Tag Archive "fluxspace"

FLUXspace takes on [Contemporary Portraiture]

Jessica Roberts, CJ Portraiture has always been a two-way street, an even more so in contemporary times, photographic portraiture. Are Sally Mann’s photos of her children more about the kids or more about Sally Mann, for instance. Are Cindy Sherman’s self-portraits about Cindy Sherman or someone else. Just what/who are we looking at? At FLUXspace, two photographers take on problematic forms of portraiture. Jessica Roberts and Chad Muthard couldn’t be more different in their approaches and their results. Jessica Roberts, Dan Roberts, a young photographer whose work has been seen around Philadelphia, most notably at Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery’s L’Autre exhibit (post ... More » »

Two great opportunities: FLUXspace and Vox Populi need you!

From the department of charitable giving, two notices worthy of your consideration: Oliver Herring task night at FLUXspace last year. This is a shot from the blue room in the elevator. There was a video camera trained on the room and a live feed to a monitor downstairs where you saw the people merged with a background image previous taken on the streets of the neighborhood. FLUXspace, that wild and wooly place in the northern reaches of Kensington is planning its second project with New York-based artist Oliver Herring. The first task project last Dec. 15 included a screening of ... More » »

5 into 1 + 1, 2- into 3-D, 3- into 2-D

For Philadelphia Sculptors to have asked the FLUXspace posse to curate their annual 5 into 1 exhibit, now in its 9th year, says a lot both about the FLUXers and about Philadelphia Sculptors. FLUX has in just a brief time made an incredible mark on what is showing in Philadelphia from off in its Kensington outpost. For all their youth, the people who run the space–Joseph di Guiseppe, Chris Golas, Josh Kerner and Nike Dessis–know how to make exciting things happen, know how to navigate through an art world that is part business and part romance, know how to show ... More » »

Nick Poyner in your face in your space

Nicholas Poyner, Self Portrait #666, 2008, Platinum, silicone and hair Given what one UArts sculpture student is showing in Philadelphia right now, the Art Institute president’s attempt at censorship of art is downright laughable (see post)–using a gun to swat a mosquito. On the other hand, Nicholas Poyner‘s horror show sculptures and faux snuff video in the 5 into 1 show are truly transgressive!! Not that I think it should be censored. Far from it. Poyner makes sculptures that are excuses for making videos or maybe it’s vice versa. The resulting works are take-no-prisoners in-your-face I-dare-you-not-to-flinch affairs. Poyner is comfortable ... More » »

Totemic Whammy whammy whammy at FLUXspace

Alan Prazniak (l) and curator Dustin Metz with Prazniak’s Bite, oil and charcoal on canvas at FLUXspace. Alan Prazniak‘s paintings and drawings erupt like volcanos and challenge you to a stare-down. There’s passion and thought behind the seductive works, which are now on view in Totemic Whammy at FLUXspace (he’s also got work in There will be Animals at Bambi — see Libby’s post) — and if you pick up a Willem DeKooning vibe, it’s there, although the artist told me it’s not a conscious quoting but more just what comes out when he paints and draws. WILLEM OF KOONING ... More » »

Weekly Update – For you, for me, from me at FLUXspace

This week’s Weekly has my review of For You, For Me, From Me at FLUXspace. Below is the copy with some pictures. More photos at flickr.Come Play With MeFour young artists long to share their ideas. Julia Schwadron and Steve Lambert’s take away signs at FLUXspace. Art exhibits get organized for many reasons. Sometimes it’s political, sometimes it’s for money, and sometimes it’s because the organizer is simply bursting with enthusiasm. “For You, for Me, From Me,” a four-artist show at FLUXSpace, is all about audience enjoyment. According to young curator Dustin Metz, the artists involved—Benjamin Kinsley, the team of ... More » »

There is more than one way

I rescued this handmade sign from the parking space outside FLUXspace the night of the opening of the current show For you, for me, from me. I don’t know if someone left it there on purpose or dropped it by accident, but the sentiment expressed seized my brain like a lightening bolt. The work, by Julia Schwadron and Steve Lambert makes my anti-authoritarian, anti-perfectionist heart sing. (I also love the punning on street signs aspect.) Schwadron and Lambert’s idea was to make signs for Philadelphia that people could take and put up around the city — portable art, interactive art, ... More » »

Oliver Herring opening at FLUXspace–SMASHING!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR. I just wanted to share my photos from last Saturday’s opening at FLUXspace. I’ve never seen a more focused party! Everyone was busy, busy, busy…in a good way. And there was much interaction as strangers or mere acquaintences approached one another looking for help with a task. Nothing seemed silly at the time (I led a pencil parade) in the atmosphere which was both giddy, heady and expectant. I never made it to a happening in the 1960s (although I created my own in the 1970s) but this was a Happening, for sure. Don’t miss the ... More » »

Weekly Update – Oliver Herring at FLUXspace This Saturday

This week’s Weekly has my preview of the Oliver Herring video/performance/event at FLUXspace. Below is the copy with some pictures. More pictures at flickr and see Libby’s post for more. Seeing and HerringTwo videos show Philly’s mean streets at play. Peter Pan in North Philly — just one of the iconic images called to mind in Oliver Herring’s Howard Street (airborn) video which screens Saturday at FLUXspace. Scratch the surface and there’s religious iconography all over this project. Never before has an art video propelled me out of my seat clapping and cheering as did Oliver Herring’s exuberant tour-de-force Howard ... More » »

Oliver Herring on failure and success at FLUXspace

Oliver Herring dressed for the chill at the FLUXspace preview of his videos. Oliver Herring, 43, was having one of those flush-of-success moments in the world of art–celebrating his exhibit at Max Protetch Gallery–when Philadelphia FLUXspace organizers, Joe DiGiuseppe and Chris Golas walked in, recognized the artist, and blurted out a request. The two younger men are recent graduates from Tyler School of Art. They started a gallery and studio space in one of the rougher parts of town. DiGiuseppe ran with the moment and asked Herring to use his art magic to help build some bridges between FLUXspace and ... More » »