DoNArTNeWs

Late in October, Piffaro the Renaissance Music Band, Philadelphia’s, if not the world’s, premier early music ensemble, opened their 25th season with a transporting experience that began early in the evening at Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square.  The spectacular space with the Tiffany stained glass dome was the backdrop to a once in a life time collaboration between Piffaro The Renaissance Music Band, with their ethereal recorder harmonies, Blue Heron Choir’s excellent, eclectic renaissance vocals, Parthenia’s viols which sounded like an entire orchestra in the lush acoustics of the church rivaling the sound quality of the Academy of Music, built around the same time. The music was A Royal Baptism: Stuttgart 1616, 80 minutes of entrancing music based the elaborate celebration of a royal baby christening but was actually a party to honor the father, forget the baby.  The extensive information in the catalog for the show illustrates dancers emerging from giant heads while musicians played, escorting the Royals in their fancy horse drawn carriages.  But this was just the beginning, after the concert the audience broke for dinner (DoN dined at the Irish Pub with super-friends and Piffaro volunteer coordinator Dody Magaziner & Len Blumenthal) and then the audience came together again for part 2 of the evening at Trinity Center for Urban Life @ 22nd & Spruce Streets, the entire orchestra was already there plus the most excellent soprano Laura Heimes and the New York Historical Dance Company.  A stage was set up in the high vaulted chamber of the old church for the dancers in full period costume who demonstrated courtly moves, poses and jigs while the players and singers created a deeply resonate beat, music that played in DoN’s head long after the concert was over.

Piffaro’s masterminds, Joan Kimball & Bob Weimken have been creating divine musical experiences in Philadelphia for ages but The Royals Baptism & Ballet was not just an exploration of historical music but an adventure into a world of high art, enthralling architecture, acoustic perfection and unique artistic collaborations combined with a civilized dinner break to spend time with friends, old & new, in beautiful Center City, then with a short walk resume deep immersion into another time and space in a different place.  The evening of music, dance, food and drink was so civilized and refined, eclectic and amusing, big yet accessible - an experience designed to delight the senses and educate the mind.

Halloween Eve, the Salon @ The Plastic Club, hosted by Anders Hanson, ran a double bill movie and cartoon featuring The Thing From Another World, the original 1951 black & white Howard Hawkes production and Bubba-Hotep, based on the Bram Stoker Award nominee short story by acclaimed author Joe R. Lansdale, Bubba Ho-tep tells the story of what really did become of Elvis.  “We find the King (Bruce Campbell) as an elderly resident in an East Texas rest home, who switched identities with an Elvis impersonator years before his “death”, then missed his chance to switch back. Elvis teams up with Jack (Ossie Davis), a fellow nursing home resident who thinks that he is actually President John F. Kennedy, and the two valiant old codgers sally forth to battle an evil Egyptian entity who has chosen their long-term care facility as his happy hunting grounds”.
Between movies the audience talked about how The Thing influenced their childhoods, causing kids to sleep with their heads under the covers for years.  The scene when the dead dog falls out of the cabinet still draws gasps from the crowd.  And in Bubba Hotep, recommended by the inimitable Rick Wright, seeing fat Elvis played by macho heart-throb Bruce Campbell trapped in a nursing home after switching identities with an impostor is a wonderful metaphor for fame & art stardom.  Sitting in the dark with art friends, watching movies, laughing and drinking is casually convivial to conversation and friendship, especially when the comfortable backdrop is one of the most historic art clubs in the USA.

The production of Macbeth @ The Wilma Theater is like being in a live movie with an intense intimacy, dark corners, hand held lighting and high tech special effects.  The play could be set at any time in the past present or future, DoN imagined David Lynch’s Dune must have been an influence with the ancient/future vibration running through the designs.  The industrial two tiered set, designed by Mimi Lien with lighting by Tyler Micoleau, was conducive to intimate conversations by candle light to wild battle scenes accompanied by gore and gasps.  A techno squeal represents the screech of a cat screaming at night, halogen lights through the fog like a scene from Alien and abstract music by Pavel Fajt transports the audience far away to an imaginary Scotland.  When Lady Macbeth, realized by actress Jaqueline Antaramian, appears in a puplish gown amidst the stark black & white set and drab costumed men she is luminous in the darkness like a Sargent painting.  When the witches appear, their throw-away entrance is so amazingly confounding that the whole former Warner Brothers cartoon image of witches stirring a kettle from DoN’s childhood has been over-written by a dream-scape inhabited by peasant Earth mothers with spiritual powers.

The ancient and the future live in Philadelphia, as a culture vulture, DoN views the options and variations of art, theater and music to be as cosmopolitan and extravagant, elite or accessible, classic and contemporary as any place in the world, that there is literally something special happening nearby every day.  Support your local arts.

LoVe

DoN

DoN had the opportunity to interview artist Niki Bombshell and learned she’s a neighbor!  You never know.  Bombshell is a graduate of Moore College of Art & Design  and is not only a fine artist/illustrator & designer, she is also a curator producing exhibits for James Oliver Gallery, SAGE Projects Gallery & Salsita Studio.  DoN also learned Niki prefers to use found objects and recycled materials to produce her work, unless someone provides her with a canvas to paint.

The party @ Salsita on South Street sounds like it’ll be a blast!  Attached is Niki’s resume.

Niki Bombshell Resume

Niki Bombshell Artist Statement

DoNArTNeWs

Ola!  The Philadelphia Sketch Club is hosting Cultural Collisions: Latino Artists in Philadelphiawith an art exhibition of paintings, drawings and photography, the Turtulia included poetry, music, perforformance and dance and the upcoming extravaganza, Gala Milonga, with Tango lessons, dance performance and live entertainment.  Shoshka and DoN attended the opening reception for the art exhibit last Sunday and literally participated in an historic event. Charles Cushing is the curator of the exhibit incorporating Latin American art, poetry, music, performance and more; he has been practicing Tango for weeks preparing to take the floor of the Sketch Club (perfect for dancing by the way) .  The art show originated with Cushing curating a smaller exhibit of Latin artists at Two Penn Center and through a series of acquaintances and meetings he was able to coordinate with the Sketch Club’s exhibition committee a show in the historic gallery during Latin American History Month.  

Produced mostly by Philadelphia Latin artists, the show includes traditional Latin art but also contemporary, abstract, photo-realist, expressionist paintings and fine art photography.For example, a group of four 8×10 silver gelatin print photographs in the far corner of the gallery by Jorge Figueroa represent more than just the emerging artist’s first art show, the images document a way of life since the artist began taking photographs as a teenager and is now 65.  Monica Rodrigo, President of the Board of Raices Culturales Latino Americans, explained to DoN how Figueroa’s family oftened questioned his perchant for taking pictures but now there’s talk of an exhibit at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, a catalog raisonne and more.  Here’s this guy in Guatamala clicking pictures, taking flack from his kids, working hard yet documenting American life, capturing history through glimpses into true humanity.  The artist was present forTurlulia, the poetry reading last Friday evening - more about that later on.

Artist/Curator Charles Cushing at the opening of Cultural Collisions @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Silver gelatin prints by Jorge Figueroa @ PSC Cultural Collisions. The lower image is called, ”The Junkyard Worker“, absolutely stunning - the clarity, narrative, execution, presentation are all first rate; Figueroa’s work is a treasure trove of fine art photography.

Silver gelatin print by Jorge Figueroa.  Monica explained to DoN that this image represents this young girls world, her job as a maid means she is responsible for the space you see in the picture - a corner of the world.

Dante Sanchez‘, “The Time Has Come“, portraying “the moment Judas felt sorry and hung himself”.  Sanchez’ bold strokes, inspired by the writing of Juan Bosch’s “Judas Escariate El Calumniado“, have a plein air quality, as if quickly painted in the moment; Dante captures the instant when the sky darkens as Judas dies.

Dante Sanchez with his, “Dancing on 5th Street.”  During Friday nights, Turtulia, the climax of the evening was a performance of La Bomba in authentic costume with live music!  DoN captured the event on tape and will post video clips soon on DoNArTNeWs.  Dante was the MC and kept the evening on course with poetry, music, song and dancing long into the evening until everyone spilled out onto Camac street to be greeted by warm summer rain.  The Sketch Club should install a DJ booth - what a terrific room for dancing - everyone was moving to the infectious beat, inspired by the creativity, color and culture.

Dante Sanchez‘, “Mental Vacation in Santo Domingo“.  Dante told DoN, “Dominicans are always dreaming of their country, sending money home to their families but always dreaming of the beach.” 

Sylvia Castellanos with, “First Communion“, oil on canvas.  The subject of the work, the artist’s niece now all but grown up into a beautiful young woman, was present at the show; the sense of family, love and pride was overflowing and passionate.

Diana Ovieda’s, “Cherry“, a large painting evocative of the spirit of the historic event at The Philadelphia Sketch Club.  Diana was not present but her mother sure was!  Dr. Nimi Ovieda was not pleased when her daughter veered towards a career in art while away on a high school class trip.  Now Dr. Ovieda recognizes the passion and drive Diana possessed in order to attend PAFA and now U Penn.  ”Cherry” could be a painting from any modern culture, anywhere in the world; the scale, color sense and composition are cosmopolitan, vibrant and timeless.

“Surprise“, graphite on paper by artist Juan Gomez. A super-strong piece; DoN overheard Steve Iwanczuk advising Gomez to enter the piece in an upcoming exhibition.  There are prospectus’ available online at the Sketch Club’s website. 

Jose Sebourne with his watercolor, “Staci Jiggitts“. Sebourne’s technique is so precise, so refined that at first glance the image appears to be a photograph then magically melts into a nuanced painting, the folds of the jacket abstract, the light glinting on an earring really a scrape of paint, the subject a young woman lost deep in thought - a great painting.

Cultural Collision’s Art Stars: Diana Larisgoitia, Pedro Fuller, Jose Sebourne, Dora Becerra, Carlos Pascual, LuzSelenia Salas, Albert Becerra, Sylvia Castellanos and Juan Gomez.

Friday,  9/5, the Turtulia at the Sketch Club with poety and performances by Mirelle Palmansa, Alfierus Bonilla, Gladis Montolio, Dante Sanchez, Irsa Garcia, Isida M. Brache, Iris Violete Colon-Torres, Adolfo Suarez and Carmen Torres with singer Juan Bonilla, guitarist Jose Bonilla and the Impacto Vallenato group performing between readings was theatrically spectacular.  DoN does not speak Spanish - at all - but the crowd made Shoshka, DoN and new friend Charleen feel welcome, the poetry was passionate and emotional, the songs sweet and soulful, the readings by accomplished academics, writers and performers transformative.  America is not just the USA; America extends from Canada to Chile with artists, writers, musicians and performers inhabiting each state, country, island, city, town, farm…world’s collide at Cultural Collisions.

The exhibition continues through September 24th, this Friday, September 19th, is Gala Malanga with Tango lessons, performances and an evening of dancing.  DoN apologizes to all his new latin friends for miss-spelling “Turtulia” in the last newsletter.BARE

Downstairs in the pool room @ PSC is a photo exhibition entitled BARE natural light nude, photographs by Stephen M. Kane.  Like, WOW!!!  Kane’s images are in a word - sexy.  The show brings to mind Thomas Eakin’s challenge to present the nude in a beautiful, natural manner; Kane surely is pushing the same envelop to present the human form in an intimate, artistic form; each sample of his work activates the space with energy. 

Coming Soon

Next DoNArTNeWs will review Ted Warchal at the Hopkins House in Camden, NJ, Rikard Larma at Smile, Second Thursday at Crane and more.

LoVe

DoN

All photographs by DoNBrewerMultimedia.