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Northeast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Northeast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Written and Photographed by Laura Storck

On First Friday this month, I was excited to finally visit Gravy Studio, located in Fishtown, which serves as a space that promotes local photographers and their work.  As a photographer with a particular fondness for the darkroom, I was especially interested in attending the opening reception for Northeast Kingdom by Andrew Frost.  Not only does this body of work contain black and white images captured on film, but I felt compelled to learn more about the mystery surrounding his project.

Northeast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Northeast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Artist Statement:

“These photographs were made in the Northeast area of the state of Vermont, an area known as the Northeast Kingdom. It’s where my family has lived for more than 200 years. My father joined the Navy when he was a teenager as a way to get out of the rural area, and growing up we never went back, though I always imagined what it was like. Over the past several years, I’ve been traveling there, exploring my past, and making photographs.”

Andrew Frost has been making large format photographs within and surrounding the small town of Groton, Vermont, where his relatives have lived for more that two hundred years. In the late 1970’s, his father left and joined the Navy as a teenager. As Andrew was growing up, his family moved constantly, and he had never personally experienced his heritage in Vermont. He always imagined “a magical place, with mountains, rivers, and lakes, and a land of tree houses and caves — the kind of place where kids were free to ride their bikes to the village store.”

Northeast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Finally in 2010, he visited his roots for the first time and began photographing the world he had often envisioned. Because of his nomadic upbringing, the Northeast Kingdom held a mythical sense of history for Frost as he had been enamored by the stories of his father’s youth.  On his initial visit to Vermont, he had instantly felt a deep connection and a sense of belonging.  For the next 3 years, Frost had made frequent trips to the area, and brought his 8 x 10 view camera to record and discover his origins on a journey of self-exploration.

Northeast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Documenting with a view camera was a slow and gradual process, which complimented the way of life in rural Vermont. Some of his subjects are relatives, others are strangers. Frost’s images are beautiful and expressively rich in their black and white tonality. Several of the captures could easily be mistaken as having been made in the distant past – including an image containing elements of a wall photo of a vintage car combined with an antiquated radio, to a photograph of a soldier leaving for boot camp. Before I knew any of the backstory regarding this project, I asked Andrew about the timeline and for details as for when these particular images were captured (as I initially thought that these could have been enlargements made from old negatives).

Northeast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

Andrew Frost explained:

“I don’t know for certain what type of car is in the photo, and as far as I know it’s a clock radio – it’s at my grandmother’s house, and she’s had it for a very long time. The photograph of the soldier, Jeremy, was made the day he left for boot camp. It was the 4th of July in 2011. He’s my aunt’s husband’s sister’s son, and in that area there aren’t a lot of career options. Your choices are mostly limited to farming, ministry, or the military, and he chose to enlist when he finished high school.”

Northeast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost, Gravy Studio

This poignant collection of work initially evokes feelings of melancholy, isolation, sterility, and stagnation in a pastoral land where time appears to be standing still. Yet these observations will eventually transition the viewer towards feelings of hope, beauty, tenderness, and human connection. The exhalation and inner peace that has resulted in this journey of self-realization and reflection are undoubtedly witnessed when viewing Northeast Kingdom.

Northeast Kingdon, Andrew Frost, Gravy StudioNortheast Kingdom, Andrew Frost at Gravy Studio is on display through December 31st. Gravy Studio & Gallery, 155 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19122, (267) 825-7071, gravy-studio.com, gravy.photo@gmail.com

Andrew Frost was born in Yokosuka, Japan. He has an MFA from Syracuse University, and currently lives in Northern New Jersey where he makes books for Conveyor Arts.

Gravy Studio & Gallery is a collaborative photography workspace and gallery located near the Frankford Arts Corridor.  Serving as a multifunctional space that promotes the work of local photographers, opening receptions are held on the First Friday of every month.

http://www.andrewpfrost.com

http://conveyorarts.org

Written and Photographed by Laura Storck

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Worth

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For What It's Worth, Richard Perkins PhotographyFor What It’s Worth, Richard Perkins Photography, The First Banana,

Written and photographed by Laura Storck.

Upon outlining my plan of attack for First Friday, I made a conscious effort to begin way out of the beaten art path, i.e., not in Old City, and venture even farther than many of the newer gallery openings on Frankford Avenue. My launch began at, the aptly-named, The First Banana in Fishtown to see the opening reception for the Richard Perkins solo photography exhibit, ‘For What It’s Worth‘. The photographs, mostly portraits of friends, were taken within the past 5 years to a mere week ago. Hailing from Portsmouth, Virginia, Perkins was in town for the occasion.

For What It's Worth, Richard Perkins PhotographyThe First Banana, 2152 E. Dauphin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Richard Perkins’ collection of portraits are vibrant, edgy, and voyeuristic, yet have an intimate and candid vibe to them. The fact that they were printed and posted directly on the wall gives the viewer a sense of immediacy and urgency that they must be seen. Many images rely heavily on flash, which I like, and therefore appear similar to a “look book” feel – which, in fact, shouldn’t come as a surprise, as in 2013 he helped to photograph clothing for Play Cloths, a progressive street-wear brand, also located in Virginia.

For What It's Worth, Richard Perkins, The First BananaFor What It’s Worth, Richard Perkins Photography, The First Banana

Very interestingly, Richard’s photographs were taken with only a disposable film camera or a digital point-and-shoot (he graciously showed me his white Samsung camera tucked away in his pocket). He confided that he likes to be as unobtrusive as possible when photographing his subjects, as to not point a large intimidating camera in their direction.

For What It's Worth, Richard Perkins, The First BananaFor What It’s Worth, Richard Perkins, photography at The First BananaFor What It's Worth, Richard Perkins, The First BananaFor What It’s Worth, Richard Perkins, Untitled, photograph, The First Banana

To compliment the exhibition, one of Richard’s films was being projected on a side wall above the stage. Richard explained,

“The film was called ‘Down From The Mountains‘ and it’s of my girlfriend Tabitha Lopez. The film consisted of a bored night where we drew out of a hat of what to do and one was to “make a movie” so I wanted to make a 20 minute long short film of Tabitha against a wall doing whatever she thought fit.”

The film, shot in black and white, consists of Tabitha speaking directly to the camera. The footage has a very dreamy and mercurial quality to it, in which I felt uncertain of what to expect next but compelled to watch more.

For What It's Worth, Richard Perkins, The First BananaDown From The Mountains, video, Richard Perkins, The First Banana

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Richard Perkins’ work and meeting the artist himself, especially on my first stop on First Friday at the First Banana. Richard’s expressively charged, raw, and moody photographs can be seen on display through November. The First Banana is a member-driven gallery, venue and performance space created to meet the needs of performance artists and artists in other mediums finding it hard to establish themselves in the art world.

The First Banana is located at 2152 E. Dauphin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125; (267) 934- 6263.

Written and photographed by Laura Storck.

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Me

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Home Fine Art and FramingAll of a sudden my artwork is everywhere! Today is the artist reception for Home Fine Art and Framing Gallery at 2 Church Street, Mount Holly, NJ 08060 (609) 261-8634. I was invited by the irrepressible Ben Cohen and proprietor Kathryn Spear to be a guest artist. I have three photographic prints and a digital print of QR codes that links to websites, animated gif and videos.

Thanks to Pauline Jonas and Jeff Stroud my photography is included in the Photographic Society of Philadelphia group show at Galleria Deptford, 1011 Cooper Street, Deptford NJ. Read my review of the show on DoNArTNeWs here.

DoN Brewer, Galleria Deptfordlight beings (Nana and Dada), digital photograph, 20′ x 30″, Photographic Society of Philadelphia group show at Galleria Deptford

The Plastic Club small WORLDS 2014 show includes a basket of five one sheet books. Three of the books were originally included in the 110 Church Gallery RiTUAL Reading Room show. Read my review of the show here. I created two more books including a tribute to my beautiful Lady Doofus, the St. Bernard/Chihuahua who passed away almost two years ago, I was inspired to write the story because kids in my neighborhood still ask where Beethoven is which makes me very happy.small WORLDS 2014, The Plastic ClubPhoto by Morris Klein at small WORLDS 2014 at The Plastic Club

The Plastic Club also has a group show at National Penn Bank at 21st and Market Streets in Philadelphia.MacBeth, DoN BrewerMacBeth, digital photograph, inkjet print, 20″ x 16″, The Plastic Club also has a group show at National Penn Bank at 21st and Market Streets in Philadelphia

And this week I’ll be installing four large photographic prints at the Bargain Book Warehouse, 121 East City Line Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, in the Bala Shopping Center, thanks to my good friend Eva Preston. Read my profile of Eva here.

The Gathering, DoN BrewerThe Gathering, digital photograph, 20″ x 30″, Bargain Book Warehouse

Thanks to all my good friends for making wonderful art opportunities happen. I hope to see you there or there or there.

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Karmic Choices

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Karmic Choices: How Making the Right Decisions Can Create Enduring Joy – by Djuna Wojton

“Open up to more satisfaction in your life, from career and relationships to your own self-expression. With Karmic Choices: How Making the Right Decisions Can Create Enduring Joy, you’ll release the blocks that keep you immobilized and create an exciting and productive life you’ll love. By connecting with your soul awareness through exercises, questionnaires, and the three-step karmic pattern formula, this book will help you:

  • Heal old issues and go beyond self-imposed limitations?
  • Design new strategies and goals for a fulfilling future
  • Get support from friends, family, and professionals
  • Develop your intuition and access soul wisdom
  • Take actions that positively impact the world

By sharing her new perspective on the laws of karma and attraction, Djuna Wojton helps you to fully manifest the life you desire. Discover how you can incorporate a variety of helpful modalities, including yoga sutras, meditation, energy work, and more. When you follow the three steps—clarify, clear, and create—you’ll be more satisfied with your life than you ever imagined possible.” – Amazon.com

“Reiki (霊気?, /ˈreɪkiː/) is a spiritual practice[1] developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui, which has since been adapted by various teachers of varying traditions. It uses a technique commonly called palm healing or hands-on-healingas a form of alternative medicine and is sometimes classified as oriental medicine by some professional medical bodies.[2] Through the use of this technique, practitioners believe that they are transferring universal energy (i.e., reiki) in the form of qi (Japanese: ki) through the palms, which they believe allows for self-healing and a state of equilibrium.[3]

There are two main branches of Reiki, commonly referred to as Traditional Japanese Reiki and Western Reiki. Though differences can be wide and varied between both branches and traditions, the primary difference is that the Westernised forms use systematised hand-placements rather than relying on an intuitive sense of hand-positions (see below), which is commonly used by Japanese Reiki branches. Both branches commonly have a three-tiered hierarchy of degrees, usually referred to as the First, Second, and Master/Teacher level, all of which are associated with different skills and techniques.” – wikipedia

Djuna Wojton is a Philadelphia based author, artist, dancer, reiki master and radio personality offering advice, workshops and mindful healing sessions. Congratulations Djuna for publishing your second self-help book.

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RiTUAL Reading Room

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RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

My Winter Coat, Barbara Henry, NJ and A Summer Morning’s Ritual, Pia De Girolamo

RiTUAL, Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery, 110 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106, 267 871 9375, HOURS: Thursday 1:30 – 6:30 pm, Friday 1:30 – 6:30 pm (except First Fridays, 5 – 8 pm) Saturday Noon – 4:00 pm, other times by appointment. 

ARTIST RECEPTION: 
Saturday, December 14, 2013, 
3:00 – 6:00 pm

110 Church Gallery invites you to retreat from the cold into our gallery, transformed into a reading room. Be surrounded by stories, engulfed by pages, dazzled by over two hundred books. Books on shelves. Books on tables. Books hanging. Walls covered with books on display. Take books down, curl up and read. Fall in love with a book, buy it, and take it home.

Each of these books has been constructed from a single-sheet surface that is no larger than 11 x 17 inches. Over one hundred artists submitted books, addressing the theme: ritual.

RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

RiTUAL, Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

RiTUAL Reading Room is a meme based in Social Practice. To get the idea out into the Philadelphia art scene and have participation, the message had to be simple, easy to explain and memorably fun. By adding terms and conditions the curators established a concept that artists could share with each other, all you had to do was follow simple instructions. Making books in the Age of Digital Reproduction is a challenge to artists desiring to express themselves on paper. RiTUALS let’s the artist write whatever kind of book they like and then share the wall space with other artists, their work pixelated into the matrix of the meme, each book like a nerve connecting to the central nervous system of the art show. It really makes you think.

The design is simple and elegant with each book, loaded with information, waits to be unpacked by a viewer. Action is required to view the books displayed artfully in clear bags, concise tagging and information design creates a clever design experience. At the First Friday opening people ‘reading’ the books in random order mostly said, ‘Cool!’ There’s no better word.

RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

110 Church Gallery, RiTUAL, Reading Room

RiTUAL as a social practice experience is intellectually satisfying from the ad campaign with the sample instruction books to the on-line campaign to the virtual display, the idea is to express a concept within constraints. The books nearest the door are hung from display pins so the wind won’t blow them over, object-like books such as the tea-bag book are on pedestals and tables and the rest are displayed on slim racks with taut string keeping them in place.

The origami-like fold of the paper creates a four page book, with 8 sides and the opposite side of the paper can be a poster. There are books of prints, poems, recipes, photos, patterns, drawings, paintings, embroidery and sculpture. And there are stories told in eight pages that will make you laugh or cry. The tactility of handing the books and sharing the discoveries with others opened up communications so that people interacted instead of the anonymity of the library.

RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

110 Church Gallery, RiTUAL, Reading Room

RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

110 Church Gallery, RiTUAL, Reading Room

RiTUAL creates an environment saturated with information, ideas and design. The cable knit sweater book by Kate Flake is an expression of the information technology of sewing  communicated as memetic code. A meme of cozy comfort is translated into the book in a language different from words; a thread of thought creates a story in an un-named tongue that is easily understood and re-interpretted into words.

RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

110 Church Gallery, RiTUAL, Reading Room

Pia DeGirolamo’s books are delightfully informative and rich with style and taste. And by taste I mean food. Tomato Sauce Ritual teaches how to be resourceful and make yourself some decent Italian food; you live in Philly you should know how to make sauce. The illustrations, text and paper all add to the narrative in ways that are visually tasty.

RiTUAL Reading Room, 110 Church Gallery

110 Church Gallery, RiTUAL, Reading Room

Thank you to Stella and Margaret from 110 Church Gallery for taking up this idea that involves depending on a lot of artists to create something new and making the exhibition a reality. The show has hundreds of books, there is an on-line catalog with pages about the artists and their books. RiTUAL is a lot of information that required deep thought and attention to detail to make happen.

110 Church Gallery consistently presents art that is thought provoking and unique, with RiTUAL the curators have communicated with the arts community in a way that they responded to with exciting and beautiful concepts of their own. Creating a spirit of community is the essence of the art show and if you spend time reading the books in the gallery you will learn about the people of our community and their rituals.

RiTUAL online catalog

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer except where noted.

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