In the brotherly spirit of Philagraphika, Projects Gallery presents Gone Printin'. This is a collective showing of many of the Projects Gallery regulars mixed with a few surprises. Projects will be mounting a show co-curated by Helen Meyrick and Philadelphia Salon director Caryn Kunkle. The Philadelphia Salon is an edgy and energetic group of young artists that Caryn has conjoined over the past two years. Their Salon meets monthly in one of Philly’s finest former baron mansions on North Broad Street. Caryn and her group have been creating artistic community and consciousness of aesthetic by bringing many of Philadelphia’s brightest young artists together with some of Philly’s top art connoisseurs.

All work will be of various methods of printmaking. Artists from Projects Gallery will include Peter Gourfain, Brooke Holloway, Frank Hyder, Itsuki Ogihara, Florence Putterman, Bruce Wilhelm, and others. Varied members of the Philadelphia Salon will also feature work in this show, providing fresh names and works to the familiar. Gone Printin’ will be on display February 5th – 27th, 2010. There will also be an artist reception First Friday February 5th from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday Noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Philagrafika's mission is to promote and sustain printmaking as a vital and valued art form by providing artistic, programmatic and administrative leadership for large-scale, cooperative initiatives with broad public exposure.

CALL TO ARTISTS: “To Die For” Juried Exhibition
Projects Gallery announces a call to artists for its April 2010 juried art exhibition entitled “To Die For”. The exhibition will be co-curated by Judith Schwartz and Jack Thompson and will be on display from March 31 through May 1, 2010 at Projects Gallery in Philadelphia.

Eligibility:
Open to all artists 18 years and over. Work must be original and completed within the past 2 years. Works for consideration may be either pedestal or wall-mounted but must be ceramic, no larger than 4 feet, no heavier than 50 lbs. and in accordance with the theme “To Die For”. All work must be available for sale. Gallery commission on any sales is 50%. Artist is responsible for transportation of work to and from gallery.

To Die For Theme:
Whether in effigy pots, vase paintings, or offerings to the dead, ceramics has always been a significant material in the world of the rituals of death, spirituality, and transformation. Work should deal with the nature of mortality, issues of loss, hosts, ghosts, surrounding fears, and the meaning of life or afterlife.
Invited artists include: Mark Burns, Richard Cleaver, John De Fazio, David Furman, Peter Gourfain, Kathy King, Charles Kraft, Matt Nolen, Mel Rubin, Richard Shaw, Ehren Too, and Monica Van den Dool.

To Enter:
There is a non-refundable entry fee of $30.00 (U.S.) for up to 5 image entries and 3 detail shots. Submissions must be sent on a CD in digital format; images must be a minimum of 300 dpi, at least 8” at its narrowest dimension; jpg, gif or tiff. Do not send slides. Do not send original artwork. Please include an image list of entries with the following information: artist name, artist contact information, titles of images, media, dimensions in inches (HxWxD), date completed, and retail price of works submitted. Also include a resume or artist bio and an artist statement specifically pertaining to the images submitted. All documents should be in .doc or .pdf format. Do not submit .docx or paper print outs. CD will not be returned. All entries must be received no later than December 15, 2009. Make checks/money orders payable to: Projects Gallery. If any of these requirements are not met the submission will be deemed ineligible.

Mail CD, list of entries, entry fee and all other requested material to:
Projects Gallery
Attn: To Die For
629 N 2nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123, U.S.A.

Calendar
December 15, 2009 deadline for entries
January 5, 2010 entrants notified
March 22, 2010 accepted works due in gallery
March 31, 2010 exhibition opens
April 2, 2010 First Friday reception 6-9 p.m.
May 1, 2010 exhibition closes
May 2-4, 2010 pick-up work or prepaid shipping returned

Announcement cards will be produced, press releases will be sent out and exhibition will be highlighted on gallery website and in NCECA pr.
Work will be juried by Judith Schwartz and Jack Thompson.
Full prospectus available at http://www.projectsgallery.com/prospectus.html
Questions? Contact: info@projectsgallery.com

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Philadelphia, PA - The Brandywine Workshop, in cooperation with Projects Gallery, is pleased to present “Print Out”, a two-part, two-month exhibition of prints by culturally diverse artists. For the month of December the main gallery will display original prints by established artists such as Samella Lewis, Tomie Arai, Juan Sanchez, Yung Soon Min, Jules Olitski, Kenneth Noland, and Paul F. Keene, Jr. In January focus will be on recent prints by African American artists such as Hank Willis Thomas, Deborah Willis, John E. Dowell, Jr., Allan L. Edmunds, Larry Walker, Maya Freelon Asante, and William T. Williams. For both months there will also be a special interactive installation of quality, affordable original prints from Brandywine Workshop artists featured in the rear gallery. Prints by national and international artists will be available at deep discounts to raise funds to benefit Brandywine's capital campaign and gallery operations.

As part of the exhibition’s mission to promote printmaking and its potential as an expressive medium, “Print Out” will present a series of free children’s workshops and family days. Families are encouraged to introduce their children to the media of print though the exhibition and hands-on learning activities. Volunteer printmaking majors from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will lead children (3-12 years of age) in relief printmaking. In addition to creating art to take home, examples of the children’s prints will be displayed at the gallery during “Print Out”. The experience of creating and exhibiting original prints in an established art gallery will be one to be enjoyed by the entire family. Each free session is limited to 6 children, and pre-registration by phone (215.546.3675) is required.

The following schedule of activities is planned:

Family Day, Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 12 noon to 4:00 PM
First Session 12 Noon
Second Session 1:30 PM
Third Session 3:00 PM

Family Day, Saturday, January 16, 2010 from 12 noon to 4:00 PM
First Session 12 Noon
Second Session 1:30 PM
Third Session 3:00 PM

There will also be a First Friday Opening Reception, December 4, 2009, from 6-9 PM, and a Third Friday Closing Reception, January 15, 2010, from 6-9 PM. Both receptions are free and open to the public.

About Brandywine Workshop

Founded in 1972, Brandywine Workshop has been dedicated to creating opportunities for culturally diverse people to develop their creative potential whether as a student, artist, historian or educator. The Workshop’s creative focus has been fine art printmaking and related media technologies. It has achieved worldwide recognition for its visiting artist residency program, exhibitions and cultural exchange programs, as well as amassing over the years a major collection of contemporary prints. Brandywine Workshop is a tax–exempt institution currently undergoing a significant capital campaign to restore its historic firehouse headquarters on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia’s downtown.

About Projects Gallery

Projects Gallery represents some of today's finest contemporary artists. Located in the edgy artistic community of Philadelphia's Northern Liberties, Projects focuses on artists who practice a personal form of figurative expressionism. Most of our artists have years of experience in both the crafting of images and the honing of a distinctive approach to their medium, although we are also dedicated to fostering awareness for emerging artists. In a variety of styles and media, Projects has a commitment to each artist's individual vision and mastery of material. Whether internationally known or emerging, each artist displays a personal language that provides a unique dialog.

Founded in 2004, Projects has received both local and national critical attention for its high caliber of artists and exhibitions. In its bi-level, multi-exhibition space, Projects has the flexibility to display diverse, contemporary works on a rotating basis and mounts more than a dozen solo and group exhibitions in any given year.

Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday noon to 7 p.m. Projects will be closed December 20 - January 6. For further information please contact or info@projectsgallery.com. To register for the children’s print workshop sessions, please call 215.546.32675.

It’s time for the Basel Miami Art Fairs! Time for fun in the sun, drinks with tiny umbrellas, and of course art, art, art! We always look forward to the vibrant atmosphere of the Miami Art Week, and anticipate returning to our sunny home away from home, connecting once again with our cherished Miami clientele.

Celebrating its 18th art fair in the past 5 years (!!!), including venues in Caracas, Toronto, and London, Projects has participated in the Miami Art fairs since the gallery’s inception. We are pleased and excited to be exhibiting at the Red Dot Art Fair in Miami’s Wynwood Design District. This will be our fifth partnering with Red Dot. Starting earlier than ever, we begin with the grand opening Wednesday, December 2 and run through Sunday, December 6, 2009. Projects will be featuring popular works by many of our established artists, including Ross Bonfanti’s concreatures, mixed media paintings by Frank Hyder and Florence Putterman, Alex Queral’s carved phone book portraits, Tim Tate’s glass and video reliquaries, as well as works by some new names to the Projects Gallery roster.

Projects Gallery invites you to join us in booth #D100 during this the largest art event in the United States. If you would like complementary ticket to Red Dot Miami, please contact the gallery, as tickets are very limited. For more information about our artists, as well as images of work, please visit www.projectsgallery.com. For more information about the Red Dot art fair, such as general admission hours and passes, please visit www.reddotfair.com.

Projects Gallery & Red Dot Miami Art Fair
Midtown Miami Complex, booth #D100
3011 NE 1 Ave at NW 31 St, Miami, FL 33137
December 2 – 6, 2009

For November Projects Gallery will feature Philadelphia artist Jim Brossy’s second solo show “Left Behind”. Known for his wildly expressive figurative mixed media assemblages, Brossy focuses on the frequently overlooked for his subject matter. With his signature use of a sophisticated hodgepodge, Brossy crafts figures from debris, construction material, as well as traditional paint. Modest blue-collar workers, barflies, the homeless, children, and the detritus of society are depicted in material reflective of their social status. Cheeky political references imbue the work with a dual seriousness and humor. Brossy’s work asks the viewer to consider grand social issues but to never take themselves, or the work, too seriously.

The holder of a M.F.A. from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Brossy eschews traditionalism embodied by a personal artistic manifesto known as “Crackpot Realism.” According to the artist, “In Crackpot Realism there is no distinction between living and making art. The painting is not a representation of life, but a real thing, an object in a real space, that can be experienced as a picture.” Featuring stenciled messages, globs of tar and paint, found clothing, reconstructed objects, his material choices echo the subject matter, embedding his figures in a palpable world of excess and refuse. This solo show brings to the forefront those working class who would otherwise be Left Behind.

Jim Brossy - Left Behind will be on display November 6 - 28, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday November 6th from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 -7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com.

October First Friday and Exhibitions

Artist Lisa Murch has been working for the past three months on a site-specific installation in Projects Gallery’s stairwell and lower level. Entitled “Wormhole” this immersive environment utilizes unexpected materials to craft a surreal and naturalistic world that envelops the viewer. Clouds are constructed from discarded eggshells, ants formed by nut and pods scurry past, and eyes watch from hidden places. Lisa Murch was recently awarded a purchase prize at Art of the State from the State Museum in Harrisburg. Opening reception will be First Friday October 2nd, from 6-9 PM. The reception is free and open to the public. Also on display will be Fresh! a show of emerging artist selected by gallery director Helen Meyrick. Both shows continue through October 31st, 2009.

Frank Hyder at the Noyes Museum

Frank Hyder is currently on display in a solo show entitled "poems of a Threatened Eden" at the Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, NJ. There will be an opening reception Friday, October 16th from 5-8PM. The work will be on display through January 11, 2010. More information can be found at www.noyesmuseum.org. Frank Hyder is also the subject of several short films by John Thorton, which can be found on youtube. Entitled "Activate the Zombies: Art and Life of Frank Hyder" and "When Frank was 5" the videos are viewable by clicking their respective titles.

Toronto International Art Fair

Projects Gallery is pleased to announce their participation in the upcoming Toronto International Art Fair. Taking place October 22nd through 26that the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Projects Gallery will be exhibiting in Booth #430. Projects would also like to announce the addition of two new artists to their rosters: Lyndi Sales who creates beautiful and delicate cut paper works, and Vivian Wolovitz renown for her highly textural and layered color fields.

In the continuation of a tradition, Projects Gallery announces Fresh! 2009, the annual autumnal show of emerging artists and work that is new to the city. Selected by Director Helen Meyrick, these artists diversely employ sculpture, site-specific installation, video, photography, painting and drawing.

This year’s work provides wildly disparate visuals as these artists grapple with the ephemera and trappings of contemporary culture. Of special concern to many of the artists is the vortex of consumerist culture and the effort to combat the notion that objects equal worth. There is a palpable frustration in many of the works of Fresh! 2009. One arrives at a sense of the artist’s struggle with emotions and structural institutions too strong and terrible to tear down directly. There is an eye to nature – perhaps of special resonance to this generation, and entanglements organic, technological, and emotional permeate the works.

Less figurative than previous shows, even the representational art seeks to subvert what the viewer assumes they are being shown. There is an undermining and overlapping of preconceived structures, both literal buildings and social relationships. Clutter is evident in many of the works, either as overwhelming cacophony or as order within the chaos. Ambivalently about perceived dissonance and suffocating in hyper-connectivity, the artists speak of being in limbo, grasping for context in which to place themselves, frequently manufacturing their own. Fresh! manages to side-step the slippery slopes of solipsism, common in many emerging artist shows. The works are hefty with impact both sensual and violent as persons and concepts collide.

Rather than a ‘greatest hits’ regurgitation of the student shows, Fresh! attempts to bring together disparate artists united not by imposed thematic or material concerns but as a chorus of individual voices. Participants include: Timothea Canny, Luca Chiriani, Cara Croke, Rose Crook, Aimee Denault, Dane Drago, Caitlin Fennelly, Ashley Flynn, Maya Hope Goldweber, Lisa Haskell, Megan Jensen, Doron Langberg, Del Lovett, Chelsea Maymon, Gwen Murphy, Bryan Powers, Rita Reisser, Jaime Roth, Catherine (Kate) Samworth, Robert Scobey, Anna Shukeylo, Jacob Smiley, David Solan, Trang Tong, Anthony Vega, and Nicole White.

Fresh! 2009 will be on display September 4 – October 31, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday September 4th from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday - Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

If you think that cosmetic surgery is just for women, then think again. More and more men are having the surgery done. My name is Luka Magnotta, I am a 24-year-old male, and to date, I have had five cosmetic surgeries done.

It first started off as a self-esteem issue with my face when I was a teen; I had acne, so I had a laser face peel. Let's just say that my face looked like a lobster after I was finished. I regretted it, and it only made the acne and my face worse. I was under a lot of pressure from peers at school and constantly teased, so I think it stems from the emotional and mental abuse I suffered from the other kids. Self-Esteem Issues Lead to Plastic Surgery Addiction

I then graduated into my twenties and had my eyelids done, so that I would not look old. My eyes do look better, but I lost a lot of friends because they thought I was nuts. I would get comments like, "You are way too young for that" and "There is absolutely nothing wrong with you." Maybe on the outside there wasn't anything wrong, but I could see a million different little things wrong with me every time I looked in the mirror.

After one incident at the liquor store when the clerk didn't ask me for my ID, I freaked out and thought I looked old. So, I got my laugh lines around my face done. I had Juviderm injections put into my face and I could not move my face for three days. It is sort of like botox. Everyone by this point was getting scared for me. I was working out all the time because I was told I was underweight. I do modeling, and the pressures of that cause me more stress, so I again went to the surgeon.

This time it was a big operation. In September, 2006 I had hair restoration, also known as a hair transplant. They cut me open in the back of my head and took a piece of my flesh off, they then sewed me back up and planted the grafts of hair into my head at the front. As a result, now I cannot feel the back of my head and there is a huge scar.

Within five months I got turned down for a modeling job because my hair was again too short so I became worried and called the doctor. He told me to come in said he would do my surgery again. For the second time in five months, I had another hair transplant. I now can't feel my entire head. I am not crazy; cosmetic surgery is an addiction. Get Help For Addiction Problems

If you are reading this and considering surgery, and you are under the age of 30, consult a therapist or talk to someone. The issue is not on the outside, it's on the inside.

I did it for personal and professional reasons; I felt plain looking and noticed how well beautiful people are treated. There are tremendous risks, I had excessive bleeding in my head and had to go to the emergency room. I can never cut my hair short and I have to wear concealer on my face to hide the scars from the facial peel.

Remember...no amount of surgery can satisfy a plastic surgery addict -the problem isn't with their body, it's all in their head. The mental disorder Body Dismorphic Disorder has been linked to the compulsion behind having multiple cosmetic procedures, and medical professionals generally agree that this is a dangerous obsessive disease.

Addiction to cosmetic surgery is a real and growing compulsion associated with disturbed body image and heightened beauty obsession in our culture. My idol was Michael Jackson, he has influanced me in so many ways.

As for Michael Jackson, he was an idol and inspered millions of people . He changed the world of Music with his breath taking voice and Amazing Dance moves to us he will always be the "King of Pop" but for others he was more then that. So today we will Morn the death of this Major Music Icon. I pray that his Family is well and Friends are safe .
And to all the Fans Pray for this Man Cuz without most of the music you mear wouldn't be here with out him.
God Bless is soul and hope he is there with the ones he lost.
I will miss him My Family Will Miss Himt he Nations around the world will Miss him.
Rest in Peace My Idol I will Pray for you and will love you forever and always.

FLEA MARKET
FLEA MARKET LOCATION 1401 W. SPRING GARDEN ST. CENTRAL PARKING LOT NEXT TO BEN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL

COME JOIN US FOR OUR GRAND OPENING
ON MAY 30 & MAY 31

THERE WILL BE MUSIC, VENDORS AND FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

NEW VENDORS ARE WELCOME. SO COME JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE AND BECOME A NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITE.

IF YOU WISH TO VEND CALL TIM AT 215-626-7843
OR ANTOINE AT 267-752-7957

FLEA MARKET HOURS ARE 7:00 AM TO 4:00 PM
SATURDAY & SUNDAY. VENDOR SET UP HOURS ARE FROM 6:00 AM TO 7:00 AM
{TALENT SHOW}
{FREE GIFTS & GIVEAWAYS}

Since the advent of cities, those with the means have escaped during the steamy summer months. But what of those who remain? For the months of June and July, Projects Gallery presents “Summer in the City”, a group show resulting from an open call to artists from the greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region. The resulting artists run the gamut from current students to established, mid-career artists.
Daniel Petraitis, Fire Hydrant, 40”H x 16”W x 16”D, Blown glass, steel

Frequently galleries close or reduce their operating hours under the assumption that the sticky days and hot nights leave no audience for art. Projects Gallery believes that, for the peoples that remain, the thirst for expression is not diminished by the change of season. The work in this exhibition is a template of patient visual critique of the experience rather than simple jubilation. “Summer in the City” celebrates these die-hard urbanites and is reflective of their myriad experience.
Tamsen Wojtanowski, cast, 17"H x 17"W, Color photograph

Artists include Jennifer Baker, Henry Berkowitz, Aubrie Costello, Linda Dubin Garfield, Conor Fields, Ashley Flynn, Adam Lovitz, Daniel Petraitis, Bobby Rosenstock, Martha Savery, Allen Spencer and Deborah Imler, Fay Stanford, Jayne Surrena, Mat Tomezsko, Andrew Wapinski, Tamsen Wojtanowski and others.
Allan Spencer and Debera Imler Facade 18, 14”H x 14”W, Mixed media

With a broadly interpretive topic and locale constraint, a curious sub-theme emerged. Many of the works seem to observe the destructive nature of humanity on their environment with an air of detachment. In some works, a nearly anthropological or documentarian voice is expressed. A sense of urban decay extends from the abstract to the figurative, from literal crumbling buildings and abandoned lots to the reflexive decay of those who inhabit these settings. Many of these works hint at questioning the role of the urbanite in their treatment of their space, their peers and their community. This undercurrent energizes the collective voice of city dwellers, strengthening a conversation beyond the expected summery escapism.
Henry Berkowitz, Old City Fire Escape, 16”H x 22”W, Oil on canvas

Emerging from their wintry cocoon, Philadelphians take to the streets and stoops, bikes and bars, parks and playgrounds. Much of the featured art shows people outside of their homes, in the environment of the city and the resultant interaction between the two. Each of these varied artists lend a perspective to what summer in the city can mean in all the positive, negative and observationally neutral positions. Including photography, print, glass, sculpture, collage, works on paper, mixed media installation, as well as both figurative and abstract work, there is something for everyone in this firmly Philadelphian show.
Mat Tomezsko, Haircut, 26”H x 16 ¾”W, Oil on wood

“Summer in the City” will be on display June 5 – August 1, 2009. There will be an artist opening reception First Friday June 5th from 6 - 9 p.m. The opening will embody the energy of a backyard keg party as we celebrate our own summer in the city. The reception is free and open to the public.
Linda Dubin Garfield, South Philly Doorway 3, 19” H x 23” W, Mixed Media

Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 -7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com
Adam Lovitz, Hat Collection, 21”H x 17”W, Mixed media on hand-cut paper, pinned on felt

Projects Gallery is excited to announce the second solo show by artist Caleb Weintraub “Things that may or may not go on in the dark, in the night”. Showcasing a whole new body of mid-sized oil paintings, these works are the latest in the artist’s ongoing mythology and social commentary. Weintraub presents images of mysterious, barren, tree-littered landscapes with patchy ground cover, revealing an underground of vibrant streaks of color, atop which the children enact secret ceremonies. Featuring the enigmatic motif of owls with paint-chip wings, their presence is the new focus of this chapter of the ongoing story.

Weintraub is an exceptionally gifted artist who also provides a unique visual experience in his fully realized alternative world. The constantly progressing narrative in Weintraub’s art is one of the most arresting elements of his oeuvre. In this envisioned reality, children have rebelled against the permissiveness of their supposed protectors. The first of these paintings were shockingly graphic and violent. They evolved into more oblique sublimation of adults through ridiculous uniform and theater and the cult of children in masks and sumptuous costume. Once suitably chastened, the child subjects began constructing a fantasy world and battling a new enemy - paint itself. Wrestling and mutilating gobs of paint salvaged from the artist’s palate, the children turned from attacking their world to destroying the medium used to create the environment. In the current body of work, these children have shed the anonymity of paper masks and appear linked with a new totem, the owl. The meaning of this icon and whether they desire to raise it up or destroy it remains a mystery to be pondered by the viewer. Although, as the artist himself has stated, “in any case, the children in my paintings are not actually children. They've always represented more the future than actual beings.”

A prolific worker, the artist has mounted over 10 solo shows in the last four years, with work that appeals to knowledgeable collectors and amateur art lovers alike. He has been the recipient of dozens of awards, including a New Perspectives Grant. A MFA graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Weintraub is currently Professor of Painting and Drawing at The Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. He is the father of three boys all under the age of four.

"Things that may or may not go on in the dark, in the night" will be on display May 1 - 30, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday May 1st from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 -7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Although the work of contemporary Cuban artists has been recognized by many important museums and curators around the world, as a result of the decades-long Cuban embargo, it often remains a mystery to most Americans. Curated by F. Lennox Campello, Aquí Estamos brings to Projects Gallery and Philadelphia recent work by several important artists working out of Havana, as well as Cuban artists from the Cuban Diaspora. In this traveling exhibition, Campello presents narratives and imagery ranging from historical dissidence to the stark issues of contemporary Cuban life, offering a glimpse into an island nation with a powerful world presence in the arts and the events of world history.

Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons escaped from Cuba in the early 1990’s and had a solo exhibition at MoMA before she was 30. Recently the subject of a retrospective at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, she uses her image and body to deliver powerful biographical and observational elements of the realities of being a black Cuban woman in America; torn between her love for her new home, her angst over her lost Cuban homeland and her dreams of her African roots.

Kcho (Alexis Leyva Machado) is also considered by many to be among the leading Cuban artists in the world, with work that explores migrations, the sadness of living and the reality of an island nation with major international issues. This will be his initial debut in Philadelphia.

Both Cirenaica Moreira and Marta Maria Perez Bravo employ their bodies as canvas for their photographs, although each with a different goal. Moreira has been called “woman as vagina dentata” for the ferocity of her depiction of themes of loss of freedom, feminism, and being a Cuban woman. Perez Bravo is considered by many to be the pre-eminent Cuban female photographer in the world; and her work addresses the fabulous rituals and images of Santeria, the unique Cuban mixture of Catholicism and African religions brought to the island by African slaves.

Sandra Ramos explores themes such as racism in her homeland, the physical and intellectual drain caused by mass migration and other austere realities of daily Cuban life. Other artists in the show include work by Roberto Acosta Wong, a former member of the acclaimed San Alejandro Art Academy in Havana and Aimeé Garcia Marrero, a young Cuban painter and digital artist considered by many to be the new leader of her generation. Additionally, the show will include Several Cuban artists represented by Projects Gallery: Alejandro Mendoza, known for his cruciform sculpture, Alex Queral, who carves individuals from phone books, Angel Ricardo Ricardo Rios presents paintings based in the sensuality of form, and Ramon Williams, who creates mixed media digital prints.

Aqui Estamos will be on display May 1- 30, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday May 1st from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Curator F. Lennox Campello will also give an artist’s talk Friday May 22nd at 6:30 pm to expand on the issue of Cuban art and answer questions. The engagement is also free and open to the public.

Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4-7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Things are not always as they seem. This elusive concept haunts the periphery of three distinct artists’ works. For the month of April, Projects Gallery announces three simultaneous solo shows of disparate artists who are united under the umbrella concept of Perception : Reality.

Ross Bonfanti, Puppy (c282), 9”H x 15”W x 6”D, concrete and toy parts
Canadian Ross Bonfanti creates his popular concreatures by rescuing cute, stuffed animals from thrift stores and ripping the stuffing out of ‘em. The empty vessels are then filled with concrete. Once cured, the fur skin is peeled away, leaving a disarming concreature in place. Textured with the underside of the fabric, with fur embedded in the exposed seams, these sculptures retain their plush appearance and original features, including button eyes and noses. The resulting sculpture is a constant juxtaposition between the expected and the actual.

Lauren Lyons, Carolyn, 40”H x 40”W, archival pigment print on photo rag paper
Philadelphian Lauren Lyons is widely regarded for her photography of bands in highly stylized shoots. She has photographed artist portraits and cheeky scenarios for illustrious clients such as Interscope Records, PETA, HBO, and Philadelphia Magazine. Celebrated for her accentuation of the artifice of her subjects, Lyons’ work exemplifies a contraction; she captures the visual evidence of the veneer. Her carefully constructed images provide elusive glimpses at the truth, enough to ‘whet the palette’, ultimately creating a composed stylized truth.

Alex Queral, Ed, 11”H x 9”W, acrylic on carved phonebook
Cuban Alex Queral’s carved phonebooks receive “how’d-he-do-that?” attention wherever they travel. From local Philadelphians to citizens of Beruit to the millions in Europe who have discovered his work online and in the press, his lushly detailed carvings are created from the soft material of phonebooks. Utilizing classical carving techniques on an unexpected material, Queral brings forth the individual from the faceless masses. Queral crafts recognizable visages, vaguely familiar but elusively foreign, as well as evoking his own cast of characters from the bound sheets of paper.

Projects Gallery is pleased to present these three divergent artists from different regions of the continent. Each will be given their own exhibition space to focus on the individual artist, but the thematic thread connects them all. Popular in their own right, Perception : Reality invites the viewer to discover what lays beyond the first impression of these three artists’ works.

Perception : Reality will be on display April 6 - 25, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday April 6th from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 -7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Across the nation there is a palpable excitement rippling through the art community. An artist-initiated outpouring has resulted in the simultaneous gallery showings throughout the country of Obama-themed artwork. Projects Gallery in Philadelphia is one such gallery. Although conceived in a vacuum of local artistic energy, their exhibition, entitled “Obama-rama”, appears to be very much in tune with the zeitgeist. Already the subject of several laudatory critical reviews, Projects Gallery has responded to audience demand to extend the exhibition through the end of March.

Frank Hyder, Fifty States of Obama, 100”H x 40”W, ink paint on canvas

Even as the reality of current economic, geopolitical and environmental challenges begin to sink in, this president, unlike any other in history, is a canvas on which is projected the hopes and fears of a nation. Through word of mouth and passing conversations, a wide range of artistic talent and media has enthusiastically embraced the idea of celebrating this historic and “bigger-than-life figure”. Conceived as a truly democratic exhibition, the works were not juried in; if an artist provided a work by the deadline, it went on display. The result is an unusually wide range of works.

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Is He Black Enough?, 24”H x 18”, oil on canvas

“Obama-rama” brings together many prominent Philadelphia area artists, as well as others, united in the celebration and critique of our nation’s new commander in chief, including Henry Bermudez, Elizabeth Bisbing, Jim Brossy, Lenny Campello, James Dupree, Allan Edmunds, Roberta Fallon & Libby Rosof, Cheryl Harper, Raymond W. Holman, Jr, Frank Hyder, Tom Judd, Alex Queral, Sarah Roche, Mia Rosenthal, Shelley Spector, Jack Thompson, Ira Upin, and others.

Ira Upin, Hope Not, 36"H x 36"W, oil on panel

“Obama-o-rama” continues through March 28th, 2009 and will feature a First Friday reception March 6th from 6-9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 - 7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of the exhibition is available online at http://www.projectsgallery.com/Shows/Obamarama_PL.html. For more information, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Across the nation there is a palpable excitement rippling through the art world. Spontaneously, artists inspired by the historic election of Barack Obama, have taken to the streets and studios producing work in celebration of the 44th President. This artist-initiated outpouring has resulted in the simultaneous showing throughout the country of Obama-themed artwork. Projects Gallery in Philadelphia is one such gallery. Although conceived in a vacuum of local artistic energy, their exhibition entitled “Obama-rama” appears to be very much in tune with the zeitgeist.
Elizabeth Bisbing, "Obama of Mercy", cut paper
From the undeniable presence in the Miami Art Fairs through outsider artists to the established mid-career artist, there is an identification in the arts with the image of Obama and what he has come to represent. Artists working in all media are inspired to react and create, and galleries across the country are exhibiting this work. Through word of mouth and passing conversations, a wide range of artistic talent and media has enthusiastically embraced the idea of celebrating this historic event and this “bigger-than-life figure”. Perhaps as no other elected official in history, Obama is a canvas on which is projected the hopes and fears of a nation.
Cheryl Harper, "Count on Me Obama Bank", ceramic
Not unlike the groundswell of support during our recent national election, what began as the bubbling excitement of a few artists has swelled into a tsunami of artistic output. Dedicated to the newly inaugurated president, Projects Gallery’s “Obama-rama” brings together many prominent Philadelphia area artists, as well as others, united in the celebration and critique of our nations new commander in chief, including Elizabeth Bisbing, Jim Brossy, Lenny Campello, James Dupree, Roberta Fallon, Cheryl Harper, Frank Hyder, Tom Judd, Alex Queral, Libby Rosof, Shelley Spector, Ira Upin and others.
Libby and Roberta, "Team Barack" acrylic on panel
“Obama-o-rama” opens First Friday February 6th with an artists’ reception from 6-9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. The exhibitions continue through February 28th. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 - 7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com
Mia Rosenthal, "January 19, 2009" (detail) ink on bristol