DoNArTNeWs

DoN is running this town just like a club!  Art clubs, that is - with fine art photography in open and juried art shows in five major art spaces in South Jersey & Philly.  The Art of the Flower show @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club is a juried competition with an enormous turnout of talented artists; DoN feels great relief that his decision to include an inkjet print photograph collage of Carnivourous Plants @ Bartram’s Garden has been recognized by the jurors to be included in the highly coveted show.

DoN Brewer, Carnivorous Plants @ Bartram’s Garden, digital photograph, Photoshop collage, inkjet print @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club’s annual Art of the Flower Exhibition, a blind juried competition of all types of art.

DoN helped install the Small Worlds show @ The Plastic Club; the team of volunteers hung over three hundred small images through out the old town house, each room, gallery and hall is filled with a myriad selection of art.  The tremendous trove of work is smooshed in but exhibitions chair Alan Klawans foresees a day when cuts will have to be made.  And, listen to DoN when he says - prepare your art properly for installation and rough handling, DoN had an artist’s piece literally come part in his hands and Plastic Club President Bob Jackson spent extra hours kindly adding wire to art submitted by artists, after spending two days logging art by hand in the log book and then hanging work on the walls Bob really doesn’t need to prepare your work for you.  Really, if they have to make cuts, the first to go will be poor presentation, artist Art Ostroff & DoN griped about the lost skills of presentation.  Ironically, DoN was a wire offender but took his work home to fix himself - if Bob Jackson wired your art for you to be in a huge show like Small Worlds, you owe him a big favor.  Speaking of favors, DoN doesn’t know who dropped out but he has five photographs included in the Downstairs Gallery @ The Plastic Club, a prestigious honor bestowed only on members in good standing.  DoN is presenting a group of abstract landscape photographs from his series, light beings,  several new images have been added to DoN’s on-line gallery.

DoN Brewer, Panama Street, digital photograph, Photoshop, inkjet print, 8 x 10″ @ The Plastic Club’s Small Worlds art extravaganza.

 The opening reception for Diverse Perspectives @ Da Vinci Art Alliance was super fun, DoN will write a separate review of the group show in South Philly.  The group that came together organically and easily, organized an art show that DoN is proud to be a part, truly diverse, artistic and eclectic - just like DoN!

DoN Brewer Photography @ Diverse Perspectives at Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, 704 Catharine Street, South Philly.  DoN will be hosting a discussion, Search Engine Optimization for Artists, Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 2 - 4:00 PM.

The Perkins Center for the Arts Photography 30 Show is almost over,  it has been such an honor to be included in the exclusive annual photography event.  The show is truly inspirational, aspirational & astounding - no kidding.  As photographer Bonnie Schorske said, “…it’s a feather in your cap!“  Thank you to Uncle Dave and Aunt Barbara, Cousin Carla & friends, Shoshka, Lola, Rob, Bonnie and all my friends & family who cheered me on and braved the snow to visit the beautiful mansion in Moorestown, NJ.  You got to tip on the tightrope!

DoN has a new piece on display @ Bonte’s, 9th & Walnut that is a departure from the abstraction he’s known for, a church lady hat store window titled South Street Chapeaux, a documentary still life composition that Shoshka will love.  The on-going show promoted by the Photographic Society of Philadelphia is a cool spot to show along with fellow photography enthusiasts; the PSoP events @ The Plastic Club are always informative, the recent talk by photographer Ed Snyder and graphic designer John Bacille about how to produce your own book was inspiring and a recent field trip to the Wistar Institute for the Nikon Small World show is exclusive and informative.

DoN Brewer, South Street Chapeaux @ Bonte’s Cafe, 9th & Walnut Streets.  Thank you so much to the good people at the Photographic Society of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club and Da Vinci Art Alliance for providing the art opportunities, diverse creative outlets and intellectual peer support in the heart of the coolest city in the world.

2010 Philadelphia Open Studio Tours -  pdf

Register @ http://www.philaopenstudios.com/Opportunities.aspx

Da Vinci Art Alliance is sponsoring the fabulous show, “Little Show of Horrors” @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery; alliance members were challenged to create works commemorating Charles Darwin’s 150th anniversary of “The Origin of Species”and carnivorous plants and all the artists went crazy on the theme of the fabled bug eaters.  Above is Ted Warchal’s mixed media dream box and DoN Brewer’s digital photo collage.

Dexiang Qian, Girl with Venus Flytrap, oil on canvas @ Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery.  An honorable mention award winner, the painting explores the mystery and allure of collecting exotic plants.  The display of carniverous plants in Bartram’s Garden is unbelievably fascinating, DoN highly recommends seeking out the display while the Summer is still hot.  Venus Flytraps are indigenous to the Carolina’s and their habitat is being encroached upon, Bartram’s Garden offers a glimpse into a strange & wondrous world of ecology and botany and it’s fragility.

Alden Cole’s Starlings tap into a deep psychological pattern recognition much like ancient man must have reacted to the Venus of Willendorf; the simple play of line and shape is loaded with narrative, a single line of graphite tingling the hive memory deep in our genetic code.

Michael Diprinzio @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery “Little Show of Horrors” featuring Da Vinci Art Alliance members.

Emily Orb with Bartram’s Garden director Louise Turen with “The Garden of Earthly Delights“, silk  painting was honored with Best in Show.  The reinvention of Bosch’s iconic dream scape is rendered with modern characters and technique, filling an entire wall of the historic space.

Dr. Debra Miller presenting awards @ Little Show of Horrors.  The Bartram’s Garden Gallery is in the oldest barn in Philadelphia and a wonderful space for art shows with the rough stone white-washed walls, wide wood plank floors and ancient windows - and air conditioning!

Rachel Citrino, Ted Warchal (Most Creative winner) and the painting duo Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi @ Little Show of Horrors.  The show runs though August 22nd and members of the alliance will be gallery sitting, Alden & DoN will be on sight all day Wednesday.

The art party opening for Little Show of Horrors @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery sponsored by the Da Vince Art Alliance.  For a free downloadable version of DoN Brewer’s Honorable Mention winner, “Botanical Print”, click here.

Over the Summer, Alden Cole and DoN made regular trips to Bartram’s Garden in West Philly to work on paintings for the Da Vinci Art Alliance’s “Art of the Tree” exhibit.  Today on a snowy cold day, I remember sitting in the humid heat painting the fantastic lotus in full bloom in the water Lilly pond, including in the composition an unusual tree with large thorns and small shiny leaves.  DoN wondered aloud what type of tree it was and a voice from behind said, “It’s a Toothache Tree.”  One of the many gardeners had been watching DoN paint and was very helpful in explaining the many plants in the historic garden.  The anesthetic effect of the thorns from the Toothache Tree was used by the Indians to soothe sore gums. 

Alden Cole’s “DoN Painting in Bartram’s Garden”, oil on recycled cutting board.

Mixed media by Liz Niklus.

Carved wood by R.J Wallner in Bartram’s Garden Gallery.

Solid brass owl sculpture by Michelle Post.

Painting by Ken Tutjamnung

Paintings on left by DoN Brewer, paintings on right by Victoria Necins and Alden Cole, luminary by Alden Cole.

Another day DoN painted a landscape with a Carolina Silverbell Tree with a hint of the Schuylkill River peeking through the trees; painting plein air can be intoxicating and tiring, DoN has to bring all the supplies to the location hopefully not forgetting something important.  Art friend, Aida accompanied DoN one sunny day and we both produced decent paintings.  Check out the Bartrams Garden website for the history of this amazing nature space, even better visit the garden and wander the paths along the river. 

“Carolina Silverbell” by DoN Brewer. oil on canvas.

“Bartram’s Garden” by DoN Brewer, oil on canvas.

“Lotus and the Toothache Tree” by DoN Brewer, oil on rag board.

Da Vinci Art Alliance art party @ Bartram’s Garden Gallery in America’s oldest barn.

Alden and DoN each completed three paintings appropriate for the show which ran the weekend of October 23^rd starting with a lovely cocktail party and awards presented by Dr. Deb Miller.  Shoshana, Shirleen and Alden sipped wine and nibbled snacks with members of the Da Vinci Art Alliance and watched the sun set over the Philadelphia skyline.

DoN can’t wait for Spring and the chance to paint the beautiful flowers and trees in this lovely, restful space hidden on the edge of Philadelphia.