We are excited to share the generous micro grant project, The P(h)ew Awards, created by Rami George to pass along 10% of their recent Pew Fellowship award to queer and trans artists, writers, performers and musicians in the Philadelphia region. Congratulations, Rami, on this thoughtful and brilliant project! And congratulations to each of the 16 P(h)ew winners, including several with connections to Artblog: Corey Qureshi, Jordan Deal, Savan DePaul, and Suldano Abdiruhman! We love this project and are honored to announce it in our pages! Also in the news, we congratulate Kukuli Velarde and can’t wait to hear her Keynote address Thursday at 5 PM for the University of Pennsylvania Forum on Immigration.
Read MoreAnne Ishii is a writer, editor, translator and the Executive Director of Asian Arts Initiative (AAI). As the leader of an important arts center serving the AAPI community, Anne is a big part of Philadelphia’s arts ecosystem. Roberta talks with Anne about her new role hosting of arts and culture documentary series, “Movers and Makers,” featuring regional artists and arts organizations. Anne and Roberta had a great 35-minute conversation that will introduce you to a fascinating, important and under-known leader in Philadelphia arts.
Read MoreThe News post is filled with names of POC being advanced in the art world; and we also rounded up some gallery news, bookshop news, museum news, and opportunity calls for Black, Brown and Indigenous filmmakers to submit to Blackstar Film Festival and zine makers to listen to a panel talk about making zine festivals more equitable.
Read MoreNFTs were meant to help artists, but the new ‘Digital Art Market’ seems even more capitalistic and messy than the non-digital one, and has a high environmental cost. The rich get richer, while artists and others are hurt by scams. Artists are not responsible for the technology itself and we understand the tech’s attraction. We, too, believe artists should be paid when their art is re-sold. However, artists who mint NFTs must contend with their negative environmental and economic consequences.
Read MoreRoberta interviews Eric Battle, artist and Art Director of the new book, “BLAM! Black Lives Always Mattered,” a graphic novelization of the life stories of 14 Black Philadelphians, illustrated by 12 illustrators and comics artists with connections to Philadelphia. The large hard-back book with many full-color pages is a project of Temple University Library’s Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. The book will be delivered to the city’s high school students and, in time, available to the public.
Read MoreHooray, 2022 is coming!! Let it be better! And here now, our list of memorable people, places, things … and some rebrandings. It’s the 2021 Liberta Awards!
Read MoreRoberta interviews artist and photographer Terrell Halsey about his project interviewing, recording and photographing Philadelphians from all over the city about how they would make their neighborhoods better. The physical manifestation of the project, the exhibit, “Call Home,” at ImPerfect Gallery, was a collaboration with Nina “Lyrispect” Ball, who added poetic prose and exhibited poetry. The interview is 33 minutes long.
Read MoreThis opportunity-filled short list that we curated for you buoys us. When the temperature drops and daylight hours are few, these opportunities point forward with generosity and light.
Read MoreNews about Philadelphia artists shining outside of the city, along with some opportunities and Philly artists in “best of” lists.
Read MoreThis potpourri of news includes announcement of a new BFA degree at Rutgers, Camden; some opportunities and some worthy local groups with auction fundraisers and a Zoom.
Read MoreBecause our inboxes are groaning with news, we are reaffirming our love of curating a few tidbits for you. Enjoy!
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Support for Artblog has been provided by The Philadelphia Cultural Fund.