DoN Brewer, Market Street Swirl, photograph at Art Ability, Philadelphia Foundation Community Gallery

DoN Brewer, Art Ability, A Celebration of Artists with Disabilities at Philadelphia Foundation Community Gallery

As a Philadelphia artist, one of the aspirational aspects of being part of the art scene is participating in First Friday and having your art in a gallery show.  This month my photography is on exhibit in three group shows across Philadelphia, all the work have ties to Art Ability, Bryn Mawr Rehab Center’s annual art extravaganza at the sprawling rehabilitation center in Malvern, Pa.  May 4th, at the Philadelphia Foundation Community Gallery, 1234 Market Street, was my first First Friday.  Susanna Saunders, Phd, the curator for Art Ability asked me to submit samples of my work and she chose two images which are now on display in the board room of the Philadelphia Foundation, a community foundation of over nine hundred trust funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in Southeastern Pennsylvania, founded in 1918.

The art show is displayed throughout the reception area, halls, offices and board room of the Philadelphia Foundation and Dr. Saunders has installed an expansive exhibit representing art by working artists with disabilities.  Having my work included with outsider artist Edward Woltemate, Jr, Dumpster Diver, author and art entrepreneur David Gerbstadt, photographer Carl Yeager‘s transcendent photo images and many, many other talented artists, is such an honor – I even got a round of applause.  What a rush.  R. Andrew Swinny, the president of Philadelphia Foundation said that instead of purchasing art or making a museum of art, they use their board room walls for arts organizations, especially those who are using art in a special way to help people.  Dr. Saunders addressed the crowd gathered in the board room about how Art Ability isn’t just the big event at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Center but satellite exhibits like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Bryn Mawr Hospital, the Delaware Art Museum next Spring, Devon Manor and others. To say I’m grateful to Art Ability and the promotion they have provided in my art career is an under-statement.  Their volunteer efforts help hundreds of artists and Dr. Saunders is personally invested in their successes and has wonderful anecdotes and stories to share about artists succeeding despite life’s disabilities, she is a true art maven.

My work with Art Ability is wonderfully intertwined through the three art shows I’m in this month, my photograph, light being (Walt), was in the 2010 Art Ability show, they asked to keep it in their gift shop for the rest of the year, then it went on to a satellite show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and now is on display at The Plastic Club, my entry for the 2012 Member’s Medals Show.  For two years Art Ability made a sincere effort to sell my work; having someone believe in you as an artist is so gratifying it’s difficult to express.  My photograph, Urban Jungle, is currently in the board room of the Philadelphia Foundation Community Gallery (on the left in the picture above), was my entry for The Plastic Club‘s Urban Expressions Show earlier this year – and now it has a red dot.  Yay!  Art Ability, A Celebration of Artists with Disabilities at the Philadelphia Foundation Community Gallery is on display through Summer 2012.

Certain Circuits v2.1 Book Launch Party and Art Show at Flying Carpet Cafe

Cinco de Mayo at Flying Carpet Cafe, with MC Bonnie MacAllister, was the launch party for the book-a-zine Certain Curcuits v2.1, a limited edition art book with art and writing by contributors to the monthly blog, Certain Circuits Magazine.  The party in the Flying Carpet Cafe and Bar at 18th and Poplar Streets was a mash-up of a poetry slam, book sale, art show, clown make-up and music performance.  I have five photographs in the group show including light beings (Lorraine & Charles) which was included on the Winter version of Certain Circuits Magazine blog and was just in the Art Ability 2012 show at Bryn Mawr Rehab Center.  Another of my photographs, Decameron, is in the group show at The Flying Carpet Cafe and is also featured on this month’s Certain Circuits Magazine blog.  How cool is that?.

Bonnie MacAllister is also an art maven.  She has been so kind and generous to me by promoting my work consistently and fervently, she really makes me feel special.  But it’s not just me, Bonnie works tirelessly to help promote lots of artists and writers with the blogs and books she produces but she also helps raise funds and awareness for causes like the Ragdoll Project, an effort to raise funds to help stop slavery and human trafficking.  Bonnie raised funds to produce the Certain Circuits v2.1 book through a Kickstarter campaign and reached her goal, assuring the book could be published.  The party was really fun with a cool mix of artists, poets, musicians, hipsters and locals.  The show ends May 30th – go see it, buy some art and drink a Shandy while your there.

100th Members Medals Show at The Plastic Club

The 100th Annual Members Medals Show at The Plastic Club represents the member artists best efforts, the prestigious awards are aspirational and for many artists inspire new work.  Some artists, like myself, take the opportunity to include work that has a proven track record with curators and jurors.  The photograph, light being (Walt), is very special to me because of it’s provenance with Art Ability but it was also curated into my one person CFEVA spotlight art show at the Radisson Warwick Hotel’s Coffee Bar two years ago.

I originally started blogging to promote my own art and the work by my friends, the effort has surely paid off.  I feel like I’m doing things right when curators invite me to participate in art events, they know my work and track record and respect my efforts to be relevant in a crowded arena.  But, to be included in three art shows, in three distinct neighborhoods of Philadelphia, is satisfying on so many levels – my physical constraints are not a handicap in the art world, they are an asset.  Thank you so much to Art Ability, Certain Circuits Magazine and The Plastic Club for providing opportunities to participate with my peers in art events. Without the team efforts of these groups, going it alone would probably be too big a challenge for me and many of my art friends.  My disability is a chronic illness, it does not handicap my ability to make art, view art or write about art, it offers an opportunity to heal and share.  I suggest you support your local arts organization, you never know when they will offer support to you.

Read more:

Art Ability 2012

Certain Circuits v2.1

The Plastic Club

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer, Contributing Writer, Side Arts Philadelphia Art Blog

Gray Seashore by M. Pia De Girolamo © 2012

I do most of my work in the solitude of my studio. It is quiet; I don’t play music (except once in a great while). I do hear bird sounds and the wind or rain and I have large windows that look out onto some backyard woods. I am not a complete recluse however; I very much enjoy the company of friends. They feed my soul and I hope I feed theirs.

Just a couple of days ago I caught up with an artist friend who I had not seen for many months and had not even talked to by phone or email, which was unusual. I knew she must have had a lot going on. She was on my “to call” list and I finally was able to cross that item off.  I found out that she had been deeply involved with helping her daughter who was anticipating the birth of a child. There had been some frightening moments but all was eventually resolved happily just a week or so ago.

My friend is a few years older than I am and has gone through some soul-trying times that have shaped her. I find her perspective invaluable. It is obvious that she has done the hard work of self-examination because when she speaks I know what she says sounds right and true. She is a joyful person and I’d call her an “enlightened” one.

We speak about family, art, our former careers and our present calling. We’ll look at each other’s work, talk about the nitty gritty of technique, and swap info about the best places to look for deals on supplies. We examine artists whose work inspires us and investigate venues where we might show. Together, we weave a complex fabric of past, present and future that we can wrap around ourselves like a blanket as we go forward with our lives and work.

Friends do not just show up at one’s door announced these days. It takes a conscious effort to keep up with them. I have found that the throw away line “we’ll have to get together soon” must be accompanied by an immediate setting of a date, otherwise, the intended meeting never materializes. We’ve all got work to do, but good friends make our lives richer and I’m convinced that they make our work better too.

Artist Suzanne Comer will be present at the June 7th reception to discuss her work.

http://www.hedgerowtheatre.org/

No more! I hooked up with a great company that offers me all the flexibility I could want – which means I can offer more designs, more often, with complete flexibility.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to start producing a new limited-edition series of t-shirts every month. They will be limited run, mostly centered around that month’s theme. Once the month is over, that design may never be offered on a t-shirt again!”

- Sean Martorana

Get this month’s t-shirts now before time passes!!

Want to know when new series are released? Sign up here for updates!

Here is a glimpse into what is available this month:

Philly AIDS Thrift is now accepting donated original artwork and handmade crafts.  All items must retail under $100.  Any item donated prior toFriday, June 1, 2012, will be considered for inclusion in the silent auction at the annual Philly AIDS Thrift Summer of Love Benefit.

• Limit one item per artist.
• There is limited space available at the benefit; not all items will be included.
• Drop off is at Philly AIDS Thrift: 710 S 5^th St,Philadelphia,PA during regular store hours, or email phillyaidsthrift@aol.com to schedule a drop off.

Bring your item and a printout including:

• your name
• address
• email
• phone number
• artwork or craft title and description
• retail price

A donation receipt will be provided when you drop off your artwork or craft.  You will be notified in advance if your item is selected for the benefit.  If so, you will receive one free general admission ticket which can be picked up at the event.

Deadline:Friday, May 29, 2012

Summer of Love Benefit details:

Friday, June 8, 2012
5:00 – 9:00 pm
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
1020 South St, Philadelphia PA
Tickets on sale at Philly AIDS Thrift
General admission tickets: $25
VIP tickets: $50 (includes open bar)

Enjoy a fun-filled evening of delicious food and drink, live music by the Dangerous Ponies, an amazing silent auction, DJ TransAM spinning the summer hits, prizes, and surprises … all in a gigantic work of art!

For more information, visit phillyaidsthrift.com or call Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou, Co-founder of Philly AIDS Thrift, at 215-922-3186.

Saturday, June 9, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Lecturer: Peter Paone $15 ($10 members)
Peter Paone’s art resides somewhere between realism and surrealism, in a world that deals with the reality of relationships and favors the substance of the imagination rather than the substance of everyday vision. Join the artist in this richly illustrated lecture on the journey his work has taken.

VISIT THE ARTIST’S WEBSITE TO VIEW WORK: WWW.PETERPAONE.COM

Steve Messenger, HB pencil & micron pen on gessoed canvas

Artist, Steve Messenger has a studio in the arts building at 319 North 11th Street in Philadelphia, the high ceilinged windowless space allows him to make large equine drawings on sheets of gessoed canvas with sharply honed HB lead point pencils and micron pens.  The drawings are big, the image above of the horse is near life size, the smooth musculature and dappling of the horse’s coat achieved through masterful descriptive lines.  Working from original photographs, the artist carefully renders each stroke onto the equally concisely prepared surface, allowing each line to inform the design and evoke a sense of reality.  If you’ve spent time around horses, you find yourself eventually kissing them, they communicate affection and trust.

Steve Messenger was working on a drawing while I was visiting his studio, I asked him how long a drawing takes to complete?  ”It depends on whether somebody’s buying it, a commission, or whether I’m just doing it on my own.  One of these, maybe two months, the one out on the wall (the full scale horse above) five to seven months depending on whether it’s a commission or not.  I did some commissions over the winter but these are for exhibition and just part of my series, I’ve got a couple of them up in Bucks County, the Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art in New Hope.  I show a lot of work in juried shows, out of my studio, and I had a one man showing, two actually, in Old City.”

The huge canvas drawings are intensely accurate, I asked the artist why he’s not using paper?  Steve Messenger said, “When you’re doing drawings large, you shouldn’t use paper because you could spend months on a drawing and then have it tear.  And that’s the end of it.  With canvas it doesn’t tear, it’s more textured, if you have any primed ground, it’s perfect for graphite or charcoal, it’s the only thing you can do silverpoint on.  If you decided to slow it down even more and make it tighter, and you can’t use silverpoint on paper unless you prime it, that’s what everyone used to draw on before they came up with lead and graphite.”

Written and photographed by DoN Brewer, Contributing Writer, Side Arts Philadelphia Art Blog

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