Jason Lazarus will take your unwanted photos
Do you have photos that are too painful to keep around? If so, Chicago-based artist Jason Lazarus will take them.  He’s collecting unwanted photos for an art installation. There’s no need to provide the background for the photos, and if you feel they are too private to be shown, the artist will display them face down. Lazarus can pick them up on Sunday February 5 from 10 AM – 7 PM. E-mail him at jasonlazarus.photo@gmail.com or call 312-953-2885.

Knapp Gallery closing
Old City’s Knapp Gallery is closing up shop at the end of February. A rough economic climate and a need for income generating and career boosting opportunities in Philadelphia are among the reasons director Karl Slocum listed for the gallery’s decision to shut down. The final show runs from February 3 – 26 with work by painter Bryan Guglielmi.

CENTERpieces — Julie Courtney and Jennie Shanker curate the Catskills

Dome building under construction, The Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, 1984.

CENTERpieces, a cultural initiative co-curated by Julie Courtney and Jennie Shanker at the Center for Discovery in Harris NY, this month debuts The Harris Observatory, a temporary project  by Richard Torchia, in which a disused geodesic dome is converted into a sunlight-powered chart of the stars. The Harris Observatory is on view February 18 – March 3 by appointment: catskillcenterpieces@gmail.com. Grand opening day is February 25 and requires an RSVP at the Eventbrite page.

Network sessions at Moore
February 17 kicks off Moore College of Art & Design’s first networking opportunity this year, Launch into Fashion. The event goes from 6 – 8 PM in the Great Hall and includes a local DJ, cocktails, and a chance to meet Philly’s top fashion and design experts.  While this network session is about fashion, others will focus on the visual arts.

In the Media

Bonnie Brenda Scott.

Sarah McEneaney’s current show at Tibor de Nagy in New York is featured on Huffington Post as one of the 10 must-see painting exhibits this year–congratulations! Via Franklin Einspruch, Bill Scott’s exhibition at Hollis Taggart Galleries in New York appears in the Jan. 2012 issue of Art in America. Also via, via an artnet tweet,  photo blog Boxes of Blight documents Philadelphia’s graffiti and sticker-covered newspaper honor boxes — a great obsession, don’t we all hate these eyesores? Bonnie Brenda Scott’s work appears in a recent post on Beautiful/Decay (also catch her opening at Benna’s Cafe on February 10).

Philadelphia Barnes Campus hours and ticket prices
The Barnes Foundation has released its new set of hours and pricing for the upcoming opening of its new museum on the Parkway.  Members can buy tickets now.  Tickets will be timed to manage the flow through the small galleries that replicate the rooms at the Merion Barnes.  We don’t see an artist price on the list, but we hope they might consider it.  Or a pay what you wish Sunday like the PMA has. Amazingly, the Barnes will be open 7 days a week!

In Activism
Still juiced from Occupy Wall Street — check out the OWS Arts & Labor Teach-in in Brooklyn at 300 Nevins St., Brooklyn on February 19 from 3 – 6 PM, for discussions of alternative economies and creative prosperity. Contact owsartsandlabor@gmail.com for more information. On the home front, Nicola Midnight St. Claire is hosting an event at ICA this Sunday, Feb 5, 2pm.  Lead from Somewhere examines the relationship between art and civic action.

PHLocal exhibit and event listings
A new site – PHLocal.com – is set to fill the niche for listing art events and exhibits all around the city. The site is currently in beta and it’s definitely worth checking out for all you artists, organizers, and venues!  We miss our own maps&listings, but this looks like it may be a great resource.

In Curatorial
Bryn Mawr College appointed Brian Wallace as Curator and Academic Liaison for Art and Artifacts. Wallace formerly put on some great programming for Moore College when he was head of the galleries there, and we’re glad he is back in the area. Tyler School of Art alumn Dean Daderko was named Curator at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Daderko ran an influential apartment gallery in Brooklyn, Parlour Projects from 2000-2005 and also did some freelance curating at Vox Populi. Sarah Schultz has been named Director of Education and Curator of Public Practice at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She has been leading the way in experimental programming in museum education.

Opportunities

The International Migration Art Festival is seeking work for its Art Your Food competition to be held in Milan, New York, and London. The theme is “Food and Migration” and mediums include film, literature, music, and visual art. The deadline is April 15.

Via inLiquid, the NARS Foundation has announced its second annual Emerging Curator Open Call, which offers an opportunity for a young-in-career curator to present a group show at the NARS Foundation Gallery. You can find all the details here. The deadline is March 2.

Philadelphia Photo Arts Center is seeking photographers for its 3rd annual Contemporary Photography Competition and Exhibit. The deadline is May 29.

Artist News

Judith Schaechter has her first solo show in Philly in 10 years this May at Eastern State Penitentiary. Can you believe that – 10 years and no solo show in her own town? The opening reception is May 11 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Always in demand, the queen of glass is also exhibiting at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York — among many other things — check her website for more.

Becky Suss, "Hope St", Sumi ink on paper.

Becky Suss, a new Vox Populi member, has a week long show, Feb. 3-10 at Snyderman-Works. Her show at Snyderman looks like the work she showed in her Vox solo exhibit last year — that seems a great strategy, join a coop, show work there, then get a gig at a commercial gallery so you can (maybe, we hope) sell something.

Daniel Hoffman – a former artblog contributor – has started a new animation business Laundryboat Media. Check out his music video for ManMan!

Out of town shows: Bonnie MacAllister and Rachel Blythe Udell have a two person show at et al projects in NYC. Rebecca Gilbert will be part of the Cutting Edge: Contemporary Paper show at Boise State University.

Maureen Drdak, from the Prakriti Project: "The Flying Naga", detail Collection of Berthe and John Ford.

Maureen Drdak culminates her Fulbright in Nepal with a show at Siddhartha Art Gallery in Kathmandu, opening February 9.

The day I talked with Sarah Stolfa of PPAC, their website had briefly crashed from all the traffic they were getting from Living Social, a coupon site, where they had some half-off coupons on offer for their upcoming workshops. ($30 instead of $60). The fact that they’re using a coupon site for class coupons tells you how web- and business-savvy this organization is.

Sarah Stolfa, photo courtesy of Workman publishers, publishers of Stolfa's book, The Regulars

PPAC opened in late summer 2009. It opened because while there were co-op dark rooms for hands-on professional photographers in Philadelphia, “No one in the city was running a nonprofit, high end digital equipment center for the creation of work,” Stolfa said. And, for one photographer to purchase the digital scanners/printers needed made no sense — it was not affordable and took up too much space. But to share the equipment in a community art center made a lot of sense. As with many organizations, PPAC grew as its mission grew. From a space with equipment it is now a place with an educational program, a gallery to show work, and a lot of free or low-cost programming open to the public. Here’s the interview I did with Sarah, by phone, on Dec. 22.

Sarah Stolfa, photo courtesy of Workman publishers, publishers of Stolfa's book, The Regulars

Roberta: Are you a membership organization?
Sarah: We are free and open to the public but also a membership organization.

You are an active photo community with lectures and other programming, and an art gallery. What printing services do you provide?
PPAC makes museum quality prints 60″ wide for practicing artists.

Tell me about printing for other artists. You printed the Zoe Strauss show at the PMA.  It’s a great coup to print a museum show.
We created two sets of prints – one for the museum and one to travel (the show will travel)….and we did match prints for the book. We did everything. Zoe got to choose who printed [the show]. She’d never worked with us before and was very excited about it. She wanted the work [the printing] to stay in Philadelphia. She’s giving back to the community. It’s really a great way to highlight Philadelphia, the community, support the community.  Peter Barbarie was on our advisory committee. But he had nothing to do with it. It was great to work with him in another capacity.

How did the printing go?
It was a lot of proofing and talking to see how the images should feel…it’s a process. It’s a great project.

How many works in the show and do you frame it too?
There are 170 photos, different sizes-”20×30″ to “8×12″ in the show. Framing is done in house at the PMA.

How about the book?
I just got an email today [Dec. 22]. Zoe has the book in her hands.

When did the project begin?
We started on the project in April or May…it’s roughly 8 months of work.

Have you printed this massive quantity for an artist before?
It’s the first time we worked with an artist for this big a show.

Who else have you printed for?
We were printing and scanning with Daniel Traub since May 2009 [even before PPAC opened and the equipment was in her house in Fishtown]. We worked with Janelle Lynch, a New York artist. We do scanning for her.

Are artists hard to work for?
Working with artists is our favorite thing.

Where do you teach?
At Penn and PPAC. Everyone [at PPAC] has teaching experience and is an artist. We understand that practice. It’s in our tool sets. We do this because we’re part of the community.

How many photographers here in Philly
That’s hard. Many artists wear many hats. The census form doesn’t capture it…

How about community…How does everybody get along…Light Room, Basho?
With the Light Room there’s no competition and no overlap. They support us and come to our events. We go to theirs. They are the opposite of us [not digital]. They have a really great darkroom. Basho…We have a healthy competition. Our lectures are drastically different. It’s like fast food chains close together. But helping each other.

How about your programming?
Laura Heyman is giving a talk on her Haiti photos. We’re sponsoring a screening with the Free Library of the film “War Photographer” about photographer James Nachtwey. Zoe is doing a free lecture Feb 18. There’s a show and panel in February…”Of the Ordinary” features artists who use photographs in their work that were never meant to be shown in a gallery context. Our Book Fair is April 28. The Slide Luck Pot Show…there’s a call [see website for more]. Last year more than 125 people came. This year we’re going to have it outside in the garden.

How are you doing with the recession?
It’s a tough economy now. Running PPAC is a tough challenge. I anticipate us continuing to grow. We want to expand things. We will be announcing an artist in residency program in Jan. 2 people per year will come and use the facility for one month.

Is this a residency with housing for out of towners?
Ultimately we’d like to do housing.

What else?
We expanded Philly Photo Day. And next year we will start being a collecting facility…we will get a print from the artists in residence.

How is it being a photographer in Philadelphia?
It’s a hard time to get a job as a photographer. Philadelphia is affordable to live in…it’s a friendly and open community. If you come to events you’ll be in the community…There are great resources for artists. Even if there’s not a lot of jobs there’s space for you to do your own thing.

Do it Yourself?
People can do it; It’s easier [to be a photographer] in NY where the film and fashion industries are. There are photo opportunities there. But I know people who set up here and can work for 10 years.

There’s teaching jobs?
At PPAC! If you have a great idea for a workshop or class, send me an email. There’s a lot of opportunity if you make it…like the fact that PPAC opened.

Pamela Ellis Hawkes: Floral Arrangement #7, 2011, was a highlight at The Photo Review Benefit Auction in 2011.

Philadelphia in 2012 has three community photo art centers — Project Basho, Philadelphia Photo Art Center and The Light Room. It has a commercial photo gallery – Gallery 339. In addition, you can see photography exhibits monthly in academic galleries like Sol Mednick Gallery and Gallery 1401 at University of the Arts. Blue chip gallery Locks has periodic photo exhibits, as do other galleries like LG Tripp, which just ended its 4th annual abstract photography show Jan 7.  The Print Center has its 86th Annual International Competition – Photography opening in June. And, Perloff says, Philadelphia museums “have come around” to showcasing photography.

Nick Kline, "Soup Bowl," from "Mold" series, 2011, Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle Paper, 60"x50" and variable editions in smaller sizes. Din of Murmurs: Mold, Sol Mednick Gallery, University of the Arts, Jan. 13-Mar. 2.

What’s different now, says Perloff, is that young artists are moving here and staying here after graduation instead of moving to New York or the West Coast – where the fashion and music industries historically provided many more job opportunities for photographers.

From Don’t Move Again –Laura Heyman, photos of Haiti, PPAC, to Feb. 4

Those industries have changed with digital photo tools making photography at once cheaper to work with and more specialized, so that photo skills are not enough anymore, you need to be a Photoshop whiz as well. “It’s a hard time to get a job as a photographer,” says Sarah Stolfa, founder of Philadelphia Photo Arts Center in Kensington. Stolfa launched PPAC in 2009 after she got an MFA from Yale School of Art and became frustrated that Philadelphia lacked a digital lab for artists who want to scan and print their own works. Tired of running up to New York, she created PPAC so she and other photographers could scan, print, and be with a like-minded community. In addition to running PPAC, Stolfa, like many photographers in Philadelphia, is a photo teacher. She teaches at PPAC and at the University of Pennsylvania.

PPAC is a non-profit arts center, with classes, lectures, movie screenings, a book fair, a gallery for exhibitions, and the closest things the city has to an annual photo festival, “Philly Photo Day,” a celebration of all things Philadelphia, in which the entire population of the region is invited to take a photo in the city on one day (in 2011 it was Oct. 28), and share the photo in a 2-week exhibition in which the Center prints everybody’s photos and displays them.

Phillip Toledano, Justin, from the current exhibit at Gallery 339 - up to Jan. 28

Martin McNamara, who founded the commercial photo gallery, Gallery 339 with partner Tom Callen in 2005 and represents Stolfa’s work, talked about the need for an expanded, international festival for practitioners, collectors, scholars and gallerists to come together for networking, sales, and to discuss the state of photography. “Since we opened we’ve seen a lot of interesting nodes of activity – 2 photo centers (Basho and PPAC); increased activity with universities that offer photography degrees; Temple opened their new building — an amazing facility; and of course the art museum opened their dedicated photo space [The Levy Gallery] in the Perelman Building…One thing that’s not in place yet is a festival,” he said.

“We have Philly Photo Day — I love the democratic event…But other cities have multi-day multi-week photo festivals, and it brings attention to the idea of photography,” he said. Gallery 339 participates in festivals in New York and Miami.

Pia Johnson, "Finding Yourself at Home". Digital C-print. 12"x18" From ONWARD at Project Basho, Feb. 11-Mar. 25

Efforts to organize a festival have come up short. “We had a committee to discuss a photo festival,” said Perloff. But the financial backing never came together. Both Stolfa and Tsuyoshi Ito of Project Basho (another community art center in Kensington) sat in on Perloff’s festival meetings. And when the event didn’t materialize, Tsuyoshi decided to create a one-day festival-like event in conjunction with his center’s annual emerging artist’s exhibit, Onward (opening Feb. 11). The festival, also Feb. 11, is open to all, with speakers, portfolio reviews and other activities, says Basho’s Grisha Enikolopov. The cost of a ticket is $65, and Enikolopov says they are hoping for around 200 participants. “This is the inaugural summit but we want it to be annual. Next year we will bring in video as well.”

Stephen Perloff: Plastic Covered Hat, Philadelphia, 1972, from "Unseen Color, Part I" at the Light Room, Mar 10-April 14, 2012

Everyone I talked with said there’s collegiality among all the players in the photo scene — as well as healthy competition among the various photo art centers. Al Wachlin, Jr. is a founder of the oldest, yet most under-the-radar photo art center, The Light Room. Located in Fairmount, the 10-year old member organization has a darkroom, a small digital lab, and a gallery space. But their mission is to serve their members. “We don’t offer classes to the public. We get calls. If people get a camera and want a class we send them to PPAC or Basho. We cooperate. We’re definitely trying to support each other.”

Stolfa explained it this way: “With the Light Room there’s no competition and no overlap. They support us and come to our events. We go to theirs. With Basho, we have a healthy competition. It’s like fast food chains close together, but helping each other,” she said. (Project Basho is around the corner from PPAC in Kensington).

Basho’s Enikolopov, who moved to Philadelphia after graduating from Wesleyan and started volunteering at Basho (he’s now the Coordinator of Marketing and Events) said, “We’re all in a really big city, and we’re all really small. The more the merrier. The more people who are interested in photography the better for everyone.”

A slightly different version of this story appeared at the Daily News as part of Art Attack, the NEA/Knight-Foundation-sponsored project, a partnership between Drexel University and the Daily News.

Ghosts; my street does it up right for Halloween! My neighbor Taylor gets the credit for this display. But I can't figure out how to capture what I'm looking at.

After the above sorry effort, I finally got down to business. I took my final choice for the Philly Photo Day also right on my own street. But it looked nothing like the above mish-mash.

I love the mysterious markings by utility companies. What does this mean?

By time I left my street, I was on a roll. I figured out that less is more. In the ones above and below, I’m not sure if I was on Latimer Street or Addison. I like this one for peculiar reasons, like the slot of light in the middle of the shadow. How did it get there? I also like the difference in light on the right and on the left of the shadow. And then I like the interplay of lines–pipes, shadow, bricks, and paint. But so what? Didn’t make the cut.

I like how the drains, with the carefully scored concrete circles turn this patch of sidewalk and curb into a startled, vulnerable face. But it too didn’t make the cut.

The way to see my final choice? Go to PPAC for its Philly Photo Day show, now in its second year–an opportunity for absolutely anyone in Philadelphia to get a photo into a show. Roberta and I love the populist premise for the show, so we sponsor this show as well as participate. Last year, Roberta got it together to submit something. This year, I did. We didn’t plan it. Just happened.

Opening reception: tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 to 9 p.m.
PPAC
Crane Arts Center
1400 N. American Street #103
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-232-5678

West Collection launches $300,000 art acquisition project–$100,000 set aside for Philly artists
It was all about money outside City Hall the other day as Occupy Phladelphia protested economic issues; and it was all about money inside, too, when Paige West, with Mayor Nutter by her side, announced plans for a $300,000 arts acquisition project on the part of the West Collection, with $100,000 earmarked for Philadelphia artists. “West Collects” has no fee to apply, and the winners will be selected in April 2012. Any artists over the age of eighteen working in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation or video mediums may apply online at the West Collection website, starting Oct. 10. The Collection is housed at SEI Corporation in Oaks, PA. They are looking for a building in the city to house some of their art and offer educational programming.

3rd Ward comes to Philly

Former artblog contributor and current PMA curator John Vick wrote us recently that Brooklyn-based arts collective 3rd Ward — which offers studio space, classes and more – will be opening a branch in Philadelphia. With the massive influx of creative people and young professionals to Philadelphia in recent years, 3rd Ward’s new Philly location seems like it was meant to be.

Live Cinema makes a move to Perelman Building
Adelina Vlas told us the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Live Cinema program, which she runs, is moving to the Levy Gallery in the Perelman Building.  Live Cinema opens its first show in its new digs on Oct. 15. “Peripheral Stages” features photographs and video by two European artists.

Tina Barney speaks at PPAC
World-renowned photographer Tina Barney speaks at Philadelphia Photo Arts Center October 19 at 6 PM.  There is a $5 recommended donation.

E-mail scam reported by Philadelphia Sculptors
Leslie Kaufman, president of Philadelphia Sculptors, has announced there is an e-mail scam circulating. Members have been getting messages from a man saying he is interested in work he saw on their website. The point of the scam is that you will send him money and he will send a check. It may be poorly conceived, and full of bad grammar, but just be aware!

Knight/NEA Community Arts Journalism Challenge winners
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation along with the National Endowment for the Arts are set to announce the 2011 winners for their Arts Journalism Challenge. Over 233 individuals or organizations applied from the Knight’s eight pilot communities including Philadelphia. The five finalists and honorable mentions will be announced in their live webcast on October 10, 2011 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

TLC’s Collection Obsession
TLC has a new series called “Collection Obsession”. They are currently casting for their first season, and are on the hunt for serious and dedicated collectors that would like to showcase their prized collections and share their passionate pursuits. Contact Jessica Ribeiro at jessicas@sharpentertainment.com if you think you fit the bill!

Old City Windows 2011
Old City Business Collective is launching the third installment of Old City Windows. The project seeks to bridge the gap between design and commerce by having artists redesign storefront windows in Old City. These collaborative efforts with business owners and the community are set to be part of the larger DesignPhiladelphia events going on citywide. The window project will begin on First Friday, October 7.

Opportunities

“Installation view #2 of CFEVA Fellows exhibition “Construct” at The Icebox at Crane Arts”

The Center for Emerging Visual Artists has an open call for its Career Development Program Fellowship. The fellowship is great exposure, and offers direct connections and career counseling. The application deadline is November 1.

Vox Populi is currently accepting membership applications until October 14. Get a chance to show your work and help curate shows and plan programs through this popular member-run artist member gallery. Find all the details on the membership application page.

Vox is also holding a workshop entitled “An Artist’s Guide to Statements & Bios.”  The workshop is 6 PM on Sunday, October 9.

HGTV is casting for a new show “Design Star”. If you are creative and passionate about design, come to the open call on October 16. For more information, visit the casting page.

Artist News

‘Hanging Flowers’, Mixed media photograph, Edn of 25, 101.6 x 76.2 cm (40 x 30 in)

Thomas Brummett‘s ”Hanging Flowers” is currently on display in the Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro.

Artist and former artblog intern David Muenzer has a show on the 14th and 15th floors of a New York skyscraper near where Bernie Madoff’s office used to be. It was covered by the New York Times as a sort of recession-era “Alice in Wonderland.” If you want to see it, e-mail fourteenandfifteen@gmail.com for more info.

Daniel Hoffman has created some glowing, aquatic public art for Crystal City, VA.

James Ulmer

James Ulmer is leaving Philadelphia to move to New York. Come check out his last show at Reward Project in Old City opening First Friday, October 7.

Zoe Strauss

Zoe Strauss is teaching a workshop at CalArts in LA. She also has some lectures planned and will be there for three weeks.

We heard it through the grapevine – Bridgette Mayer Gallery, whose expanded space on Walnut Street re-launches in November,  has picked up a number of excellent local artists to add to its stable.  Stay-tuned for more.

Grizzly Grizzly artists are doing an exchange exhibition with Public Fiction in LA. They will be moving into Public Fiction’s gallery and will set up a hotel room in which they will make art and be there for visitors. In 2012, Grizzly Grizzly will host the Public Fiction people at their space in Philly.

Tiernan Alexander's sculpture from the Chris White Gallery show.

Tiernan Alexander has a solo show, “Spoils of the Ottoman Empire,” at Chris White Gallery in Wilmington, DE.

Temple Gallery leads the charge.  The new Director of exhibitions and programs, Rob Blackson and his 28-person Advisory Council brainstormed a number of socially-themed issues, and Blackson developed the programs and commissioned some new art. On tap — sustainability, shale-oil drilling; toxic waste, AIDS and more.  There will be 2 programs a week, Blackson says, everything from Monday morning coffee hours (in the gallery with lectures and free coffee and snacks, coFREE Mondays, beginning Sept. 12) to dinners in the gallery with foraged greens from the neighborhood (are they kidding? No.  Feast of Forage, Sept. 21).  Other programs: True Bloodmobile and discussion of historic buildings as haunted houses (think Eastern State Penitentiary) Oct. 28; The Big Shale Teach-In, Nov. 3 and 4.

A piece lurking at Temple Gallery. Is it art or is it not? (hint, it is art) Tyler Held, "Repair" Photo courtesy Temple Gallery

This month, British artist Sara MacKillop takes charge of the gallery’s welcome desk, a white desk with an abnormally-high and unwelcoming wall on the front end (Blackson calls it “The Iceberg”).  Turning the chilly desk into something interactive, the artist will fill the desk drawers with subversive art created with post-it notes, pens, clips and other standard office supplies.  Viewers are encouraged to riffle through the drawers and interact – move stuff around, reorganize, add some, take some.

An on-the-job training project, Project Shift, also begins this month in the gallery and runs to Feb, 2012. Workers from the Village Workshop will learn building skills and create a series of temporary wood shed-cum-corral structures — designed by artists, architecture students and others.  The corrals will be used for programs and activities.

Alex Klein, ICA's new program director. Photo courtesy ICA

ICA launched its Whenever Wednesday programs in 2006, a series that includes everything from lectures to parties, to workshops.  What’s new is that the Institute just created the position of Program Director and hired West Coaster, Alex Klein for the job.

Excursus logo, courtesy of ICA

Klein launches a programming discussion nook called Excursus in ICA’s mezzanine on Sept. 14.  With tables, chairs and book carts, Excursus will allow people to come, sit, browse written materials and chat.  The first Excursus program is a talk by Penn Rare Books Curator Lynne Farrington, about Centaur, a Philadelphia radical bookstore/hangout from the 1920s. Reception to follow. Andy Beach, designer and blogger, guest-curated this first round of Excursus.

The Sept. 21 “Free For All” event has everything in one package – a lecture on contemporary art by Senior Curator Ingrid Schaffner, a screen-printing workshop, and a party with music and snacks.

Bill Walton's Studio, Photo by Aaron Igler, courtesy of ICA

Don’t miss “Bill Walton’s Studio” — the late artist’s actual studio, brought into the ICA’s Project Space and re-created even down to the weathered floor boards. Programming involves a “sharing” day, Dec. 4, in which artists who knew Walton will share stories about the artist; and everyone will receive an ephemeral giveaway object.  Check out ICA’s blog, Miranda, for behind the scenes tidbits and pictures, and give them some feedback—you know you’re dying to.

Open call for juried show

On the alternative front, things are often interactive, if not programmed.  Grizzly Grizzly, one of the very best of the new spaces, will have its first open call juried exhibit Nov. 4-26, and viewers will be asked to vote on their favorite work.  The artist receiving the most votes will be awarded a solo exhibit at the gallery.

Image from PPAC's current exhibit, The Greater Area

Philadelphia Photo Arts Center has its second Philly Photo Day Oct. 28.  All snapshot-shooters are invited to take a picture within the city limits and upload it to the PPAC website for this non-juried, come-one-come-all event with an exhibit of all submitted works opening November 10.  Last year almost 350 people participated and they hope to double that number this year. (Reality check:  artblog was a sponsor last time and we are a sponsor this year because we really believe in this community-spirited event and exhibit)

Jenny Sabin's Greenhouse, the finished pavillion. Photo by Brent Wahl, courtesy of APS Museum

The APS Museum commissioned art, design, music, a play, and a lot of programming for its Greenhouse Project, in conjunction with its exhibit “Of Elephants and Roses.”  “Greenhouse and the Cabinet of Future Fossils” by architecture and design guru Jenny Sabin (Cornell prof with a design studio at Crane Old School) sits in the APS Museum’s Jefferson Garden, an ancient and futuristic-looking edifice resembling the bleached bones of Moby Dick washed up at 4th and Chestnut and bedazzled.  More than 100 colorful green, orange and blue cold frames with plants and vines pepper the piece, and all objects in the project (except a few ceramic pieces) were made using the latest design and fabrication tools (3D printers; laser cutters). Don’t miss the science talk on the chili pepper by molecular researcher Joseph Rucker (Sept. 12 at National Mechanics); and the talk and greenhouse walkthrough with Jenny Sabin (Oct. 20).  The free programs require an RSVP.

Jordan Griska's Grumman Greenhouse, model. Photo courtesy PAFA

Speaking of greenhouses, Jordan Griska’s Grumman Greenhouse in PAFA’s new Lenfest Plaza (with the Oldenburg Paint Brush) will be an eyeful.  A complete cold-war era airplane, installed nose down and tail up with plants in the nose cone, the piece will be nice counterbalance to the slick Oldenburg piece.  Meanwhile, inside PAFA, “here.” a group show about the regions outside the big art centers promises lots of programming about this pithy current issue.

Jennie Thwing. Buried but Breathing, screen shots from Buried but Breathing installation and "Woodshop" video, 3.2 minutes, 2011. Photo courtesy Fleisher Art Memorial

Other great-sounding art events include Tim Belknap’s solo exhibit at Rebekah Templeton opening Sept. 8 (to Oct. 22); September’s group show at Tiger Strikes Asteroid with a robotic piece by Belknap (to Oct. 2); and the Fleisher Wind Challenge exhibit with Jennie Thwing, Alana Bograd and Sarah Steinwachs.

MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
>> Sara MacKillop, coFREE Mondays and other programming, Ongoing to Feb. 2012.  Temple Gallery, 12th and Norris Sts.
>>Tim Belknap: Ordnance, Sept 8-Oct 22. Rebekah Templeton, 173 W. Girard Ave.
>>Bill Walton’s Studio, Sept. 7-Dec.4.  Institute of Contemporary Art, 36th and Sansom St.
>>Excursus, Institute of Contemporary Art, 36th and Sansom St.
>>Jenny Sabin: Greenhouse and Cabinet of Future Fossils, Sept. 9-Dec. 14.   American Philosophical Society, Jefferson Garden, 4th and Chestnut. Free reservations are required for events. To register, contact museum@amphilsoc.org or 215.701.4421
>>”Other Possible Titles, juried group exhibit, Nov. 4-26.  Reception, Fri. Nov. 4, Grizzly Grizzly, 319 N. 11th St., 2nd floor.
>>Philly Photo Day, Oct. 28. Exhibition Nov. 10-__. Reception Thurs. Nov. 10, 6-9pm.  PPAC Crane Arts, 1400 N. American St.
>>Tim Belknap, William Blackhurst and Carolee Schneeman, Sept 2-Oct 2.  Tiger Strikes Asteroid.  319 N. 11th.
>>Wind Fleisher Challenge, Sept 16 – Oct. 30.  Reception Fri, Sept. 16, 6-8pm.  Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St.
>>Jordan Griska, Grumman Greenhouse, temporary installation.  Opens Sat. Oct 1, noon-7pm. PAFA Lenfest Plaza, Broad and Cherry Sts.
>>here, Oct. 22-Dec. 31.  Hamilton Building, PAFA, Broad and Cherry

Norway in NYC
Following our last news post about Milwaukee in New York, now you can catch a piece of Norway too!  NORWAY NOW in NYC opens at .NO Gallery at 253 E. Houston on Sept. 7.  The multimedia exhibit mirrors Oslo’s annual juried art exhibition Høstutstillingen. The New York show had almost 600 submissions, but the jurors Koan Jeff Baysa and Omar Lopez-Chahoud narrowed it down to six artists. Opening reception is September 7 from 6 – 10 PM and the show runs until October 2.

Red Scare era lecture at Philadelphia Art Hotel

San Francisco based Adrienne Skye Roberts gives a lecture at the Philadelphia Art Hotel on Thursday, September 8 at 7 PM as part of her PAH residency. Her project includes a new newspaper, based on the Daily Worker, a Communist Party newspaper for which her grandfather worked. He was arrested in 1953 for conspiracy to overthrow the government under McCarthy-era laws.

New work by Tom Price in D.C.

Tom Price, "Meltdown Chair 2008 PP Fleece", composed of polyester clothing.

It’s almost time for Design Phladelphia, so here’s some nifty design by British artist and designer Tom Price, who’s having his first solo U.S. show at Industry in Washington D.C. Part of the exhibit will be Price’s intriguing “meltdown chairs,” which are made from amalgamations of various common plastic items (pvc pipes, etc) which are then pressed into an Eames chair-like form, using a specially-designed heated “former.” The exhibit opens on September 10 with an opening reception and a chance to meet the artist from 6 -8 PM and continues through October 22.

Cerealart featured on Ovation TV
Artist production company Cerealart was recently featured on an episode of My Design Life on Ovation TV. Host Lisa Roberts and her team explore the intermixture of design, art, and craft.

Women of Lancaster Avenue
The Philadelphia Women’s Caucus for Art presents a show in West Philly of nine female artists with diverse backgrounds. The Women of Lancaster Avenue exhibit will be held at Fattah Homes at 4017 Lancaster Avenue and runs from September 30 to October 30.

30 Americans @ Corcoran

Jean-Michel Basquiat, "Bird On Money," 1981. Acrylic and oil on canvas, 66 x 90 inches.

The Corcoran in D.C. opens a show of work by many of the most important African American contemporary artists of the last three decades. The show brings together multiple generations of artists whose works deal with topics of racial, sexual, and historical identity. “30 Americans” opens on October 1 and runs to February 12.

PPAC Philly Photo Day Kickstarter
Philadelphia Photo Arts Center‘s second annual Philly Photo Day is Friday, October 28. To fund the project, PPAC is asking you to lend a hand and donate to their Kickstarter campaign. “artblog is a sponsor of Philly Photo Day, and we’re very excited about it!” say Libby and Roberta. “Philly Photo Day is a great community event that’s open and free to all. Help support it!”

Michael Garden and The Print Center kick off fundraising
Michael Garden of CITYSPACE Realty just launched a fundraising venture that will benefit Philadelphia cultural organizations and independent artists. To start off, Garden is teaming up with The Print Center as the first official beneficiary of his fundraising. The inaugural benefit art opening is Sept 27, 6-9 pm at at 4 Squared, 819 North Fourth Street.

Bookspace on Knight Arts
Recently I delved into Frankford Avenue’s multi-purpose used book warehouse Bookspace on the Knight Arts Philadelphia blog. Bookspace obviously sells used books, but it also hosts its share of art, music, and performance events every month. Take a quick second to check out my article, but more importantly, check the Bookspace calendar for upcoming events!

Opportunities

Grizzly Grizzly has an open call for their November 2011 group show entitled “Other Possible Titles.” Work in any medium is encouraged. The deadline is October 1. See submission details here.

Win free tickets to the Popped! Music Festival with your excellent photos of FDR Park, the music festival’s location. The contest is sponsored by Flying Kite. Visit Flying Kite’s Facebook or Twitter pages and submit your best shots of FDR Park to Flying Kite for a chance at a pair of two day-passes to the festival!

Abington Art Center is inviting artists to submit ideas for solo or group shows in 2012. There is a $10 application fee, and the deadline is September 30. Submit a CD with 10 images of no larger than 1.5 MB or contact info@abingtonartcenter.org for more information.

Artist News

Dustin Metz, "Circle Forest." oil on wood. 14" diameter. 2011

Dustin Metz, Tyler grad and current MFA student at Rutgers New Brunswick, has a solo show at Pagus Gallery in Norristown. The show opens September 1, and the reception will be on Sunday September 11 from 1 to 4 PM.  Metz is a former student of Libby and Roberta when he was at Tyler.

Bonnie Brenda Scott has new art and installations on display in the group show “Strange Grip” at Baltimore’s NUDASHANK opening September 24.

Untitled, From the Series Periphery, Lisa Boughter, 2010

Some of the most curious and formally-potent images in PPAC’s second annual juried group show are by Lisa Boughter. The environments Boughter captures are sparse and often in some degree of disrepair. They depict locations that are brimming with synthetic and strangely familiar objects: a garage door, a parking lot, a brick wall, and a deer-shaped lawn-ornament.  Yet all are presented in a way that verges on the surreal.

Boughter’s untitled photos are both minimal and complex. Bathed in a sea of brick-red, for example, the perceived urban bustle outside the frame in “Untitled,” from the series Periphery, is entirely silent and allows us time to reflect. As a viewer closely examines the patterns, the nearly infinite subtleties of the wall crawl out from their hiding places.

Adam, Maureen R. Drennan, 2008

Maureen Drennan takes us for a stroll to greener pastures in her series of photos from an outdoor marijuana growing operation. Politically and socially a hot topic, the plants portrayed in her photo The Garden grow in rows, and appear as benign as cornstalks.

And what garden would be complete without its Adam? In this photo, one of the workers gently holds the buds of a live plant in his hand and breathes in the odor. For many people, this is quite the dream(y) job – a true Eden for those in the cannabis culture. Awash in natural greens and browns, these photos make one wonder why the harvest of this plant carries such a harsh stigma.

Moving Day, Steven Beckly, 2009

Moving Day by Steven Beckly appears candid at first, but the crisp lighting and deliberate composition lead the viewer to believe otherwise. In this photo, a couple lies on the floor behind cardboard boxes in a sparse room, as they share an exhausted embrace. People’s familiarity with the process of moving day makes the weary nostalgia of this observation quite universal, and many of Beckly’s photos share the qualities of bright highlights and some portion of exposed human skin. These traits serve to reinforce the personal and interpersonal play apparent in the situations Beckly illustrates.

Edge of Darkness, Gina Delia, 2011

Gina Delia digitally stitches together opposing scenes, connecting them by only their shared darkness. While the lighter areas are heavily saturated and beautifully textured, the deep chasms of darkness, which both separate and connect her scenes, make these photos a wonderful contrast to Beckly. In Edge of Darkness, the cliff-like corner of a stone falls off into pitch blackness. The shadows divide two very different, yet structurally exquisite forms: the close-up of an insect exoskeleton and the self-lit scene of a street light and power lines.

The other artists in the show are also notable in their own respect. Daney Saylor‘s bright, yet barren landscapes, Emily Rooney and Andrew Burgh‘s dark abstractions, and the work of Sebastian Collett and Gregory Davis round out A Love Supreme‘s sampler package.

If this show has one major downside it is the fact that it is more of a tasting menu of photographers and appears somewhat staccato in its transitions. This is undoubtedly the intent of the show – to provide a sampling of various images – but many of these bodies of work could probably have filled the space on their own. If PPAC’s intent was to drive visitors to the websites of participating artists, then they definitely succeeded.

Virgil Marti, Nightwatch, 2010, urethane, MDF, plywood and chrome plating Vesper, 2010, urethane, MDF, plywood and chrome plating

They’re not the only nonphoto works at this Photo-titled venue, either; the inclusion of a few paintings and sculptures in the show pushes the ‘A’ in PPAC beyond the confines of photography—a good move. Without a strictly defined theme, Wall Space’s 16 works by seven artists deal with the presentation of image—rather, the desecration, mutilation and obfuscation of image. Portraits, landscapes, movie-poster collages and faux mirrors offer ambiguous, and in some cases, hostile portrayals that defy the conventions of image-making, especially at a gallery with such a focus on photography.

Installation, VIrgil Marti's meta-mirrors and Micah Danges landscape cut-outs

You might think of an image as something built up to an organic whole. Here, image is fragmented, transformed by cut-and-paste, cover-up and abstraction—Wall Space is more about deconstructing, disassembling and dissembling images. It’s a fitting subject when bedrock human concepts like identity and friendship are decomposing in cybermystery. Who are we, anyway—the composite of the images we create of ourselves on Facebook and Twitter, Gmail and Flickr? Not really.

Julie Weitz, Big Black (l) 2008, gouache on paper Big Blue (r) 2008, gouache on paper

One image-management-avoidance tool is hiding. Julie Weitz’s gouache drawings “Big Black” and “Big Blue” elevate it to the realm of icon. The beautiful portrait drawings of two heads covered by Balaclava face masks might be advertisements, they’re so beautiful, seductive and illustrational. They also suggest robbers or terrorists. The person beneath the mask is hidden, the image unresolved.

Daniel Gordon, Seated Portrait, 2010, C-Print

Nearby Marti’s wooden mirrors, two large color photos by Daniel Gordon, “Purple Bust” and “Seated Portrait,” are as crisp and snappy as the opening works are veiled. Gordon’s work begins with the printing out and cutting up two-dimensional images of people found on the Internet. He then assembles the jumble of eyebrows and skin tones into collage sculptures and photographs them. The effect is one of disturbing nonlikeness—a human hodgepodge with a blue eye culled from one source, a breast from another, hair, hands, legs, feet from somewhere else.

Micah Danges

Even the image of Earth as steadily eternal is changing. Depending on your state of alarm about global warming, you will react variously to Micah Danges’ series of bleached-out black-and-white landscape photographs with abstract color shapes inlaid like transplanted organs. The photos, on Plexiglass supports, have holes vaguely resembling bodies of water carved into them, which are filled with biomorphic color fields. While John Baldessari has been bombing photographic images with colored dots and shapes for years, Danges’ landscapes are far more unsettling—rather than a Pop move, these suggest a godlike planner altering the land for some inscrutable corporate use.

Luis Gispert, Cold Storage, 2005 C-Print

Many of the works in the show, Gordon’s in particular, seem preoccupied with popular culture, which is as it should be.  Pop culture reflects us and directs us. Gordon’s cut-and-pastes echo the culture’s acceptance of changeability.  Want to change your hair color from blonde to brown? No problem.  Want green eyes, a new chin, a divorce, a record expunged? All can be changed in a culture of malleability. You can ponder changing yourself – and get a phone number or web address to do so – while reading the ads on the city bus.  What does it say that image altering remedies are broadcast everywhere in our culture?

Luis Gispert, (r) Cold Storage, 2005 C-Print Anita Allyn, War Entertainment Evaluation-3 posters on sticks 2010, found posters, digital prints, spra paint, stickers, wood

Anita Allyn’s altered movie poster/protest signs, Luis Gispert’s color photo “Cold Storage” and Christian Boltanski’s 1987 “Monument,” round out the show. Gordon gives a lecture about his work at the PPAC Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

Through Feb. 26. Free. Philadelphia Photo Art Center, 1400 N. American St. 215.232.5678. philaphotoarts.org

Read this article at Philadelphia Weekly.  More photos at flickr.

Alex Mcleod, digital print landscapes in Landscape Techne at Little Berlin

I’m a big fan of Alex McLeod‘s digital creations and it was great to see them in the real world at last — printed nice and large — in the show.

Neville was there when I visited, with a group of neighborhood girls who had walked in the door and were drawing pictures at the small table in the entryway.  The kids seemed to have decided Little Berlin was a worthy clubhouse to hang out in.  (www.littleberlin.org to Nov. 27)

Jackie Hoving, Hunter in Forest, at Rebekah Templeton. paper, acrylic, spray paint, ink. 108x175"

Landscape was a recurring theme that afternoon, with Jackie Hoving’s wall-spanning installation at Rebekah Templeton offering highly-decorated and beautiful camouflage in the forest. Her two works Hunter in Forest and Forest in Hunter are a call and response pair sitting across the room from each other. Hoving’s materials, which include wallpaper, digital prints, acrylic, spray paint and ink, suggest a Cuisinarted approach to imagery in which large holes in the depiction allow the viewer to fill in the blanks. Tom LaDuke’s hole-y narrative paintings at Pafa’s Morris Gallery have a similar affect, although LaDuke’s layering suggests a deep, subliminal layer buried under a bright almost gaudy surface that’s trying to emerge. And Hoving’s works are more unified with layers flattened to suggest a puzzle with pieces missing. (www.rebekahtempleton.com to Dec. 18)

Poster for Indoor Rooftop Studios, at the old PiFAS

Walking through Kensington on the way to Crane Arts, I passed the old PiFAS on 2nd near Cecil B. Moore and noticed there’s a new group that’s taken over the sprawling warehouse space: Indoor Rooftop Studios is the name and they had an event Nov. 11 that must have included children in attendance. The profusion of chalk drawings on the building and on the street says it was a participatory event. It’s good to see artists using the large space again! The exhibit is viewable by appointment until Nov. 23. Email missradio@gmail.com.

Jennie Thwing, Plastic Landscape, at Nexus

At Crane Arts, Jennie Thwing’s Plastic Landscape, a film, video and sculpture installation at Nexus is terrific. Thwing mixes food and landscape in two video projections that suggest an artier Sesame Street. Peas dance on a plate spelling out “you are what you are”  in stop-action jerkiness. Things go into mouths and come out of mouths–there’s an oral fixate’s obsession here.  The suggestion of magic is on the works, even in the miniature landscape environments she’s set up, which convey wizardry at work behind the curtain (or under the pedestal).  The audio is fine:  Circus-like and music-box music offer a reading of never-ending merry-go-round.  And sounds of water, paper crunching, tin foil and plastic crinkling make a backdrop for the food and trash scenes in particular. The ugh factor sits lightly but returns time and again, with closeups of milk or water dripping out of a mouth and other suggestions that what’s eaten comes back to haunt you ( pieces of chewed gum on a wall that come together in a huge ugh-y mass).  Overall, Thwing delivers an eco message and one about our culture of over-consumption without preaching.

Check out clips of the videos online on Thwing’s website. But visit Nexus to see them projected where they have a nice large presence.  Very highly recommended.  (www.nexusphiladelphia.org to Dec. 3)

Anastasia Owell, drawing, at Nexus

Also at Nexus this month, Anastasia Owell’s Let’s Play, a series of video game hacks in which the evil ogre to beat is the Boss. Much fun. Owell is also showing a couple of odd figure drawings like out-takes from and orgy on a Grecian urn.  The drawings, with their intertwined nude bodies, have been decorated by a bunch of squares and triangles that replace the figures’ heads.  The formalist elements are confusing and comical, and because the artist is so accomplished at animation, I’m wondering if these are drawings from an animated work.
(www.nexusphiladelphia.org to Dec. 3)

Philly Photo Day show, my photo is left bottom image. At Crane's Grey Area

Philly Photo Day, sponsored by Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, was Oct. 28.  More than 300 people submitted digital images of Philadelphia to the open call for images.  The show is in the Crane’s Grey Area — but today’s the last day to see it. Images of people, animals, babies, architecture, fountains, backyards, abandoned buildings, grafitti. Yup, it’s a pretty comprehensive picture of the city and its people.  The works are printed in a grid on large sheets of paper, each image 8×10, and, as Libby pointed out when we were talking about it, this large-format digital printing is a great sample of what PPAC does with its large printers.

Philly Photo Day exhibit at Crane's Grey Area. Show closes today

I submitted a photo of a guy in a blue dress shirt and tie — an office worker on break.  He’s climbing a rock wall set up on Market near 17th as part of a Toblerone candybar promotion.  The disparity between his formal dress and the grungy, sweaty activity he’s participating in is what grabbed my attention.  The city doesn’t always look so circus-y but more and more you can run into carnivalesque experiences if you look for them.  (http://www.philaphotoarts.org/ through Nov. 20)

Ledelle Moe, Relief, at the Icebox. Concrete on steel armature

Not landscape, but huge figures in the Icebox are my last stop. Ledelle Moe’s two mammoth concrete sculptures lying on the floor are monoliths toppled. A horse and a woman, downed by life.  The South Africa-born, Baltimore-based artist works from her memory of human rights struggles in her native land. The work’s massive size alone gives it presence–and the grid marks on the hairless bodies make them feel like two really scary pieces of meat.  The show is part of Crane’s International Curatorial Exchange (ICE), this presentation in conjunction with G Fine Art.  (http://www.iceatcranearts.com through Nov. 28)