September 4-10, 2003

first friday focus

Julie York, Matter (detail) (2003), 30 inches by 18 inches by 13 inches, clay, metal, plastic, fluorescent light.

by Lori Hill

The Clay Studio

"I'm interested in how science examines," says Julie York about her latest exhibit, "objectsymbolanguage," at The Clay Studio. York, the newest Evelyn Shapiro Foundation fellow, is trained as a ceramic artist, but fends off any effort to box herself into that realm. This group of works, for example, employs not only clay, but plastic, metal and even fluorescent light. That's where the science comes in -- how objects and specimens appear differently under different lighting conditions, how meticulous and logical the world of science can be. Here the materials make sense: stainless steel, Plexiglas, cool white porcelain -- "I wanted a very synthetic, sterile environment." Mostly, says York, she wants this work to strike a balance between the conceptual and the visual, and she's concerned with "how an object can be both a tangible thing but also a symbol that produces language." Reception Fri., Sept. 5, 5-9 p.m. Exhibition runs through Oct. 5. 139 N. Second St., 215-925-3453.

Project Room

Frankie Martin has created a little empire of the pink and the cute and the hip. But it's not as cloying as it sounds. The freeform, happy-go-lucky Milwaukee multitasker has done a little bit of everything, including passing through Philly a few years back for a fashion-art-culture show at rodanvsgriffith, the now-defunct fashion-art-culture shop. She's curated shows for Space 1026, and she still designs customized sneakers for the jet-setting retro-fashion lovers of the world, in a collaboration called Emotions with fellow artist Tyson Reeder. For a show at Project Room, she's crafted "Freezy Freakout," a "one-time-only super icy igloo dance party" that's also a month-long exhibit and a 20-song CD (with bands hand-chosen by Martin, of course: Ms. Money Money, Sola, Krakatoa). The party will involve a tribe of "Eskimos" clad in Martin-designed costumes, Martin's icy sculptures and yes, an igloo simulation inside which guests are encouraged to dance. Opening party Sat., Sept. 6, 7-10 p.m. Exhibition runs through Oct. 3. 960 N. Eighth St., 215-413-3101.

Tomiya Nishimura, Autumn Day (2003), 36 inches by 60 inches, oil and casein-tempera on canvas.

Peng Gallery

Tomiya Nishimura's images have a lost-in-the-wilderness sensibility that could haunt a first-time viewer: vast fields, speckled backgrounds, rocky roads, cold-looking bodies of water. But his figures, often little boys and girls, look determined, even a bit sinister. Their round faces and big eyes stare out at the viewer with utter confidence, the most discernible part of the sketchy landscape. In an artist's statement, Nishimura emphasizes the word "sorrow" as an elemental part of his work, and there is sadness and loss here, but nowhere is the feeling of hopelessness. One could look into Autumn Day and see forever. Reception Fri., Sept. 5, 6-8 p.m. Exhibition runs through Oct. 15. 35 S. Third St., 215-629-5889.

Space 1026

Two shows for the (no) cost of one this month at Space 1026: Courtney Dailey has curated "The Gerard Doody Collection" and "Stencil Pirates." Dailey, partly responsible for the successful Projet Mobilivre-Bookmobile Project that's toured North America over the last few years, brings nine Canadian artists with rather well-honed doodling skills to Philadelphia for the show. Drawings, paintings and zines featuring the cartoonists' work will be for sale. "Stencil Pirates" is a three-day sale and exhibit of work by 30 artists from all over the world (hello, Sweden!) who worked solely with stencils. It celebrates a very vocal community of artists who recognize each other's work and cheer it online, in zines and with group shows. There will be work available for $3-$50, so there's no excuse for you not to recognize these often politically charged stenciling marvels. "The Gerard Doody Collection," reception Fri., Sept. 5, 6-10:30 p.m., through Sept. 26; "Stencil Pirates," Fri., Sept. 5, 6-10:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Sept. 6-7, noon-6 p.m. 1026 Arch St., 215-574-7630.

Jeff Ladoceur, Untitled (from the book EBOLA, 2001), approx. 5 inches by 7 inches, pencil on paper.

And Then There’s …

Jonas dos Santos is showing his watercolor and thread works at JMS Gallery in Chestnut Hill this month. Reception Sat., Sept. 6, 4-7 p.m. Exhibition runs through Sept. 27. 8236 Germantown Ave., 215-248-4649. Jeff Waring experiments with sound waves and improvisational mark-making in a new show of "acoustic drawings" at Highwire Gallery. Gallery talk and video screening Thu., Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m.; reception Fri., Sept. 5, 5-9 p.m. Exhibition runs through Sept. 28. 137 N. Second St., 215-829-1255.

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