DoNArTNeWs

Dog by Karen McDonnell & Anthony Cortosi perfectly encapsulates the theme of this groundbreaking, historic art show curated by Jody Schweitzer of Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks Bar on the corner of 13th & Pine Streets, bringing together artists from the dual art clubs, The Plastic Club & The Philadelphia Sketch Club on the historic Avenue of the Artists - a painting of a three-legged dog created in collaboration by an opposite sex couple.  The formally all female Plastic Club and the formally all male Philadelphia Sketch Club have been co-existing on the same block for decades - the Sketch Club is celebrating it’s 150th anniversary this year with a stunning array of historic art shows & the Plastic Club is nearly 100 - both clubs integrated sexes in 1991, since then Camac Street has become a fantastic haven for artists to work and learn side by side, the competition raising the bar for quality, prestige and creativity for everyone.  Alan Klawans, the exhibitions chair @ The Plastic Club, told DoN participation in art shows is up 300%; the current Small Oils Show @ PSC has 170 paintings, you couldn’t squeeze another piece in if you wanted to.

Karen & Anthony, create all of their art together: drawing, cutting, spraying, dumpster-diving, brain-storming…resulting in iconic imagery resonating with vibrant contemporary urban life.  Their work is proof men & women can work together in partnership, even if the result is like walking on three legs to get there.

The showcase @ Off the Wall Gallery with Dorothy Roschen, Cara Kendric and more, many of the artists are members of both clubs.

Mina Smith-Segal @ An Offering on Camac.  Mina won an award Saturday for a painting she created for the Lantern Theater Company’s Henry IV, Part 1 production, another art collaboration between the Da Vinci Art Alliance of South Philly and the St. Steven’s Theater in Center City - it’s art synergy, baby!

Sibylle-Maria Pfaffenbichler is getting terrific buzz for her jazzy paintings of couples dancing; every show they’re in is instantly energized by the bold color and confidant brushwork, capturing the attention of the viewer like watching a really good-looking couple dancing deep in the groove of the music in a smokey dive with a great juke-box.

An Offering on Camac @ Dirty Franks is the perfect third leg for an art crawl; after trying to absorb over 300 fantastic new art works on view between the two clubs current shows, a stiff drink is in order.  What do you call a one-eyed, three-legged dog?  Lucky.

More than 150 small artworks in many different media are arrayed around the historic gallery space of the Philadelphia Sketch Club on the Avenue of the Artists, Camac Street.  Miniatures represents the work of more than 60 area artists from Betsy Alexander of Ravenswing Studio, Dumpster Diver extraordinaire Alden Cole and Da Vinci Art Alliance board member Lilliana Didovic to esteemed club members such as Karen McDonnell & Tony Cortosi, Dr. Doris Peltzman and first prize winner Michael Kuncevich, one of the club’s elders.  Second prize was awarded to Susan J. Donmoyer  for an extraordinary drawing.  Even though DoN was a co-chair of the show, he has to say - the show is extraordinary with really exciting work by great Philly artists.  Thanks to everyone who helped pull it off - if you’ve ever organized a show, you know what a time suck it is.  A special thank you to Laura Guzzo, 3nd prize winner, for acting as docent & sales associate.

Laura Guzzo @ Miniatures in PSC Gallery.

Stephan Iwanczuk, silver print.  Steve is chair of Miniatures.

Clockwise - Lilliana Didovic, Deborah Horsting, Parimalasri Vairapandi & Vincent Docktor.  Vince is part of the the three-person show in the PSC Stewart Room.

Betsy Alexander’s Alaska paintings capture the expansiveness of the great wilderness in tiny squares.  Bold color choice, graphic decisions and simplicity transport the viewer to a foreign landscape at once welcoming and strange.  Betsy is also an original Dumpster Diver and was recently featured on the Today show with her famous piano playing cat, Nora.

Monique Lazard, oil @ PSC Miniatures.

Dr. Doris Peltzman, Giovanni’s Table, oil.  Doris has had several one-person show’s in Wilmington’s prestigious Carspecken Scott Gallery, has sold out shows at Artist House, consistently wins top awards and today is gallery sitting at the club - stop in and visit her and Reta Sweeney.

Alden Cole, Dancing with the Stars, drawing @ PSC Miniatures.

Clockwise - Linda Hibbs, Elizabeth Breakell, Elizabeth MacDonald, Marlene Craig, Dorothy Roschen & Lucy Roehm.

DoN entered a digital picture frame with 20 views of Paris roof tops - the prospectus said any medium!

Link to the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Minatures prospectus.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Miniatures

Works Eligible:  Miniatures, up to 3 pieces utilizing any 2-dimensional medium.  All submitted work must be offered for sale during the exhibition. No transparencies will be accepted.  Maximum framed size 8”x10”, image size up to 5 “x 7”.  All work must be framed with glass or plexiglass, wired and ready for hanging.  No clip frames.  Improperly framed pieces will be rejected. Active PSC members:  $8 for each piece or $20 for three. All others:  $10 for each piece or $25 for three. Pickup: Unaccepted work: Friday, August 21, and Saturday, August 22, 2009, 1-5 p.m. at PSC, Accepted work: Sunday, September 20, 1 to 5 pm and Monday, September 21, 2009, 1-5 p.m. at PSC. 

Da Vinci Art Alliance Heroines & Harlots

Rules for Entry:  The exhibition is open to all visual artists; work may be in any medium, but must be directly related to the theme.  Dimensions may not exceed 36 x 36” for wall pieces, or 36 x 24 x 12” for 3D work.  Application must include entry fee of $20 for 1-3 entries for non-members, or $10 for 1-3 entries for current Da Vinci members (and your annual membership dues, if not current, of $30 for adults, $20 for full-time students, with copy of valid ID).   Make check payable to Da Vinci Art Alliance; no cash please.  Entries may be submitted in the form of slides, photos, or, preferably, digital images on disk (JPEG, pc format), and must be clearly labeled with the artist’s name, title, date, medium, dimensions, retail price or NFS, and an arrow to indicate top of work.  Images should be numbered to match entry form.  Include a SASE for their return.  No glass slides or Mac format entries can be accepted.

Christian “Patch”ell, self-promo @ Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Phillustration ‘09.

Rich Harrington gathered the region’s finest illustrators to participate in the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s annual illustration show - Philly is a hub of creative talent called on to promote products, tell stories, illuminate text and create memorable images.  With almost 100 images in the sunny upstairs gallery the exhibition was informative and amusing.

Hal Taylor, Riki- Tiki-Tavi, book.

Philadelphia Sketch Club’s Phillustration 2009.

Being able to show work in Newman Gallery is a major perk of membership in the Philadelphia Sketch Club, it’s difficult to express the feeling of honor of seeing one’s work shown in a real art gallery.  The art party is wonderful social event with many of Philadelphia’s finest artists attending the afternoon receptionleaving a window of opportunity to see the Art on Rittenhouse Square and Church of the Holy Trinity shows.  DoN was practically on art overload - such a wealth of riches to observe, absorb and consider.

Philadelphia Sketch Club Member Exhibition @ Newman Galleries.

Charles Cushing @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club at Newman Galleries (detail).

Clifton Anderson @ Newman Galleries Philadelphia Sketch Club exhibition.

Mixed media by Clif Anderson.

Piety Choi, “Mystical Encounters”, oil.

Photographs by DoN Brewer with

Find the perfect gift at the Kodak Store!

DoNArTNeWs has been getting a record number of visitors even though DoN has been busy with art instead of blogging:

• Philadelphia Sketch Club Members show @ Newman Gallery 6/6
• Workshop Show 6/6 @ The Plastic Club
• Photographic Society of Philadelphia @ Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse
• Art in City Hall’s In Your Dreams - DoN has three pieces in the show, 6/11 - 9/11, 2009.
• DoN is now a Board Member of The Philadelphia Sketch Club & member of Exhibitions Committee - this past weekend we installed Phillustration ‘09, a great selection of the art of illustration by Philadelphia area artists, June 12 - 27, 2009, Reception & Awards, Sunday, June 14th, 2 - 4 PM., chaired by Rich Harrington.
• Completion of new website for neo-expressionist artist Alecia D’Alonzo - DoN LoVeS the final version.
• New website & blog in process for NUVISIONS for Disabled Artists.

DoN has plans to visit Tiger Strikes to see David Guinn’s paintings, new photos @ Gallery 339, Fishtown Airways new show, the Romeo & Juliet show @ Da Vinci Art Alliance and more.

DoN Brewer “light being (Chink)” @ Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse.

“Shell Game“, scanner/Photoshop collage by DoN Brewer @ Art in City Hall’s - In Your Dreams - reception 6/11.

DoN Brewer’s Philadelphia from Bartram’s Garden, panoramic photograph @ Newman Gallery.

Rich Harrington, Parked Cars @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.

Harrington’s paintings are totally cool - each painting features old cars, trucks or tractors with their rusting hulks rendered realistically but painterly in watercolors and acrylics.  Rich is a Philadelphia artist whose work is recognizable as a Harrington; brushwork, coloration, depth of field, composition, subject matter, information design, atmospheric naturalism and pop sensibilities are all thoroughly modern with a fond backward glance at the remnants of mid-century modernism.

The collection of Rich Harrington paintings in the historic pool room of the Philadelphia Sketch Club is extemely accessible and enjoyable, his painting style is specific and strong with powerful images that tell stories yet are extremely decorative.  Harrington is the new Vice President of the Philadelphia Sketch Club and is also the chair of the upcoming Phillustration ‘09 - download the prospectus.

Detail of painting by Rich Harrington @ The Philadelphia Sketch Club.