March 29, 2017 by Matthew Rose

Marina Abramović in book form, from unloved child to world-famous performance artist

Matthew Rose shares thoughts about performance art, upon reading Marina Abramović’s memoir, “Walk Through Walls.” He reflects on the history of the art form, looking at Marcel Duchamp’s Rrose Selavy, Yves Klein’s “Leap into the Void,” and in the 1970s, Chris Burden’s “Shoot.” Abramović’s endurance performances focus on provocation and trust and, he says, over time they betoken the artist’s persistence as a performer in the public realm.

March 28, 2017 by Roberta

Happy Anniversary RACSO Fine Arts and AAMP, Massive congratulations Eli LaBan, Open House at PMA, Jack Wolgin Lecture, Jennifer Steinkamp on Parkway, and Marian Anderson Historical Society concert

Congratulations are in order for many in this week’s News Post. RACSO turns 2; AAMP turns 40. Plus, Eli LaBan is nominated for College Television Emmy, the Philadelphia Museum of Art opens its doors to show its new proposed Modern and Contemporary plans, and other great news.

March 24, 2017 by Ilana Napoli

Harmonic convergence of Tyler Wilkinson and Claes Gabriel at the University City Arts League

Works by two painters with different sensibilities and subjects but similar color choices have a great conversation at the University City Arts League. Ilana Napoli gets in on the conversation and tells you about it in her review. The show closes today (March 24) at 5PM. Run over and see it!

March 24, 2017 by Donald Hunt

José James sings ‘Love in a Time of Madness’ at the Foundry

Donald Hunt revisits an artist he loves, José James, whose performance at the intimate club, the Foundry, surprised with the artist doing an impassioned and political rap turn in addition to his beloved R+B songs from the post-election-inspired album, ‘Love in a Time of Madness.’

March 23, 2017 by Kitty Caparella

Magdalene Odundo, at The Clay Studio, channels ancient clay forms in beautiful, quirky works

An artist travels the world studying ancient techniques and translates her knowledge into evocative contemporary works. Magdalene Odundo, OBE, is in residence at The Clay Studio until April, 2017. Artblog contributor, Kitty Caparella interviews the artist, who will speak about her work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Saturday, April 8, 2017.

March 21, 2017 by Roberta

Taller Puertorriqueño, Pafa feature Artblog; Jayson Musson, Becky Suss, Dona Nelson in NY shows/programs; Whitney Biennial protest; Alex Losett project, David Antonio Cruz at DCCC, Cultural Alliance Action Toolkit, Plus Opportunities!

News of Artblog favorite artists, Jayson Musson, Dona Nelson, Becky Suss, plus a protest of a Dana Schutz painting, some great opportunities and even more news, in today’s action-packed News Post.

March 21, 2017 by Michael Lieberman

Person of the Crowd, contemporary art and flânerie at The Barnes Foundation

Michael Lieberman encounters archival performance art from the streets of the world and wonders about contemporary humans fixated on their cellphones and whether we are growing a population of cyber-flâneurs who are not really connected to the streets at all.

March 20, 2017 by Chip Schwartz

Revisiting childhood with jaded eyes, in ‘It’s My Party’ at Grizzly Grizzly

Chip Schwartz ruminates on a group exhibition that parodies a birthday party. The morose and irony-tinged paintings and sculptural objects suggest the artists have long since taken off the rose-tinted glasses of childhood.