Missed James Castle

I am still mad that I missed James Castle (above) last week when a few of us visited NY to look at art. The other artist I regret not seeing was Franz West. Why do I keep talking about the ones that got away and not the ones I saw? Must be that nothing was especially good. I kind of liked the Whitney show "Synthetic" but more for the exhibition design than for the individual works. They switched a few pieces around on the top floor of the permanent collection and we saw some really nice work there, probably the strongest of the day.

Was surprised, but not in a good way, at the Louise Fishman exhibition. I give her credit for taking chances and looking for a new direction but the show had few standouts except for the smallest piece. We ran into local painter Ravenna Taylor who was more kind about the Fishman show.

Nothing at Gagosian uptown. But it is still always inspiring to make the trip up.

Radical Art

Radical Art has a website. Above, Yves Klein: Peintures de Feu, 1961.

The new blogroll is posted on the sidebar with journals, magazines, vlogs, blogs and more. The usual suspects can be found on all the other art blogs.

Spring Cleaning

I have noticed a number of the sites that I have links to aren't posting and others have become a bit too egocentric. So I will be cleaning house soon and adding new blogs, magazines and websites to the sidebar. Here are a few worth checking out for now.

artlies
artlurker
todayinart
theoldgold
edge
ivanpope
henrimag
swampstyle

And just because I like it, the work of Tony Feher.

Tim McFarlane: Right Now

Well, almost Right Now. Tim McFarlane's solo show will open March 31st followed by the reception on First Friday. Besides the paintings that he is best known for, Tim will be stretching out in the gallery vault with site specific drawings.

Tim McFarlane- "Right Now"
Bridgette Mayer Gallery
March 31 - April 25, 2009
Opening Reception, First Friday
April 3rd, 6:00- 8:30 pm

Above, A Promise Kept, 2009, acrylic on panel, 16 x 20" by Tim McFarlane.

Inspiration - Architecture Biennale

11th international
architecture biennale
venice, 2008
out there: architecture beyond building

Blobwall pavilion is a collaboration between greg lynn form, machineous who developed the manufacturing method for the 'bricks' and panelite who produced and distributed the architectural material. it is an innovative redefinition of the brick – architecture’s most basic building unit – into a lightweight object made of colorful plastic and reinterpreted into modular elements. blobwall pavilion is a freestanding, indoor/outdoor wall system built of a low-density, recyclable, impact-resistant polymer. the blob unit, or 'brick,' is a robotically cut mass-produced hollow tri-lobed shape formed through rotational molding, which is then assembled with interlocking precision to form the wall.

Dave Douglas at Bucks

We are fortunate to have jazz great Dave Douglas visit the area for a concert at Bucks County Community College. There is no way I could miss this show.

Dave Douglas 3
Bucks County Community College
Newtown, PA
April 22, 7 pm
tickets $10

Photo by Bache Jespers.

Toshi Makihara - Solo365 Project

This is a great idea for a project from percussionist Toshi Makihara. Daily, for 365 days, he is making music by himself in his home studio. We get to sit in because he is taping himself and sharing it with us all via youtube. I have been following along and find it fascinating at the amount of music he can get from his simple kit and the variations he can produce day after day.

Anthony DeMelas and Pete Checchia

This is a show well worth seeing. Anthony and Pete are seasoned Philadelphia artists that in my opinion we see too little of. Here's your chance.

From the Proximity website

DeMelas and Checchia blend their unique styles to bring forth a new visual experience. DeMelas and Checchia infuse their unique aesthetics and techniques, forming new works together. Both artists are dedicated to disintegrating what they perceive as arbitrary barriers between disciplines by expanding the boundaries of their respective mediums (painting and photography). Anthony DeMelas and Pete Checchia have been collaborating on exhibitions for four years now, but their influence on each other’s artwork, and way of seeing, spans two decades.

The Collaborative Work of Anthony DeMelas
and Pete Checchia
Exhibition runs March 6th-31st
Proximity Gallery
2434 East Dauphin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125
janel@proximityart.com

You can see the videos I produced on Anthony in 2005 on the sidebar of the Original Romanblog.

Sage Projects - So What's Next?

The opening reception has passed but that is only the beginning of the programming at Sage Projects. Visit sageset.blogspot.com for details of upcoming events like the Jeff Baumeister trio playing on March 15th.

Photo above by Jon Manteau with work by Rob Solomon, Jon Manteau and David Foss as seen (scene) from South Street.

The Jim Lee Show

Busy month for good shows, almost too many to get too. But here is one I had to post. Jim Lee has a solo exhibition that opened February 4th at Freight and Volume. The gallery has posted a number of great images. I like the one above especially because it shows many aspects of what I think of when I think Jim Lee. The wooden structure, the unusual shape for a support, and a sense of humor that comes through even with a muted pallette.

Shown above: Neocide, 2008-09, oil enamel on cast resin with gesso and wood, 10.5 x 6.5 by Jim Lee.

There are a few nice pieces written on this, check them out.
Two Coats of Paint
Nice slide show at Artslant
Steven Alexander

Deborah Raven in Trenton

Photographer, Deborah Raven, is showing over 20 photographs at The Trenton City Museum. You can still make the opening reception on March 7th (see the details below). I found this link to a page that shows the diversity of work that Deborah has produced over the years, it was really hard for me to pick just one. Above, Cicada, by Deborah Raven.

Deborah Raven
The Trenton City Museum
Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park
Trenton, NJ
February 28 - April 19, 2009
Opening Reception March 7 - 7-9 PM
Members and Artists Only - 6-7 PM
map

SAGE Project Opens

Purpose/Repurpose at SAGE Projects opened yesterday at 12 noon and we were actually almost completely ready. We had about 10 days from the time we got the keys to 333 South Street until the doors opened to the public to transform the former retail space into a gallery. That entailed a lot of spackling and painting over of the sponged, faux paint and magenta spiral staircases. Then of course there is the installation and the materials to let the public know we are open. All 10 members that are in the show pitched in and that is what made it possible to put together in such a short time.

Henry Bermudez decided to keep the red background for one of his wall paintings (see detail above). He said he wanted to keep the spirit of the former place and to remind us of the situation that brought us to getting the space.

A couple teaser photos for now, come out to the opening Sunday, March 8th to see the real thing.

Dave Foss' work with Lisa the gallerina at her post.

Detail shot of Jon Manteau's excavation installation above. Excavation tent from Vincent Romaniello and wider, partial view of Manteau/Romaniello collaborative Excavation piece below.


Thank you to all those who came out to see the show on our opening day.

Justice Month Film Festival

This event follows up City Council’s 2007 Resolution designating March in Philadelphia as “Justice Month” to bring together individuals and groups interested in justice issues and social change through art.

There are too many events to list here but here is an example.

Saturday, March 14th at 2:00 pm “Prison Life Stories” by the Termite TV Collective, filmmakers Michael Keutemeyer, Anula Shetty and Deborah Rudman. “Prison Life Stories” is a thoughtful, compelling exploration of the issues of those coming home from prison and their loved ones. Upstairs at Robin’s Moonstone Arts Center (formerly Robin’s Bookstore) 110A S. 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19013.

For more information contact Judith Trustone, Sagewriters at 610-327-6101 or Judith@Sagewriters.org