Artblog contributor, Flora Ward reviews the first monographic exhibition of works by Wifredo Lam currently showing at the Lehigh University Art Galleries. A descendant of Cuban, Chinese and West African heritage, Lam’s artwork is often overlooked by other avant-garde painters. The exhibition marks the outcome of a steadfast commitment to bring his work to the United States, which ultimately took the Galleries over three decades.
Read MoreIn this review, Flora takes us through details of Leah Modigliani’s project, which is based on research of two archival pieces in the 19th century sculpture collection at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The exhibit awakens ideas akin to the current debate over removing public Confederate monuments, though Flora says, “Modigliani’s critique of violence and destruction offers hope.”
Read MoreWe have a couple of good artist opportunities from the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Mural Arts, as well as a couple of events from Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture and the Fabric Workshop and Museum. Finally, a good read from Zadie Smith in the New Yorker.
Read MoreTake in two great shows with the good people of Artblog on Saturday, June 10 from 2–5 pm. Free and open to everyone!
Read MoreCongratulations to Michelle Angela Ortiz, who has been recognized as a Citizen Artist Fellow, and to Eastern State Penitentiary, which received an award for excellence in exhibitions. Monument Lab has announced more details about the 21 artist projects for fall 2017, including stalwarts like RAIR. Printmakers, check out the fellowship opportunity at Second State Press (deadline 5/22). Plus, queer sci-fi reading at Vox Populi, Lenka Clayton and Dan Byers in conversation at the Fabric Workshop, PAFA’s 116th Annual Student Exhibition, Broad Street Review hosts a discussion about arts funding, and a good read about cartoonist Roz Chast’s embroidery.
Read MoreLoads of events and opportunities for you in today’s news post. Congratulations to Roberto Lugo for joining the faculty of Tyler School of Art, and to JSTN CLMN for having a piece of work included in the Occupy Museums installations at the Whitney Biennial. Opportunities with deadlines coming up for artist submissions to Tiger Strikes Asteroid, the Delaware Contemporary, 40th St Artist in Residence program, and Eastern State Penitentiary. Celebration of Black Arts Festival kicks off on May 1, and talk on immigration at the Da Vinci Art Alliance on May 10. Artblog toots its own horn about an upcoming May 5 tour of Callowhill and the “Vox” building with Hidden City, plus performances by Tania Bruguera and Ayana Evans, and RIP performance art legend Vito Acconci.
Read MoreLots of happenings for you today in the news post, including a major event at PAFA from the Philadelphia arts and culture community. April is National Poetry Month, so celebrate with Yolanda Wisher at the Outbound Poetry Festival and the Sanctuary Poetry series at the Asian Arts Initiative. Also, performances by Wilmer Wilson IV, a talk by Artblog favorite Willie Cole, a new documentary about the seminal 1972 DNC, and RIP Pop art pioneer James Rosenquist.
Read MoreMoving between Dawoud Bey’s Harlem, USA, and Shawn Theodore’s The Church of Broken Pieces, both currently on view at the African American Museum of Philadelphia, is like shifting between worlds. Bey’s photos depict the streets and people of Harlem in the 1970s, a place that to us in 2017 seems like a lost world, his use of traditional documentary black-and-white photography enhancing that sense of distance. Theodore’s larger-than-life, staged street portraits are less documentary than metaphysical or theatrical, evoking a mysterious future through the drama of the set-piece in the street.
Read MoreSpain is not a country that I immediately associate with either historical or avant-garde animation, so I was curious–what is Spanish animation, and what makes it distinctly Spanish? Will these films be interesting for normal people who aren’t obsessed with Spain like I am, or will my boyfriend resent me for dragging him out to see obscure Spanish short animations on a Friday night?
Read MoreIn mid-November, the medieval cathedral of Burgos in northern Spain was lit from within–not by any divine power, but by the miracle of technology. For her temporary light installation “Chromotopia Santa María,” (November 3-13, 2016) Vienna-based artist Victoria Coeln used projected rays of light in brilliant colors to fill the ample space of the cathedral, the white limestone walls intensifying the vivid colors. It’s as if the cathedral’s stained glass windows had turned themselves inside out, dissolving the solid stone structure into layers of light.
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