Marlene M. Robinson – Watercolor $100

85. Tree Pattern, E. S. Holmes – Black&White photo plus Enhancement  $350

86. Scent of an Angel, Michelle Marcuse – Digital print $2,000

87. Ce n’est absolument pas concret – This is Absolutely Not Concrete, William Taylor – Photograph $150

88. Scrittura, Love Letter Series, Pamela Birmingham – Ink, Mylar, Xerox Transfer $800

89. Abstract #2, Ron Morley – Oil $250

90. Ensnared, Carole J. Meyers – Monotype $800

91. Junctures, Mark Weber – Oil, Graphic $600

92. She Hoisted One Pastel Sheet to the Wind, Judy Engle – Collage $450

93. Wood & Fabric, Jess Joern – Oil    $850

94. Boundaries, Cara Liguori – Graphite/Colored Pencil $750

95. Metalic Universe, Eileen Ballerino – Mixed Media $900

96. Morse Code, Lee Muslin – Color Photograph  $175

97. Pompeii, Italy, Don Camera – Chromagenic Print. $0

98. Into the Woods, Frances Du Bon – Gouache $200

99. Gentle Reminders, Sandra Benhaim – Mixed Media on Birch $975

100. Circumambient Love, Rick Nicholas – Mixed Media $850

101. Vessels, Evalyn F. segal – Digital $200

102. Lotus Exotica, Bonnie Randall – Mixed Media $450

103. Wave, Cynthia Groya – Cinecolle Etching $350

104. Remains of the Season, Marie Davis Samohod – Acrylic $400

105. Asia, Arlene Arons – Mixed Media $175

106. Open Your Mouth and Close Your Eyes, Lynn Costomivis – Collograph. Board, Gesso $1,300

107. Fanfare, Arnold Winkler – Digital Composite $260

108. Joyous Color, Frances Du Bon – Gouache $400

109. Winterscape, Elizabeth Wilde – Mixed Media $250

110. Gold Rush #1, Rai Delnoce Senior – Mixed Media $150

111. Autumn Abstract #2, Christine Leinbach – Acrylic $250

112. Can’t let Go, Joan M. Palmer – Oil on Canvas  $400

113. White Spots with Ink, Emily Brett Lukens – Ink $450

114. Plate, Robert Solomon – Wax, Canvas Pigment $1,800

115. Stream Ripples, Arthur B. Ostroff – Etching $185

116. Effulgence, Karen Frank – Acrylic $500

117. Cove II, Lisa Lawinski – Acrylic & Crayon $425

118. Key West, Michael G. Jerista – Acrylic $1,275

119.  Edge of the Woods, Jane Hilles – Gouache $300

120.  Untitled, Donna Quinn – Mixed Media on Canvas $875

121.  Painting: Red Rock, Brian Boutwell – Oil on Canvas $300

122.  Father Sky, Mother Earth, Sarah Baltzell – Film, Photoshop $300

123.  Poseidon’s Possession, Carole J. Meyers – Monotype $880

124.  PODS, S. Mallary Johnson – Pencil on Paper $300

125.  Insect, Gail Bracegirdle – Watercolor and Collage $325

126.  Bell Painting, Cameron McMillan 

127.  Hiroshima Series #1692, Hitoshi Nakazato

Jurors Biographies

 Cameron McMillan

Originally from Indiana, Cameron McMillan has been teaching and showing her work on the east coast for 20 years. She has a B.F.A. from Indiana University, a Post-Graduate Diploma from the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, and an M.F.A. from Yale University. Cameron has received a Ford Foundation Grant and two Andrew Grant Fellowships. She has taught at Georgetown University, American University, Rowan University and a number of art schools in Washington, D. C. and the Philadelphia area.  Her paintings are large mixed media pieces inspired by her love of color, walking in the woods, and deep connection with the figure. She received The Cultural Incentive Grant for a recently completed mural and the Bucks Foundation Grant.  She also was a curator for shows and wrote two catalogs.  The one she is the proudest of is the “Women Mentoring Women” Show at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

Artist’s Statement:   

   “I paint all the things in life that move me.  Sometimes these are events or images that cause me pain and sometimes these are events or images that give me great joy.”

Cameron McMillan

Bell Painting, Cameron McMillan

Hitoshi Nakazato

Born in Tokyo 1936, received his BFA Tama Art University; M.S., University of Wisconsin and MFA, University of Pennsylvania.  He lives in NYC.  He has exhibited in New York, Philadelphia, Japan, and Europe.  He is presently working on “Young New York Poets and Hitoshi Nakazato&#xu201D; Exhibition in Hiroshima that is opening August 6, 2009. He also has a one-man show at the Machida International Print Museum, Tokyo in 2010.  Hitoshi is an internationally known Master printmaker and painter.  Hitoshi taught for forty years at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania.  Other honors include the John D. Rockefeller III Fund (1967); Creative Artists Public Service, NY (1975); Japan/United States Consortium for Environmental Planning and Design Education (1982).  Solo exhibitions include Erikson Gallery, Philadelphia (1999); Gallery Kuranuki, Osaka, Japan (1998); Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo (1993, 1982, 1979,1977)

Public Collections :

Museum of Modern Art, NY, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan, Pennsylvania Academy of Fines Arts, Phila., Hyogo Museum of Modern Art, Kobe, Japan, Brooklyn Museum of Art , NY, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, Tochigi Museum of Art, Utsunomiya, Japan, Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan, Takamatsu Museum of Modern Art, Takamatsu, Japan, Shizuoka Museum of Art, Shizuoka, Japan, Setagaya Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, Okayama Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan, Ohara Museum of Modern Art, Kurashiki, Japan, Wakayama Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, Japan, Japan Foundation, Kokusai Koryu Kikin, Tokyo, Japan, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL, Tikotin Museum of Haifa Museum, Haifa, Israel, Utsunomiya Museum of Art, Ibaragi, Japan

Artist’s Statement:

“New possibilities may dwell outside what is known.  Believing that the Line Outside Series would lead me there, I continue to paint the homage to Sengai who had reached the Terra Incognita. (Sengai, written as Monk on Cliff or Line Outside) The Monado Series is based on the idea that all the philosophers since the Greeks painted pictures of the universe applying Monadology or elementology. On this concept, painting is about building my own micro-cosmos with paintery elements.”    Hitoshi Nakazato on April 10, 2007.Hitoshi Nakazato

Hiroshima Series #1692, Hitoshi Nakazota  

Figment, Andrew Werth - Acrylic on Canvas

Figment, Andrew Werth – Acrylic on Canvas

Junctures, Mark Weber - Oil, Graphic

Junctures, Mark Weber – Oil, Graphic

The Fiery Tilt, Jed Williams - Mixed Media on Board

The Fiery Tilt, Jed Williams – Mixed Media on Board

Black & White (K)not, David Foss - Acrylic

Black & White (K)not, David Foss – Acrylic

light being (Rick Selvin), DoN Brewer, digital photograph

light being (Rick Selvin), DoN Brewer, digital photograph

Abstract photography @ PSCs Absolutely Abstract

Abstract photography @ PSCs Absolutely Abstract

Philadelphia Sketch Clubs Annual Absolutely Abstract 2008.

Philadelphia Sketch Clubs Annual Absolutely Abstract 2008.

71-44, Roger LaPelle - Drawing

Philadelphia Sketch Clubs Annual Absolutely Abstract 2008.

Roger LaPelle 

71-44, Roger LaPelle – Drawing

Candy Coated, Melissa Quinter - Mixed Media

Candy Coated, Melissa Quinter – Mixed Media

LoVe

DoN 

CFEVA Artists @ Drexel University’s Pearlstein Gallery

Wednesday evening, Shoshana, Alden Cole and DoN attended Far Away From the Beginning A Departure from Childhood Idealism, an outstanding exhibit of contemporary art curated by Tara Caton, in cooperation with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists at Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery at 33rd and Market Streets.  Tara Caton, a former intern at CFEVA, is graduating from Drexel with a degree in “Entertainment and Arts Management” and produced the show as her Senior Thesis Project.  Caton tells DoN she, “looked for artists with commonalities of themes, a number of artists work with dark memories from childhood, a childhood perspective with adult melancholy, fantasies, toys, play, dreams and memory.”  Tara selected all the works, wrote the text, produced the brochure and art card and installed the art; she will be the first to graduate with this degree and said it was a huge honor to do such a big job for an undergrad project.  The exhibit in the Pearlstein Gallery includes many familiar CFEVA artists including Anne Canfield, Darla Jackson, Joelle Jenson, John Karpinski, Jedediah Morfit, Caleb Nussear, Scott Pellnat, Peter Prusinowski, Serena Perone, Matthew Neff, Cecelia Rembert and Nataliya Slinko.  Far Away From the Beginning is on exhibit through September 5th.

Curator Tara Caton at The Leonard Pearlstein Gallery.

Curator Tara Caton at The Leonard Pearlstein Gallery.

Artist Scott Pellnat

Artist Scott Pellnat with his adorable little girl explaining his sculpture which looks like it’s made of cast iron but is really “off the shelf” plastic parts.  “Why create your own figures when you can buy a Barbie?”

Each section of Pellnat’s sculpture is rearrangeable so you can customize the surprisingly light pieces of surrealist art to suit your mood.

Each section of Pellnat’s sculpture is rearrangeable so you can customize the surprisingly light pieces of surrealist art to suit your mood.

Jedediah Morfit explaining his bas-relief sculpture

Jedediah Morfit explaining his bas-relief sculpture; working in common, forgotten, traditional genres (museums are full of them) Morfit re-fashions the method into new and vital art.

Detail from Jedediah Morfit’s “The Price of Doing Business”.

Detail from Jedediah Morfit‘s “The Price of Doing Business“.

Anne Canfield’s “The Mermaid and the Tiger Meet Halfway”, oil on linen.

Anne Canfield’s “The Mermaid and the Tiger Meet Halfway“, oil on linen.

John Karpinski

John Karpinski is attracted to the paradox of comics and how they say a lot with so little. Through comics adults can regain time from their childhood; John’s childhood favorite comics were Daredevil # 158 and What If? # 15.

All photos by DoNBrewerMultimedia Photography.  

CFEVA Introduction 2012

Blick Art Materials