If you have been around Philly for a while you have probably seen Suzanne Francis’ work. But even if you have been here only a short spell you have most definitely seen the subject of her work. Francis, who lives in the West Philly neighborhood of Parkside, has a wonderful eye for architecture and landscapes that define Philadelphia and she captures them on handmade prints.
Francis will be at VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave.) tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to talk about her work and how she makes it. One of the great things about her stuff is that she makes it affordable, so you can take a piece home tonight as well. Tonight’s event will include light refreshments and Francis will bring along some of her tools to provide folks a glimpse into how she produces such memorable pieces.
If you can’t make it tonight, stop by VIX anytime to check out her stuff.
Erik Ruin, the current 40th Street Artist-in-Resident, invites neighbors to the opening of his new exhibition tonight, from 7 to 9 p.m., at a temporary storefront gallery at 4212 Chestnut Street (below the Scribe Video Center).
The exhibition, titled “Staring at the Cracks,” features a combination of prints, projections and sound to tell stories of solitary confinement. Ruin managed to construct a unique environment to share the emotions and experiences of formerly incarcerated people.
Some rooms are populated with wall-size print installations, other rooms – by shadow-puppet and video projections by Ruin and award-winning Toronto filmmaker Brett Story.
Along with the installations speakers throughout the space will play snippets of audio interviews with men and women describing their experiences in solitary confinement. Finally, innovative klezmer and jazz trombonist Dan Blacksberg will play a unique and haunting bed of sound to enhance the dramatic atmosphere.
The exhibition will run until July 23 and will be the last in a series of exhibitions presented by Ruin as a 40th Street Artist-in-Resident. On July 23, Ruin will be bidding farewell with an all-day studio sale, live music, and closing reception (3 p.m. to 11 p.m.).
To read more about the 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program click here.
Every couple of weeks a small room in the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library at 52nd and Sansom is converted into a shrine to the Japanese comic art genre of manga. Teens and ‘tweens (10-12 year-olds) stop by to talk manga, draw manga, read manga and even listen to music about manga.
Manga, which in Japan is read by all segments of society, has swept through this generation of American kids in Harry Potter-like fashion.
“It appeals to a wide range of what you’re looking for,” said Shaunda, a Philadelphia High School for Girls student. “If you’re looking for fantasy, they have fantasy. They’re got action and lots of romance.”
Librarians have welcomed the interest in manga and have dedicated more money to bolster library collections.
“Some of the stories are kind of fantastic,” said Blackwell librarian Jeanne Hamann.
She added that kids who grew up with Pokemon were sort of “primed” for manga.
Hamann also said interest in manga has opened a window into Japanese culture for many.
That was certainly evident at this week’s Manga Cafe. As fans sat at table drawing, reading and talking manga, Japanese music played in the background. Kids leafed through Japanese magazines and Japanese food was served.
See the slideshow below for a better look at the Manga Cafe.
Don’t miss the opening of the exhibit by the current 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Erik Ruin tonight at 6 p.m. at the 40th Street A.I.R. Gallery (aka Airspace Gallery, 4007 Chestnut Street). Ruin will present a floor-to-ceiling installation of shadow projections and prints titled “For the Sake of Future Days.” The central theme of the exhibit is the exploration of hopes and anxieties for the future of the world in the midst of adversity and transformation.
The Artist-in-Residence Program was founded in 2003 to assist West Philly artists with their career development. It awards one year of free studio space at 40th & Chestnut Streets.
The exhibit will run through April 29. Additional viewing hours are: April 15, 22, 29 at 3-7 p.m. For more information call 267-262-0208 or e-mail: erikruin(at)gmail.com.
One of the mummies that will be on display at the Penn Museum beginning Friday.
As you might have heard, the mummies have made it. The Penn Museum’s “Secrets of the Silk Road” exhibit will be closed today through Friday, February 18 so that the museum can prepare artifacts and mummies from China that the Chinese government forbade it from displaying.
The exhibit opened to much fanfare last week, but about 100 pieces, including two mummies, were missing, prompting the museum to waive the $22.50 admission price when the exhibit opened on Feb. 5. The fragile artifacts are up to 3,800 years old.
The exhibit reopens on Friday at 1 p.m. mummies and all. The full exhibit runs through March 15. But then the mummies are back on the road and will not be part of the exhibit from March 17 to its close on March 28.
For the full background on the mummies controversy see this story from the Inquirer.
Sheesh. We forgot to include Secrets of the Silk Road in the weekend preview. This looks like it will be a really fabulous exhibit. It opens today and runs through June. But this weekend looks especially fabulous. This is from the museum:
A host of special sights, sounds, and activities are in store for visitors at the grand opening weekend of Secrets of the Silk Road. Camels will be circling the Museum, stopping for guest encounters and hourly presentations about life along the ancient routes. Central Asian silks, textiles, furniture, and other trading route goods will be for sale in the Museum Shop. Enjoy performances, craft demonstrations, and a café with tea and Chinese pastries inspired by ancient foods in the exhibition.
And here’s a video of curator Victor Mair:
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. Museum admission is $10 for adults and $6 for kids and youth.
Here’s a schedule. (Oh, did we mention that there would be real camels?)
Camels
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Two Bactrian camels (at ease in blistering heat-or freezing cold!) circle the Penn Museum, stopping for guest encounters and hourly presentations about life along the ancient routes, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Storytelling
Saturday Only at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Michele Belluomini of Blue Deer Storytelling tells traditional tales from Silk Road lands.
Dance Performance
1:00 pm
Young dancers from Chinese For Families present a short program of Central Asian dance.
Drum Performance
10:30am, 12:30 pm, and 3:30 pm
Silk Road hand drumming demonstration with Joseph Tayoun.
Music Performance
11:30 am and again at 1:30 pm
Classical Asian musician Kurt Jung performs on the traditional Chinese zither.
Get a Henna Tattoo
Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Henna is a popular plant dye used to create body tattoos throughout India and other regions of the Silk Road. First come first served.
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