The Dark Show and new works by Romaiello and Kaiser at Sage

Pam Farrell, Foriegn Soil No. 5, 18 x 18", encaustic on panel

The (Dark) Show

In The (Dark) Show, Pam Farrell, Michelle Marcuse, and Rob Solomon address the dark with a grain of salt, or perhaps a broad brush. Art history abounds with references to dark as a theme. For some, the dark suggests the unspeakable, the unknown, evil, the sinister, gloomy, and ominous. For these three artists, choice of palette represents more than a proclivity for dark thoughts. Light emerging from dark, shining a light in the dark, a playful interaction of opposites, and an exploration of space and time all offer the viewer an open-ended experience to explore individual ideas about the dark, to see beyond the expected.

The Dark Show

August 29-October 3 2009

Reception: Saturday, August 29 2-5 pm

Stratasphere

1854 Germantown Avenue. Philadelphia, PA 19122.

More Information at Stratasphere

VINCENT ROMANIELLO
New Work: Blue Collar

DON KAISER
Objects and Storms


September 6 - September 27, 2009
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 13, 6 - 8pm


SAGE PROJECTS 333 South Street, Philadelphia, PA.
The gallery is free and open to the public
Wednesdays and Thursdays 12-6pm, Friday, Saturday and Sundays 2-8pm

Drawn in

I stopped by SAGE Projects at 333 South Street yesterday to check out the second group exhibition they have up called titled, Colorevlolution. I was only going to check out the show and take a few shots of the works on exhibit.

It wasn't going to be that simple. Nic Coviello, who was gallery-sitting, roped me into working with him on a large, collaborative painting that has gone through four stages.

Artists at work (photo courtesy of Nic Coviello)

Nic seated

The aftermath

Other artists in Colorevolution included:

David Foss

James Erikson

Henry Bermudez

Vincent Romaniello

Paul Behnke

Michelle Marcuse

Karen Baumeister

Jon Manteau

Rob Solomon

Seen last week

I stopped by SAGE Projects shortly after it opened on Wednesday to see what happened when a group of artist friends took over a former retail space on South Street.

Entrance


SAGE members Vincent Romaniello (left) and David Foss (right).

Altar by David Foss


David Foss, Ikea Cow Paisley, 2009, insulation foam, photos, acrylic

Installation by Jon Manteau

1st floor view with works by David Foss and Henry Bermudez.

Second floor view with works by Paul Behnke and Vincent Romaniello

Excavation Tent by Vincent Romaniello

I also managed to get to Fleisher Art Memorial to catch the latest Fleisher Challenge show. I only got shots of one of the artists exhibited, Mark Khaisman who uses common packing tape to make his images. More about Khaisman at Mark Khaisman Studio.com

two new philly arts ventures

Tiger Strikes Asteroid is a new co-op art enterprise formed by five Philly-based artists including, P. Timothy Gierschick II, Alex Paik, and Caroline Santa.


CURRENT EXHIBITION: Getting Ready for the Prom Phillip Adams, Tim Gierschick, Alexis Granwell, Alex Paik, Nathan Pankratz, Caroline Santa

March 6th - 27th
Opening Reception:
Friday, March 6, 6pm - 9pm


Tiger Strikes Asteroid
319A North 11th Street (4th floor, upstairs from Vox Populi)
Philadelphia PA 19107
hours: Friday and Saturday, 12pm-6pm. Other times by appointment
Blog: Tiger Strikes Asteroid
Facebook: Tiger Strikes Asteroid page

Philly's South Street is getting something of an art makeover, so to speak. There has been an arrangement made with building owners where arts groups can apply to use the empty spaces for projects, rent-free with only insurance and utility bills to foot until new tenants are found. I received an email recently from painter, Jim Erickson, announcing the upcoming shows that the group he is a member of, SAGE Projects, are having beginning this week


For the months of March and April, SAGE Projects will take over a recently vacated storefront space at 333 South Street. From the SAGE website:

SAGE will officially open a project space at 333 South Street. There will be a five person exhibition downstairs based on the theme of repurposing and recycling. Because of the dire economic situation a number of stores have become vacant on South Street in Philadelphia. A number of arts groups are taking empty storefronts and repurposing them to showcase their work and bring new energy to the area.

Artists Henry Bermudez, David Foss, Jon Manteau, Vincent Romaniello, and Rob Solomon will use cast-off materials, excavated finds and remnants of the former boutique itself, in the creation of paintings, assemblage, video and installation work. On the upper level these artists will join Karen Baumeister, Paul Behnke, Nic Coviello, Jim Erikson and Michelle Marcuse for a members group exhibition that will change over the March and April programs.

Sage Projects Purpose/Repurpose Opens Wednesday, March 4, 12 - 6pm
Reception Sunday, March 8 2 - 8pm
email: sagewhat@warpmail.net


Also, there are a few more days to catch Martin Bromirski's show at UArts through March 6:

Martin Bromirski
"Paintings"

Gallery 817
Anderson Hall
333 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pa