August 2010 Archive

Next week on artblog radio – Sande Webster

Gallerist Sande Webster talks about starting her gallery in the 1960s with a racially-mixed group of artists.  Today, 44 years later, Sande Webster Gallery continues to be a vibrant, successful and community-spirited enterprise on Walnut St.   Sande is a great story-teller.  Here’s a sample. Sande Webster 30 second clip Listen Monday, Aug. 30, to hear the full interview.

Endangered species–public art at PA Convention Center

When people bark about the threat of a public art void at the Convention Center extension (see Stephan Salisbury’s article in today’s Inquirer here), they seem to be all over the place on just what they mean by public. For instance, art inside the building? That is not public. I don’t think too many Philadelphians ever get to see the so-called “public art” in Convention Center part 1.

The sporting life – Daniel D’Ottavio’s RUGBY creates monuments of flesh and blood

Athletes make superb photography subjects. In motion, their bodies perform seemingly superhuman tasks that are a thrill to see. At rest, either before or after their feats, athletes’ faces are studies in concentration — or pain. Photos of teams remind us of our pack-ness; our ability to bond with others — or fight. RUGBY, Daniel D’Ottavio‘s book of black and white photos of the New York Athletic Club Rugby Team during their 2008 season is a beautiful tome.  Caveat: I’ve seen it in pdf form only  so can’t speak to the binding, paper, or feel of the book. All I ... More » »

Picasso, Picasso everywhere – museum roundup

by Cheryl Harper Pablo Ruiz Picasso lived from 1881-1973, a long span in any terms, but he has never left this world judging from the manner in which his life and work are continuously celebrated. Take this season for instance; I’ve seen four Picasso museum shows in as many months: “Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art ended in May (artblog ran two posts so I won’t tell you more); “Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art” at the Met, just closed August 15; “Picasso Themes and Variations” at MOMA through August 30; and “Picasso ... More » »

Sculptor Charles Fahlen died

Charles Fahlen, 70, died July 27 at his home in Guerneville, California from pancreatic cancer, according to a notice from Steven Wolf Fine Arts, his gallery in San Francisco.

The sporting life – Bryan Brown’s First Fight 2, an autobiographical comic

Bryan Brown‘s First Fight 2 — the follow up to his debut comic about his experience in the world of mixed martial arts — shows our hero, a successful Philadelphia artist/illustrator (no superpowers here, but lots of heart),  continuing his fascination with the sport as he goes about his life.

A good show ends a good program–Robert Scobey at Freeman’s

Robert Scobey‘s ironic sculptures of the American Dream have a quirky idealism. This excellent work ends with a bang what was an annual opportunity for an outstanding graduate of the MFA program at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Freeman‘s gave a monetary award to a second-year MFA at PAFA, followed by the opportunity to exhibit a year after graduation. This is the seventh Annual Samuel T. Freeman Memoial Scholarship Exhibition. Scobey said he was the last recipient of the annual scholarship/exhibition program, whose cancellation was announced at PAFA in 2009.  (Maybe it’s the economy — we hope it’ll ... More » »

Jong Kyu Kim on artblog radio

This episode sponsored by The Art of the Covenant – at FLUXspace The new exhibitions coordinator of Fleisher Art Memorial goes by Dave, but as a performance artist he’s been calling himself Jong Kyu Kim. He talks to us about celebrities, identity and living up to his family’s expectations. Below is the 30-second sample clip. And below that is the full 11-minute interview. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Right click to download 30-second clip

Top 10 picks, plus more at Philly Fringe/Live Arts

By Debra Miller The 2010 Festival line-up is staggering, with nearly 1,200 performances of approximately 200 shows, ranging from theater and comedy to dance, music, and the visual arts.

Morning eye and brain insult @Philly.com

I’m sorry Philly.com but this is unacceptable–an ad that will not go away and that covers up content.  This page always hurts the eye but this new move is an insult.  Talk about putting up fences for your content!