Category Archives: The Plastic Club

DoN ArT NeWs: The Plastic Club, Hopkins House Gallery & Art Ability

 Amy, Amy, Amy, DoN Brewer @ The Plastic Club

Amy, Amy, Amy, DoN Brewer @ The Plastic Club

Hello my Little DoNsters, DoN is always surprised and amazed when he is invited to participate in an art event, the excitement and preparation is engrossing and involving attempting to produce objects worthy of being called art.  The Plastic Club always strikes a creative chord for DoN, with the upcoming Member’s Choice show for August creating an opportunity to show new work in a welcoming, inclusive group show of like-minded artists.  DoN submitted two new pieces, Iris of the Storm, a shot of the remnants of the tragic Mid-West tornadoes passing over Philadelphia that gave us green sunlight and scarey scudding clouds and Amy, Amy Amy, an abstract landscape photograph of a dim light glowing against a stuccoed wall layered with attempts to cover up graffiti tags.  DoN listened to Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black back to back on his iPod for months, the music incorporating all his favorite genres mashed together into fabulous pop, her passing a sad reminder to live for today.

Heliotrope, DoN Brewer @ Hopkins House Gallery

Heliotrope, DoN Brewer @ Hopkins House Gallery.

DoN received an awesome invitation to exhibit at the prestigious Hopkins House Gallery on the beautiful Cooper River in Camden NJ.  DoN got the message from director Bruce Garrity through a Facebook instant message, he will be showing Abstract Landscape Photographs in an upstairs room in the historic space.  One of DoN‘s first art shows (many moons ago) was at Hopkins House; to be able to curate his own space in a gallery is DoN‘s dream come true.  The show opens Saturday, August 13th, DoN will post reception info soon.

The same day DoN received the Hopkins House confirmation he received this email, “Dear artist, If you are receiving this email, congratulations – you have had one, or more, pieces of artwork accepted into Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s 2011 Art Ability exhibition. The decisions were extremely difficult this year as the show has grown immensely from year to year. We had more than 300 artists send over 1,330 submissions! We have narrowed that down to the best of the best, and only accepted approx. 350 submissions from nearly 200 artists.

A formal acceptance package (noting which pieces were chosen) will arriving at your home via the U.S Post Office in the next week. The package will include all required forms, dates, information that you will need in preparation for the exhibit opening Nov. 5th.  Thank you for sharing your work with us and for participating in our exhibit. Your participation makes this exhibit the largest of its kind in the nation.

Sincerely,

Heather

—————————————————-

Heather Zoumas-Lubeski

Director, Community Outreach & Special Events

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital – Main Line Health

414 Paoli Pike

Malvern, PA 19355

(484) 596-5607 NEW

Zoumas-LubeskiH@mlhs.org

www.brynmawrrehab.org/artability

www.brynmawrrehab.org/cnb

Cool, huh?  Although, this year’s acceptance into the final cut of the prestigious international art event is bitter sweet since best friend Arnie Segal has recently transmogrified into a light being.  Arnie’s magical sculptures and his endearing personality will be sorely missed at this year’s party.  Arnie Segal introduced DoN into the world of art opportunities for disabled people including the fabulous Art Ability show, Very Special Artists @ Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and ArtFirst @ Princeton University Medical CenterDoN urges you to support the tremendous effort the team at Bryn Mawr Rehab puts into this expansive exhibit of art created by people facing personal challenges finding happiness, solace and a voice through the making of art.

light being (Lorraine & Charles), DoN Brewer @ Art Ability this Fall, 2011.

light being (Lorraine & Charles), DoN Brewer @ Art Ability this Fall, 2011.  This image is an update to my original post, DoN received the info today and this is the image the jury choose; DoN is very happy from an artistic standpoint and emotionally because Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Charles loved DoN unconditionally (8/11/11).

Art by DoN.

DoN Brewer @ The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Members Art Show & Sale

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

DoN Brewer @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale.

Being part of an art group and observing the social dynamics in the art world is as interesting as the art.  The recent artist receptions at the historic art clubs, The Plastic Club & The Philadelphia Sketch Club, drew crowds of artists to the Avenue of the Artists in Center City to celebrate the best of the best.  It is so much fun to be the fly on the wall when someone is looking at your work; having pieces in both shows was especially gratifying and when people observe to DoN they remember his photos from one show or the other show it feels so good to know they remember the images.  DoN entered his digital photograph from Da Vinci Art Alliance‘s Envisioning the Decameron show titled Heliotrope in PSC‘s art sale (the image will represent DoN‘s work in the forthcoming DVAA 80th Anniversary art book), an abstract found architectural detail photo that confounds observers – it looks like a painting but it’s a photo, Heliotrope is a color but it’s also a magic stone that was thought to cure the plague.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Heliotrope, digital photo & print, DoN Brewer.

Meeting artists is as much fun as looking at the art and drinking wine: painter Garth Herrick and DoN chatted about how he exclusively does commissions now, Steve Iwanzuk PSC Exhibitions chair told a story about once putting Mark Zuckerberg in his place, Chick Kelly was dressed to the nines in a dashing hat, Karen McDonnell, the Queen of Hip Hop Grafitti, looked HoT! in black, Scott Affleck posed with DoN for photos since our work is hanging next to each other…it was a really good art day.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Panoramic view of the Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Members Art Show & Sale – that’s PSC President Bill Patterson in the middle, it was a wonderful moment when DoN saw Bill shaking hands with Mike Guinn, Plastic Club past president, at The Plastic Club’s Members Medals show, the two leaders are essential to the success of the historic art clubs.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

The Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Members Art Show and Sale.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

The Plastic Club’s Members Medals Show – center bottom row is DoN‘s Rune, digital photo printed on matte paper.  DoN picked this photo to go after a prize because to him it represents painting, photography and printing all at once – even though the image is glossy, the paper is matte, creating an illusion.  Oh well, it’s great just to be nominated.  Congratulations to Lois Schlachter for winning the Gold Medal.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit – that’s artist Yeoun Lee in both ends of the photo!

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Panoramic shot of the Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit.

DoN Brewer On View, The Plastic Club Members Medals Exhibit and The Philadelphia Sketch Club Art Show & Sale

Upstairs at the Plastic Club.

Both art shows end this week, DoN recommends you find time to see these important art events because they represent some of the best of Philly’s contemporary artists and what they think is their best work.

 

Photos by DoN.

 

DoNArTNeWs – How to Overcome Creative Block? Go To The Plastic Club

DoNArTNeWs began as an e-mail newsletter to a list of Philadelphia artists as suggested in the book “I’d Rather Be In The Studio“.  The big idea is to make an art date with yourself, visit a gallery or museum, talk to people, learn new things and gradually the block will lift and the fear of a blank canvas or page will fade to tolerable levels.  The book was originally suggested by friends, a group of guys (fellow artists) interested in improving their visibility in the art work through social networking.  The newsletter is a great idea but labor intensive so DoNArTNeWs gradually evolved into this blog – a review of art dates DoN (my third party voice) makes with himself, quickly Photoshopped and posted (along with constant insertions of shameless self-promotion), even though the small art alliance has drifted apart (one guy is re-covering from a torn rotator cuff, another has a neurological problem currently under control and the third is experiencing arthritis – sheesh!).  Since 2008 DoNArTNeWs has become a source of good art news in Philly.  So, when DoN‘s voice became quieted due to the bodily invasion of an alien virus combined with long time chronic illness and the subsequent space-time morphing from a combination of OTC cold meds and biological disease modifying drugs, DoN is re-discovering the purpose of DoNArTNeWs and why the world around him has turned into a Philip K. Dick novel?  Disaster porn, fever dreams, waking up in a different universe with each dose of medicine has transmogrified into lack of productivity and a deep well of discontent to climb out of.

Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club

Underground Man, Apollo, & Meditation, Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club through April 2011.

DoN realizes artists have come to rely on this blog for information, links and resources and is making every effort to regain his footing in the shifting art landscape and find his voice again.  DoN has received many well wishes but a recent comment on Facebook thanking him for a mention in this blog sparked some energy to keep pushing on.  Sunday DoN visited the Plastic Club which is filled with art, enthusiasm and creative spirit; the main floor is a boldly abstract expressionist solo show by Philadelphia painter, Tom L. Torosian, the upstairs studio is a group show of moving model studies with some spectacular drawings and mixed media and the Downstairs Gallery is a group member show including Leroy Forney, Charles Kelly, Yeoun Lee, Bill Myers and Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler.  Torosian’s reception wasn’t until the evening so most of us gravitated downstairs with a lovely lunch spread out by Plastic Club president Bob Jackson who obviously is in love with the club’s professional grade range.  Sitting and talking, munching ham sandwiches with a group of friends about art and culture in an historic space is a healing exercise in itself.

Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club

Relationships & Reflection, Tom L TorosianArt is Happening Again @ The Plastic Club.

Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club

Conjunction and Three Boats, Tom L. Torosian @ The Plastic Club.  Torosian’s bold neo-expressionist paintings ferment in his mind then explode from his hand onto the canvas, the expansive show of abstractions energizes and activates the gallery with a clear vision of how art can make one man happy with his life.

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler @ The Plastic Club

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler in the Moving Model Workshop show – a group show of drawings composed while the model slowly changes poses over time.  The practice helps Sibylle infuse action into her paintings of dancers which have earned her acclaim and awards.  Pfaffenbichler has a group of paintings in the Downstairs Gallery and won 3rd place for the Philadelphia Sketch Club‘s Small Oils exhibit; DoN saw a preview of the Small Oils show before jurying at the invitation of PSC president Bill Patterson and Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler’s fancy dancers stood apart from the hundreds of excellent contenders for the show, it was no surprise to DoN she won a prize.

Moving Models @ The Plastic Club

Moving Model @ The Plastic Club.

Chick Kelly Plastic Club

Charles “Chick” Kelly @ The Plastic Club’s Downstairs Gallery.

Chick Kelly Plastic Club

Charles “Chick” Kelly with his paintings in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club.  What a gentleman?  Chick’s self deprecating wit and fearless paintings of himself reveal an authenticity and genuineness of character.

Yeoun Lee @ The Plastic Club Downstairs Gallery

Yeoun Lee @ The Plastic Club Downstairs Gallery.

Bill Myers Plastic Club

Bill Myers @ The Plastic Club’s Downstairs Gallery.  Myers clever surrealistic Photoshop collages are deceivingly simple, the piece on the left is a collage of a graffiti photo with the heart bear layered in and “everyone bleeds now” text extracted from a clandestine shot of someone’s T-shirt design when combined morph into a love story with bleeding hearts, memes and symbols resonating like an orchestra of tin cans in a bag.

Bill Myers, Leroy Fornat & Chick Kelly @ The Plastic Club Downstairs Gallery.

Bill Myers, Leroy Forney & Chick Kelly @ The Plastic Club Downstairs Gallery.

Photos by DoN.

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club – DoN Brewer, Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club - DoN Brewer,  Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic ClubDoN Brewer,  Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky.  Downstairs at the Plastic club is a gallery, print shop and kitchen carved out of a once junk filled basement, now a chic venue to show art and meet with friends and peers.  Even though the names are drawn from a hat, look at the well established artists DoN is associated with in this collection, it’s humbling to be included in the same sentence let alone show in the same space with artists Greenspan, Kendric, Kline and Podolsky.

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club - DoN Brewer,  Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

Burton Greenspan, Sun Lee, oil, DoN Brewer, light being (Joey Ramone), digital photograph, Diane Podolsky, Star Gazer, multicolor reduction linocut and Another Part of Town, collograph/watercolor in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club.

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club - DoN Brewer,  Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

Diane Podolsky, The Cat, oil stick and Burton Greenspan, Gilda, oil in The Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club.

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club - DoN Brewer,  Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

Mervyn Kline @ The Down Stairs Gallery in the Plastic Club.

Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club - DoN Brewer,  Burton Greenspan, Cara Kendric, Mervyn Kline & Diane Podolsky

DoN Brewer, light beings, digital photographs @ The Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club.  The opportunity to exhibit in  one of America’s oldest art clubs is a tremendous honor; with the luck of the draw, DoN was able to assemble some of his favorite images in a representative selection of his “light being” theme of reflected light on urban surfaces titled after friends and family who have transmogrified into spirits traversing the universe as beams of light.  DoN‘s Grandma would be so proud.

 

Photos by DoN.

The Work of Art

Since DoN‘s last post he stopped by the Philadelphia Sketch Club to meet with executive director Barbara Murray who manages the constant whirl of activity at America’s oldest art club and catch up.  Barbara was on the phone so DoN went upstairs to preview the Art of the Flower show and Professor Rich Harrington of Moore College of Art and Design was organizing the extensive catalog and labeling system required to mount a major exhibition.  Rich was multitasking to such an extent that DoN was flabbergasted, during the take-in of art there was a numbering glitch requiring the team of volunteers to justify the entries by removing and replacing dozens of art works, he had recall of virtually every entry and where the piece was in the room, 100s of different images!  DoN can recognize some artists’ styles & work by sight but Harrington knew all the artists and he’s also going through finals at Moore with students bombarding him with presentations.  The catalog that results from all the hard work is a a collectible, many artists save in their files – to be juried into the prestigious art show is exciting, having a beautiful, informative memento is like a confirmation of acceptance in the art world.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Art of the Flower 2011

Philadelphia Sketch Club, Art of the Flower 2011 – the reception & awards is March 6th, 2 – 4:00 PM.

DoN popped into the Plastic Club to preview the gigantic Small Worlds exhibit and his own mini-exhibition, part of a group show including Diane Podolsky, Burton Greenspan, Mervyn Kline & Cara Kendric in the Downstairs Gallery, and found all the numbering and information sheets completed and ready for the show.  The Plastic Club uses a numbering system instead of labels which is less cumbersome, the Plastic Club allows all member artists to include their work in most shows and the Philadelphia Sketch Club usually shows a selection from a mass of entries, the tradition of a name tag is expected.  Either way, there’s someone at a computer organizing Excel spreadsheets or Word docs or Photoshop files to create the information design of art show memorabilia and advertising.  It takes a village and organizing volunteers is a job unto itself, join in, helping is fun.

Plastic Club Small Worlds 2011

The Plastic Club, Small Worlds exhibition of art.

Gallery sitting can be a drag, Saturday DoN invited friends to visit the Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery to talk about Search Engine Optimization for Artists which easily made two hours pass in a flash; DoN loved the bemused information overload on the artists faces after the discussion, asking them to think about their brand, what people think of them, how they want to be recognized and then how to make it appear on page one in Google.  Creating an event, inviting friends and designing an experience really helped to bring people into the gallery; opening receptions are expected by the art crawlers, keeping people coming back to the gallery is the challenge.  Thanks to all the volunteers who make the Philly art community thrive and grow.  Visit your local art gallery today, you might make a new friend.

Diverse Perspectives @ Da Vinci Art Alliance: Bud Boehringer, DoN Brewer, Lorna Kent, Yeoun Lee, Marcy Morris, Lee Muslin, William Myers & Edna Santiago

Yeoun Lee @ Diverse Perspective, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, South Philly.

Today there are receptions at both the Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Plastic Club on Camac Street, the Avenue of the Artists, both are free and open to the public.  The Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery is open today, too, artist Yeoun Lee will be gallery sitting for the Diverse Perspectives group show even though she’s included in the Art of the Flower show with two gorgeous paintings and the Small World‘s show.  Please stop in the historic gallery in South Philly and tell her how much you like her work, Yeoun and Charles are becoming quite the art power couple around town, both volunteered to help install the massive Small Worlds show at the Plastic Club, too.  Art work isn’t just painting after all, it’s real, hard, tedious work designed to make people feel good about themselves and the world around them.  Enjoy!