Anywho. If you’re interested in this issue and others, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and the Department of Revenue in association with I-SITE, P’unk Ave, and Independents Hall are hosting a Bloggergate Happy Hour “conversation” tonight at National Mechanics from 5-7PM. This conversation is for small businesses owners, entrepreneurs, creative-types, and the self-employed and will be about taxes, the business privilege license and other issues. I’m of two minds. This might be really interesting and have worthwhile information for me, or it will devolve into paranoid screaming. Think I’ll check it out. There’s no information about any happy hour specials but one can assume that it will be the standard $3 off pitchers, $2 off special drinks, $1 off pints that they generally have. Because that is important to me; what I can save drinking nervously in the corner listening to political types do damage control while the ill-informed rant.

National Mechanics 22 South 3rd St

Not your cup of tea? Interested in getting your drink on sans conversation? Tonight Wednesday September 8th Bridget Foy’s is hosting GIN & SIN. Their Plymouth and Beefeater local representative wants to buy you a gin-based drink at their bar at 5PM. Bridget Foy’s 200 South St.

Darla Jackson, Surprise . . .

Art in Bars: Is your art for everyone or is there a specific audience you have in mind?
Darla Jackson: Definitely for everyone. I want anyone to be able to walk up to a piece of mine and get something from it. That’s part of the reason I sculpt animals . . . everyone can relate to them on some level. And I can push the envelope more with animals than if I were sculpting the same scenarios with figures, but still keep viewers interested . . . For example, a lot of people really liked the Surprise Party installation I did in 2009, despite there being a large dead deer in the middle of the room, whereas a birthday party with little children in party hats and a dead mom on the floor would not have gone over well with just about anyone. It’s all about balancing the cute with the creepy and I feel like maintaining that balance keeps my work for everyone.

AiB: Like a construction worker wouldn’t drink on the job, some artists believe they should have a clear head when creating. Have you worked under the influence of alcohol and if not would you in the future?
DJ: I usually stay away from drinking while working . . . sculpting while boozing generally turns out to be a hot mess for me. However, beers after mold making is just about a necessity . . . and I am always down to celebrate a finished project with a Tequila and Tonic (or two . . .)

AiB: When working with sculpture how important is texture versus color and/or shape?
DJ: In my work the final texture is insanely important because its what gives each each piece its lights and darks, its depth and highlights. Because most of my pieces are finished with a black graphite patina over the whole surface, the texture is what makes the surfaces of each piece differ from one another. The overall shape is important too as I feel like people’s first impressions of the work are formed looking at the piece as a whole but its still the finish, the texture and the overall weirdness that draws them in for a closer look.

AiB: Where s the strangest place you’ve shown your work?
DJ: Hands down, a scary old boiler room. Shout out to Charles Benefiel for setting that up.

Installation in a scary old boiler room

AiB: Do you think animals serve us best as pets, beasts of burden or food?
DJ: Well, being the vegetarian animal sculptor that I am, I think animals serve me best as reference material/models. I might have said pets in the past, but my cats and I are arguing at the moment so they are being written off.

AiB: Do you listen to music while you work and if so, what?
DJ: Assuming your last question isn’t some insane coincidence, you might already know that I listen to Eminem while I work . . . a lot of Eminem. So much that I really really hope the guys in the studio next to mine like Eminem, because if not, they most certainly hate me . . .

AiB: Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted – one moment would you capture it or let it slip?
DJ: Success is my only motherfucking option, failure’s not.

Darla Jackson is showing all over town and has a mess of receptions coming up. If you’re interested in seeing her work in person, stop by any or all of these events:

Darla Jackson, Vessel

Through September 19th, she is showing at the 112th Annual Fleisher Faculty Exhibition at The Fleisher Art Memorial 719 Catherine St. Closing Reception: Sunday, Sept 19th, 5-7PM.

Jackson is also a part of the 2010 Annual Faculty Exhibition at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Gallery 128 Broad & Cherry Streets, Hamilton Building. Opening reception Friday, September 10th, 4-6PM. Through October 15th, 2010.

Trophy a solo exhibition at B2 1500 East Passyunk Ave. Opening reception: Saturday, September 11th, 6-8PM. Through October 7th, 2010.

Inliquid Benefit v. 11 at Crane Arts Building: Grey Area & Ice Box 1400 N. American St. Reception Wednesday, Sept 30th, 7:30-10PM

There is a Great Deal I Do Not Want to Know featuring Walter and Margaux Kent and Darla Jackson at Art in the Age 116 North 3rd Street. Opening reception Friday, Oct 1st, 6-8PM. Through October 31st, 2010.

Stripped to the Teeth a group showing by The Other Woman Collective at The Toothless Cat in The Piazza at Schmidt’s Suite 86/88. Opening reception Saturday, Oct 9th, 6-10PM. Through November 10th, 2010.

Jackson will have a Solo Exhibition at Le Cochon Noir 5070 Parkside Ave. Opening reception Friday, Oct 29th, 6:30-8:30PM. Through November 22nd, 2010.

Jackson has also co-curated the show Graphite with Aubrie Costello, featuring work by Anne Canfield, Aubrie Costello, Justin Grant and Sarah Hunt at Barefoot Doctor Community Acupuncture 618 E. Girard Ave. Opening reception Friday, September 17th, 6-9PM. Through November 30th, 2010.

Today Bridget Foy’s is having a Kentucky Derby Party complete with a hat contest. The winner takes home a fine bottle of bourbon. So wish I could be there. From 4-7PM and they’re offering $5 Mint Juleps. I imagine the races might also be playing. By far the best deal in town is at The Abbaye where they’re featuring $3. Mint Juleps from 3-7 PM.

Alas, as usual, I’m working today. With a new infant, no less, so drinking is not on the schedule. But don’t worry, I have plans to quench my love of drinking and gambling tomorrow, with the annual Sly Fox Bock Festival & Goat Race. I have never been able to go to this event and I’m drying to. The races determine the name of this year’s Maibock. And I get to drink beer. And GOATS. It’s tomorrow in Phoenixville from 11 AM – 6PM. More info on their site.

No matter how you slice it, it’s a lovely weekend for drinking.

Erin Murray - Ugly and Ordinary Animal Hospital

By 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.

Art in Bars: Is someone an artist who does not continually make art?

Erin Murray: No more than I’m a writer just because I write once in a while. I’m cool with lots of people considering themselves artists; it’s not the sacred cow of designations, but you’ve gotta produce something, with passion and purpose. That can be artisanal cocktails, power ballads, full-sized liberty bells made out of pennies, whatever.

AiB: Do you consider the word ‘art’ a blanketed term on all things creative or do you think it is overused? Is there a traditionally accepted form of art that you think isn’t actually art?

EM: While I’ve walked into many a gallery and thought, “Are you f***ing kidding me?!”, I do not mind using the term ‘art’ for all things creative under the sun. If the DaVinci Code is writing, then that pile of poo can be art. Whenever I’m confronted with a confounding piece of art, I remind myself that it’s okay not to like or understand it, that’s for the critics anyway. I call it mattress planet art; allow me to explain: In the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams speaks of a planet that is simply full of mattresses and nothing else. In an infinite universe with infinite possibility there would, of course, be such a thing, somewhere. In a supportive arts environment, the spectrum of art will be broad and varied and sometimes outright weird, and that’s something to be happy about.

AiB: Do you feel your work is influenced more by art historical traditions, your schooling, or something else you discovered?

EM: I think most artists could pick out hundreds of factors that influence their work. It‚Äôs a crystallization of everything you‚Äôve seen with everything you‚Äôve been. For me, I‚Äôve been influenced by other artists–discovered in galleries, in art school, and in random books left at my old studio building by other artists (thanks!). Certain teachers were influential of course. The city around me continually inspires–my personal history as a Philadelphian and the circumstances of my youth growing up in and around this city are also a factor in what I make as an artist today. Random things too; I stumbled across an interview of the architect Robert Venturi on the internet and found a wealth of ideas to inform my art. He had a good quote regarding influences from his Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture: ‚ÄúFrom what we find we like‚Äîwhat we are easily attracted to‚Äîwe can learn much of what we really are.‚Äù

AiB: Because a college path of the arts is now generally socially acceptable, more young people are attending art schools. This means that there are now more people who identify as artists, with differing levels of passion and commitment. How do you think the luxury class of young artists affects the arts environment? Do art schools serve any purpose to young artists?

Erin Murray Ugly and Ordinary Daycare

EM: Well, it certainly makes the art scene more competitive and drives quality up and that’s a good thing. Another consequence is that many talented but self-trained artists can find themselves behind the curve. I know I’ve felt that way many times just for not having gotten an MFA. As I see it, thems the breaks. In some ways the art world is a meritocracy; the self taught artist who is dedicated and talented enough will rise to the top no matter. So, are we left with a slew of self identified artists that the market cannot bear? My feeling is that they will find their way; people with a college education usually do. At the very least they will have a knowledge and appreciation for art, and hopefully a fat paycheck because THAT is what the art world needs the most, patrons! (Maybe even ones outside of the art scene bubble!) I do think art schools serve a purpose, mostly because they are college, and I cringe to think where I’d be now without it.

AiB: Do you think criticism or praise inspires an artist to create more or better works? Or is the art just within the artist and neither criticism or praise is a factor?

EM: The idea that art is just within the artist and is not susceptible to change through criticism or praise is way too romantic for an old cynic like me. No artist is as good as they’re gonna get, and an artist who doesn’t at least take criticism under consideration is just plain stubborn. I’ve met people like that and, frankly, they’re annoying.

AiB: Do you always look at life through the eyes of an artist?

EM: I do, especially since my work takes the built environment as its subject. It’s darn near impossible just to walk around the city without being visually overloaded with work that I should make or that someone else should.

AiB: If you didn’t work in your primary medium, what (if any) other art would you create?

EM: I’d probably be making really bad crafts and selling them on etsy.

Look out for Erin in the upcoming 2010/2011 art year! But until then, you can check out her work at www.erinmurray.org. If you’re a self-identifying artist and would like to be asked some questions, or if you have burning questions for the artistic community, contact Art in Bars at admin@artinbars.com

Luckily for us, Thursday through Saturday from 10 P.M. – 12 A.M. is the late night happy hour in the lower lounge. We had experienced the late night happy hour once before, when a night of drinking margaritas brought us into the happy hour and we switched to the house tequilla. Not a good move after drinking the good stuff, I don’t care about the money saved, it ruins the flow of the evening. But on this night we were looking for food, and that’s where this special truly shines.

All food on the late night menu is half priced, which is impressive, as portions appeared to be the same as the delicate constructions we had sampled other times. With prices so affordable, there was no guilt in ordering several small plates to share, where doing so earlier in the evening might have felt exorbitant. It used to be everything you ordered was served with the same three sauces, which makes for a comical sauce overload if one goes the tapas route. Tacos were soft traditional corn discs filled with simmered meats brightened by a spritz of lime, queso fundido a decadent excuse to, well, eat melted cheese, and minature sopes that were almost a joke on haute cuisine, except they were costing me half as much as usual for their single mouthful of flavor, transforming them into fun finger food. We were also drinking $2 cans of beer, Tecate and Modelo, if my memory serves me right.

As you may notice, this post is entitled I know where your servers drink, because honey do I ever. All around me were food service workers pounding the cheap beer and margaritas. The basement was packed by midnight, even as the special ended, with faces I recognized from nearby establishments, as well as those still in their uniforms from other well known local restaurant empires. Boy did they bring the food gossip, as waitresses loudly exclaimed who was sleeping with who, names I’ve become familiar with through foobooz. Scandalous!¬†The partner and I finished our late dinner and decided to stick around for a few more rounds of beer, conversation, and eavesdropping. Quickly it was last call, and we settled our tab shocked how affordable the late evening had been. And apparently, it’s going to be even cheaper from now on.

If you’re in the mood for a late night with cheap beer, food gossip, and delicious Mexican, Xochitl is an excellent resource that feels far removed from the claustrophobic,¬†noxious¬†drama of South Street and Olde City. Since I was last there new items have been introduced and the prices have dropped. As Xochitl has a new chef, what better time to sample the new menu than with the late night happy hour?

Xochitl 408 South 2nd St.