I know I whine about this every month, but for serious guys, no one is updating their websites or sending out their listings. Maybe it’s the weather; I know Mat Tomezsko’s opening was moved twice. Perhaps people are just chucking any schedule and keeping things up. I wouldn’t know, though, because I’m using the internet to get all of my information, and we all know how accurate that is. Most shows begin First Friday March 5th and conclude at the end of the month unless otherwise indicated. These are just spaces having events – for full listings, see the listings page. Please let me know if I’ve missed anything. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Mat Tomezsko’
Snow Delays
Thursday, February 11th, 2010I’m such a slacker. It was a tremendous pain to walk two blocks to the mailbox today, so as my bus isn’t running, I wasn’t exactly jazzed to hike up to the gallery today. So I called out. I’m not the only one, apparently. Although the bars in this town manage to nobly soldier on, blizzard or not, the art openings are not so lucky. Thus far I have heard:
Darla Jackson’s opening of “While you were out . . .” at the Philadelphia Art Alliance tonight has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 18th from 5-7:30pm.
Matt Tomezsko’s opening which would have been tomorrow will now be Friday March 12th from 6:30-9:00 and there will be a taco bar by Qdoba.
The Freeman’s auction of part II of the Lehman Collection has also been rescheduled Friday, February 19th at 11am. I’ve only been to one art auction before and I had so much fun. Seriously. It was fascinating to see the variety of work and how some things would sell way under market value and some prices would become so inflated in a bidding war. No reserve on any of the works in this sale. Check out the works available online, where you can also download the catalog.
Meanwhile, Art in the Age wants you to know that their event with Reverend Michael Alan making dream catchers is still on for tonight, *UPDATE* also postponed until Thursday, February 18th at 6:30pm. Check the comments for the info..
Know of anything else that was supposed to happen yesterday/today/tomorrow that’s being moved?
Ask an Artist – Mat Tomezsko
Monday, February 8th, 2010
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
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
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.
February Listings
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Mat Tomezsko, Back
If you are a bar, bookstore, boutique, cafe, hair salon, laundromat, record shop, restaurant, skate shop or whatever that occasionally rotates artwork up on the walls, and are interested in having your shows listed, please contact me at admin@artinbars.com OR if you are an artist or a friend of an artist with a art show at a not-gallery, let me know! Am I missing a great location? You know the email. Keep me in the know!
Steve Shea at the Abbaye. 637 N 3rd St. Opening Reception Friday, February 5th from 6-9pm. Through February.
Rene Micheli photography at Arcadia Boutique. 819 North 2nd St. Opening reception Friday, February 5th from 6-9pm. Through February.
Ariel Levine and Mark Ellis at Cafe Estelle. Opening reception Friday, February 5th. Through February.
Mat Tomezsko is showing his paintings Cigar Factory on February 12th. Through February.
Art Inspired by Nikola Tesla at Germ Bookstore . Opening reception February 5th, 5-9 P.M. Through February.
Kelsey Halliday Johnson at the Green Line Cafe 4239 Baltimore Ave.
Staff Art Show at Green Line on Locust 4426 Locust St.
Andrew Christman at Green Line Powelton 3649 Lancaster Ave. More information at http://greenlinecafe.com
Ian Burke at Random Tea Room. 713 N 4th St. Opening reception February 11th from 6-9 P.M. February 11th-26th, 2010.
The Best Of Craftivity! at Rocket Cat Cafe 2001 Frankford Ave. Through February.
Kristin Burtoft at Salsita Studio. 1624 South St. Through March 6th, 2010.
Kris Chau at Topstitch Boutique. 54 N. 3rd. Opening reception February 5th 6-10 P.M. Through February 28, 2010.
Lina Stasytyte at 10th Street Laundromat. 1141-43 S. 10th St. Through February.
Full listings on the listings page.