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Absolutely Abstract 2011 @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club, DoNArTNeWs Interview PSC President Bill Patterson
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Category Archives: Watercolors
Members’ Choice @ The Plastic Club
Bonnie MacAllister, Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club. Bonnie MacAllister‘s tiny mixed media, Revery, is subtle yet slyly glamorous with gold dust illuminating the feminine figure, the piece softy glowing in it’s own light. Bonnie’s blog is very cool describing all the wonderful projects she’s working on; she’s a world traveler, grant winner and educator with a fine eye, thoughtful manner and socially conscious personality – a DoN must read! Coming soon – Bonnie MacAllister, The Dressing Room, Green Light Arts, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe @ The Plastic Club, 247 S. Camac Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Show runs Sept. 3*, 4, 7, 10, 11, 14, and 17, 7 p.m. *followed by artist reception
Here is the link to tickets:
http://bonnie-macallister.blogspot.com/2011/07/play-dressing-room_31.html
This is the link to the press release:http://bonnie-macallister.blogspot.com/2011/07/play-dressing-room.html
BONNIE MacALLISTER: Play: The Dressing Room
Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club. Patricia Wilson-Schmid, Celebration, acrylic, Laura Pritchard, The Donors, batik on silk, Karen Frank, Strongman and Ballerina, mixed media, Theodore Amick, Jibber Jabber, watercolor and Bob Jackson, Mrs. Wildfowl and Tea, junk and stuff.
Sy Hakim, Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club. Sy Hakim’s large landscape painting, Formations – Daylight, describes a beautiful yet challenging world, the small figure seems huddled against the power of the landscape, the outcroppings hang high above his head, a daunting climb but a great view from the top.
Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club: Lois Schlachter, Guarding the Kingdom, giclee and Sixty, giclee, DoN Brewer, Iris of the Storm and Amy, Amy, Amy, digital photographs, archival ink prints and Mervyn Klein, Karate, collage. Lois and DoN have been friends for years and Mervyn & DoN had a show together in the Downstairs Gallery earlier this year; the tones of this grouping are balanced and vibrant, there are tableau’s throughout the gallery where works speak to each other through color, technique and theme. DoN priced his work at $4.3 trillion and $3.2 trillion respectively hoping to save the economy but the guide says NFS, oh well.
Bill Myers @ The Plastic Club.
Bill Myers photography is confounding yet simple; his Photoshop collages fool the eye when the artist mashes his own photography with found images, morphing the pictures into something different yet familiar. Scary Scenario, photo collage, looks authentic with deep blacks and dark shadows but look closer and the foreground figure becomes impossible, the girl in the phone booth has two umbrellas, huh? – Bill Myers is good at that, that “huh?” moment.
Sy Hakim, The Cave-Night, oil, Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club.
An art patroness becomes part of the art in the Shiekman Studio upstairs at the Plastic Club, her Summer dress extending the scene magically onto her person. The art flanking Hakim’s painting is by Gail Zelikovsky, Rock Garden, painted silk and Rock Garden with Waterfall, painted silk.
Sy Hakim, The Cave-Night, oil, Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club.
Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler @ The Plastic Club‘s Member’s Choice Art Show. Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler‘s action paintings are not just fast in painting style like an abstract expressionist but the quickly painted figures are always moving, dancing, prancing – Ringa-Ringa-Reia, gouache & charcoal, is a joyful work of art.
Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club.
Ted Gutswa, Members’ Choice Art Show @ The Plastic Club. Ted Gutswa‘s charcoal drawings, Spring Mist & Sweeping Dream, explains all about what it means to be a member of the Plastic Club, simple materials, uninhibited application and beautiful presentation, raising the combined whole to a level higher than it’s minimalist components. The Member’s Choice show at the Plastic Club represents each artist’s best work, the sum of it’s parts is elevated even more by the quality, style and variety of the work in proximity. Downstairs Gallery at the Plastic Club is a lovely space featuring Kim Martin. Karl Olsen, Marion Loippo and Jane Wilkie; DoN will post some images and comments soon.
Photos by DoN.
Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty, Works in Watercolor @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe, Mt. Airy
Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe.
Bananas and Oranges, watercolor.
Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe
Ranunculus Bud and Budding Alyssum, watercolor by Lauren Sweeney.
Lauren Sweeney said, “This is a show I decided to include just watercolors that predominantly included what I call natures bounty: fruits, vegetables, shells from the sea and some of the man made objects. Because it’s sort of a unique opportunity for me to focus more than I have for shows in the past trying to show a little of the diversity that I’ve done. But, this is twenty paintings, so, it’s a lot of work. The way this show came about is that they have a curator that goes around including Post Open Studio Tours and she liked my work and asked me on the spot if I would want to do a show here. She’s the one that arranges the show, goes to the art openings…what she did was go through the POST listings and see which artists looked good to her and then she went around to them. She invited me out here (Mt. Airy) to see this place and I love it, this space makes all art glow. It’s a really good space and it allows you to really see the art. It’s a restaurant so normally you can only see it when they’re open but tonight we’re having the first art reception.” Lauren Sweeney said she got free publicity through a free networking service called Patch, check it out. The website gives info and what’s going on in different Philly neighborhoods but it doesn’t exist in Center City yet.
Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe.
Geechee Girl Rice Cafe is operated by five sisters, DoN talked with chef/owner Val Erwin about art being part of Geechee Girl Rice Cafe‘s business plan, “We do regular shows of artists. I have somebody on my staff that curates them, works with the artists and hangs the shows.” Does art draw customers? “Well, in the most ideal situation, yes. I mean, that isn’t why we started it but hopefully it does.”
Lauren Sweeney, Natures Bounty @ Geechee Girl Rice Cafe.
Lauren explained to DoN, “I decided early on to use existing work and create new work focused on nature, the tomato painting I started at the Fitler Square Art Fair, while I was there. This has been a great opportunity for me to expand into this neighborhood. I’ve met some of the gallery owners, there are all kinds and it’s been a real motivating factor. The show is two months long and runs through the end of August.”
Geechee Girl Rice Cafe – This weekend’s specials:
- Corn chowder
- Geechee Girl house salad with herb toasted brie, candied pecans and fresh peaches
- Fried okra & jalapenos w/ herb sour cream sauce
- Roasted marinated beets garnished with Lancaster County goat cheese
- Geechee Girl crabcakes with herb sour cream sauce. Jasmine rice and Asian slaw
- Chicken gumbo garnished with Carolina gold rice. Served with sauteed greens
- Individual peach cobbler served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.
Brunch specials
- Peach lemonade: lemonade topped with fresh peach nectar
- Orange-currant scones with white icing
- Geechee Girl crabcakes w/ herb sour cream sauce. Jasmine rice and heirloom tomato salad
- Grits souffle with oven roasted tomatoes. Thick sliced bacon and herb scrambled eggs
- Buttermilk pancakes with peaches and whipped cream
World’s best fried chicken every Wednesday this summer. Get there early ’cause when it’s gone, it’s gone!
Photos by DoN.
Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne
Lois Schlachter, @ Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011
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, 2011.
Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.
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, 2011.
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, 2011.
Philadelphia Sketch Club Volunteer Art Exhibit @ Art Space, Lansdowne, 2011.
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 & 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 @ 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.
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 Rowans 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 OHalloran, Francine Strauss, Ted Warchal, Carol Wisker, Burnell Yow!
Click the thumbnails for panoramic views of Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance Event @ Rowan University, Glassboro NJ.
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.
Lilliana Didovic – Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event @ Rowan University.
Carl Johnson@ Envisioning Shakespeare – a Da Vinci Art Alliance event.
DoN Brewer and Mina Smith-Segal – 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.
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.
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 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 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