Created by longtime friends and Philadelphia natives Jonathan Cammisa & Jonah Birns, Dead Of The Living Night is a collaborative installation that explores the influence of cinematic imagery on fantasies and fears as a youth. Featuring video installation, sculpture, posters and a re-created video store filled with VHS tapes, as well as 4 volumes of a book of the same name. The show will open at November’s First Friday in Space 1026.

+++++++

Dead Of The Living Night
An installation by Jonathan Cammisa & Jonah Birns

Opening Reception
Friday November 6, 7-10pm

+++++++

DEAD OF THE LIVING NIGHT arises from the artists’ like-minded fascination-turned-obsession with childhood fantasies and fears; the inability to look away when you know you should, combined with the desire to stay up all night fantasizing about the greatest adventures and abilities only imaginable. The exhibition examines one generation’s memories through an observation of imagery that fueled their childhoods, with all the bizarre nuances and esoteric references. From this period, new imagery has been created from manipulated found photos and juxtapositions of movie stills, clippings and gore magazine art. The show features two video installations, sculpture, posters, and four volumes of a book of the same name, Dead Of The Living Night. The collaborative and ongoing book acts as a depository of images, photos, original drawings, found items and ephemera. The name itself sets a tone of horror, science fiction, dark humor and the arcane which will be a common thread throughout each of the books volumes.

The multimedia installation is housed inside a monolithic room. Inside, viewers will snake through the horror/sci-fi section of a video store that pays homage to the cinematic origins which drew the artists in and planted a lifetime pre-occupation with disturbing, uncanny and humorous images. Original VHS tapes line the walls in the dark, cramped hallway, a single bulb hanging overhead. In the adjoining room an interactive “magic beast” ride allows people the fantasy of flying on the back of a giant, movable creature. You are taken through the clouds into space and then the beyond. Outside, an old television set sits atop a stack of life-sized monster corpses, playing a video where high-speed editing and tongue-in-cheek cuts splice together gore and terror, assaulting you to the point of absurdity. Lining the gallery walls hang posters created from images in the books.

+++++++

Jonathan Cammisa & Jonah Birns
www.deadofthelivingnight.com
info@deadofthelivingnight.com

Come join Philly Side Arts Executive Director, C. Todd Hestand, local artists, and arts business owners on Wednesday, November 18th at 7-9pm for our end-of-year networking meeting and happy hour.

Wednesday, November 18th
7-9 pm
The Dive
947 East Passyunk Avenue
2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19147
21+ only please

Before the holidays sweep us away, come join us for our last meeting this year. Learn about some of our exciting new features due out this December, as well as the 2010 initiatives. Meet local artists and business owners to get the scoop on what is going on in our community. Most importantly, have fun and make friends!

For November Projects Gallery will feature Philadelphia artist Jim Brossy’s second solo show “Left Behind,” Known for his wildly expressive figurative mixed media assemblages, Brossy focuses on the frequently overlooked for his subject matter. With his signature use of a sophisticated hodgepodge, Brossy crafts figures from debris, construction material, as well as traditional paint. Modest blue-collar workers, barflies, the homeless, children, and the detritus of society are depicted in material reflective of their social status. Cheeky political references imbue the work with a dual seriousness and humor. Brossy’s work asks the viewer to consider grand social issues but to never take themselves, or the work, too seriously. A preview of the artist’s work is available at www.projectsgallery.com/Brossy.html.

Jim Brossy – Left Behind will be on display November 6 – 28, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday November 6th from 6 – 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

Projects Gallery
629 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
267.303.9652
www.projectsgallery.com

The Slingluff Gallery is excited to host the 3rd installment of the lovable skate deck show, dubbed Good Wood three years ago. Featuring over 15 artists, and an installation by AJ Fosik.

There will be a silent auction the night of the show benefiting the organization Stay True.

Opening reception:
October 17th at 6-9pm
Show runs from October 17th through November 1st

STAY TRUE is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia dedicated to offering under-privileged, at-risk youth the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to become powerful agents of social/political change in their communities.

STAY TRUE (www.stay-true.org) offers after school, extra-curricular, and weekend programs that combine academics and activism to give students an amazing service experience.

For more information:
The Slingluff Gallery
11 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
www.slingluffgallery.com

Art In City Hall issues a call to Philadelphia area artists for the spring exhibition in the historic public corridors of City Hall.

Theme: Art In City Hall invites clay artists from the Philadelphia region to submit works for Abstract Clay: Form and Surface to be juried by Ken Vavrek, founder of the Clay Studio and former professor at Moore College of Art and Design:

“Though abstract art often comes from the simplification of forms and shapes in nature, sometimes the subject source is seemingly absent in the resulting work, or at least not immediately recognizable. Other times a non-objective approach eliminates the subject matter concern altogether. Clay artists are invited to work and play in this realm.”

Media:
Open to artists working in clay. Artwork must comply with the dimensions of the display cases, which are 84” H x 94” W x 24”D.

Rules for Entry:
1. Deadline for submission: Received by Friday, December 4, 2009. You can submit up to four works in the form of digitals. No entry fee.
2. Please submit jpegs on a CD. Each image should be no larger than 1MB, 72 dpi. Please call or email if you have questions.
3. Each jpeg must have last name, image number, title of work, medium and dimensions as part of the ‘”name” of the jpeg; for example: Anderson 1.Untitled.raku fired ceramic. 16x4x10 inches.
4. Each submission must include a brief artist statement (no longer than two paragraphs) and resume as Word documents or PDFs.
5. Return the completed entry form with your digital submission and include a S.A.S.E ONLY if you wish to have your disc returned to you.
6. If you are unable to submit work in a digital format, please contact artincityhall@phila.gov or 215-686-9912 for assistance.

SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY:
DECEMBER 4 , 2009
Exhibition Dates: February 1—April 16, 2010
2nd and 4th Floor, NE corner
Reception Date: Thurs., February 4, 5-7pm

Eligibility & Selection of Artists:
Open to emerging and professional artists living or working in the Philadelphia area, including graduate students. Artists will be selected by an independent arts professional.

Selection and Installation of Exhibition:
Accepted artists will be notified by phone or email. Due to the volume of participants, if you are not notified two weeks before the show, your work was then not accepted. You can call to verify submission status. All work must be in good condition and ready for installation (i.e., hooks, wires, etc). Artists are responsible for assisting with installation of works which require special attention or extensive demands of time.
The city, the Art In City Hall Exhibitions Committee and/or curators reserve the right to change the content of the exhibition, including the removal of artwork.

Delivery of Work:
The time of delivery and installation of artwork will be arranged with each participating artist after notification of acceptance. Artists or artists’ galleries are responsible for shipping and delivery of works, including transfer insurance if needed. Please do not submit work that have already been sold or are out of the Philadelphia region.

Sale of Work:
Art may be for sale, Art in City Hall does not take commission. Sales are between artists and interested party.

Liability:
Artwork will be insured once installed in the display cases in City Hall.

For more information:
on Art In City Hall, visit:
www.phila.gov/artincityhall
or call 215-686-9912
artincityhall@phila.gov

Beata Wehr: Taming the Landscapes

Beata Drozd: Recycled Fashionista

Opening Reception Friday November 6th, 6-9PM
November 6th through 28th

PII Gallery
242 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tel: 215.592.1022

Users have suggested starting a discussion about currently available studio spaces. Please make suggestions and include locations, prices and contact information by adding your comments to this post. Any assistance is appreciated greatly!

Upon user suggestion, Digital Art has now been added as a primary medium. Please update your account if this description best fits your primary medium, and thank you for your continued support of Philly Side Arts and your artist community.