Items by chip schwartz

artblog

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  Drawing organics ? Colin Keefe, Sarah Laing and Alana Bograd at Rebekah Templeton

  Posted: 18-May-2012, 11:28am CEST by chip schwartz

  The complex drawings adorning the walls of Rebekah Templeton Contemporary Art in Fishtown have lives of their own. Without the artist?s hand as part of the equation, any of these heavily contrasted, black-and-white forms could easily be growing out of a patch of soil or spreading across the agar of a Petri dish. The fact that these creations are not multi-cellular organisms and are actually comprised of deliberate pencil or ink markings makes them all the more remarkable.

  Bearing the name Organon as a means for the process of investigation, the show examines synthetic, creative, and human processes that often mirror the biological and organic processes at work in the world around us. Should there be such harsh distinctions between what is ?human? and what is ?natural?? What exactly defines the boundaries between the synthetic world of computers and machines as opposed to the mechanisms of plants and animals? There are big questions at the forefront of this show, but this is certainly not to dismiss the artistry of the drawings themselves; they are splendidly convoluted and yet inviting and familiar.

  

  Colin Keefe

  Colin Keefe has a pair of meticulous pen drawings that are extremely easy to get lost in. They appear as a midpoint between aerial shots of urban areas and bacterial cultures. It?s as if a large swath of land from the islands in Dubai somehow began to grow on its own volition. Sections of the patterns are organized into grids and right angles, but as the eye follows their path, they begin to melt into more winding and biological masses. Anyone who has flown in an airplane can easily see the parallels between urban sprawl and microorganisms? reproductive habits. It would be going a bit far to assume Keefe thinks humanity is a virus; however, the way his forms fan out across the paper does tend to imply that even the most industrial of constructions is ultimately a byproduct of life.

  

  Sarah Laing

  Sarah Laing also works in pen and ink, but her drawings are more plant and animal hybrids than anything remotely mechanical. The organisms in her pieces resemble cornstalks or some type of tall weeds at first glance. At further inspection, the details actually look like they have joints, bones, or even skin. It?s as if human fingers or other animal-like appendages are emerging from within the plants? stems and leaves. Even the most divergent of life forms actually share a huge portion of their genetic makeup. The difference between a dandelion and a dog is relatively small as far as DNA is concerned. Laing seems to be of the mindset that ? whether animal or plant, human or otherwise ? all life shares an astonishing number of characteristics even in the face of  its diversity.

  

  Alana Bograd

  Of the three artists in Organon, Alana Bograd is the only one to work with pencil. Her drawings are the most numerous in the exhibition and also the smallest. They are very freeform and seem in some ways like the amorphous entities that result from automatic drawings. All of the warped images are extremely surreal and every one also contains representations of breasts. In this way they are maternal and life-bestowing, as well as mammalian. They are sexualized but not sexy, curvaceous as well as somewhat creepy. All of them are headless but also possess leaves, sharing some of the hybrid characteristics of Laing?s artwork.

  All of the creations in Organon play off of biological themes and complement each other in powerful ways. The revelations in studying the works individually and in comparison to one another are almost endless, while the patterns are fractal and cyclical in the most visually stimulating of ways. Rebekah Templeton proves its curatorial prowess once again in this show that is not to be missed.

  The show is up until May 26.

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  Nikolay Milushev at Cerulean

  Posted: 26-April-2012, 12:15pm CEST by chip schwartz

  The aptly named Cerulean Arts (the outside is a lovely shade of blue) is showing work by Nikolay Milushev now until May 5. The Bulgarian artist moved to the United States back in 2001 to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and continues to live and make his colorful and socially-charged art in  in Philly.

  

  Nikolay Milushev, "Atomic Playground", mixed media on paper, 20x48 inches.

  Among the works displayed in the gallery, Milushev has some older pieces as well as new work and a number of pages from sketchbooks, which led to the final versions. One piece entitled ?Atomic Playground? demonstrates Milushev?s illustrative style rather well. The work is divided into two main parts, two-thirds to the left, one-third to the right. The left side pictures a cityscape before a muddy orange sky and plumes of graphite smoke. Some type of mutant lingers near the bottom, doused in blood, and the whole scene registers as agonizing; the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. The right side shows the white silhouettes of cartoony children floating amidst multicolored balls, which fit together like puzzles. Obviously this section is the ?playground? part of the title and hints at the innocence and whimsy that divides our everyday lives from the fear of atomic war. With Iran and North Korea rattling their swords of late, the fear of annihilation is no longer a distant relic of the Cold War.

  

  Nikolay Milushev, sketch for "Atomic Playground".

  The artist?s sketchbooks provide a look at some of his process. One page holds what appears to be the origin of his title ?Atomic Playground? and pictures a tank and gasmask as well as a foreboding military figure with a helmet that mirrors German World War II garb. A lot of the sketches on the page were scrapped in the final version in favor of a general anti-war sentiment. He focuses on the cityscape and the air of destruction instead of infantry and tanks ? both of which would be essentially useless in the face of a massive bomb.

  

  Nikolay Milushev, "In the Search of Water", mixed media on paper, 23x38.

  Another piece of particular note is ?In the Search of Water.” Here Milushev takes hold of another contemporary issue, but one that American and Western society is generally far removed from: clean water. A cool blue background of circular patterns mimics the ripples of a pond, but it appears distant. Nearer and much bolder is a dark, hard-edged form bearing an emaciated, skull-like face. The tenuous organic forms and the skeletal head imply that life is barely clinging on. With famine and drought across huge parts of Central Africa, much of the world knows full well the misery of thirst. When the nearest faucet or bottle can provide us with fresh, clean water, the idea of searching for a drink seems very much a world away.

  Each piece in this show is a conceptual message that often comes across as a warning. If we do not pay heed to the important issues going on around us, we risk a lot. Our safety and the health of the planet are in our hands to a large extent. Nikolay Milushev illustrates scenes that are visually stimulating but also beg for vigilance and justice on topics that should be important to all of us.

  Cerulean, both a gallery and shop, is located at 1355 Ridge Avenue. They deal in decorative and fine arts from artisans and artists from around the world. They also offer classes in their space, which includes a small backyard work area.

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  Bam Margera and Friends at James Oliver Gallery

  Posted: 17-April-2012, 1:01pm CEST by chip schwartz

  Bam Margera: skateboarder, television star, notorious troublemaker and? expressionist painter? That?s the surprising revelation at James Oliver Gallery (JOG) this month. JOG is displaying over sixty paintings by Margera alongside artwork by a few of his friends. The short show only lasts for two weeks, through April 21.

  

  Bam Margera, "Bring Me My Wine"

  What should not come as a surprise is that Bam Margera?s paintings are extremely chaotic. Many are themed by location including ?CKY in Moscow,” ?Detroit,” ?Denmark,” and ?Adelaide.” They almost all share in a few characteristics like thickly applied paint and dark, jagged outlines. There are a few exceptions, like photos of Bam being straddled by and carousing with a topless stripper in a three-part ?Las Vegas? series. Add in the piece covered with smoked cigarette butts and a grocery list which begins: ?Milk, Coffee, Heroin?? and you?ve got the perfect recipe for some type of hedonistic orgy. If there were any doubts about this, the bird-flipping, wine-glass-toting painting which reads ?Looks like I?m outta jail you fat mother fucker, now bring me my wine!? dispels any doubt.

  

  Bam Margera, "Novak's Grocery List"

  Ever the antagonist, Bam also toys with blasphemy as well. A nude female figure holding a cross in one painting appears downtrodden and even penitent as her face appears to be melting off. Clearly this painting could be somewhat offensive to a religious audience, but as it stands it is actually one of the more thought-provoking and emotional works in the show. Instead of a drug-addled joke, this faceless figure actually appears to be weeping or struggling, and stands out as one of the most genuinely emotional pieces in the show. Although painful, it is somewhat refreshing to see the more sensitive side to a man who may often be pigeonholed as merely a prankster.

  

  Bam Margera, "Wax Cross"

  Much of the work in the show aside from Bam?s is photography-based. Geoff ?Red Mohawk? Blake has a number of surreal, high-resolution portraits and some assemblage work as well. ?Frustration of Creation? depicts a nude woman (this seems to be a recurring theme here) sitting with her hand on her head in an anxious pose somewhat reminiscent of Rodin?s ?The Thinker.” The photo is split into four window-like frames, the bottom of which is filled with crumpled up paper, both photographed and real. Any creative individual can empathize with the frustration depicted here ? the moment of anguish and defeat which (hopefully) precedes a revelation.

  

  Geoff "Red Mohawk" Blake, "Toxic Youth"

  Blake?s photo ?Toxic Youth? shows a full-grown man in his underwear sitting on a red tricycle. His face is covered by a gas mask and he dwarfs the tiny vehicle, which would usually be transporting toddlers. His posture appears bored and sedentary, and alongside the mask, this image is in many ways a critique of modern youth. It seems to suggest that we grow up too fast and never even have a shot at innocence; in fact the very idea of a playful childhood may very well be fading away.

  

  Justin Muir, "Beard 3"

  The rest of the exhibition is a wall shared by Justin Muir and Ryan Gee. Most of these works are also portraits of intriguing characters ? including Bam himself ? as well as images of bathtubs, blood, and roses. Of these photos, the series of beard pictures by Muir are great in capturing the beard as the essence of a man in both demeanor and texture.

  Some aspects of JOG?s ?Bam Margera and Friends? show reflect the persona most of us would expect: wild, tasteless, and offensive. What is promising to see, is that there are some developing themes residing just below the surface. If you get a chance to visit the show before its quickly-approaching closing, make sure to spend some time delving into Bam Margera?s rather large output of paintings instead of just taking it at face value? and pregaming first might not be a bad call either.

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  Gone but not forgotten ? Video Storefront at Possible Projects

  Posted: 30-March-2012, 1:26pm CEST by chip schwartz

  From the outside, Possible Projects, on the corner of Thompson and Norris Streets in Fishtown, appears as a humble, yet handsome two-story brick house. If it looks more like a home than an art gallery, that may be because it?s actually both. Husband and wife owners of the project space ? Trevor and Rachel Reese ? recently relocated from Brooklyn. They now live upstairs and hold art events in the first floor storefront space.

  

  The exterior of Possible Projects.

  The last exhibition was a multi-week series of short films projected on a wall inside the gallery. Called a Video Storefront, the projections could be seen through the two sizable picture windows located on either side of the space. Best visible after sunset, the moving images provided a location to come see video art from street level, which considering the unseasonably warm weather, was a treat not often available in the middle of March. The surrounding residential neighborhood also benefitted from the gift of free video art. Many neighbors out walking dogs or running errands could catch a glimpse of cinematic works right at the end of their block that they may otherwise never make the effort to see.

  Four artists exhibited their video art as part of Possible Projects? Video Storefront: Nanna Debois Buhl, Anne Eastman, Oliver Laric, and Derek Frech. Of the four works, only one is loosely narrative based, and that is ?There is This House? by Nanna Debois Buhl. The film is a study of an abandoned estate on the island of St. Croix. The building exists as a remnant of the former Danish colonial powers on the island and the captions that appear at the bottoms of the frames matter-of-factly tell of the slaves and colonists that once called the island home. Empty rooms and disrepair beautifully illustrate a factual but dismal account of the setting?s origins.

  

  One of the 2000 frames of clip art in the video by Olver Laric.

  Oliver Laric?s video is considerably more lighthearted than Buhl?s. The idea is simple: display 2000 clip art images back-to-back in rapid succession. As the kitschy portraits flash by, it is difficult to keep up and there is a notable strain on the eyes. All of the clip art images depict diverse people in different activities: including businesspeople, athletes, skeletons, Native Americans and many, many others. They are organized based on their poses and there are usually only one or two figures on the screen at a time. The character then appears to be changing and writhing into a variety of forms. Aside from a visual overload, the video brings to mind the role of clip art in contemporary culture, which seems to be merely a gaudy gag wrapped in the nostalgia of Windows 95.

  

  Still from"Metamorphosis II: Rock Cycle" by Derek Frech

  Change is the name of the game in Derek Frech?s ?Metamorphosis II: Rock Cycle.” The title is very telling of the progression of the video. Frech begins his loop with a slab of hewn white marble, cut into neat right angles. From there the stone begins to warp and melts into a pool of orange lava. The lava cools (somewhat true to geology) into a shard of volcanic obsidian, which then shatters and reassembles itself as a rough looking chunk of sandstone or granite. The whole process takes under a minute (not very geologic in its timescale), so it is worth watching multiple times to pick up on all of the details.

  

  Still from "Seen From Elsewhere" by Anne Eastman.

  Last, but certainly not least, is the stunning abstraction by Anne Eastman. Her video camera hones in on what appear to be spinning mirrors dangling above a carpet of deep red hues and geometric patterns. The shots are rather disorienting, and of the four movies shown in the Video Storefront, ?Seen From Elsewhere? takes the longest amount of time to process. It is far from readily apparent what is going on, but once the viewer accepts his/her ignorance, the slow, steady movements are quite relaxing and meditative.

  Currently, Possible Projects has set their gallery space back up for a show of minimal works by Eric Veit in a show entitled Ponytail. The show will run through April 15. Hours for visiting Possible Projects are Saturday and Sunday from 12 ? 4 PM.

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  News ? Some good deals, Print Center Finalists, Justin Duerr show, and more!

  Posted: 9-March-2012, 12:28pm CET by chip schwartz

  News

  Some good deals

  

  Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, "Untitled", 2012, on The Deal on Nicola Midnight St. Claire

  Two new art deals online–we like the entrepreneurship of both! DealYo – James Dupree is currently offering a limited edition print of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for half price on DealYo on Philly.com. The Deal — Nicola Midnight St. Claire’s new feature “The Deal” reports on and sells work by artists that they are enthralled with. The inaugural St. Claire deal is work by artist Celeste Dupuy-Spencer. Contact thedeal@the-st-claire.com with any questions — and to buy the art!

  Print Center finalists
  The Print Center announced the finalists and semi-finalist for their 86th annual photography competition.  The exhibit will be online only June, 2012 to March 2013, with three of these artists selected for real world solo exhibits. Congratulations to all the artists! Also, bring your portfolio in for a critique and discussion with UArts’ professor Harris Fogel (Mar 14), Moore College Exhibitions Director Kaytie Johnson (April 18) and Art Alliance Chief Curator Sarah Archer (May 9). You must be a member, and the cost is $25.

  Finalists -
  Audim Culver, Bloomington, IN, Sergio De La Torre, San Francisco, CA, Shauna Frischkorn, Willow Street, PA, Ana Galan, Chiloeches, Spain, Judy Gelles, Philadelphia, PA, Jennifer Greenburg, Chicago, IL, Talia Greene, Philadelphia, PA, Anne Massoni, Asbury Park, NJ, Rachelle Mozman, Brooklyn, NY, Tina Schula, Brooklyn, NY

  Semi-Finalists -
  Sholeh Asgary, Woodland Hills, CA, Roxana Azar, Meadowbrook, PA, Mariana Bartolomeo, Tucson, AZ, Jordan Baumgarten, Providence, RI, Steven Beckly, Toronto, Canada, Sarah Bones, Malvern, PA, Katrina d’Autremont, Philadelphia, PA, Dimitra Ermeidou, Philadelphia, PA, Julianna Foster, Philadelphia, PA, John Holmgren, Lancaster, PA, Yoko Ikeda, Tokyo, Japan, Lori Kella, Cleveland, OH, Eric Korenman, Pittsfield, MA, Julia Kozerski, Milwaukee, WI, Isa Leshko, Philadelphia, PA, Boots Levinson, Brooklyn, NY, Ben Marcin, Baltimore, MD, Forest McMullin, Atlanta, GA, Peter Miraglia, Philadelphia, PA, Ryutaro Mishima, Brooklyn, NY, Brittany Nelson, Detroit, MI, Francesca Pfister, Philadelphia, PA, Joseph Reynolds, Chattanooga, TN, Neil Rivas, Santa Clarita, CA, Paul Soulellis, New York, NY, Chad States, Philadelphia, PA, Ryan Thompson, Fillmore, NY
  Johanna Wolfe, Brooklyn, NY, Jon Yamashiro, Liberty, IN

  Justin Duerr show and screenings

  

  Justin Duerr, work from his show at Gallery 309

  
  Justin Duerr, artist and star of Jon Foy’s excellent documentary “Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles,” has a solo exhibit at Gallery 309  opening April 6, and the gallery has lined up 2 free screenings of Resurrect Dead, on April 13 and 27.  If you haven’t seen the movie, go.  And if you don’t know Duerr’s work, you’re in for a treat.  He’s a visionary.

  Mark Bradford and Zoe Strauss talk
  LA-based artist Mark Bradford comes to the PMA Sunday March 11 to talk about his work and speak with Zoe Strauss as part of  ”Zoe Strauss: Ten Years”. You can reserve your tickets here for the 2:30 PM lecture.

  Traction Company windows

  

  One of the Skyscapes by Ryan Hinkel.

  The old trolley barn at 4100 Haverford Ave otherwise known as the Traction Company has become an art house inside (where there is a hive of art making activity) and outside, where the boarded up windows are exhibition space for artists like Joe Boruchow, and now Ryan Hinkel.   The opening for Hinkel’s “Skyscapes” is April 14, 5-8pm.  The work will be up until May 31.

  Photo Review Competition 2011 winners

  

  Ryan Zoghlin, "Aerotone #7"

  Images by the winners of the 2011 Photo Review Competition are now online at the Photo Review website. The First Prize award went to Ryan Zoghlin.

  Mural News
  If you can’t wait to see the Phillies in action, check out the video of them painting a mural along with fans and mural artist Dave McShane. The painting was in Florida and see the Phillies paint here.  In other mural news, the Mural Arts Program and Philadelphia’s first Poet Laureate Sonia Sanchez are working on a project called “Peace is a Haiku Song.” Submit your haiku to the site to share it with the public as well as gain a chance to be featured in the upcoming murals.

  Richter ranks with Picasso?
  Jonathan Binstock, former Curator of Contemporary Art at PAFA, now runs the Art Advisory Group at Citibank. He recently spoke in a controversial Reuters interview examining how the art market works and gave his opinion on why Gerhard Richter ranks on the same financial level as Picasso and Warhol. But don’t take it from me, watch the video!

  Opportunities

  Art in Odd Places is holding an open call for its 8th installment in New York City. The project takes place from October 5 – 15 and the happening is on 14th Street. The deadline for proposals is April 15.

  The Woodmere Museum has a call for entries for its 71st Annual Juried Exhibition. Applicants must live in the Philly metro area within 50 miles of the museum. Visit the call for entries page for all the submission guidelines. The deadline is April 13.

  Townson University in Baltimore is accepting work for Bridges 2012, an exhibition of 2D and 3D mathematical art. The website will help you with all the details, and the March 15 deadline is fast approaching.

  New York Foundation for the Arts is hosting a workshop entitled Digital Games 101: Social Impact Games for Indie Filmmakers. The class is hosted by Michelle Byrd, the Co-President of Games for a Change, and explores the social impact of digital games and their connection to filmmaking. The event takes place on March 15, so sign up on the Eventbrite page ASAP.

  Philly Stake is accepting applications for all manner of creative, community-engaged projects. The deadline for submissions is March 11 by noon, so check out the call for proposals to apply.

  Artist News

  

  Nick Paparone, "Accents for the Self-Made Man"

  Former Philly artist Nick Paparone is part of a group show at With Project Space in NYC. The exhibition runs from April 1 – 30.

  Jennifer Levonian is having a solo show in the Clayton Staples Gallery at Wichita State University which runs from March 12 – April 13.

  

  Jesse Greenberg

  Jesse Greenberg, former PiFAS member, has works in a show at Marc Jancou Contemporary Art in New York. The exhibit runs through April 14.

  

  Victoria Burge, "Moons"

  UArts graduate student Victoria Burge is currently exhibiting work at Accola Griefen Gallery in NYC until March 31.

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  News ? Arden?s free First Friday shows, Gallery 339 NYC preview, Jeroen Koolhaas and more!

  Posted: 2-March-2012, 1:54pm CET by chip schwartz

  News

  Free First Friday performances and free beer at the Arden

  

  Viewers sip free beer last First Friday at the Arden's free performance. Photo courtesy of the Arden's blog

  First Friday isn’t just for art anymore. Located in the heart of Old City, the Arden Theatre Company is hosting free performances as their First Friday offering. There’s also free beer — donated by Boxcar Brewing Company (while supplies last, from 5:30-8pm)! Tonight, March 2, 6-7:30pm in Arden’s Independence Foundation Studio, the N Crowd will perform comedic improvisations based on audience suggestions. More free performances lined up on April 6 and May 4.

  Gallery 339 previews work at Philly prices pre-New York art fair
  We think this is kind of neat and smart.  Gallery 339, our blue chip photo space, is previewing its NY art fair show in the gallery! On March 3 from 1 – 5 PM, 339 will show you works that they’re taking to the AIPAD Photography Show. The preview works will be offered at their current prices. Exhibiting artists include Rita Bernstein, Yuichi Hibi, Amanda Means, Tetsugo Hyakutake and Edward McHugh.

  Rem Koolhas’ son Jeroen paints the town

  

  Hahn and Haas worked with young artists in the favelas in Rio to create this colorful street art. We hope they do something similar here.

  Jeroen Koolhaas, the son of famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, and collaborator Dre Urhahn (known as Haas and Hahn) are beginning their residence through the Mural Arts program in North Philly. Their project “Philly Painting” will be installed between the 2500 and 2800 blocks of Germantown Avenue.

  Carol Cole seeks former 915 residents for curated exhibit
  “The View from 915″,  a show that rounds up, well, views actually, from the 915 Spring Garden artists’ studios, opens this May.  Curator Carol Cole needs your help finding artists previously (but not now) ensconced in that formidable building. She is looking for paintings and photos from the building that former tenants may want to include in the exhibit. Contact Carol at carol@carolcole.com.

  Rosenbach Museum lost and found

  In a post on the blog Rebecca Gratz & 19th Century America, the Rosenbach Museum put out a feeler to find a long-missing portrait of Maria Gratz. The missing work is half of a pair of 1831 paintings by Thomas Sully depicting Benjamin Gratz and his wife Maria. The Gratzes were prominent Jewish early Americans who lived in Philadelphia and the portrait of Benjamin was bequeathed to the Rosenbach in 1970 without the missing Maria portrait. In a remarkable turn of events,  Maria’s great-great-great-granddaughter living in Atlanta had the portrait in her parlor for decades. She contacted the museum and decided to donate the portrait to the Rosenbach, along with a pastel copy she owns and a chair of Benjamin’s.  Blog power?!

  Craft as Participation – talk by art historian Jennifer Sorkin at PAA
  Art historian and University of Houston professor Jennifer Sorkin’s lecture “Live Form: Craft as participation” sounds great.  That talk, March 29 at 7 PM is based on her upcoming book, which examines the legacy of Black Mountain College and craft pedagogy in the post-war period. The event is free and you can register here.

  Opportunities

  The Laundromat Project in association with the Leeway Foundation, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Asian Arts Initiative, and PhillyCAM is seeking artists of color interested in displaying work at community locations like laundromats, barbershops, or similar spaces. You can find all the application details here.

  We know you’re out there and that you read artblog. Here’s a big opportunity for you: the Tate Modern in London is seeking a Head of Exhibitions. Apply by March 25. You can find this and other opportunities here.

  Like to work with communities?  This one’s for you. Garrison Art Center has a call for a community engagement project with teens and their schools that also includes an exhibition in the Riverside Galleries at Garrison Art Center.  What’s provided are studio resources, administrative support, and a stipend. Send resume, website address, and related references to Carinda Swann – director@garrisonartcenter.org – by March 17.

  Art Comes Alive in Cincinnati has an open call for artists for an exhibit that opens in June (via Wooloo.org). The deadline to apply is April 20. You can find the details here.

  Artist News

  

  Paul DeMuro

  Vincent Strijkan and Paul DeMuro are part of an exhibit called “cattywumpus” at 109 Ingraham St #410, Brooklyn, NY which opens on March 2 at 6 PM.

  Jenny Drumgoole showed her hilarious Paula Deen cream cheese videos last year at Moore College of Art & Design. Now she’s part of a show at Guest Spot in Baltimore which has its closing reception on March 3 from 1 – 5 PM.

  Austin Lee is participating in the Virgins Part 2 show in NYC at Family Business which began on March 1.

  

  Jamie Treadwell, "God Gold and Guns"

  Jamie Treadwell has a solo show in Miami opening March 10 at the Zadok Gallery.

  

  Alexandra Clotfelter, "The Beginning is Near"

  Former Space 1026 artist Jesse Goldstein is currently part of the Occuprint project producing posters for the worldwide Occupy movement. Check out their site to submit posters!

  Ann Northrup was part of an informational panel in Washington, D.C. yesterday at the opening of Windows and Mirrors, the traveling AFSC exhibition of antiwar art related to the war in Afghanistan.

• 

  News ? Cecelia Fitzgibbon to Moore, Tim Miller performance canceled by Villanova, and more!

  Posted: 24-February-2012, 12:06pm CET by chip schwartz

  News

  Cecelia Fitzgibbon named Moore President

  

  Cecelia Fitzgibbon

  Moore College of Art & Design has selected Cecelia Fitzgibbon as the school’s new president. Fitzgibbon, Director of Drexel’s Graduate Arts Administration Program, will succeed Dr. Happy Fernandez who has been president at Moore since 1999.  Fitzgibbon steps in at Moore in July.

  artblog news
  Check out our new features on artblog’s front page. First, in the bottom of the right column are feeds from Libby and Roberta’s Pinterest boards.  Don’t expect wedding planning or cute design things, but interesting articles and other stuff from around the web. Second, our RSS feeds in the left column now include Texas powerhouse blog, Glasstire, and Drexel literary and culture magazine Smart Set.  And, in case you’re missing the news post, we have that crucial Friday update in the top left of the blog, where it sits all week long!

  Tim Miller performance canceled at Villanova
  You probably heard about gay performance artist Tim Miller, who had his upcoming event at Villanova University abruptly canceled by President Rev. Peter M. Donahue without cause. Rumors on blogs of Miller’s anti-Catholic sentiments, which he says are lies, are the likely cause. Andrew Suggs of Vox Populi told us he will be extending an invitation to Miller to perform at their AUX performance space.

  ICA People’s Conference
  In conjunction with the People’s Biennial, Haverford College and the Institute of Contemporary Art are hosting the People’s Conference this weekend.  Friday’s session (that’s today) is at Haverford College’s Sharpless Auditorium at 4:30 PM and Saturday’s session is at ICA from 11 AM – 5 PM. Curators Jens Hoffman and Harrell Fletcher will be there along with participants from ICI, PEW and Creative Time curator Nato Thompson — who told us, maybe in jest (we’re not sure) that he’ll be talking about Republican political operative Carl Rove as an artist!

  Kehinde Wiley at the Jewish Museum

  

  Kehinde Wiley, "Leviathan Zodiac (The World Stage: Israel)", 2011.

  Renowned new school portrait painter Kehinde Wiley has 14 large-scale paintings on display at the Jewish Museum from March 9 – July 29. Wiley’s usual focus is on young, black males, but he was commissioned by the Jewish Museum to extend his scope for this exhibit to depict Israeli youth. Roughly two-thirds of the portraits in the Israel series are of Ethiopian Jews, others are of native-born Jews and Arab Israelis.

  Inscrutable mix of artists and show title
  An upcoming show at Sugar – 12 W. Willow Grove Avenue in Chestnut Hill – features Philadelphia abstract painter Douglas Witmer and West Coast cartoon and word artist Timothy Buckwalter with local conceptual phenom Michael Macfeat. This show of an intriguing group of artists has an equally intriguing title: “Crystal Days”. The reception is March 3 from 5 – 7 PM. For additional information call (267) 312-2686.

  GPTMC meetings With Art
  With Art Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s campaign to get the word out on the wonders of the local art scene, has some public meetings coming up in which you can get your two cents worth in about how to market Philly as the next art destination.  If you heard about the meetings before, make note that today’s meeting at the Crane at 8:30am is cancelled. Here’s the list of the rest of the With Art Philadelphia community meetings as follows, and you can RSVP here.

  • Wednesday, February 29: 10:00 ? 11:30am, Institute of Contemporary Art ? 118 S. 36th St.
  • Monday, March 12: 2:00 ? 3:30pm, Brandywine Workshop ? 728 S. Broad St.
  • Friday, March 16: 10:00 ? 11:30am, The Clay Studio ? 139 N. 2nd St.
  • Monday, March 19: 2:00 ? 3:30pm, The Leeway Foundation ? 1315 Walnut St. #832
  • Friday, March 23: 10:00 ? 11:30am, Fleisher Art Memorial ? 719 Catharine St.

  Possible Projects video storefront
  You’ve heard of drive-in movies, well what about drive by movies? Possible Projects at 873 East Thompson Street is having a storefront video display nightly from 6 – 9 PM until March 17. The first week’s video There is This House by Nanna Debois Buhl ends on February 25. Other films to be shown are by Anne Eastman, Derek Frech, and Oliver Laric.

  Art Loft PA
  Art Loft PA is holding a salon Saturday, Feb. 25 from 6 – 9 PM. RSVP here (it’s mandatory!) There will be a variety of figurative art by Jeff Wallin, Rogelio Manzo, and Sienna Freeman as well as music by Brendan Burke and a performance by Laura Ann Samuelson.

  Opportunities

  Kutztown University thought its residency program was over, but voila, but they pulled it out for one more year and pumped up the stipend! This is very new news and additional information will be forthcoming. The residency includes a $10,000 stipend, plus housing and travel expenses.

  Independent Curators International is offering an intensive course called Contemporary Curatorial Practice from July 8 – 17 2012 in New York. It costs $1,900 but there are generous scholarships available to four participants.  They are looking for outside the box thinking, all you DIY curators.

  Artist News

  Rob Matthews‘ solo show,”The Vanishing Middle Ground,” opens March 1 in Chelsea at Daniel Cooney Fine Art.

  

  Dona Nelson, "Spacey Characters"

  Dona Nelson is featured in the 3rd edition of Salon Zürcher‘s mini art fair starting March 5 in New York.  Nelson is the featured artist of Thomas Erben gallery.

  Kevin Finklea has an upcoming solo show at Fred Giampietro Gallery in New Haven, CT opening on April 20 and Everything Nothing Projects in Canberra, Australia  (dates TBA) with Louise Blyton.

  

  Andrew Jeffrey Wright Fashion Week 2012 - "Gnarfield"

  Andrew Jeffrey Wright introduces Fashion Week 2012! For the next 4 days Store 1026 will release 6 new t-shirts silk screened by AJW himself. We want to see catwalk videos!

  Peter Rose has lots going on out of town. There is a juror screening March 28 at 12:30 at Ann Arbor Film Festival; ”Conflation”, a video installation made with Mark Campbell and Anthony Angelicola at the Rowan University Art Gallery opening on March 26; and a two-part retrospective at Anthology Film Archives in NYC.

  The Painting Center has an upcoming 3-person show with Arden Bendler Browning, Rebecca Rutstein, and Charles Burwell, all represented by Bridgette Mayer gallery.  That show opens February 28.

  Tim Eads just launched the website for The Taxonomy of Trash, a project to turn trash into cash.  We like the enterprising spirit! Tim is also in the group show Contraptions, a show at Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts that has a lot of good people in it.

  Alison Stigora created a ceiling-hung installation as part of the set for an upcoming performance at Painted Bride Art Center.  As the dance moves out into the audience, so does Stigora’s piece, to create a total environment.

  

  Marta Sanchez, "Retablo for the Women of Juarez"

  Marta Sanchez is showing in NYC as part of the We Are You Project which has an opening on March 18  from 3:00 ? 6:00 PM.

  Dan Papa is currently organizing and shooting his upcoming independent film MAYA which is being filmed in West Philly and elsewhere around the city.

  Got news?  Deadline to submit news items is Wednesday 12 PM.  We will consider them for our Friday news post.
  email libbyrosof@gmail.com and robertafallon@gmail.com 

  Got a show you want us to consider for our picks?  Deadline is 9 AM Monday prior to First Friday, every month.
  email libbyrosof@gmail.com and robertafallon@gmail.com

• 

  Constructing stories from Degrees of Abstraction at UD Crane

  Posted: 23-February-2012, 1:49pm CET by chip schwartz

  Degrees of Abstraction at The University of Delaware at the Crane features work by a number of UDel MFA alumni who explore materials and the use of resources to raise issues about the earth’s natural bounties, and our capacity for scientific inquiry.  Lest you think this is all dry goods, there are personal and communal stories, structural compositions, and functional recycled goods on view. Curated by Dr. Vicky A. Clark of Clarion University, the show includes work by Mark Franchino, Matthew Gehring, Jim Lee, Jennifer O?Neill, Greg Rubio, Shawn Williams, Deborah Winram and Jim Zeske.

  

  Deborah Winram, "Keepsake"

  Deborah Winram?s installation ?Keepsake? is reminiscent of something one would discover in a 19th Century laboratory or a natural history museum. The scientific overtones place this work within the sometimes overlapping fields of science and art, specifically biology. The seven-tiered shelf filled with identical glass jars contains a collection of small trinkets, many of which are shells, eggs, or other specimens. Thinking of Fibonacci spirals or smooth, elliptical egg shapes, the question of where art ends and nature begins comes to the forefront. In some of the jars there are also objects like vintage photographs, specimens of more personal, human histories. Winram demonstrates how collections of keepsakes or informative displays of nature both achieve a certain aesthetic sensibility when curated in their own right.

  

  Shawn Williams, "Push pull"

  Works by Shawn Williams and Mark Franchino are in some ways closely related. Both artists deal with issues of waste and resource usage through ideas surrounding construction and housing and America?s tendency toward a disposable, throwaway society. And both utilize wood in a structural fashion, which brings up the idea of raw materials. Williams makes frame-like forms out of boards and places pixilated images of actual construction scenes within them. One, called ?Push pull,? is tilted and held up by rope, mimicking the angle of the building materials in the image. Franchino uses higher quality hardwood to produce small representations of dumpsters. Not only would utilizing such fine quality materials for a trash receptacle be a true waste, but the containers themselves would be better as magazine racks than waste receptacles.

  

  One of Mark Franchino's wooden dumpsters

  A small house made from white paperboard stands suspended on top of two long strands of yellow yarn in Jim Zeske?s piece ?Plane of Immanence.” It is one of the more visually intriguing components of the show, and also lends itself to the structural themes found in Williams? and Franchino?s work. One of the first impressions the piece conveys is danger. Instead of a steady foundation, the only supports for this house are two thin lines of fabric. The structure balances precariously, and if it were a real residence, walking out the door would almost surely result in a fatal fall. It seems to be a sort of challenge to a culture in which we grow more isolated from our neighbors and communities in favor of nuclear families and the false security of giant, cookie-cutter homes. The strings themselves bring to mind power lines or the connectivity of modern technology. Information sharing and the internet, while no substitute for actual human contact, are certainly revolutionizing the way we live and communicate.

  

  Jim Zeske, "Plane of Immanence"

  Jim Lee has an entire portion of one large wall devoted to his abstract cutouts on the lower level of the two-floor show. Jennifer O?Neill and Matthew Gehring?s works polarize one another: While Gehring?s three-dimensional black forms protrude from the walls, O?Neill?s photographic prints are flat, and the x-ray style images appear as a white-on-black negative of Gehring?s sculptures. Greg Rubio presents functional archery targets made out of recycled clothing and fabric.

  It’s a multi-faceted, yet coherent show.

• 

  News ? OLIN to redesign Met Museum?s plaza, Print Center grant, and more!

  Posted: 17-February-2012, 1:34pm CET by chip schwartz

  News

  

  Slavs and Tartars, PrayWay, 2012. silk and wool carpet, MDF, steel, neon

  artblog news
  This week artblog visited The Ungovernables, the second triennial of emerging artists organized by the New Museum in New York. You can see some images from the show here and stay-tuned for the upcoming review. It’s back to NYC on the 27th for the press opening of the Whitney Biennial. And we just learned that artblog was featured on Generocity.org’s list of Philly Non-Profit blogs. The site dedicated to helping non-profits likes what we’re doing here at artblog and we’re glad!

  In the Media
  The local voice of young Philly culture, Cred Magazine, organized through the Village of Arts and Humanities, has been flying off the shelves from all of its 95 locations, according to the report they sent out. Released three time a year in January, May, and October, the magazine is expected to reach more than 30,000 Philadelphia residents.  Check out the sophisticated and photo-rich magazine online.  Cred is now accepting ads, in case you’re interested in supporting the cause.

  Reimagining Urban Highways
  The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is hosting a lecture about the future of urban highways. After decades of neglect and a fast changing culture, how should the highways that fragment many large urban areas be utilized? This panel discussion will look at successful urban highway removal projects in Milwaukee, New Haven, and Providence and explore ways of mitigating highways in Philadelphia (I-95 anyone?) and the Bronx.

  OLIN chosen to redesign the Met Museum’s plaza on 5th Ave.

  

  Artist's rendering of the proposed renovations to the Met Museum's plaza.

  Phildelphia-based landscape architecture and urban design firm OLIN was selected by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art to lead renovations of the four-block-long Fifth Avenue plaza – one of the most important public spaces in New York.  Olin is also in charge of the new Dilworth Plaza project here.

  Print Center news
  The Print Center received a challenge grant of $50,000 from philanthropist Gerry Lenfest.  The money will go far towards putting the non-profit on stable footing for the future. Also at  the Print Center, an upcoming artist discussion with Gabriel Martinez and Chad States on Feb. 23 at 6 PM sounds like a good one.

  Opportunities

  The Art Hackathon organized by Hive76 on March 10 and 11 sounds pretty great. Based on the Work of Art contest on Bravo, the Hackathon challenges artists or artist teams to create something with the recyclable materials provided — cardboard, glue, tape, spray paint, and more. Hive76 will dictate a theme for the projects and the cost of the two-day hackathon is $25, which covers materials — and food.

  Mt. Airy has a pop-up space available for artists and artisans to rent for $150 per extended weekend. Here’s a description: The corner storefront space has big picture windows, warm natural pigment plaster walls, bamboo floors, and a sink. Ceilings 9 and 10? high. The building is across the street from the original Weaver’s Way Coop and the pop-ups share space with the Moving Arts of Mt. Airy. Contact Pam Rogow at muze@erols.com or call 215 842-1040 for more information.

  Artist News

  In CAA News – Going to the CAA annual conference in Los Angeles?  Here’s a couple things to check out. Diedra Krieger brings her project about the heartbreak of rejection – Building Backbones – to the CAA Art Exchange. In the project, artists read out loud, in unison, their rejection letters from exhibitions, residencies, foundations, etc. To participate e-mail your rejection letter to rejectionrank@gmail.com. Also at the CAA meeting, Hana Iverson  and Drexel prof (and Breadboard‘s Dan Schimmel’s partner) Mimi Sheller co-curated an augmented reality art show along with LA based artist Jeremy Hight.  One of the projects in the show, Mechanics of Place, is a joint effort by Iverson and Sarah Drury, also a Philadelphia artist. More on all the cell phone projects here.

  

  Chris Davison, "Weighs Options (Seated Boy)", 2011.

  Chris Davison’s first solo show with Mark Moore Gallery in Los Angeles opens Feb. 25.

  

  Katie Murken, "Half-listening".

  Two Philly artists won the top prizes at William Paterson University‘s American Impressions 2012. Katie Murken took the grand prize and will receive a solo show in 2013. Ryan Parker received first prize. The show was curated by Elizabeth F. Spungen, executive director of the Print Center.

• 

  News ? FLASHFLooD, Kutztown, Ward Shelley at Pierogi, and lots of opportunities!

  Posted: 10-February-2012, 1:07pm CET by chip schwartz

  News

  Lectures and discussions
  Temple Gallery is offering a lecture with Philadelphia resident and Creative Time curator Nato Thompson on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:00 PM. Thompson will speak about his latest book Seeing Power: Art and Activism in the Age of Cultural Production. We at artblog would love a Creative Time organization in Philly, and as it turns out we have the curator right here! Reserve a seat for Nato Thompson’s lecture at
  [www.eventbrite.com] or call 215 777 9138.  And in West Philly, artist and independent curator Matheiu Copeland speaks at Kelly Writers House Thursday, Feb. 16, 6pm, about his efforts at subverting curatorial practice.

  

  Mark Tribe, The Liberation of Our People: Angela Davis, 1969/2008, Port Huron Project, 5-minute video based on a 10-minute speech, Photograph by David Jung; Courtesy of the artist

  [NOTE: We just learned that this discussion has been POSTPONED until Mar. 17.] Meanwhile, this weekend Marginal Utility is hosting a discussion at Vox Populi on the structure, imaging, and personal affects of protest.  The talk, Saturday, Feb. 11, at 6pm, Sat. Mar. 17, at 6pm features Naeem Mohaiemen and Mark Tribe, curator Yaelle Amir, and Slought Foundation’s Aaron Levy and is in conjunction with the MU show Five Acts: Chronicles of Dissent.

  Ward Shelley at Pierogi

  

  Ward Shelley, "Teenagers", 2012, Oil and toner on mylar, 61 x 34.5 inches.

  Ward Shelley’s show of trippy timeline paintings opens Feb. 17 at Pierogi in Williamsburg. We’re fond of this gallery, and we love Shelley’s work, which traces musical and counter cultural movements (among others) throughout history using colorful, sinewy patterns.

  Leo diCaprio teams up with La Colombe
  Philadelphia-based coffee roaster La Colombe is joining forces with Leonardo DiCaprio to sell his new coffee line LYON.  All proceeds from sales go to environmental charities supported by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Thanks to Ms. Stella Kimbrough for this tasty tidbit.

  Kutztown University installation

  

  Onishi Yasuaki, "Reverse of Volume" at Kutztown University Art Gallery

  
  A while ago we brought you the news about the residency applictions f0r Kutztown University, well the last installation is now on display. The resident artist is Onishi Yasuaki, and his work is entitled “Reverse of Volume“. There are no more residency opportunities, according to Kutztown, but you can still submit to the gallery your proposals for solo or group exhibitions. The installation is on view until March 2.

  Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival poetry slam
  A poetry slam and a screening of the documentary Louder Than A Bomb are part of the Jewish Film Festival at the Gershman Y this Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2:30 pm. The Poetry Slam is courtesy the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement.

  Coldhearted
  Get a peek at the new Philadelphia Sculpture Gym while perusing the Valentine’s arts and crafts fair, Coldhearted, Saturday, Feb. 11, from 11am-5pm.  The Sculpture Gym is Darla Jackson’s Knight Arts Challenge project.

  Opportunities

  Ladies and gentlemen, but especially, we think, ladies, this is for you. Casting calls are over, but all you beautiful and tool-savvy people can still apply to the upcoming HGTV program All American Handyman until February 17. Email HGTVamericanhandyman@gmail.com with some information about your handiness and telegenic qualities.  We think ladies should apply to this politically-incorrectly titled show.

  The Studios of Key West have an open call for 40 month-long residencies for artists, writers, composers, performers, and interdisciplinary artists (via Wooloo.org). The deadline for applications is May 15.

  Eastern State Penitentiary is accepting applications for site specific artist installations for the upcoming 2013 season.  The deadline for proposals is June 13, 2012. Find all the details on the program here.

  The Siddhartha Arts Foundation has a call for artists for the second annual Kathmandu International Art Festival. Climate change is the topic of this year’s Earth|Body|Mind festival. The application deadline is February 29. You can find the application form here.

  Via Leeway –  CalArts is seeking a digital media teacher/artist. You can find more details about the position here.

  3rd Ward is seeking innovative and compelling work and will be giving out $15,000 in prizes. More information on the open call page.

  Little Berlin is looking for people who want to participate in FLASHFLooD, a “semi-secretive mass public exhibition of rapidly-distributed hidden flash drives containing downloadable exhibitions.”  If you are as intrigued as we are, check out the website for more information.  And if you participate in the FLASH distribution (juried by Little Berlin members, extraextra members and others), you’re also invited to show your work at a BYOBEAMER event First Friday, Mar 2 at Little Berlin.  Apply before Feb. 23.

  Writers and editors, this one’s for you. College Art Association has two positions available: an editor-in-chief position for The Art Bulletin and a reviews editor for the Art Journal. The deadline for both is April 2.

  Artist News

  

  Andrea Packard from Vista and Strata

  Andrea Packard, Director of the List Gallery, Swarthmore College, has an upcoming solo show at The Painting Center in New York entitled Vista and Strata. The opening is on February 28.

  Susan Myers has a solo show of her metalwork at the Society of Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh in a show entitled All Consuming. The exhibit opened on February 3 and runs until June 30.

  

  Daniel Heyman, "Do You Remember This Night?"

  Daniel Heyman presents Bearing Witness at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. The show is up now through February 29. On display is Heyman’s Istanbul Portfolio of the Abu Ghraib Detainee Interview Project.

  

  David Kettner, "The Prodigal Son - Rapture"

  David Kettner is retiring after 43 years of teaching painting and drawing at University of the Arts — Kudos!!  David’s retirement show, at the UArts Hamilton Hall Galleries, opens on February 24 with a reception on the 29th from 5 – 8 PM.