Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

Free Wine Night

Friday, March 5th, 2010

 

Science!

 

It’s free wine night, aka First Friday. Everything seems so muddled these days, with everyone chasing the coattails of the big art event of the month, or suffering the malaise of winter. Mix it up a bit and hit Frankford Ave tonight. Why Frankford instead of Olde City? Well, there’s a ton of receptions up there tonight, including one with a freakin’ Tesla coil¬†demonstration. How effing rad is that? For serious. Not only is there a demonstration to coincide with the Tesla-inspired art at Germ Bookstore, there are bars like Atlantis showing art, boutiques like Piranha Betty‚Äôs Art Market with music, art, and astrology,¬†the launch of a new storefront/collective/not really sure but it’s a party (VWVOFFKA) and even real legit galleries up there that you can be sure will be the focus of the arts discussions as everyone moves out of overpriced downtown (yes, I know no one calls any part of Philadelphia downtown, but it is down hill from the Frankford Arts ave, so . . .) Anyway. So many diverse arty things happening in that neighborhood. Check out Frankford Ave Arts listings page to see everything happening tonight, and support your local upstart arty¬†businesses!

Olivia Vaughn at Atlantis: The Lost Bar 2442 Frankford Ave.
Art Inspired by Nikola Tesla at Germ Bookstore 2005 Frankford Ave.
David Aronson at Piranha Betty’s Art Market 2472 Frankford Ave.
Storefront Opening Party at VWVOFFKA 2037 Frankford Ave.

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Kelly Kozma and Bridgett Bonn Wagner

Friday, February 12th, 2010
Kelly Kozma If I Could

Kelly Kozma If I Could

As you may know if you’ve come here through the book of faces, tonight is the opening reception for painter Kelly Kozma and jewelry artist Bridgett Bonn Wagner at Tu Belleza Studio on Liberties Walk.

Full disclosure – I had some classes with Kelly at Moore back in the day. Never met Bonn Wagner, just have seen her work online. Meanwhile, you may have seen Kozma’s work before at Ten Stone – although finishing up her BFA this year she has participated in many group shows and independent exhibitions throughout the city.¬† Creating colorful compositions that meditate on the relationship between materials in art, Kozma paints an approachable dialogue between the negative and positive space where geometric and curvilinear coexist.

Brigett Bonn-Wagner Resoources Necklace

Brigett Bonn-Wagner Resources Necklace

Bridgett Bonn Wagner creates works that straddle the relationship between the wearable object and sculpture. Her delicately crafted jewelry is simultaneously beautiful and slyly thought provoking social criticism. Imminently wearable, Bonn Wagner creates lasting conversation pieces beyond the typical, challenging the notion of what adornment should be.

We’re excited because Art in Bars actually helped hook up these artists with this non-gallery space, and we hope to be able to continue to facilitate more opportunities for emerging artists in the future. Don’t worry, we’ll keep prattling on about cocktails, concepts, and collectives on the blog.

If you want to attend the opening, as previously stated, it is tonight Friday February 12th from 5-7 P.M. ar Tu Belleza Studio – 1021 N 3rd St. Work will be up through the end of the month.

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Ask an Artist – Mat Tomezsko

Monday, February 8th, 2010
Mat Tomezsko, Girl

Mat Tomezsko, Girl

Ask an Artist (and the companion Ask a Bartender) were some of the first concepts for features I came up with for Art in Bars. Naturally, I think we’ve managed to do one of each. But I’m trying to get back on track (as well as out of my own boring head) and today present Ask an Artist with Mat Tomezsko, where Art in Bars asks slightly stupid questions to professionals about what their work is like. There are both my Art in Bars ponderings, as well as the insightful questions of former contributor and bon vivant Mike Smith.

Mat Tomezsko is a recent graduate of Temple / Tyler and since graduation has been showing his artwork in unusual residential locations, such as the Thomas Lofts, the Parkview Condos, and this month at The Cigar Factory, a condominium in Olde City.

Art in Bars: How did you get involved in showing your work in these living spaces?
Mat Tomezsko: The Cigar Factory hosts three artists a year to show in their foyer space for four months each, and an opening reception in which a good portion of the building can be filled with the artist’s work. The art director, Nancy Small, saw two pieces of mine purchased by her friends and contacted me about the gig.

Mike Smith: HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELF A SERIOUS PAINTER WHEN YOU HAVE TWO PERFECTLY GOOD EARS?
MT: I have really bad hearing and can barely speak, so painting was really the most practical option.  Also, I don’t know how serious I am about anything.

Mat Tomezsko, Dead Deer

Mat Tomezsko, Dead Deer

AiB: Do you feel your work is influenced more by art historical traditions, your schooling, or something else you discovered?
MT: My paintings are the result of what is consuming my thoughts.  I am working these things out visually in order to make sense of them.  So a lot is based on personal experience, but it is also me digesting art history and dealing with the process of painting and my reaction to making a handmade image.

MS: HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO USE YOUR DICK AS A PAINT BRUSH?
MT: No, but I have tried to use my paintbrush as a dick.  Nothing but colors and complaints.

AiB: What’s it like being an artist, freshly out into the world? Are you living the dream or facing the cruelty of reality?
MT: I waver between complete rapture and utter despair.

Mat Tomezsko, Girl

Mat Tomezsko, Girl

MS: DO YOU DREAM IN WATERCOLOR OR ACRYLIC?
MT: Oddly enough, I dream in claymation.

AiB: What is the goal of being an artist, for you personally?
MT: I want to live a full life with an open and awake mind.  I don’t know where I’ll end up.  I don’t really have a plan or a place to go, so I guess we’ll see.

MS: HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN YOUR ART AS A GIFT, ONLY TO HAVE IT REGIFTED?
MT: Maybe, but I have given a painting to a friend and then he got drunk and kicked it around the kitchen in front of me, so I stole it back when he passed out.  Now it’s in my basement.  Asshole.

AiB: Do you think art inherently serves a noble purpose? Or is it just something some people are compelled to create and others compelled to justify?
MT: Art is kind of pointless, but it is also something inherent to humanity.  It’s like consciousness, we don’t need it to survive, but here it is for us to deal with.  I don’t know if that makes it good or bad, but it is beautiful.

MS: ANY SHOUT OUTS?
MT: Carl Sagan.

Mat Tomezsko’s work will be on display at The Cigar Factory: 1147 N. 4th St. There will be an opening reception Friday, February 12th 2010 from 6:30-9:00 P.M. More images of his work are available on his blog tomezsko.blogspot.com.

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Art In Bars – Steph Cisso

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

 

Steph Cisso

Steph Cisso

Tritone is that bar on the West side of South Street. It’s got that handicap ramp that leads up to the door and behind that door are blood red walls. Usually the walls are sparse. There’s a chalkboard menu here or a demonic painting there, but mostly blood red walls.¬†Occasionally¬†there’s a piece of art that goes up that doesn’t fit the decour so I was surprised to see this 8″ x 10″ beauty during one of my visits.

I don’t know who Steph Cisso is but I’m asking her to prom. I’m sure she will agree to my idea of having a tuxedo made entirely of black leather while she sports the Carrie White look covered head to toe in fake blood. I don’t care what grade she’s in or if she’s pretty ’cause this chick’s rad. My favorite part of this collage is the outline of the center figure that creates frame within a frame, and the pink makes a slick contrast to all the black. I’m sure Steph Cisso didn’t learn any of her techniques from Mrs. Harpers art class – unless I missed the day her lesson was on skulls and death.

Tshombe

Tritone 1508 South

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Collective happenings

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Ya’ll know I’m simply fascinated by the Philadelphia artist collective scene. I think it’s a local organic solution to a systemic national problem plaguing cities/markets/etc. but I’m not sure it’s a thus far successful alternative to the gallery system. More on that later. One thing you can certainly say about collectives is that they have embraced the new social media/web2.0/whatever paradigm and are running with it. It is much easier to be an outsider and find out about interesting art happenings, which is sort of the point; to break down the perceived exclusionary / elitist label that always gets lobbed at these groups. You can be in the know. You are invited to check it out. That bit of rambling was my way of saying, hey, look at all these artists happening about to happen. You should happen to show up.

  • This is the Only Place that Can Save My Heart at Little Berlin, 119 West Montgomery Philadelphia PA, 19122, Friday, January 8th from 6 to 10 P.M.

saveEach artist has a different perception of the power and definition of home. This place, or people, or feeling has an impact on the work that the artists make. Some of the artists address the issue of home directly, while some use the people, places, and things they think of as home as spring boards for their art making. Nostalgia, memory, historical context, and architecture as icon are just a few of the ideas that are examined in this exhibition. Curated by Alex Gartelmann, the exhibition features work by Masha Badinter, Mark Campbell, Michael Grothusen, James Johnson & Leah Bailis, Jenny Kanzler, Hope Rovelto, Mark Shetabi, and Shelley Spector.

  • Baltidelphia at My House Gallery, 2534 South 8th Street Philadelphia, PA 19148, going on Saturday, January 9th from 6-10 PM.

BaltidelphiaMy House Gallery, in conjunction with the Hexagon presents:¬†Baltidelphia, an experimental collaboration curated by Phuong Pham (the Hexagon) and Alex Gartelmann (My House). The¬†Baltidelphia exhibition features 22 Baltimore artists paired with 22 Philadelphia artists who were asked to collaborate/correspond through whatever means they chose–facebook, text message, twitter, carrier pigeon, postal mail, sky-writing, etc. Baltidelphia will be exhibited in both Baltimore and Philadelphia, with selections of the projects being displayed in each spaces. The Hexagon will have a soft opening on Saturday, January 9th, as some participating Baltimore artists will be traveling to My House Gallery for a joint opening reception. Philadelphia artists will travel to Baltimore, Saturday, February 6th for the closing.

Participating artists (Bmore & Philly): Kathy Beachler & Martha Savery, Emily Claire Dierkes & Jim Grilli, Miguel Sabogal &  Bryan Patrick Rice, Jon Bevers & Damian Weinkrantz, Kathleen Mazurek & Daniel Potterton, Sarah Magida & Kristen Neville, Mike Riley & Tim Pannell, Jared Fischer & Tyler Kline, Freda Mohr & Andrew Brehm, Heather Von Marko & Hannah Heffner, Julie Pahr & Fernando Ramos, Andrew Geddes & Daniel Petraitis, Na Kim & Mike Ryan, Jennifer Mullins & Leah Mackin, Ric Royer & Beth Heinly, Robert Brulinski &  Piper Brett, Magnolia Laurie & Nike Desis, Megan Lavelle & Jen Gin, Sean Scheidt & Masha Badinter, Monique Crab & Hope Rovelto, Phuong Pham & Alex Gartelmann

Oh, and while you’re at it; get on the book of faces and “friend” artists or become “fans” of theirs – that way you’ll always know what’s happening and when.

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Terry Mcall at Atlantis: The Lost Bar

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Terry Mcall

Terry Mcall

The sculpture display at Atlantis: The Lost Bar is called Gear Forms and it is right on the money. The glass and metal gear pieces fit the bar nicely. Most wall mounted mirrors are flat and two dimensional but these tough looking cylinders stand out three to five inches from the wall. These few inches make a big difference because it gives the impression that the wall is sturdier than what it is. The three mirrors, 10”, 13” and 17” in diameter pop out at you instead of becoming a part of the wall. Even though they are the size of regular mirrors they are in no way regular themselves. The colors give the viewer a nautical feeling. All the navy blues, fire engine reds with the silver and gold imply porthole rather than window.

The artist Terry Mcall is my kind of craftsmen. Rugged and stylish is always a good way for an artist to go. The piece Black and Red Flange seems like it was a spare part of some industrial plumbing that was assembled to make a simple room look tough. There are about ten of these mirrors and I’m wondering if they’re anymore. Can Terry Mcall churn out ten of these in a week or fifty a day? I don’t know but I do know I want one Рor two or three.

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Update – Art In Bars looking for artists

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

new business card

new business card

Art in Bars is pleased to announce that we are beginning our second phase – moving towards being an active member in the placement of artists in alternative spaces – and becoming a sole proprietorship. I would also like to announce the addition of Del Lovett as the Director of Artists. Del will most likely not participate in the blog, but rather focus on the behind the scenes artist recruitment. Del is herself a painter, with a BFA from Moore College of Art and Design. Her partnership will assure the high quality of artists represented, expand and diversify the businesses we work with, and ensure the smooth work review and installation processes. If you are interested in working with Art in Bars, please contact us at admin@artinbars.com.

The Pitch to Artists – What Art in Bars can do for you: Art in Bars is dedicated to promoting emerging artists by connecting their work with alternative exhibition spaces. We target your artwork to businesses and clients that share an aesthetic affinity with your work. We handle all presentation, timeline planning, and public relations, allowing you to focus on your art work while your career matures and you establish a sales and showing history. Art in Bars does more than provide you with a venue to exhibit in; we handle all event and artist promotion. Utilizing our years of experience in art promotion, your shows are highlighted in the appropriate publications, online venues, and listings, heightening your visibility in the arts scene. The onus is on us to provide timely, concise accurate press releases with juicy pull lines, appropriate quality images, and to maintain visibility in the crowded marketplace, allowing you to focus on your art and reap the benefits. There is no long term commitment required – we are interested in helping establish your career and fully expect you to move on to bigger and better things. Check the Featured Artists page for some FAQ and then e-mail me at admin@artinbars.com with your questions so I can expand the section to fit your needs.

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Bar Event to Support Coffee

Monday, October 19th, 2009

I love independent coffee houses. Not just because I’m from the Northwest, birthplace of the movement. Not just because I worked for a few years at a coffee monolith which shall remain unnamed. Not just because they’re a great place to get my caffeine fix and see some art. With their communal creative atmosphere, free internet, and delicious food and beverage, independent coffee houses are a local commodity which should be supported; clearly, they’re like a epicenter for stuff white people like.

But I like hanging out in bars better. If only there was some way I could support my local coffee houses by drinking beer instead of coffee. Well, all of my dreams have now come true. NEXT Monday, October 26 at 9 P.M. The North Star Bar will host a dance party to benefit and create awareness for the Independents Coffee Cooperative. Made up of Burlap and Bean, Crescent Moon Coffee & Tea, Green Line Cafe, Joe Coffee Bar, Kaffa Crossing, Metropolitan Bakery & Cafe, and Mugshots Coffeehouse (names you frequently see on this here site) the co-op was founded in 2003 to promote fair trade and sustainability among its members and in the community at large. The proceeds of this dance part go towards various projects the coop is involved with. For more info: independentscoffee.com

Featuring DJ Lizbot, DJ Yakov, DJ Hi-Res and many more, you can find out more about the event on the facebook event page.

The North Star Bar
27th & Poplar

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Friday Art Happenings

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Things happening tonight, October 9th: Earth Bread and Brewery turns one – the have 11 beers on tap and $1 off all flatbreads to celebrate. Head on out and see the work of Gail Kote and Jennifer Monahan.  Р7136 Germantown Ave.

Chapterhouse is having it’s autumn show opening tonight as well, featuring Alicia Neal and Chris Murray. There will be “snacking and beveraging and good times” as well as surprises. 6 –10 P.M.  Р620 S 9th St.

Tonight only is the Acting 201 exhibition at Midwives, featuring every young artists and not artists in the city. Seriously, I feel as though I know more people participating in this show than not. And I’m sure once I get there I’ll bump into a ton more. Based on a randomly assigned prompt, participants crafted a photograph using conscious spontaneity. The show is only up tonight from 6 ‚Äì10 P.M. Work goes up, people mingle, artists take home their photos at the end of the night.¬† Beer, soda and snacks will be provided, and a $3-5 donation is encouraged to help defray costs. – 1241 Carpenter St.

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Windows in Olde City

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

For Design Philadelphia the Olde City Business Collective has encouraged their shop owners to decorate their windows. With 50 participating locations there is a wide variety of displays to check out. Some are crafted by the employees, but many are the work of artists and designers, including Beth Beverly and Aubrey Costello. Take a stroll around the neighborhood and check it out.

Afterward, be sure to vote on your favorite, because the winning window will be awarded a grand prize of a weekend getaway in Savannah, Georgia and a private a tour of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Rad. This Friday October 9th there will be an opening reception at Dane Decor (315 Arch Street) with snacks and cocktails, where you can mingle with the artists. This is a super short happening, with the voting closing October 13th. Then, on Tuesday the 20th  there will be another party for the awards reception at F.U.E.L. (249 Arch Street) where the winner will be announced.

If you’re not around the area, you can check out the photos online, although there’s no way to tell which artists did what or even what business window it is. If you feel like strolling around, in this lovely weather, I have made a map with all of the participating businesses as well as the names of the artists.


View Windows Throughout Old City October 7-13, 2009 in a larger map

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