Tag Archives: Marilyn Lavins

Jazz

All That’s Jazz, Art in City HallArnold Brown, Bird’s Song; Toni Kersey, Gospel to Blues (Bessie Smith); Steven Mogck, John Coltrane: and Alan Ginsberg, Java Jive.

All That’s Jazz, Philadelphia City Hall Art Exhibit Celebrates Jazz

Philadelphia, PA Art in City Hall, a program of the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy presents All That’s Jazz in celebration of April as Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month. Works in the exhibit were selected by Richard J. Watson, an artist and member of the Art in City Hall Exhibitions Advisory Committee. A call-for-artists was sent out to the Philadelphia region, seeking works inspired, motivated, and or influenced by the idiom of jazz music in all its permutations. Works were to reflect the essence of the spirit of the jazz idiom, extending well into the depths of imaginative interpretation. An opening reception is scheduled for April 8th, 5-7 pm in the Art Gallery at City Hall, Room 116.

Curator Richard J. Watson, an artist and musician sees the power in jazz:

“There is something about jazz that is as indescribable as it is beautiful. It is a most powerful driving force that has inspired a multitude of visual artists to embrace, absorb and transform sound into substance as they too create visions from within.”

Watson selected 60 artists whose works reflect his vision. The exhibit includes photographs capturing various Philadelphia jazz legends, works on paper, fiber, wood and found object sculpture, abstract paintings inspired by the jazz genre and more.

As Philadelphia celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month, visual artists from the region show how the music affects their work. Here is the list of participating artists:

Marlene Adler, Anne Andrei, Steven Berry. Rachel Bliss, Tanya Bracey, Chris Brizzard, Arnold Brown, Martha Bush, Constance Culpepper, Donna Douglass, Donna Dvorak, Eileen Eckstein, Melissa Gilstrap, Alan Ginsberg, Verna Hart, Reggie Jackson, Leroy Johnson, Cavin Jones, Toni Kersey, Marilyn Lavins, Betty Leacraft, Jesse Lentz, Amir Lyles, Claire Marcus, Dindga Mccannon-Mitchell, Dell Meriwether, Christiane Meunier, John Meza, Gina Michaels, Arlene Milgram, Betsy Miraglia, Jeannie Moberly, Steven Mogck, Michael Nathan, Sarah Nathan, Jeleata Nicole, Arthur Ostroff, Bernice Paul, Sibylle Pfaffenbichler, Ellen Priest, Jerry Puryear, Frank Root, Jack Rosenberg, Kathleen Shaver, Deborah Shedrick, Sonia Sherrod, Phyllis Sims, Paul Somerville, Leslie Sudock, Melissa Teasley, Vita Tew, Dane Tilghman, Jaither West, Michael Wiley, Sandra Williams

All That’s Jazz is located in the Art in City Hall on the first floor, and continues in display cases on the 2nd & 4th Floors, NE corner. The exhibit runs through May 29th.

About Art In City Hall:

Art in City Hall presents exhibitions that showcase contemporary artwork by professional and emerging artists from the Philadelphia region. Encompassing a variety of mediums, techniques, and subjects, this municipal program is committed to presenting a diversity of ideas and artistic explorations. The program strives to link visual artists with the larger community by providing the public with a greater knowledge and appreciation of their artistic achievements. For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/artincityhall.

About Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy:

The mission of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to support and promote arts, culture and the creative industries; and to develop partnerships and coordinate efforts that weave arts, culture and creativity into the economic and social fabric of the City. For more information on the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, visit: www.creativephl.org,  and on Twitter @creativephl.

Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month:

With live performances, art exhibitions, discussion panels, and films showcasing the power of jazz in different shapes and forms, Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month, during the month of April, reflects on the jazz heritage of the city, along with the vibrant jazz scene that persists to this day. Creative Philadelphia – the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) is proud to lead the City of Philadelphia in the celebration of Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month. Creative Philadelphia has partnered with over 20 arts and culture organizations and groups to promote more than 40 jazz events throughout the city during the month. Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month partners include the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, Opera Philadelphia, Center City Jazz Festival, and Ars Nova Workshop.

All That’s Jazz, Art in City Hall

All That’s Jazz, Philadelphia City Hall Art Exhibit Celebrates Jazz

An opening reception is scheduled for April 8th, 5-7 pm in the Art Gallery at City Hall, Room 116

About Art In City Hall:

Art In City Hall presents exhibitions that showcase contemporary artwork by professional and emerging artists from the Philadelphia region.  Encompassing a variety of mediums, techniques, and subjects, this municipal program is committed to presenting a diversity of ideas and artistic explorations.  The program strives to link visual artists with the larger community by providing the public with a greater knowledge and appreciation of their artistic achievements.  For more information, visit:www.facebook.com/artincityhall.

About Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy:

The mission of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to support and promote arts, culture and the creative industries; and to develop partnerships and coordinate efforts that weave arts, culture and creativity into the economic and social fabric of the City. For more information on the Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, visit:www.creativephl.orgwww.facebook.com/creativephl and on Twitter @creativephl.

Tu Huynh, City Hall Exhibitions Manager, Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, 116 City Hall, Philadelphia PA 19107 215.686.8446 (Office) | 215.686.9912 (Direct) www.creativephl.org  www.facebook.com/artincityhall

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Active Adults

Marilyn Lavins, Bernice Paul and Priscilla BohlenActive Adults: Marilyn Lavins, Bernice Paul and Priscilla Bohlen at Center on the Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, Pa. 19118

Three visual artists will be showing their paintings at Center on the Hill…the place for active adults. This art show runs from December 2nd until Dec. 29th 2014 and can be viewed for no charge at any time during ‘Center on the Hill’ business hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00am until 4:00pm.

Marilyn Lavins has recently had her ‘Water Works‘ painting selected for the cover of the Surrey Services 2015 calendar. Lavins was awarded first place by Richard Rosenfeld, at Einstein Hospital in Elkins Park, for her collage necklace made from a coat hanger, pearls, silver, and copper. Marilyn has won many prizes and has shown throughout this area. Marilyn Lavins has a BFA degree from Tyler School of Art, has studied at Moore College of Art and Design, and at The Barnes Foundation in Merion with Violetta de Mazia and with Angelo Pinto

Bernice Paul is 97, still painting, and still showing her work. She emigrated with her family, to the US from Moscow, in 1929, at age 12. She has studied art extensively at PAFAThe Barnes Foundation, Fleisher Art Memorial, and The Philadelphia Sketch ClubBernice’s work has been shown at Woodmere Art Museum, Villanova University, Rosemont College, Inliquid, The Philadelphia Art Alliance, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Crane ArtsBernice Paul’s vibrant style has earned many awards; Best in Show at Main Line Art Center and also at Tri-State Artists Equity Association, for her “exciting composition and the physicality and joy of her brush strokes.”

Priscilla Bohlen is a professional visual artist who works on canvas using acrylic paint, with resist. Bohlen applies the resist to a colorful background, then with a palette knife, she covers it all with a complementary color. When the resist is removed, part of the underneath activity is revealed. From there Priscilla enjoys the challenge of resolving the painting, which involves many layers. Priscilla Bohlen loves the surprise element that comes about through this method of painting. Priscilla is a juried member of Delaware Valley Art League, of ARTsisters, and of Tri-State Artists Equity AssociationBohlen is actively involved with the workings of all three groups, when she is not painting.

Center on the Hill…the place for active adults“, is a vital outreach center. The director, Leslie Lefer has worked to build the center to its current level of excellence. Be sure to visit this gem of an outreach center, right here in Chestnut Hill at 8855 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, Pa. 19118. You may want to sign up for an exercise class, or listen to a speaker. For more information, call 215.247.4654 or email Llefer@chestnuthillpres.org.

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ECO + FASHION

ECO + FASHION, Art in City Hall

Philadelphia, January 6, 2014 – The City of Philadelphia’s Art in City Hall program introduces its latest juried group exhibition, ECO + FASHION, featuring the works of 18 local artists and an installation by local boutique, United by Blue.  The exhibit is located in the Art Gallery at City Hall, Room 116. A reception is scheduled for Wednesday, January 8th, from 5:00 -7:00 pm.

The 18 participating artists are:
 Ellen Benson & Paulette Heilbrun, Lucy Bigham, Katie Coble, Mary DeMarco, Georgina Gozum, Lesley Haas, Melissa Madonni Haims, Donnetta Irvis, Marilyn Lavins, Joanne Litz, Lauren Marsella, Sienna Martz, Maria Nevelson, Bernice Paul, Eva Preston, Katya Roelse, Kendal Wilkins and Natalie Zuk.

Artists and designers today are finding innovative and surprising ways to combine the fields of fashion, environmentalism, ecology, and art. For this exhibition, creatives were invited to submit works that address the issues of sustainability and eco-consciousness in the context of fashion and wearable art. Artists and designers responded by submitting works created from sustainable materials, addressing sustainability as a practice; some challenging our definition of fashion itself, while others presented wearable eco-friendly works.

The exhibit features a number of works created from found objects, including Kendal WilkinsCycle Crinoline, made from bicycle parts, wires and window screen. The piece transforms dozens of bicycle cranks, rims, chain wheels, and streams of chains into an elegant, sculptural evening gown.

Wilkins explains: “I drew my inspiration for Cycle Crinoline from Victorian and modern day fashion, and the desire to transform utilitarian objects into something feminine and elegant.”

Wilkins draws her love of repurposing materials from her fellow artists at Sweet Mable Folk Art & Fine Craft, where they regularly transform tired, unused, and orphaned materials.

Lauren Marsella’s sets of earrings Tarzhay Old Glory and Mastercard Ammo are statements about our contemporary consumer culture. They are made from cut-up credit cards and bullet shells.

“Although the roles these items often play trouble me, it is possible to transform them into something beautiful and functional, to assign new meaning to their power.

An exhibit that welcomes the usage of found objects wouldn’t be complete without representation from Philadelphia’s own Dumpster Divers. Eva Preston reclaims discarded shoes and leather bags, and uses these found materials to elevate her love of comics as in her Ode to Gene Autry. Artist Ellen Benson & Paulette Heilbrun piece together vintage jeans and t-shirts to create Super Girl.

Benson views her wearable art as an extension of herself: “One of the great things about being an artist is that you can dress outrageously, colorfully, outlandishly, crazily—and it’s encouraged or even expected, especially because I am a Dumpster diva/member of the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers!”

Some of the wearable eco-friendly pieces in the exhibit can be imagined on a fashion runway, such as Georgina Gozum’s Mod Sack Dress and Pina Strap Dress, made from organic pineapple fiber; Katie Coble’s hand-painted and sewn fabric series: Raindrop, Knit and Gown; Joanne Litz’s Scrap Dress and Vest Poncho, made from repurposed sweaters and cottons as part of the artist’s Steel Pony Project; Katya Roelse’s Long Dress made from silk voile and silk linen blends; Natalie Zuk’s Moss Dress, made from live moss wrapping itself around the body of her African fabric; and Melissa Madonni HaimsPlarn Dress, a product of 40 plastic shopping bags crafted into yarn.

Haims explains the eco-consciousness behind her dress, “I am doing two things: reducing the amount of waste going into landfills and giving something with a semi-finite lifespan another chance.”

The exhibit also includes fashion accessories: a plarn bag designed by Lucy Bigham, co-owner of Tosheka Textiles, a Nigerian company in West Philadelphia; various organic silk scarves hand-dyed by Marilyn Lavins, Donnetta Irvis, Mary DeMarco, and Bernice Paul; shoes made from Paper Artist, Lesley Haas; wooden brooches that can be pinned on or worn on a string by artist Maria Nevelson; and Sienna Martz’s wearable plant-like sculpture, Collar, which is made from silk organza and wool.  

Martz sees her work as a process to form an interaction between the body and non-native recycled materials. “The materials I use are mainly found, recycled, and repurposed.  Using traditional fiber techniques in a contemporary method, the interaction between materials becomes an essential element in the concepts of my work.”

The exhibit extends to the hallway just outside the gallery in one of the large display cases where United by Blue takes eco-conscious fashion to another level.  United By Blue is a sustainable brand of apparel that was started in May of 2010 in Philadelphia. They recently opened a store in Old City where they double as a coffee house.  For each item the brand sells, they remove a pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company organized and hosted cleanups.

ECO + FASHION was juried by Joan K. Smith, a local independent curator and member of the Art in City Hall Advisory Committee.  The committee is made of local arts professionals and is currently chaired by Amie Potsic, Executive Director for the Main Line Art Center.

The exhibit runs thru February 28th

Art in City Hall presents exhibitions that showcase contemporary artwork by emerging and professional visual artists from the Philadelphia region. Encompassing a variety of mediums, techniques, and subjects, this municipal program is committed to presenting a diversity of ideas and artistic explorations.  The program strives to link visual artists with the larger community by providing the public with a greater knowledge and appreciation of their artistic achievements.  For more information on Art In City Hall, visit: www.facebook.com/artincityhall.

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