October in Philadelphia

First up, it's time for POST. For the next 2 weekends artists will open their studios to the public all around the area. POST provide the maps and organization, the artists supply the art and snacks. Here's the lowdown.

Note that this coming Sunday, October 4th, that the studios East of Broad will be open. This includes South Street where Sage Projects is located and is presenting a new photography show with Heather Raquel Philips and Deborah Raven.

I see that Philadelphia's Magic Garden up the street from Sage is open for POST and showing the work of Isaiah Zagar. See the Queens Village map for other shows in this neighborhood.

In the Kensington/Fishtown area go visit the new space of curator Eileen Tognini in the amazing 2424 Studios building at 2424 York, her space is Studio 214. Get used to hearing about what is happening at 2424, they have a lot of very exciting events and shows planned for the month and the entire year.

Millville artists Carl B. Johnson and Liz Nicklus new mixed media work will be featured at S.M.I.L.E. Gallery in Philadelphia in their show Driven to Abstraction. A reception will be held on Friday, October 9th, from 6 to 9 PM. S.M.I.L.E. is located at 105 S.22nd Street.

Also on October 9th during DesignPhiladelphia there is the opening reception for Steve Madsen: A World In Wood a Gallery Talk with the Artist that will take place at 6:30pm at the Wood Turing Center. Check the WTC website for details on this and other shows.

Visit the usual places for maps and listing of other shows around town. I recommend phillyartgalleries.com and philebrity.

Above, image by Deborah Raven at Sage Projects.

One more to go

I am on the 3rd and final volume of John Richardson's A Life of Picasso. I started with the last of the three books and I am now reading the first, it's a long story why. Whatever your preconceived ideas (prejudices?) are about the man, the genius of his work is undeniable. Besides that, the book isn't solely about Picasso. In fact, many of the most interesting information relates to the people and events around him. Mr. Richardson seems to be honest in his assessments of Pablo and his circle, and when facts are in doubt he gives both sides of the story based on the extensive research he did for this series. Well worth the read.

Nice Journal

This from the online art journal The Highlights.

We will be taking a trip to NYC this week and I want to see the show at Gladstone Gallery with Magnus Plessen. This is the same gallery that is presenting the work of Damian Ortega at their other location (see my earlier post). Go Gladstone!

Above, Magnus Plessen, Atelier, 2007. Oil on canvas,
75.98×111.81 in (193×284 cm).
Courtesy Gladstone Gallery

Show ends Sunday the 27th

Here is a link to a Web Preview with more images of the show that Don Kaiser and I are in at Sage Projects that ends Sunday the 27th. The comment that I have been getting a lot from people is that even after seeing images from the show, that to get the full experience they needed to be in the space. There's still time, go check it out. 333 South Street, Philadelphia, more info at http://sageset.blogspot.com/

Above, double sided pieces made from R - 3.0 insulation, 2009, by Vincent Romaniello.

CREEPY

Pterodactyl is still accepting work for their upcoming show Creepy, a celebration of uncomfortable and off-putting artwork. Last day for artist submissions is September 25th. You can make your submission via email.

The show willl run from
October 3 - November 30
For more details visit
www.pterodactylphiladelphia.org

Strong Work

The work of Damián Ortega's "CAPITAL Less" show at Gladstone from artinfo.com. It's nice to see work with some heuvos. And check out the detail shots. Wow! Orifices, pink mountain cave cities, crumbling infrastructure anyone?

Photo by Andrew Russeth

Urban Art exhibit opens in Millville

Jersey and Pennsylvania artists are participating in Urban Art an exhibition bring presented in Millville, NJ. The show was curated by Dr. Debra Miller and Liz Nicklus and includes a diverse group of artists and mediums including painting, assemblage and sculpture. The show runs through October. The Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, 22 N. High St., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays. www.rrcarts.com

Here is an article about the show in the Daily Journal. Nice that the NJ media is so supportive of the arts.

And here is another one from the Press of Atlantic City.

And another with more pictures from The Press. I grew up in the Atlantic City area so a few folks are going to recognize us, we've been spotted.

Top, Lisa and Vincent Romaniello talking with Carl Johnson, painter and publisher of the art magazine called Inferno.

Above, a detail from an assemblage by David Foss with curator, Liz Nicklus, in the background. Photo by staff photographer Charles J. of the Daily Journal.

Common Ground @ PMA

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will be present Common Ground: Eight Philadelphia Photographers in the 1960s and 1970s. It will be on view through January 31, 2010 in the Julien Levy Gallery at the Museum’s Perelman Building.

From the press release

The 1960s became a critical period for photography in Philadelphia , as artists including Emmet Gowin, Will Larson, and Ray K. Metzker came to teach in some of the city’s renowned art schools, bringing experimental approaches to the medium...In addition to highlighting eight strong bodies of work, the exhibition demonstrates the rich exchange of ideas that took place within the city's artistic community.

I remember many of the photographers that will be in this exhibition from my art school days in the mid 70's. Even though I was in school in San Francisco, I saw their names and work while doing researching in the school library. This exhibition will help fill in the history of what was happening here and around the country during that very important time, especially since it will include some lesser known artists.

You can read the full press release from the PMA here.

Above, David Lebe (American, born 1948), Angelo on the Roof, 1979. Gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches. Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Nice Journal

KCLOG features individual artists in bigger way than most blog and journals than I've seen. Lots of images and just the right amount of information. Check it out.

Above, moon, 2009, oil on linen, 16x20 inches by Pamela Jorden.

Reception Sunday, lucky 13

This is an image from my show titled Blue Collar that is now open at Sage Projects and runs through September 27. This is another little slice of a large installation. Come to the reception this Sunday from 6-8pm to see the rest of the show that includes Don Kaiser: Objects and Storms on the lower level, his work looks great!

Image above is a deconstruction piece that measures 67.5 x 48 inches made from R - 3.0 foam insulation. The hanging pieces are titled Arthropods, and are 8 feet wide. They are constructed of weather-stripping, wire, rubber and spray painted.

Guess the Artist #6

Leave your guess in the comment section.

Jack Ramsdale @ Salt Art

On the web this photograph looks like a traditional photo, and a nice one at that. But in person it has a painterly quality that is produced by using a process that Jack Ramsdale calls "the digital equivalent of Ansel Adams zone printing." I suggest going by and seeing this and the other work at Salt Art Gallery on 3rd Street near Race in Old City. Proceeds from the sales of the photography being shown there benefit the Mural Arts program.

Above, one of the many murals that photographer Jack Ramsdale has photographed in Philadelphia.

Jon Manteau, Thursday at the Crane

Lines, an exhibition of Regional
University of Delaware Alumni

I saw the 8x8 foot painting and two works on paper by Jon Manteau that are on display at the University of Delaware space at the Crane building and I recommend you go by to see them. It's a great show all the way around thanks to the strength and diversity of the artists that curator Anthony Vega brought together.

"Lines" features the work of Donna Czapiga, Francine Fox, Amanda Kamen, Jon Manteau, Pilar Perez and Stephen Ruszkowski.

UD@Crane Gallery
Opening: Thursday, September 10, 6-9 pm
exhibition continues thru - October 11
Gallery Hours: Wed - Sun, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
1400 North American St.
Philadelphia PA 10122

Romaniello/Kaiser open at Sage Projects

Vincent Romaniello and Don Kaiser open at Sage Projects today at 2pm at 333 South Street.

Above, installation photo from Romaniello that includes a table display of maquettes, a deconstruction wall piece and a wall sculpture.

Below, a small slice of the multilayered installation of Don Kaiser.

On Artists Donating Work

It is that season again when orgs, mostly large ones, are asking artists to donate art for their favorite cause. It is always good to help others but in this bad economy I think it is especially insensitive to ask some of the hardest hit, the artists, to donate anything. I normally don't like the idea anyway because it hurts the already weak art market locally. Between donations, student shows, auctions etc., many of those who can afford to buy work buy at these reduced rates. Artists are actually hurting other artists while helping people who can afford to give to charity regardless of whether they get artwork in return.

Artists, if you can afford to give your work away I suggest buying art directly from artists who are having financial difficulty. There was a tradition of that earlier in history, I haven't heard of much of that lately though.

Seri Berg @ Broadway Gallery

Siri Berg: IT'S ALL ABOUT COLOR I

If you are in NYC on the 9th I recommend going to see Siri Berg's work. From the press materials.

She maintains a fantastical, exotic vision, even when dealing with the commonplace and found objects (in the case of her industrial collages). With a bravery and experience Siri Berg’s latest work travels down many new paths, exploring new techniques and aesthetics.

September 1st - 15th, 2009
Opening reception
Wednesday, September 9, 6 - 8 pm.

Broadway Gallery
473 Broadway,
7th Floor,
New York, NY 10013
212.274-8993

Guess the Artist #5

I am going to be busy the next few days so here are a few posts below. And to top it off, does this remind you of anybody? Leave your guess in the comments section and I will give you a link later in the week.

September in Berlin

So if you can't make my opening at Sage Projects because you are in Berlin go see this show. PAINTING ON THE MÖVE is curated by artist Albert Oehlen and includes:

Andreas Breunig
Max Frintrop
Markus Golz
Yuji Nagai
David Ostrowski
Jana Schröder
Henning Strassburger
Alexander Warhus

Wiensowski & Harbord
Lützowstraße 32
10785 Berlin
030/313 87 41

Above image by David Ostrowski.

Susan Hagen exhibition

I met Susan while making a short film on her and her project that at that time was about soldiers. She has a new show coming up in September that I will surely go see. In the following excerpt from her artist statement she tells us what we can expect.

I am now working on a series of portraits – ink and conté drawings and carved-wood sculptures – of adolescents. My goal is to study the uniqueness of real teenagers as they attempt to define their identities in modern culture. I’m interested in the ways that teens draw from a specific youth-culture vocabulary as they define their identities. They use clothing, hairstyles and accessories to show their political and cultural alliances, and express their personal sense of style. In my drawings and sculptures I try to capture the tiny details of their clothing, their hairstyles and their book bags and backpacks.

Photograph above by Karen Mauch. Below sketches from Susan Hagen.

Teenager
September 11-October 17
Reception September 11, 5:30-7:30
Schmidt Dean
1710 Sansome Street
Philadelphia