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The first floor contained numerous digital-print art pieces; including a series of vinyl records that had been super imposed on top of digital-print that was made to represent the lyrical content of the individual records through the use of high-art and pixelated images. The first floor also contained three different material displays, each of which was designed to convey a thought-provoking and emotionally driven message; a message which, of course, is left to be determined by your own, personal discretion.

 The first of the three displays used materials like tree branches and leaves to represent the notion that the beauty of nature can be found in many different forms. This display contained naked tree branches which were lightly dusted with glitter and a larger-than-life snake sculpture made from colored metals and gems. As stated, the conveyed message of this exhibit is meant to be interpreted in many different ways; however, I personally took away the concept of differential beauty in nature when viewing this display.

The second exhibition, titled First Among Equals, used the familiar phrase from the U.S. Constitution “We the People”, as a repeated image on an American flag themed, paper background; large paper canvases displaying simple typography of words like “globalization”, “democracy”, and “extinction”; and used small televisions which displayed video clips of boxers and wrestlers fighting. Now, you’re probably asking yourself, what could all three of these elements have in comment? Though I’m not sure if I pinned down the “correct” meaning of this exhibition, I personally found it to represent the notion that, as a country, the United States has slowly become a place for hypocrisy and contradiction thrive. By simultaneously showcasing symbols of the fight for American freedom and digital-images of words contradicting this sentiment, I found this exhibition to represent the contradictory portrait of American freedom.

The third display used fun textiles and elements, like colorful feathers, fishnet materials, and water guns, to convey a message that I found to be refreshing; I was inspired with a sense of creativity and care-free sentiments after viewing this exhibition.

Moving on to the second floor, I ascended a ramp which began my journey to the gallery’s current, feature exhibit titled “The Happy Show.” This exhibit largely uses a series of images and re-worked journal entries from the artist and graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister, whose aim for the exhibit was to recreate his own, personal journey en route to finding happiness. This exhibit had me in awe for nearly an hour, as just the reduced sized copies of Sagmeister’s journal entries that could be found in random places throughout the exhibit alone, were enough to make me stop, relax, and slowly take in all that this exhibit had to offer.

“The Happy Show” covers a variety of life experiences, such as marriage, sex, and work, by providing Sagmeister’s accounts of his own experiences in these areas of life, as well as by providing world-wide statistics on how critical each piece of these experiences are in terms of finding and maintaining your own happiness. The exhibit is very easy to follow, understand, and relate to on a personal level, as I’m sure most of us can identify with trying to figure out just what, exactly, will make us truly happy now and in the future.

The exhibit begins by detailing the differences between passionate love and companionate love; explaining why, on average, companionate love will ultimately provide you with more long-term happiness than will passionate love. The exhibit then goes on to present the concepts of work in order to make a living, the vital role of meditation, cognitive therapy, and positive energy in relation to your levels of happiness, and also presents the mind-expanding and mood-altering properties of hallucinogenic and pharmaceutical drugs, a topic Sagmeister has a very personal history with.

Through his use of digital-print, sculptures, interactive installations, infographics, and short pieces of his upcoming movie titled “The Happy Film,” Sagmeister does an exceptionally brilliant job at taking you on a vivid journey through his mind, his life, and through our never-ending quest for happiness.

I found this exhibit to be fresh, striking, unique, relatable, and ambitious; making it one to definitely consider if you’re currently looking for a gallery or exhibition to visit. Being that the ICA is fairly small in comparison to other galleries in Philadelphia, and also that it’s largely run by internship students from the University of Pennsylvania’s art history program, there weren’t many available employees to readily answer questions, or even just to engage in conversation with about the content of the exhibit, when I recently visited the ICA. Though this was a slight disappointment, “The Happy Show” is an exhibit that has been designed to encourage personalization when attempting to uncover the take-home message of the artist and his work, that the lack of available support really wasn’t that much of a set-back for me when visiting. 

“The Happy Show”, as well as the other exhibits currently on display, make for the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia to surely be worth your while if you decide to pay it a visit. These specific exhibitions will run from now until August 12th, giving you plenty of time to check them out! The gallery is open Wednesday-Sunday, anywhere from 11am-8pm depending on the day of the week, and is completely free to visit; definitely my all-time, favorite price

So, if you’re interested in walking in the shoes and the mind of another human being during his quest for true happiness, and if you’re interested in visiting a gallery that places no pressure on you to gain a specific message or to find a concrete purpose in the work on display, then you should definitely be sure to hit up the ICA before August 12^th to enjoy all that this gallery has to offer.

 The first Friday of every month in Philadelphia, various art gallery owners open their doors free of charge to the public from 5:00PM-9:00PM in a neighborhood of the city that’s known as Old City. This section of the city spans approximately 8 blocks and is well known for its old and beautiful architecture, as well as being known for its culture filled shops and restaurants. Most of the art galleries in Philadelphia are located in this part of the city, making it the perfect location to host First Friday each month.

            First Friday attracts a very diverse and interesting crowd, including those who are Philadelphia residents, those who are out-of-town visitors, those who are art enthusiasts, and even those who are just looking for a fun way to start off their Friday night. Such a diverse crowd allows for almost anyone to feel comfortable and welcome when visiting First Friday. This also makes for a very positive, fun, and laidback atmosphere at First Friday; people meander in and out of stores and galleries at their leisure, stopping to check out the things they like and moving past those they don’t. The gallery owners are typically very inviting and friendly when you walk into their galleries; available and eager to answer any questions you may have about their work. There is also an assortment of free appetizer-like food, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, available in most of the galleries for any and all attendees. These elements, among others, make for an atmosphere than can be described as very relaxed and laidback; allowing people with all different kinds of art backgrounds to enjoy art on their own terms.

Though the exhibits at the galleries are constantly changing, one gallery that presents pretty much the same work most of the time is called Gallery 51, one of my favorite galleries that participates in First Friday. Not only is the owner extremely friendly and well-spoken, but the amazing wood work pieces that are on display and for sale at the gallery are absolutely breathtaking. The pieces range anywhere from those that are meant for purposes of utility, such as hand-crafted, wooden end tables, to pieces that are extremely elaborate and just for show.

Since there are all kinds of different galleries that participate in First Friday, there is likely to be at least one that will appeals to your particular art interest or interests. There are galleries that solely display light installations, and there are galleries that only contain hand-crafted fabrics and objects. Some of the galleries are spacious, open, and bright and are filled with abstract and surreal art pieces; others are small and are filled with a number of tiny, dimly lit rooms that contain still-life displays and other similar pieces. Some of the galleries attract a stereotypically older, more reserved crowd, while others attract a stereotypically younger, more vibrant crowd. The number of galleries available at First Friday, as well as the diversity in their nature, certainly allows for just about anyone who is interested in attending to thoroughly enjoy themselves while there.

For those that like to purchase a keepsake to remember the night, or for those who are just interested in purchasing some kind of funky or unique hand-crafted jewelry, there are also a ton of street vendors that sit outside of the galleries with their own displays. These vendors are artists of all walks that attend this event in hopes of attracting new followers of their work. The street vendors aren’t typically overly forward when soliciting their work which, again, reinstates the laidback and positive atmosphere of First Friday.

During my most recent visit to First Friday, I asked one of the gallery owners what they would say is the largest thing that separates their experience as an owner on First Friday from their experience on just another, Friday night. The response I received from this owner in particular was simple and direct; “the energy,” he answered. He explained that, though First Friday can be a bit over-crowded and hectic for owners like himself, there was still something that could definitely be said for the extreme and undeniable energy that surrounds a First Friday event like no other.

He told me that the energy that results from the large number of diverse individuals who have come together in a joint pursuit of a love or thirst for art and culture, is an energy that makes for a more exciting and more rewarding night than when compared to attending the gallery on “just another night.” I would have to say that I fully agree with the owner’s assertion and would hope that if you, too, decide to visit First Friday in the near future, that you also would feel this same energy and that this alone would make for a rather enjoyable and memorable experience.

]]> http://artsnapper.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/first-friday-in-philadelphia/feed/ 0 astarajune First Friday first friday first friday first friday http://artsnapper.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/dumbos-first-thursday-gallery-walk/ http://artsnapper.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/dumbos-first-thursday-gallery-walk/#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:04:19 +0000 artsnapper http://artsnapper.wordpress.com/?p=1912 ]]>

It is that time of the month again! If you are in New York, please join us tonight as we head to Brooklyn for DUMBO’s First Thursday Gallery Walk and enjoy a festive night filled with art, culture and amazing people.

This month we’ve also teamed up with the amazing meetup ART IS CULTURE (http://www.meetup.com/ART-IS-CULTURE).  Meet us around 6:30pm at the Mighty Tanaka Studio located at 111 Front Street suite 224 and be sure to RSVP through the link.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Andy Warhol  (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American artist who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationship between artistic expression,celebrity culture and advertisement that flourished by the 1960s. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became a renowned and sometimes controversial artist. The Andy Warhol Museum in his native city, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, holds an extensive permanent collection of art and archives. It is the largest museum in the United States of America dedicated to a single artist.

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The topic of this survey is: Art Preference (Art Movement)

Upon arriving at the Mighty Tanaka Gallery during DUMBO’s 1st Thursday Gallery Walk, I was entranced by the photographic abstractions of this artist.  Alexandra Pacula’s oil paintings are of dizzying and enchanting moments to which you cannot help but feel transported towards.  Pascula reveals her own enchantment in the following excerpt with poised vitality.

“My work investigates a world of visual intoxication; it captures moments of enchantment, which are associated with urban nightlife.  I am fascinated by the ambiance of the city at night and its seductive qualities.  The breathtaking turbulence of speeding vehicles and hasty pedestrians evoke feelings of wonder and disorientation.  The vibrant lights become a magical landscape with enticing opportunities and promises of fulfillment.”

A fellow gallery visitor put it simply by saying it reminded her of the drunken pictures one might take a three o’clock in the morning.  Whether or not you agree, New York is certainly blessed to have such an enchanting artist capturing its energy in such a dynamic way.

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I’ve always marveled at artists who take on hyperrealism.  Two of my favorites include Alyssa Monks and Paul Cadden.  Both take precision and detail to the extreme but employ different qualities to achieve their vision.

Cadden takes on an oldschool photographic approach that provides rawness to his graphite works.  The tones immediately remind me of Dorthea Lange’s famed photo “Migrant Mother” as minute details express personal history and contemplation.  On the other hand, Monks plays up the clarity of her works with moments of abstraction.  Her juxtaposition ends up containing an incredibly inviting air of purity that I’ve long been captivated by.

The niches of the art world are teaming with unique perspectives.  Explore new facets of the art world while delving further into ones that you are already a fan of to expand your discovery everyday.

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On Shaka’s website, he explains that his works and portrayals are of everyday absurdities. These snapshots into unique social moments literally extend beyond the canvas to grab hold of the viewer in a dynamic, yet calculated, frenzy.

You cannot miss this street artist who has created an arsenal of work ready to blow you away. Explore Shaka’s website (http://www.shaka1.fr/) to see what I mean

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  Li Keran’s Painting from 1964 Sold for $46 Million in Beijing Poly Auctions

  via eXtravaganzi about an hour ago

  Many probably have not heard about Chinese artist, Li Keran. If we tell that his painting Landscape in Red sold for $46 million, the vast majority will remember this Chinese prominent artist. His painting Wan Shan Hong Bian (Thousands of Hills in A Crimsoned View) fetched a stunning 293.25 million yuan ($46 million), a record for the [...]

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  Deadbeat Collectors Without Borders

  via Hyperallergic earlier todayLOS ANGELES — Is China the undisputed king of the art market? That’s a question posed by Hyperallergic a few months ago, when we learned that the country makes up the highest number of auction results. A stunning 12.1% of art works sold in Asia sell for between $100,000 and $1,00,000 (as compared to 2.2% for the rest of the world).

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  Zhang Huan: Synchronicity Rising

  via Canadian Art – Online earlier todayWith his radical staging of a Handel opera generating criticism this spring, superstar Chinese artist Zhang Huan challenged Toronto, and it challenged him back. Now, Gillian MacKay considers this debate and other Zhang projects in the city.

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  Interview with Art Dealer Charles Guice

  via Dodge & Burn: Diversity in Photography History earlier todayD&B: Tell us about the trajectory that led you to become a contemporary art dealer.
  CG: The trajectory that led me to become a contemporary art dealer is a relatively easy one to follow. I was always interested in art; my parents collected and, even as a child, I went to a museum at least once a week. As it happened, my father’s avocation was art. He drew, painted, played guitar, sculpted and photographed. He even learned to play the cello in his mid-life, which he continues to play now aged 80…

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  Watering down whisky’s appeal | John Burnside

  via Life and style | guardian.co.uk earlier todayDiageo’s investment in whisky production is welcome, but we must not allow market-driven ‘innovations’ to erode its genius

  The drinks giant Diageo has announced that it is to invest £1bn in its whisky production facilities over the next five years , in order to meet growing demand from Asia, South America and Africa. Promising that this move would create a thousand…

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  Morning Links: New York Public Library Edition

  via GalleristNY earlier todayA rebel group in Mali wants to destroy thousands of ancient manuscripts, and has already defaced an ancient tomb. [The Art Newspaper]

  Christie’s held a white-glove Old Masters auction yesterday (every lot sold), with a Romanino making $4.6 million. [Art Daily] …

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  “Successful artists don’t just pop up out of the blue”

  via Freie Universität Berlin – Freie Universität Berlin earlier todayWith wide eyes and an open mouth, the figure stands on a bridge, covering its ears: The expressionist masterpiece The Scream, by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, is one of the world’s best-known paintings. There are four versions of the image, three of them owned by the Norwegian government. A few weeks ago, the fourth was sold at auction at Sotheby’s in New York, setting a record for the winning bid, at 119.9 million dollars. Gallery operator Harriet Häussler, who holds a doctorate in art history, examines how the market for art works in a seminar at the Department of Art History at Freie Universität…

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  China’s auction houses take on established players

  via Plush earlier todayToday, they are among the world’s biggest by revenue, posing a serious challenge to the likes of Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

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  Letter from London: The Olympia Fair

  via Everett Potter’s Travel Report earlier todayBy Sallie Brady For more than a decade now I’ve set off around this time to do London in June. The Season, as it’s known, typically includes Ascot and Wimbeldon… Continue reading »

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  MutualArt Watchlist: Chinese Contemporary Artists

  via Huffington Post earlier todayNavigating the rapidly developing contemporary art scene in China is no easy task. Few museums or independent critics exist to verify leading contemporary artists, and many of the avant-garde are restricted by the government — Ai Weiwei being the notorious example.

  Yet even with China’s cooling economy, Hong Kong has emerged as the world’s third largest art auction center after New York and London…

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Don’t forget, this evening kicks off the summer season of DUMBO’s First Thursday Gallery Walk.  The festivities will include music and entertainment alongside the vibrant galleries that make this night such hit.

Join us for an enjoyable night of art appreciation at some of DUMBO’s best known galleries such as Bose Pacia Gallery, Minus Space, Mighty Tanaka,  Smack Mellon, Generation Gallery and so many more.

The Artsnapper team will be strolling around the event sipping wine, networking and most importantly snapping pictures of art.  We hope to see you there!

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If you’re an art history buff, or just curious about some worldly art, Istanbul is one important city!  From its days as Byzantium, Constantinople, and Istanbul today, this city has provided important moments of cultural mixing and art creation along its impressive timeline.

Today, Istanbul is working to take on the contemporary art frontier with the project “Art Istanbul”.  The event for this momentous initiative will take place in November and was just announced on June 1^st.   With excitement brewing about the fairs, auctions, and galleries that will come together, it is surely an amazing time for the arts in this historic city.  The exposition will help bolster worldly support for contemporary art and also help Istanbul grow as a current art hotspot.

Check out the project at www.contemporaryistanbul.com along with an article about announcement at www.hurriyetdailynews.com.

Don’t forget that art is everywhere!  So, whether you’re down the street or visiting a city as amazing as Istanbul, SNAP it up!

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Now, hear me out for a minute.  Each time return to college in North Carolina I eagerly wait for the State Fair that has everything from carnival rides to livestock exhibitions.  But the most astonishing part of the weeklong event may in fact be the food.  Literally everything under the sun (from Oreos to alligator and butter to beer) becomes a fried creation.  But, apparently it took me sitting at my desk in New York City to realize that the crispy opportunities for creation are truly endless.

Henry Hargreaves is serving up some pretty unique work as his Deep Fried Gadgets surely get a top rating for distinctiveness.  Talk about an interesting way to consider how the relationship between art and technology is growing by the day.

Though I thought frying beer was a feat, this artist takes the cake for ingenuity.  On bright plates adorned with shiny silverware sits a crispy IPod ready to be eaten up by minds of art audiences.

Check out what other enticingly offbeat art Hargreaves is serving up at www.henryhargreaves.com.

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Be sure to request an invite to the Artsnapper application, so that you can start snapping and sharing your favorite art!

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As our founder and CEO Cristian Valbuena has stated, “We at Artsnapper have the mission to make art more accessible, more enjoyable and less mysterious.”

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us at blog@artsnapper.com

We hope you will join us in this achieving this goal!

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