News
Dr. David Brigham, PAFA President and CEO, has been invited as an honorable guest and presenter at the Second International Cultural Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia! December 2-5, 2013. One of 14 invited administrators and rectors of art academies from Europe, America and Asia, Brigham is the sole representative of US fine art schools at the conference, a major honor. The event, hosted by the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts and focusing on the evolution and future of fine art academies, is expected to attract prominent international journalists, scholars, artists, and musicians, as well as representatives of the Presidential Administration and the government of the Russian Federation.
Sad news: After 25 years of hard work to keep the mission of unconventional curators and fresh works going, Highwire Gallery in Fishtown is being forced to close due to escalating rents. It has no immediate plans to relocate. Highwire has only resided on Frankford Ave. since 2005 – for most of their history they’ve been itinerant, creating in spaces across the city. Let’s hope they figure out a way to keep going, even without their Frankford home.
This month, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is no more. In its place, say hello to Visit Philadelphia™. The re-naming decision is a smart one from an industry standpoint, given the trend of calls to action so prevalent these days.
It’s been written about in the paper and covered by Peter Crimmins on WHYY but if you haven’t heard, you can go watch a big, slow car crash at the Kimmel. Complete with a live video feed, SEI and the Kimmel Center present the art installation “The Slow and Inevitable Death of American Muscle,” which propels two full-sized muscle cars slowly into one another over a period of 90 days, simulating a head-on collision. Created by Jonathan Schimmer, the display is part of the opening of the SEI Innovation Studio, a new performing arts venue housed inside the Kimmel Center, and, additionally, is part of an ongoing initiative of revolving art work from the West Collection.
Opportunities
Submissions are now open for Compé ’14, and as always, presents an exciting prospect for the photographer looking for greater exposure. The physical exhibition opens in conjunction with the photography conference on March 1-2, 2014 in Philadelphia. Juried by renowned photographer Andrew Moore, who is also the Summit keynote speaker, entries are being accepted already; The final deadline for all submissions is December 2, 2013. Their site has a ton of information about submission requirements and the program itself, so be sure to check it out from start to finish.
via Leeway Foundation – Visual Studies at Tyler School of Art is looking for adjunct instructors for their BA program. Interested in individuals with expertise in visual culture, technology, public space, and activist methodologies, they ask that candidates have, at minimum, a MA or MFA degree with a strong CV of exhibition or professional experience. Candidates from diverse creative backgrounds, especially those with interdisciplinary methodologies are especially encouraged to apply. Candidates must be comfortable assigning and discussing critical readings in relation to project-based studio work. If you’d like to apply, please submit a short cover letter expressing your interest and a CV to Dr. Leah Modigliani at lmodigliani@temple.edu. Time is of the essence: the school has several classes to hire for immediately, and more open positions are likely in the following semesters.
Artist News
For the first time, Pentimenti Gallery is going to CONTEXT Art Miami, the sister fair of Art Miami that supports emerging and mid-career artists. Located in booth E58, Pentimenti is going to be showing works by Matthew Cox, Judy Gelles, Mark Khaisman, Lisa Stefanelli, Simeen Farhat, and Derrick Velasquez. Over four days (Dec 4-8), the fair runs from 11 AM-7 PM Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday; 11-8 PM Friday; and 11-6 PM Sunday. Visit the site for information about their complimentary tickets.
via e-flux – Those with a keen eye for Philly and New Jersey collections of Middle Eastern art will be pleased by the new Nabil Nahas show at Lawrie Shabibi in Dubai. Nahas, Lebanon’s most famous contemporary artist, has work in the collections of both Rutgers University, New Brunswick and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The show began November 17 and continues until January 9, 2014.
