In Progress of a current painting aka The Dead Space?

In Progress of a current painting
Originally uploaded by 730N

This is a cell phone photo of a current painting I am working on. Unfortunately, my canon powershot appears to be broken! So documentation of artwork for the next few months will be haphazard of sorts. This painting is of a vacant lot near the Berks subways station. I walked in there, half thinking I was treading on land I would regret for some reason or another. Yet it was amazingly quiet. The "bustle" of front street was at a distance. There was so much green! So much, that is, in a philadelphia sense of mass of green. The ground was full of litter, some of it interoperable, most of it not.

here is it's location

If you have looked at the map, notice how large a green space it is for the surrounding area! I felt like it was my own private park. I never could shake the unsafe feeling though, and perhaps it is justified.

From the Wikipedia article,

Kensington is perceived throughout the region for being one of Philadelphia's poorest, most crime-ridden neighborhoods. There has been some recent revitilization, and the amount of total crime and shootings has declined significantly in recent years.

The painting is large - 42" Wide by 40" inches high.

My friend Adam Grossi speaks of child playgrounds as opened and abstracted half-places as proof of our own uncertainties about our adult world, and perhaps even a hopeful obeisance to the child’s unknowing, her/his potential to unravel and reconstruct.

I see something analogous in these spaces like the one above. They are half-places too: open and abstracted with subjective meaning. However, they are transitory spaces, some turning into old growth and some turning into new lofts. (or Casinos) Playgrounds change too as new safety features are introduced... Both spaces come to reflect the society that built them in some fashion.

This land is kensington could be called a "Dead Space" or a "Vacant lot" or simply "forgotten" or "neglected."

But I believe they hold as many lessons as we could hope for if we paid attention.

The Show at the Rocket Cat Cafe was a success!

I had a show at the Rocket Cat Cafe coffee shop this June and sold 3 out of 15 paintings. I am happy to say that it was a record for art sales in 1 month. The three works that were sold are listed below. Each sale was driven by a personal connection to the space painted. 2 out of the 3 paintings were sold to people in the same zip code. All 3 paintings remain in Philadelphia.

Sugarhouse and the Divide Casinos was purchased by an individual whose family had lived in Fishtown for many generations. She was drawn to the painting by the idea that it crystallized a space on the cusp of change. She recently returned to live in Fishtown, a neighborhood that also has been changing rather rapidly. The conversation reminded me of what I was attempting to do with "The Point at Which the Stream Emerges"

Anatomy of a Street Tree was purchased by an individual who happened to grow up 10 houses away from the location of the tree! He did not know this until we talked.

FDR Park, Frozen was purchased by an individual who happened to get married in the rotunda portrayed in the painting.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama
Originally uploaded by 730N

I made this little portrait of Obama in oil pastels. The background is water color washes of overlapping geometric shapes.

This is the first political figure I have ever drawn and perhaps it is interesting to think of them as symbols of policy decisions that have real world effects. Obama is an interesting character and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next year.

I have yet to hear him address the arts and would be curious of his position.

The drawing is on ebay right now.

Art Show @ 1 shot Coffee in Liberties Walk.

My Show at 1 shot
Originally uploaded by 730N

My show is drawing to a close this upcoming week. I will be taking it down Thursday morning. Approximately 3 days left to see it in person!

I do believe it was my first official "solo" show and am happy to say it seemed to be well received. The portraits were hung together on the left hand side and the landscape/ cityscapes were hung on the right hand side. Clustering them like this made for 2 small sub-shows that helped me embrace the 2 different directions that my work appears to be taking.

The was nice rhythm to the way the paintings were hung. Thanks to Samantha for help with hanging the show.

Click on the image for a larger version.

4 weeks to Mozambique! Give yourself a Hand?

Today marks the 4 week countdown to Mozambique!

I am incredibly excited to expand my world view in this fashion and am kicking into high gear to get ready. We are slowly jumping the hurdles that are needed to accomplish this, and I am happy to report that we got our shots this morning for the various vaccinations.

This past week however, has been tumultuous. I found out last friday that my place of employment would be shutting its doors that IMMEDIATE sunday. I sit 4 weeks away from the most inspirational trip of my life and am unemployed. I hesitate to go into more detail, because simply I have not found my exact voice on this blog and do not want to stray far from the arts focus.

However, as part of my overall strategy in this chaotic time, I am using the internet to try and SELL my artwork, for whatever I can get. I am willing to sell for cheap because of the fast approaching move we will be making in August. Quite simply, the less I have to move in August, the better.

Without further ado, the drawing of a hand I posted on ebay this evening is
here

Recent Paintings: A show This April

I am currently showing 15 paintings at 1 shot coffee in Northern Liberties.

With 3 of the paintings, I am donating 50 dollars of the purchase prices to related community organizations. I am intrigued with the Painting Activist's fantastically pragmatic approach.

I’m addressing social issues utilizing painting as my medium of communication. Much like a photojournalist, I travel to locations/events of cultural interest and capture them, only with my brush. My talent is as an artist, my passion is advocating for social change; this is how the two work together.

All artwork is for sale, unless noted otherwise. A portion of proceeds from the sale of original work is donated to the nonprofit corresponding to each piece. So if you’re apt to support my talent and contribute to a cause, invite your art-appreciating-friends, browse, be merry, and buy great art!