- Kelly Kozma
It is the first of the month, so I’m tracking down listings, as per usual. Should have those up to date some time tomorrow. There’s a lot of art going on, as you may have heard ¬†P.O.S.T. begins this weekend. The Philadelphia Open Studio Tour is when artists open up their studios to the curious public, allowing them to see their process, and hopefully move a little art. The event is both Saturday and Sunday and is divided into two weekends: East of Broad St October 3rd & 4th, and then the following weekend West of Broad October 10th & 11th. This weekend is East, and there is an overwhelming amount of artists participating. How to whittle it down? Well, you could take my recommendations, or, head over to the official website, where you can sort by neighborhood, material, or even artist name.
- Darla Jackson
For Saturday the 3rd, my pick would be head North to hit the whole Port Richmond area. It’s not an area you’re going to see on a First Friday, ¬†the studios are highly concentrated in a few buildings, and the artists are interesting, active Philadelphia artists. At 3237 Amber Street there are six very accomplished studios – diverse and talented, being able to check out all these artists in one stop is part of what P.O.S.T. is about.¬†The well known painter Charles Burwell is in Studio 4-C, super sculptor Darla Jackson is in Studio 3-3-A, MONARC - Masters of None Art Co. is on the 4th floor, painter¬†Alice Oh on the 5th floor, The Sweatshop takes up the 4th Floor South Side, and multimedia artist¬†Steven Earl Weber rounds off the building. One stop artist shopping.
While you’re kicking it in Port Richmond you can also check out the new¬†Pterodactyl Philadelphia (3237 Amber Street Box 3 5th Fl. North) where October 3rd the studios are open from 12 – 6, then they’re hosting a post-P.O.S.T. party starting ¬†at 7PM, coinciding with their new show Creepy – featuring Jon Allen, Sean Robert Fitzgerald, Kelly Kozma, Steven Earl Weber,¬†Ryan Widger, and others. The party will feature musical performances and the art is all about celebrating the off-putting and uncomfortable. Perfect for this spooky month.
- Midwives
Sunday you can head South and hang in my hood: Queen Village / Bella Vista. Have brunch in the Italian market, check out Mew (showing Ellie Brown) then head to 1241 Carpenter Street, which is the site of The Midwives Collective who will be showcasing Carol Deutsch, Erin Filson, Sarah L. Hunt, Christiana Kugel, Nora Hiriart Litz, Alicia Mino, Bonnie Neary, and Elizabeth J. Smith. Also at 1241 Carpenter are the studios of artists Gretchen Diehl, Stella Untalan Gassaway, and Katie Murken which will be open to you.
If you’re really down with the one stop studio tour, you have to hit 915 Spring Garden Street. Over 25 artist studios in the same space. Find out all about them here. Eastside picks next week.
Tags: Alice Oh, Alicia Mino, Bonnie Neary, Carol Deutsch, Charles Burwell, Christiana Kugel, Darla Jackson, Elizabeth J. Smith, Erin Filson, Gretchen Diehl, Jon Allen, Kelly Kozma, MONARC, Nora Hiriart Litz, p.o.s.t., Ryan Widger, Sarah L. Hunt, Sean Robert Fitzgerald, Stella Untalan Gassaway, Steven Earl Weber, studio, The Midwives Collective, The Sweatshop