Photo: Annamarya Scaccia/West Philly Local

Already home to Philadanco and PhilaFunkLive, the seemingly quiet stretch of N. Preston Street between Market and Filbert Streets is buzzing with even more activity now that Inewsent Studios has claimed space in the historic Bell Telephone Exchange, which once served as a telecommunications enterprise in the early 1900s.

Opened in April, Inewsent, located on the second floor of the 113-year-old Georgian Revival building at 8 N. Preston Street, is a 12,000 square-foot independent multimedia complex meant to support independent journalists and artists living and creating in the city. It’s actually an extension of PhilaFunkLive (PFL), a sweeping 3,000 square-foot live performance hall and screening space in the Exchange that was founded by Powelton Village resident and real estate developer Michael Davis in 2007.

In addition to PFL, which hosts 12 – 15 bands a week, Inewsent houses two offices, three audio production studios, two additional 1,000 square-foot performance spaces in the basement, a 25-person call center, WINR Radio, WPFLTV, Cup O Soul Philly (a coffee shop only open during PFL events), and Inewsent Gallery, a permanent art space curated by Stephanie Santos and Lindsay Gilbert. In the future, Davis plans to also run an independent national news station out of Inewsent and is currently looking for a national news anchor and independent journalist in Philadelphia and 49 other cities across the country, from Alaska to Florida.

“Inewsent Studios provides performance spaces where independent artists can be seen and heard and also provides a productive, creative and collaborative environment,” said 52-year-old Davis, a former Army Military Police officer and Judge Advocate General who also runs his medical malpractice and criminal defense law practice out of the Exchange’s first floor. “I wanted to find the ‘best use’, do something fun and support independent artists, which is my passion.”

–Annamarya Scaccia

Here’s a sampling of events you might want to check out. For more upcoming events visit our Events Calendar.

Fri, June 14

9 am – 5 pm – St. Francis de Sales, 47th & Windsor Ave – Donations to be sold at the St. Francis de Sales Flea Market are being accepted in the auditorium. You can bring almost anything, except books, clothing and large furniture.

6 – 9 pm – 40th Street Air Space, 4007 Chestnut St – 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program is presenting The Past is Over, a solo exhibition of new work by 2012-2013 artist-in-residence Mike Harpring (pictured right). Please visit http://40streetair.blogspot.com/ for more information.

7 – 9 pm – 8 N. Preston St (40th & Preston) – Grand Opening of Inewsent Studio & Gallery – Many West Philadelphia artists are a part of tonight’s grand opening of Inewsent Studio & Gallery, located in the historic Bell Telephone Exchange building on 40th and Preston.

9:30 pm – City Tap House, 3925 Walnut St – Blue Grass Music in West Philly – The Brummy Brothers are back on the road again and this time they’re kicking it off in West Philly’s City Tap House. https://www.facebook.com/events/502534066468815/

Sat, June 15

9 am – 4 pm – St. Francis de Sales Auditorium, 47th & Windsor Ave – St. Francis de Sales is holding its annual flea market featuring bargains and homemade goodies. Lunch will be served. For more information call 215-222-2255 or 215-222-5819.

10 am – 1 pm – Church of the Holy Apostles and The Mediator, 51st & Spruce Sts – The Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator is partnering with ECOvanta to hold an electronic waste recycling event. In addition, Nexcut Shredding will be on site to provide secure document destruction for $1.00 per box.

10 am – 4 pm – Clark Park, 43rd & Baltimore Ave – All-Army Reunion – The city’s first All-Army Reunion is also a chance to mark the birthday of the US Army for all US Army veterans in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. An estimated 200-300 veterans will attend the event that’s also open to their families and the public. There will be contests, live music, guest emcees, food and refreshments and more. Tickets are $5 per individual and $10 per a family up to six. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event. For more information, visit: http://vetscomforthouse.org/

11 am – 4 pm – Porch at 30th Street Station – VIX Emporium and the University City District are bringing more than 50 local crafters to The Porch at 30th Street Station for the 2nd 30th Street Craft Market. There will be three of Philly’s finest food trucks too – savory slow-cooked barbecue by Vernalicious, gourmet Italian sandwiches by Lil Dan’s, and Mac Mart’s macaroni & cheese specialties. For more info, go to: http://www.vixemporium.com/craft-shows/30th-street-craft-market/

12:00 – 8:30 pm – 55th & Chester – Stop the Violence Kickback Block Party – Mont Brown, the Southwest Philadelphia Ambassador for the “Stop the Violence” movement, will kick-off the Block Party in this region of the city and hopes to deliver positive alternatives by promoting education, the arts and small business development. There will be free food, live performances by 30 artists and 10 DJ’s, as well as a host of local vendors selling merchandise.

Sunday, June 16

12 – 5 pm – Firehouse Bicycles, 50th & Baltimore Ave – Party on the Porch – Firehouse Bicycles has new Sunday hours this summer and is inviting neighbors to a party that will include Danophonic spinning records, free food on the grill, and deals on bikes. For more information, visit: http://www.firehousebicycles.com/blog/events

Two cool things are coming back this summer beginning Thursday, June 6. Firstly, the Heart & Soul project that debuted last year and that features artfully decorated pianos installed in public spaces for anyone to play, is launching tomorrow in Clark Park (43rd & Baltimore) at 3 p.m. This time there will be four pianos, all decorated by artist Joe Boruchow and all placed in Clark Park, two in the northern section of the park (Clark Park “A”) and two in the southern section (Clark Park “B”).

The pianos will stay in the park only until June 16, so don’t miss the opportunity to check them out and play them (if you can). Joe’s work may be familiar to many locals. This spring we snapped a photo of his art piece, called Valentine 2013, pasted at the corner of 44th and Spruce:

More information about Joe Boruchow and his work is available here.

The Thursday edition of Clark Park’s Farmers’ Market also returns tomorrow. It will be open 3-7 p.m. The Thursday market will operate through November. For more information on vendors at Clark Park Farmers’ Market visit: http://universitycity.org/clark-park-farmers-market

The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR), which awards West Philadelphia artists one year of free studio space at 40th and Chestnut Streets, is now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 residency. Applications are due Monday, May 13, 2013. Artists accepted into the program are expected to share their talents with neighbors by leading workshops, teaching classes, and exhibiting in the area.

Founded by artist Edward M. Epstein in 2003, the program addresses the need for studio space in West Philadelphia and assists artists with career development. If accepted into the program, artists will be granted a studio space at either 4007 Chestnut St.  or 4013 Chestnut St., beginning on August 25, 2013.

Current resident artists include Diedra Krieger who worked with students at the Huey School, residents of the 4900 block of Chancellor Street, and Mariposa Food Co op’s Food Justice and Anti-Racism Group (FJAR) to collect plastic water bottles and construct a large geodesic dome. You can read more about this project here. Other artists currently participating in the program are Celestine Wilson Hughes, Fatima Adamu, and Michael Harpring.

For more information about AIR and to apply for the residency, go to: http://40streetair.blogspot.com.

Photo from last year’s Fun-A-Day show at Studio 34.

Some of your friends and neighbors worked hard to create a piece of art every day during the month of January, as part of the annual Fun-A-Day project and this Friday and Saturday (Feb. 15 & 16) all are invited to see the results of their work. Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave) is hosting the Fun-A-Day art show from 7 to 11 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights and a Reading event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The event is free and open to the public.

The ArtClash Collective, a Philadelphia based group who has organized Fun-A-Day for nine years, invites community members of all ages to the show, hoping that it serves as an inspiration for those who attend. “We hope we can inspire you to make art!” reads a message on their website.

The Saturday event will include performances by Allison Polans, Gina Renee Fontana, and Second Opinion, beginning at 8:15 p.m. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Seeds Gallery Grand Opening on August 11, 2012. (Photo by Jaap Veneman)

Tucked away near the corner of 50th and Baltimore is the new Seeds Gallery, which promotes artists from right here in West Philly. The gallery is small but spirited, containing work at last Saturday’s grand opening from artists and photographers including Charles Barbin, Bob Bruhin, Russell Brodie, and Jeremy Fahringer.

The gallery provides an atmosphere like your friend’s living room. It’s casual, the artists are friendly and are willing to discuss their work. The gallery is small, but intimate, allowing for you to appreciate all of the work without being overwhelmed by too much of it. All in all it’s a charming place to support local artists.

There will be a public open house on August 25 from 6-9 p.m. and another on September 16 from 4-8 p.m. The closing exhibit will be on September 29, 6-9 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to see these wonderful artists before they’re gone.

– Kelly Lawler