September 2011 Archive

New News: Comedy at PhilaMOCA, POST studio tours, Campuzano run-in with a snake

News Comedy Night @ PhilaMOCA This Saturday, October 1, at 7:00 PM, PhilaMOCA will be the site of I LOVE MITCH HEDBERG: Art for the Late Great Comedian. A number of comedy acts (including comedy by Andrew Jeffrey Wright), refreshments, and artwork are on tap. Special guest Lynn Shawcroft will screen a video of unreleased Mitch Hedberg comedy footage.

‘Living as Form’; Creative Time’s Summit and Exhibition in the old Essex St. Market

  Creative Time has been one of the most challenging and exciting visual art presenters in the country over its 37-year history, with a record of commissioned projects that have been novel, imaginative and remarkably artistically successful. That’s saying a great deal for an organization that has asked artists to do things they likely haven’t done before, or haven’t done in the proposed circumstances. Furthermore, it has taken art out of its designated venues and presented it to unfiltered, urban audiences. The organization has ferreted out unlikely venues. Some took opportunistic advantage of real estate in transition, such as the ... More » »

Studio visit with two Los Angelenos in Philly – Fabian Lopez and Shanna Waddell

Fabian Lopez got in touch recently about a show he curated at the old Nexus space at Crane Arts. Lopez is a recent Tyler MFA, and the 7-person exhibit includes his work and work by some friends of his. The show fills the space well — it’s mostly painting and works on paper but there is one sculptural installation. I met Lopez and his studio-mate, Shanna Waddell, who is also in the exhibit, and after looking at the show we went upstairs to their shared studio space (they are renting Susan Moore’s large studio – plenty of room for two) ... More » »

Martha Wilson, Nick Cave and Pepon Osorio in New York City

Age was something that happened to Other People, so it was startling to walk into P.P.O.W. Gallery to see a huge, poster-sized photograph of Martha Wilson in her exhibition I have become my own worst fear (through Oct. 8, 2011).  I hadn’t seen Wilson in twenty-five years and, turning to her dealer, Penny Pilkington (whom I’ve seen intermittently during the more than twenty years we’ve been aquainted, so we’ve aged slowly for each other) I said, I guess we’ve all gotten older.

Andrew Jeffrey Wright, next podcast on artblog radio

Andrew Jeffrey Wright is known for his humorous drawings and prints, psychedelic pattern paintings, and most recently his stand-up comedy routine, which he performs regularly Tuesday nights at the Barbary.  Wright, who is a founding and current member of Space 1026, made his first splash with The Manipulators, an animated film he co-produced with then-girlfriend, Clare Rojas.  That fashion-lampoon, done with magazine pictures altered to with whiteout, won Wright and Rojas the top prize for animation at the New York Underground Film Festival.  In our talk with Wright we learned that he supported himself when in college by working as a security ... More » »

On the road: Fallingwater in summer

Fallingwater is on Wendy’s bucket list. She said this as we piled into my Prius, Murray at the wheel, map maven David on shotgun, Wendy and me in the back.

ReVolving Spaces takes over the Italian market – Fringe review

Answering the summertime call of Martha and the Vandellas, Frances Gremillion and Colleen Hooper delivered laughin’ and singin’ and music swingin’ in the streets of South Philadelphia.  Beginning in Bardascino Park and dancing through the residential alleys and curbside stalls of the Italian Market, ReVolving Spaces incorporated the spirit of the Fringe as well as the long tradition of site specific art. On an almost cool summer night—still wet from the storm but warmly lit—Bella Vista never looked better than when Gremillion, Hooper, and their effortlessly-talented company of dancers and musicians snake-charmed the audience through her streets. My first Philly ... More » »

News Roundup: Knight Arts Challenge, LOOK! Lancaster Ave, new Barnes logo

News Philadelphia Knight Arts Challenge Year 2 The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is opening up their second year of applications for the Philadelphia Knight Arts Challenge. They are investing $9 million over three years in ideas that engage and enrich Philadelphia arts and culture. In the first year, 36 ideas were awarded a total of $2.7 million… including artblog’s own Art Safaris! Applications for the Knight Arts Challenge will be accepted from October 3 – 31, 2011. Be sure to visit the Knight Arts website on October 3 to find out how to submit your idea!

Everyone loves a parade – Miss Rockaway picture post

Post by Roman Blazic These pictures were taken on Sept. 10 on York Street just above Coral Street. Little Berlin (Viking Mills) was a half a block away at Boston and Coral Streets. The parade started on York St and eventually ended at Flux Space, 3000 Hope St.

Participate, activate, engage – programming is in the air!

Years after 1969′s Summer of Love, it’s the fall of power to the people. More than just looking, this season galleries, museums and alternative venues all over town want you to come in, hang out, eat, discuss, make, share, and generally become an active participant in what they’re doing. There’s no city-wide manifesto, and nobody organized this fall programming juggernaut.  Call it the influence of online social networking or the influence of foundations eager to fund socially-engaged programming. For whatever reason, the Philly art world wants You!