Green Hills Yellow Sky, mixed media by Linda Dubin Garfield
Together, ARTsisters Group Exhibit at Da Vinci Art Alliance
ARTsisters will have a group exhibit titled Together at Da Vinci Art Alliance, 704 Catharine Street in South Philadelphia from November 17 – 24, 2019. The Opening Reception on November 17, 1:00 -3:00PM, free and open to the public.
Togetheris a group exhibition by the ARTsisters, an organization of professional artists in the Philadelphia area who empower each other and the community through art. They collaborate on upcoming shows, and work with nonprofit organizations to give back to their community. The ARTsisters are united through their common goals of commitment to making art, dedication to inspiring each other and sharing knowledge, showing new work, and dedication to community artists.
In 2005 Linda Dubin Garfield realized that her long-time friend and fellow artist Leslie DeBrocky functioned as more than a friend when it came to art— she was really an ARTsister, one who knew the process and understood the challenges of a professional artist. Together they created ARTsisters. It is their belief that the collective energy generated, motivated and inspired by professional women artists creates synergy. They share their creative spirit to benefit the community through exhibitions, special projects, workshops and art donations.
The ARTsisters are: Ellen Abraham, Sandra Benhaim, Priscilla Bohlen, Edwina Brennan, Ginny Conniver, Marge Feldman, Linda Dubin Garfield, Linnie Greenberg, Jenn Hallgren, Louise Herring, Rachel Isaac, Mary Kane, Karen Liebman, Sandi Neiman Lovitz, Laurie Lamont Murray, Marjie Lewis Quint, Elynne Rosenfeld , Monique Sarkessian, Edna Santiago, Deb K Simon, Susan Stefanski, Nancy Freeman Tabas, Blanche Levitt Torphy, Marcia Goldner Treiger, and Florence Weisz.
CLIMATE REALITY PRESENTATION AND PANEL: Wednesday, November 20, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
“The Story of Art and Climate: Creating Change Through Art & Action”
Artist Panel Discussion featuring: Amie Potsic, Ana Vizcarra Rankin, Marguerita Hagan & Deirdre Murphy
24 Hours of Reality Presentations by: Al Morales and Alana Morales
Scientific Presentation by:Dr. Erik Cordes, Professor & Vice Chair, Ecology and Integrative Biology, Temple University and Alexis Weinnig, Graduate Student, Department of Biology, Temple University
Philadelphia, PA – Hot Bed and James Oliver Gallery, located at 723 Chestnut St, Second Floor, Philadelphia, PA presents Girl in the Garden: Danger in Paradise, a solo exhibition featuring renowned photographer and installation artist Amie Potsic. With a focus on climate change, California wildfires, and gender equality, the exhibition includes a new large-scale silk installation, photographic prints, and mixed media works. In addition to the exhibition, HOT•BED will host a Climate Reality Presentation and Artist Panel Discussion, after which One Tree Planted will plant a tree for every person that attends. The exhibition is on view from September 14 through November 20. There will be a Closing Reception with the artist on Saturday, November 16 from 2:00 – 5:00pm. The Climate Reality Event will be on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM. Both events are free and open to the public and rsvp is encouraged. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday from 5:00 – 8:00 PM and Saturday from 1:00 – 8:00 PM or by appointment.
Girl in the Garden: Danger in Paradise is a solo exhibition of new work by Amie Potsic addressing climate change through the complex viewpoints of girlhood, deforestation, and Magical Realism. With site-specific installations, photographs, and mixed media works, Potsic collaborates with HOT•BED, a unique fine art and horticulture gallery, to produce an incarnate exploration of female identity, the forested lifeblood of our planet, and the fate of humankind.
“In tandem with the incredible upsurge in Climate Change activism and brave examples set by youth leading the charge, this exhibition delves into the complexity and opportunities involved in the issues and provides paths for action,” says Amie Potsic.
After photographing her daughter in the lush forests of the northeastern United States, the artist traveled to Paradise, California and surrounding forests (located upwind from her extended family’s home) to photograph the complete devastation caused by the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history. Personal experience underscoring the urgency of climate change, Potsic intertwines visions of girlhood in a magical environment with nature’s unprecedented destruction caused by wildfires.
Unfortunately, the number and severity of wildfires in California continues to grow with recent fires burning out of control as recently as one week ago. Harnessing the power of imagination and urgency, Potsic’s work is a call to action. Visitors will find shared resources for taking environmental action in their own lives.
The exhibition has been extended to host a discussion and presentation on the positive impact of the arts on the Climate Change movement and how creativity and storytelling can create change: “The Story of Art and Climate: Creating Change Through Art & Action.”As part of the 24 Hours of Reality, an international day of Climate presentations offered by Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, HOT•BED will host an artist panel discussion and climate presentations with scientific experts. One Tree Planted has committed to planting one tree for every attendee at this presentation.
The artist panel will include Amie Potsic, Ana Vizcarra Rankin, Marguerita Hagan, and Deirdre Murphy. Each artist’s work looks at climate change from a unique perspective: Potsic deals with deforestation and wildfires, Rankin addresses human migration and humanity’s impact on the planet, Hagan explores ocean life and interrelated ecosystems, while Murphy integrates scientific experimentation and bird migration.
Climate Reality Presenters, Al Morales and his 17-year-old daughter Alana Morales, are presenters trained by Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. They will provide facts and opportunities highlighting the impact of climate change on the planet and humanity.
Dr. Erik Cordes, Professor & Vice Chair of Ecology and Integrative Biology at Temple University and Alexis Weinnig, a graduate student in the Department of Biology at Temple University will share information on their research, which focuses on understanding the areas of the deep sea that support the highest biomass communities: deep-water coral reefs, natural hydrocarbon seeps, and hydrothermal vents.
On November 20–21, the world is coming together to talk about the climate crisis with:
One Tree Planted has committed to planting one tree for everyone that attends one of the international presentations: https://onetreeplanted.org/
Amie Potsic, MFA is an accomplished photographer and installation artist living in the Philadelphia area whose work addresses cultural, personal, and natural phenomena through the lens of climate change and social responsibility. Potsic has exhibited her work internationally at the Art Park in Rhodes, Greece; Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, Colombia; Medfoundart di Cagliari, Italy; the Royal College of London; the Museum of New Art in Detroit; The Woodmere Art Museum, The National Constitution Center Museum, The Painted Bride and James Oliver Gallery in Philadelphia; Mission 17 in San Francisco; and 626 Gallery in Los Angeles. Her work has been published in The San Francisco Chronicle, Art Matters, The Photo Review, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Potsic received her MFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and BA’s in Photojournalism and English Literature from Indiana University. She has held faculty appointments at the University of California at Berkeley, Ohlone College, and the San Francisco Art Institute and has been a guest lecturer at The University of the Arts, Ursinus College, and The International Center of Photography.
Potsic is currently the CEO and Principal of Amie Potsic Art Advisory, LLC providing visionary and advisory support to artists, collectors, businesses, and institutions with expertise in Legacy Planning and Fine Art Appraisals. She is also Chair of the Art in City Hall Artistic Advisory Board to the Office of Arts and Culture of the City of Philadelphia.
Bridging James Oliver’s (James Oliver Gallery) eye for contemporary art and Bryan Hoffman’s (Hoffman Design Group) passion for horticulture design, HOT•BED is an ultra-collaborative gallery and event space that explores the relationship between our intrinsic connection to nature (biophilia) and art in new and exciting ways.
HOT•BED andJames Oliver Gallery, located at 723 Chestnut St, Second Floor, Philadelphia, PA present Girl in the Garden: Danger in Paradise, a solo exhibition featuring renowned photographer and installation artist Amie Potsic with a focus on climate change and gender identity. The exhibition runs from September 14 through November 20. The exhibition will host a Closing Reception on Saturday, November 16 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM and a Climate Reality Event on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.
The Unity of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt in the Americas
A multi-part art installation celebrating Alexander Von Humboldt’s 250 Anniversary,
November 15th through December 9th, 2019.
Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
The Unity of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt in the Americas, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the German polymath scientist Alexander Von Humboldt (1769-1859) through the work of five Philadelphia based American artists. The exhibition uses photography, video, sound, performance, painting, and sculpture, paying homage to Humboldt’s travels in the Americas, including a Philadelphia stop, in 1804.
Henry Bermudez
Humboldt’s five-year trip through Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba, Peru, and Mexico was a watershed journey that allowed him to develop his theories on nature not only as an interconnected system, but also helped to form his observations on man’s destructive impact on the environment; theories centuries ahead of their time and which are now currently accepted unanimously by scientists, as we face global warming and environmental devastation. The five artists represented in the exhibition come from five of the countries Humboldt visited during his five-year journey, they are: Henry Bermudez, (Venezuela), Pedro Ospina and Salome Cosmique, (Colombia), Rebecca Martell, (Mexico), and Devin Asher Cohen, (USA).
Rocas, Rebeca Martell
Humboldt, the most famous man of his age, (more famous than Napoleon), achieved fame through his unquenchable interest in both exploration and in the search for scientific knowledge. It was this combination as both scientist and intrepid explorer that made his travels so celebrated. His travels through the Americas redrew the map of the continent and laid the groundwork for several fields of study including, biogeography, geology, and climatology, among others. Humboldt’s name appears on more things than any other historical figure: animals, birds, plants, flowers, fish, mountains, ocean currents, national parks, waterfalls, glaciers, a basin on the moon and two asteroids, not to mention thousands of institutions worldwide bearing his name.
The exhibition organized by Casa De Duende and curated by David Acosta, Artistic Director, was made possible by a grant from the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, as part of their Waterfront Arts Program. The exhibition pays tribute to Humboldt and his love of the natural world through the work of five artists for whom Humboldt has had an impact on both their thinking and work. The exhibition runs through December 9th 2019.
Henry Bermudez will display two large paper reconstructed paintings, which form part of a seven painting series dedicated to Alexander Von Humboldt, as well as several smaller botanical drawings. Pedro Ospina creates three large totem poles honoring the three clans of the Lena Lenape people (wolf, turtle and turkey) as well as the Delaware River. Salome Cosmique’s performance on opening night honors the Andean earth mother deity Pachamama mother of all living things. Rebecca Martell’s photographs of Mexican landscapes pay tribute to Humboldt’s visit to her native Puebla, while Asher Cohen’s sound installation serve as the artist’s homage to Humboldt. The sound pieces will fill the space, exuding within the setting an experiential state of being and the emotional quality, (not as observed) but as felt and imagined from the perspective of Von Humboldt during his travels from Puebla, Mexico to Philadelphia, capturing both, the oceanic sounds at sea, and the sound of the winds of arrival.
About Casa de Duende:
Casa de Duende is dedicated to presenting socially relevant art that addresses critical social issues and challenges both artists and communities to address these through art and art making.
About Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, (DRWC) DRWC is a 501(c)(3) created in January 2009, exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop, program and maintain public amenities such as permanent and seasonal parks, trails, and streetscape improvements to transform the waterfront into a vibrant destination for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia as is consistent with the goals of the Master Plan for Central Delaware. Daily programming throughout the entire year is changing the way Philadelphians see and converse about the waterfront, and is helping to create spaces and communities that connect residents and visitors to the waterfront. Visit delawareriverwaterfront.com for more information.
Thank you to David Acosta for the content of this post.
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Funbox, Christine Firrito-Easton, Jasmine Alleger, and Common Zen Savvy, Jed Williams Gallery
November 9 – 30, 2019 featuring art by Christine Firrito-Easton, Jasmine Alleger, and Common Zen Savvy at Jed Williams Gallery,615 Bainbridge St., Philadelphia PA 19147
Christine Firrito-Easton, Funbox! at Jed Williams Gallery
Opening Reception: Saturday Nov. 9th featuring jazz guitar/electronic music by Philadelphia’s own ZAVETIS
Jed Williams Gallery is proud to present its poppy, magical new exhibit featuring 3 talented artists working in different mediums. We are happy to present these artists in the Fall season; we feel that each has something very special and moving about their work. Come avoid the November doldrums and celebrate life with our pop art filled Funbox.
The Imaginary Girlfriend, collage, 5″×7″, Jasmine Alleger, Funbox! at Jed Williams Gallery
Enter Funbox and you will find dragons, clocks and other sculptural wonders made with old metal parts and erector sets, by the visionary artist Christine Firrito-Easton, alongside he wryly humorous illustrated works of Common Zen Savvy and Jasmine Alleger’s collages, which include ephemera and found materials from her travels. With so much pop attitude, you are bound to find inspiration here, in the Funbox!
Common Zen Savvy, Funbox! at Jed Williams Gallery
Thank you to Jed Williams for the content of this post.
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Geoffrey Agrons, Sebastien Leclercq, Deborah Weiss, and Brooke Lanier
November 15, 2019 – January 3, 2020
Opening Reception Friday, November 22 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Holiday Party Friday, December 20, 5:30pm-8pm
Water inspires a unique fascination as a visually complex, mesmerizing substance that is also essential for human life. From the pristine to the toxic, turbulent to placid, Fluid Dynamics assembles a collection of photographs and paintings that address a diverse spectrum of ways of depicting, contemplating, and interacting with bodies of water.
Deborah Weiss’s oil paintings on panel are the most abstract and gestural pieces in the show, utilizing an intriguing absence of contextual cues as to the scale of the subject. The palette and textures suggest shorelines with intricate deposits of silt, but they could easily be interpreted as storm systems, ocean currents, or weathered wood.
The patterns in Weiss’s paintings would feel right at home as vignettes along the shoreline of the Salton Sea in Geoffrey Agrons’s photos. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the area was home to luxury resorts. By the 1970s, agricultural runoff, evaporation, and low rainfall had rendered the water toxic and saltier than the Pacific Ocean. Massive fish die-offs, algal blooms, and related bird deaths rendered the area unattractive for those seeking a beach vacation. Other photographs capture scenes from shorelines impacted by hurricanes, pollution, and drought. Independent of this narrative, the photographs contain melancholy yet peaceful vistas punctuated by bleached driftwood and architectural relics of nautical activity.
Agrons’ ecological allegories pair with Sebastien Leclercq’s scenes of shipping vessels that damage the very environment upon which their industry depends. The views from different parts of the world, desert and arctic, imply different facets of climate change. Leclercq spent five weeks aboard several ships in the Finnish Maritime Fleet, documenting the contemporary state of an ancient tradition. The boats are so enormous that at times they seem abstracted and transformed into colorful, geometric compositional elements rather than floating factories.
Leclercq’s views of ships lend context to Brooke Lanier’s paintings. The saturated colors and hard edges of boats and docks create a collage effect in real life. Lanier pushes that line of thought and creates collage-based paintings that recombine beloved landscapes in the composited manner of unreliable memories. Alongside Leclercq’s photographs, Lanier’s paintings are reconnected to their origins, creating a dialogue.
Gallery Hours are Tuesday and Thursday 12pm – 6pm, Friday 11am – 5pm, Saturday 11am – 3pm, by appointment or chance. The gallery will be closed December 22 – 29, 2019 for the holidays and open by appointment in January.
Thank you to Brooke Lanier for the content of this post.
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