Artblog | Reviews

November 23, 2021 by Susan Isaacs

‘Seeing Climate Change’ with artist-activist Diane Burko at American University Museum

In her review, Susan Isaacs calls Diane Burko’s art an activist response to the call to arms to save the planet. “Diane Burko: Seeing Climate Change,” on view until Dec. 12, 2021, at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, is a wide-ranging overview of Burko’s beautiful abstract, photography- and map-linked paintings of eco-catastrophes today (melting glaciers, dying coral reefs).

November 19, 2021 by Corey Qureshi

When the body and mind are as fragile as glass, Scout Cartagena’s “You Have Their Eyes” at DaVinci Art Alliance

An installation that resembles the interior of a house frames the multidimensional art of Scout Cartagena. The Afro-Latinx artist’s subjects are the fragility of the body and the slipperiness of identity and memory. There are prints, furniture and an eye-catching tree stump with red-colored glass flames coming out of the top. Corey appreciates the intimate look into the artist’s identity. Go see the show before it closes Nov. 24.

November 16, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Books for holiday giving, Part 1

The holidays are nearly here, and so is Part 1 of Andrea Kirsh’s annual round up of the best in art books, including an art book tour of historical artist homes and studios (including some local ones), a contemporary painting book for art loves of all kinds, and an enlightening look at 20th century art!

November 11, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Powerful and overlooked, “Emma Amos: Color Odyssey” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art reveals an innovative and feisty woman artist

“Emma Amos: Color Odyssey” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a revelation for those who want to know the art of Emma Amos, who came up during Abstract Expressionism’s heyday and fought against abstraction in works that are complex, inventive and in several cases, stunning.

November 11, 2021 by Deborah Krieger

The visceral impact of scenes of intimacy in “Any distance between us” at the RISD Museum

After almost 2 years of sensory deprivation, Deborah ventures out to a museum exhibit about intimacy, especially focused on art by queer artists and artists of color. The sense of touch is heightened in the works and causes a heightened reaction in our reviewer. Enjoy this great and topical read!

November 2, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

Sophisticated, exquisitely executed, and provocative, Linda Bond at Leonard Pearlstein Gallery

Linda Bond uses text and imagery to capture her decades-long obsessive and close readings of the US government’s pursuit of war. Andrea Kirsh calls Bond’s multi-media pieces, focused on the resulting impact on humans from the organized weapons of destruction, compelling. The show is on view until Feb. 20, 2022, at Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery.

October 21, 2021 by Andrea Kirsh

An opera drops in with a pointed message about climate change, “Sun & Sea” presented by Exhibitions at Arcadia University at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival

September 29, 2021 by Janyce Denise Glasper

Delivering joy, wonder and deep thoughts, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson at the Columbus Museum of Art

In this joyful review of “Raggin’ On: The Art of Aminah Robinson’s House and Journals,” Janyce Denise Glasper dives into the expansive exhibition– which includes paintings, sculptures, books, photographs, and historical recreations of Robinson’s home– and is filed with wonder and praise. “Raggin’ On,” which Janyce says would interest both children and adults, is on view at the Columbus Museum of Art through October 3, 2021.