Archive for May, 2009
Saturday, May 30th, 2009
It is a LOVELY day. Unfortunately, I am inside the gallery and will be here till 7. But you, you should be up and about after a nice brunch and are thinking about hitting up the Art Star Craft Bazaar. Do it! Bike down, stroll around, it’s such a nice day! Bring some emerging art into your home. I’ll be there tomorrow, but if you want even MORE art events this weekend, (after doing ASCB today) and say, want something a little more community-altruistic rather than community-commercial, I just got word about the Fleisher ARTspiration happening tomorrow, Sunday May 31 from 10am – 4 pm. What is ARTspiration? It’s a FREE community outdoor arts festival. It will take place between Fleisher’s 719 Catharine Street and 705 Christian Street buildings and along the 700 block of Catharine Street. Family-oriented activities will include free bicycle-art stations (this sounds uber cute – I hope they have glittery streamers for my handlebars,) free art-making activities, a plant and herb sale, bake sale, book sale, art and craft sale, free performances, and a prize raffle. Neighborhood food vendors will also be on hand selling refreshments and treats for the whole family. More information can be found at fleisher.org
Alright. Back to work for me. Enjoy the weather and all the great community outdoor art events we have in Philly!
Tags: Art, Art Festival, ARTspiration, Bella Vista, craft, event, Fleisher
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Get your craft on
Art Star Craft Bazaar is this weekend! This Saturday, May 30th as well as Sunday, May 31st from 11-6pm at Penn’s Landing Great Plaza – on Columbus Boulevard between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street. Last year my partner and I went and got some great pieces including an amazing print from pushmepullyoudesign. Honestly, the craft bazaar can be overwhelming — there’s so much to see and such a range including crafts, clothes, objects, and yes even ‘real’ art, and the Penn’s Landing location is very spread out. So budget a whole afternoon for this event. Wear sunscreen! Go and support local artists and craftspersons! Bring cash though, most places don’t do cards. They’re crafters, people. There will be live music as well as a raffle. More info on their website artstarcraftbazaar.com
Tags: Art, Art Festival, Art Star, craft, Penns Landing, spring
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Ed — Mike Smith recently went to the Prohibition Tap Room and found no original art on the walls, so he decided to create some – writing a short play based on his experience.
I wondered into¬†Prohibition¬†Room, another brand new gastropub in another post ghetto pocket of Northern Philadelphia. Because that’s what Philly needs, another gastropub with the words Room and/or Tap in the title to remind you that all the beer and menu items are written in chalk on the wall, the most expensive dish is 15 dollars and usually involves some kind of seafood and starch combination, and the juke box is only there for show because the ale wife’s boyfriend is gonna be there any minute now to duh jay and he’s gonna spin mad N.W.A. and garage rock like all night (so fuckin rad dude). (more…)
Tags: Bar, Michael Adrion, Michael Smith, Mike Smith, Prohibition Taproom, Review
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
- Fall Out Boy – or is that Fall Out Gay?
In my neighborhood there are three very different playgrounds: Three Bears Park (very tony – high end nannies), Starr Garden (kinda dirty, mostly populated by teens/tweens after school), and Seger Playground (high mommy ratio – great facilities). The other day I went with a small child to Starr Gardens, which we have been going to for three years. About two years ago they took out a bouncy bridge on one of the jungle gyms and put up some plywood. For some reason, the ONLY graffiti that’s been written on these boards in years is the name of the band “Fall Out Boy” written in four different locations.
- Fall Out Boy
For some reason, this REALLY amuses me. Really, teens? You have a whole blank slate to write whatever curse words you like, or let the world know that Kim likes Josh or M&P bff4eva! and instead you just write a band name? And not even “I *heart* FOB” or FOB rules!!! just the name of the band. In four separate locations. I like to pretend that the true story is that the four actual members of this band went to hang out on the swings in Starr Gardens after an exciting show on South Street and wanted to let the world know they had been there.
- Fall Out Boy Panic at the Disco
As well as one of the members of Panic! at the Disco.
Tags: babbling, South Street, street art
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Monday, May 18th, 2009
- Mary Galgon
Someone was mentioning a nice brunch they had at Cafe Estelle and happened to mention that they had rotating art on the walls. Ah HA! A new listing (I’ve e-mailed them to ask permission.) I hear the food here is, pardon the pun, stellar, although I’ve yet to check it out myself. And they actually update their website with their rotating artist. Currently for the month of May they have Mary Galgon on the walls in a show called “A Simple Life”
Also in listing news, Soy Cafe on 2nd in Northern Liberties is showing Lyndi Mann.
Tags: Art, Cafe Estelle, locations, Lyndi Mann, Mary Galgon, May, painting, restaurant, Soy Cafe, Updates
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Friday, May 15th, 2009
I told you spring was going to bring lots of outdoor art events! Just got a blurb from QVNA about their own mini arts festival this Sunday May 17th, from 11AM until 5PM. This is the 11th annual ‘Art in the Park’. Quoth the email “over 20 artists will be selling their paintings, jewelry, photography, pottery, sculpture, textiles and more. This is a great opportunity for you to support your local artists and craftspeople and to pick up a wonderful piece of art for yourself or your home. Come meet the artists, visit with neighbors, take in some fresh air and enjoy the park.”
Word.
I love Mario Lanza Park. It’s completely hidden and a wonderful neighborhood gem. Because it’s in the middle of the blocks between 2nd st & 3rd st and Catherine & Queen Streets you wouldn’t know it was there until you walked up on it. Although QVNA hosts a lot of family events there, there’s no playground so it’s really a nice adult refuge. There’s a dog run, a nice open plaza area, soft grass (currently gated off) , benches, a bunch of wacky squirrels . . .
Tags: Art, Art Festival, craft, event, May, park, Queen Village, spring
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Friday, May 15th, 2009
Even though the weather isn’t particularly cooperating, Spring is here, bringing with it lots of fun art events. This Saturday May 16th is the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. Now, seeing as I work Saturdays, I’ve never been able to go to this event, but my friends have, and the pictures they take are wild. People go all out designing their sculpture and costumes. What is the Kinetic Sculpture Derby? According to the website it’s ” . . . not a race, but rather a design competition and parade celebrating human powered-transit and art in Kensington.” If you go out, you get to vote on the winning categories — including 2nd to last, people’s choice and best of art, breakdown, costumes, and engineering, respectively.
Also this Saturday in conjunction with the KKSD is the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival, a more traditional arts and crafts fair. So go! Have a good time for me! Eat food, buy local art, participate! Both events: Saturday, May 16th, 2009 from 12 noon – 5 pm. 2000-2300 blocks of Trenton Avenue.
( Thanks to theartblog.com)
Tags: event, Kensington, Kinetic Sculpture Derby, May, performance art, spring, street art, Trenton Ave
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Thursday, May 14th, 2009
I’ve been seriously slacking on art in bars. The trip down south last week resulted in ZERO opportunity to see any local art, so that was very disapointing. Then I tried to see some BFA shows Monday, but as it is, even school galleries are closed Mondays that was a failure as well. I’ll try to ferrit out some more locations, but I could always use suggestions from the people on the street (–ie anyone reading this) any make the rounds on foot next Monday or Tuesday.
I have managed to set up contributor profiles, but they don’t appear as a byline. Hmm. I would also like a tag cloud. Wonder how I can make that happen. I’ve been meaning to take pictures — stickman has recently swept the area and placed a bunch of new figures on the streets around South street (the older, straighter non-melty figure.) In the meantime, here’s two works by shot within a week of each other, one in Philly and one in NYC.
Stickman, 3rd & Bainbridge March 09
Stickman, Bowery, NYC March 09
Tags: babbling, stickman, street art, Updates
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Monday, May 11th, 2009
Hey there artists / crafters / artsy crafters / crafty artists
Memphis Taproom is seceding from these bonk ecomonic times and forming it’s own handmade nation. Everyone is welcome. No table fees will be charged. Any artist or crafter is welcome to register for a space at the first ever Handmade Market. The event will be held in the side lot at Memphis Taproom, Saturday, July 25 10am-3pm (Rain date July 26). If you’re interested in setting up shop for one hot outdoor day in July, contact leigh@memphistaproom.com to register. Or visit http://memphistaproom.com/upcomingevents.htm for more details.
Tags: Art, Bar, call to artists, craft, Memphis Taproom
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Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Ed– Michael Smith visits yet another gastro pup and asks an artist about their work and process.
It’s spring time, the time to shake the dust off your slutty clothes, renew your gym membership and finally get those A.I.D.S test results you should have picked up instead of the hair suit nymph with the pork roll ankles and breast eczema. Spring is a time for growth and celebration which was the case for Memphis Tap Room. The pert gastro-pub in the middle of North Philly’s newest coolest neighborhood, New Port Fishingford threw a one year anniversary hoe down replete with free food and enough extra strong ale on tap you could pee pee out your liver. The popularity of the Memphis Tap Room was easily represented by it’s bloated turn out, there were so many white people crammed in the bar I thought I was at a Wu-Tang Clan concert. The evening took on a deeper significance as The Memphis Tap Room unveiled their newest t-shirt, a kitschy spin on the Budweiser label which haughtily proclaims it’s self the king of beer bars. While the “king of”.. statement is bandied about by everyone from rappers, heavily armed African pre teens, and Lebron James, I’d like to think the Tap Room is more Billy Jean King than Rodney King. Every month Memphis Tap Room devotes the back dining room wall to new local artists of the visual variety. In the middle of party central I was able to sit down and chop it up with Keith Grieman who’s art reminds me of what it’s like to be the sanest inmate in a state ran mental institution. (more…)
Tags: Art, ask-an-artist, interview, Keith Grieman, Memphis Taproom, Michael Adrion, Michael Smith, Mike Smith
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