Staff Blog
2ND SEASON ARTS: Gallery Watch
posted by Carolyn Huckabay
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| philagrafika.org |
| Dolefull House, by Tabaimo, “The Graphic Unconsciousâ€/Philagrafika at the PMA |
If you picked up today’s City Paper, you likely flipped through our 2nd Season Arts package, which included to-do lists to suit your every interest, from movies to dance to jazz. But what about gallery openings? Space was tight, and since we dedicate space in our paper to the visual arts every week, our galleries calendar fell on the sword. BUT! The Internet is infinite, so you can check it out here, in full.
In case you’re too overcome with mid-January ennui for clicking on links, here’s a quick rundown of our top picks for shows you can’t not go see, from lovable anthropomorphic critters to Picasso. Picasso, guys.
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| philartalliance.org |
| By Darla Jackson, “While You Were Out” |
While You Were Out >> Last time we caught up with local sculptor Darla Jackson, she was waist-deep in “A Miniature Ocean,” a Mew Gallery exhibit depicting a tiny seaside scene where an anthropomorphized mother rabbit wore a boat on her head and plucked her babies out of the water. Feb. 11-May 3, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St., 215-545-4302, philartalliance.org.
Philagrafika: The Graphic Unconscious >> A veritable Fringe Festival for the graphic arts, Philagrafika spans four months, scores of venues and more than 300 artists. Lest you become overwhelmed, start off slow with the international festival’s core exhibit, “The Graphic Unconscious.” And by “slow” we mean you’ll only need to hit up five places to soak it all in. Jan. 29-April 11, various locations, 215-557-8433, philagrafika.org.
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| chemheritage.org |
| “Marvels and Ciphers” |
Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris >> Lessons learned by aspiring 20th-century artists: If Picasso moves to Paris, you move to Paris. If Picasso paints in muted, disjointed squares, you better do the same. Feb. 24-April 25, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org.
Marvels and Ciphers >> For centuries, scientists have broken boundaries, cracked codes and made discoveries to unlock long-kept secrets of the universe. Meanwhile the rest of us have been sitting around scratching our heads. The Chemical Heritage Foundation’s clever spring exhibit explores the academic abyss that has historically existed between inventor and regular Joe. Begins March 5, Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut St., 215-925-2222, chemheritage.org.
Looking at Animals >> Henry Horenstein’s subjects are not always graceful, not always mighty and, often, not even very pretty to look at. But the Boston photographer’s most compelling shots — from a hippo’s crooked spine to the little hairs sprouting from the snout of a pasty-pink pig — are lovely in their imperfection. March 13-May 16, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-299-1000, ansp.org.
