It is a life goal of mine to attend the Kentucky Derby. Mostly because I love outrageous hats. And gambling on horse races. But the third reason I would like to attend is of course the cult of the particular tipple the Mint Julep, which now a days is neglected all year long save for today. I know someone who’s been to the derby before and the stories she tells are a-maz-ing. (Well, all the stories she tells are amazing, but the derby ones are particularly a hoot and a half.) Alas, it is a dream deferred for now. Chances are, you may have just found out that it’s derby day, and are wondering how you can get into the spirit. I suggest smashing up some mint and getting smashed at home, as it’s a lovely day for hanging out on stoops, roofs, or back yards. But if you’re feeling social, or not in a self bar tending mood,¬† lots o’ places around town are celebrating by breaking out specials on Mint Juleps. If you are an ambitious drinker, you could plot your course and be thoroughly trashed today. But that wouldn’t be very genteel. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia’
The Mint Julep
Saturday, May 1st, 2010Ask an Artist Erin Murray
Friday, April 9th, 2010By Jenn Sharon
What is there to say about today’s Ask an Artist artist Erin Murray? More than you’d think! After getting her BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art back in ’01 Erin returned to Philadelphia and it’s art scene with a mission. She’s been shown various places around town including the Painted Bride, Projects Gallery, F.U.E.L., Artist’s House, Center for Emerging Visual Artists — just to name a few. Her paintings of urban structures will strike a chord in any metro minded mortal. She recently took about 2 years off while she was building her Fishtown multi-unit house/artist space practically from scratch, and now that she has captured her vision for that building in 3-D, Erin is focused on returning to her art. I recently got the opportunity to chat with Erin about her views on different citrus fruits. No, wait, art– her views on art. (more…)
I know where your servers drink
Thursday, March 18th, 2010It’s no secret that ¬†I can’t even begin to pay the bills by working at a gallery. And as this is not a monetized blog, I do childcare to make ends meet. This means I work a lot of hours, and often consecutively at multiple jobs. Meaning, I might sit in the morning, work the gallery till the evening, then go to another family while the parents go out at night. One such Thursday evening I came home at around 10:30 (early night) feeling murderous. My partner wisely thought we should go out rather than cook in, and given my love of Mexican food and the lateness of the hour, we opted for Xochitl. (more…)
Opportunities for Artists
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010Hey, artists. Looking for some opportunities to get shown / curate / get involved? Marvelous. (more…)
Weekend Arty Things – hashtagclass
Thursday, March 4th, 2010 
 
UPDATE: I was totally confused. This is happening in NYC. So Philadelphia is now participating in the #class at Winkleman Gallery¬†this Sunday March 7th from 5-8 P.M. Suggested by the artblahg, The Artwake will involve a eulogy followed by a panel discussion. The people at Rebekah Templeton are looking for folks who are interested in volunteering to participate and providing topics to discuss. They’ve created a blog where folks are invited to post thoughts and ideas, the theory being that even if one is unable to attend the event they can be part of discussion. Beyond the wake and the blog, the organizers state that they “are pretty open in terms of other ideas” and are looking for individuals or groups who are interested in participate in other ways. So get on your anarchist artist thinking caps, kids. (more…)
Kelly Kozma and Bridgett Bonn Wagner
Friday, February 12th, 2010
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 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.
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.



