Shameless Self Promotion - The Mountain and The Sea

Join Us Tomorrow: 

Tamsen Wojtanowski & Christina Roth

 at Napoleon 

If you are in Philadelphia for First Friday, check out some of our new work in our collaborative show, One More Day...

One More Day displays a variety of mediums, from photographs to drawings to objects, to explore this life's cycle while considering the next.

The work speaks to the human ability to hope, dream, and to plan for our future in the face of great uncertainties.

 

"Desert Tent" by Tamsen Wojtanowski

"Dasher" by Christina Roth

THERE IS NO END IN THE BEGINNING.

Opening 1st Friday, February 1st, 6pm - 10pm

Napoleon is in the Rollins Building which houses other wonderful galleries such as 

Vox Populi, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Marginal Utility, Practice, and Grizzly Grizzly - so come on out!

319 N. 11th St. 2L

Philadelphia, PA 19107

www.napoleonnapoleon.com

See you there!

Febraury 2013 @ NAPOLEON

Christina Roth & Tamsen Wojtanowski: One More Day: An Essay by Jennifer Zarro

Christina Roth & Tamsen Wojtanowski: One More Day An Essay by Jennifer Zarro I began writing this essay on December 21, 2012.  As it was widely known, this was the last day of the Mayan Long Count calendar.  The world didn’t end but a new b’ak’tun has begun.  December 21st was also the day the NRA … Read more at Napoleon...

Thursday didn't have a chance...

Pizza Brain

+

Jamie Warren

=

I had a lucid dream last night where local Food’lebrity Pizza Brain and Jamie Warren’s “Self Portrait as Lasagna Del Ray by thestrutny” had a baby, and it came out as Eat My Face!, well-known member of the Garbage Pail Kids Clan. 

It took place in an all-night dinner on a long forgotten road, not unlike those photographed for Alec Soth’s series “Sleeping by the Mississipppi”.

I was sitting in a corner booth drinking all-night coffee, next to a pay phone that rang rang, but every time I answered it was just Roger Rabbit laughing uncontrollably on the other side of the line.

Alec Soth

Near the end, I garnered my ability to control the dreaming, then tiptoed around the baby-making and out the door.

I  was met with the blazing glory of a southwest sunrise breaking just over the horizon.

To say it mildly, upon actual waking, Thursday didn’t have a chance. 

John Divola

For some amazing work, check out these artist's websites.

Jamie Warren

Alec Soth

John Divola

They will set your dreams on fire. 

Wednesday Work: Jeffrey Stockbridge, "Kensington Blues"

Front Street

Jeffrey Stockbridge

Dolly

Jeffrey Stockbridge

Dennis

Jeffrey Stockbridge

I moved to Philadelphia in 2006, and before moving here took a lot of photographs of the people and places that made up my community. After relocating to the big city, I found myself unable to make the same kinds of images. I wasn't from Philadelphia, I didn't know how to approach those things I saw on the streets. Conscious of my outside perspective and my outsider status, I took my personal  work to the studio. It was a good move for me, though my interest in street photography lives on. Now, I like to see how others are able to do it. 

Since living in Philly, there have been photographers here making big headlines for the work they've completed in the neighborhood. Most notably, the work of Zoe Strauss. Strauss is born and raised Philadelphia, so the work, in a way, seems right and just. That being said, I am always left wanting more when viewing Strauss work. Asking myself who are the people in the photographs, and more, are the hard-luck portraits made of them helpful or hurtful?

I was turned onto Jeffrey Stockbridge, and his series Kensington Blues by a student of mine. Stockbridge works more like a Jim Goldberg, with his series chronicling those he comes across in the Kensington neighborhood via photographic works and interviews. Stockbridge talks to the people, he transcribes their stories, we are given more information. I enjoy the information. I enjoy hearing the individuals voice. It makes me feel less like I am taking from them as a viewing audience, makes me feel less like a voyeur. It feels more fair. 

Being a photographer myself, I know what the camera can do, the potential for it to take away from its subject. It is an argument I have with myself and photographs at large, often. Stockbridge helped me to articulate the side of the argument I am on. 

Plus, I live in a row home right down the street from many of his shots.; so there is that sensation - oh! look ma! We're on TV!. 

Check it out, here Kensington Blues. 

First Friday! @ Napoleon!

(Dana McElroy)

So you may or may not have put it together yet - but here I'll give it to you straight - I am involved in a new project! An artist-run exhibition space located right here in Philadelphia. We call ourselves Napoleon, and hope to bring the city of brotherly l0ve a whole cornucopia full of delicious little tid-bits for mind, body and soul, over the months to come!

This month we are proud to present Commonplacing - a group exhibition curated by the members of Napoleon. Artists exhibited include: Loo Bain, Joe Boruchow, Shelby Donnelly, Hannah Rose Dumes, Nelson Figueroa, Anna Gray + Ryan Wilson Paulsen, Dana McElroy, Ryan Parker, Max Seckel, and Edward Marshall Shenk.

The Opening Reception will take place tomorrow night! First Friday, September 2nd from 6pm-10pm, at Napleon's place located on the 2nd flr. of 319 N. 11th Street.( Vox Building.)

Get the whole scoop and links to the artists individual websites by going to Napoleon's blog, here.

I'll tell you what - tomorrow night is going to be a blast. The art looks good, all we're missing is your beautiful face.

See you all tomorrow!

Wednesday Work: Christopher Hartshorne

Nebula Christopher Hartshorne

This week's Wednesday work is Philly's own Christopher Hartshorne.

Walking those winding, unassuming stairs up to the second floor of the "Vox building", (a derelict property, just north of China Town, that has been re purposed housing apartments, at least one suite of textile factory-type work, and a myriad of artist-run spaces, including: Vox Populi, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Marginal Utility, Grizzly Grizzly - and the NEW NAPOLEON) I didn't think we were going to make it. Fresh from a down pour of summer thunder storms and a happy hour bar boasting half price everything until 8PM, the sweat was dripping off of our faces, pooling in blotchy splotchy patterns all over our clothes. We round the corner past the elevator doors and into the deplorable bathroom situation that is the second floor - quick past the growing crowd of gawkers in the hall,

And we were made a new once through the threshold of NAPOLEON's door.

The room was white, the air was cool, and we were met with large oversize huge gigantic prints made from woodblock, printed just so, on long rolls of paper delicately pinned to the walls and strung over utility pipes - I found my feet.

This is why we made the trip.

The beautiful movement and abstraction and depth of Christopher Hartshorne's woodblock prints let you in. They let you go - there - where? That's up to your imagination. They deftly set the stage, one with many different avenues and options, but they don't tell you what to say. A variation of line work mixed with subtle color shifts, the work a grotesque adventure, a memory, or a want - all depending on if you had 6 dark and stormys, or just 2 pale ales, at the happy hour bar, and your ability to synthesize alcohol.

I received the image in two parts, which I show together up top. Below, the two images as they were sent as separate. The image size, 96"x38". Now that's some big wood.

Go see the show for yourself!

Gallery hours at NAPOLEON: Saturdays 1-3. 319 N. 11th Street. 2nd Floor. Philadelphia, PA. Up through July.

And check out more of Christopher Hartshorne's work at his website, here.

Nebula Christopher Hartshorne

Nebula Christopher Hartshorne

Wednesday Work (Thursday Throwback?): Carleton Watkins: Yosemite (1863)

This past Saturday was "National Record Store Day", did you all attend to your neighborhood favorites? After feasting on bagel sandwiches overflowing with mozzarella cheese and marinated basil and tomatoes, we stumbled into a fairly new used records&books on 9th, down in Philadelphia's Italian Market. I couldn't decide on a record. But I did pick up a few used books. One, Susan Sontag's novel "America", has this Carleton Watkins image above on the back cover, and I was reminded: Susan Sontag can write, and: Oh wow - look at that photograph.

Carlton Watkins' photographs do what all good photographs should do (in my hungry opinion), they elicit adventure, they call for ambition, they show the viewer how much and how big it is out there - all the while without bringing with them any fears. There are no fears of falling in Carleton Watkins' photographs. We are viewing great feats of nature, but never are we at the cliff's edge. There is no physical danger here, nor is there chance of psychological or emotional harm. There are no others in Watkins' photographs with which we are to compare ourselves. We are not being watched or watching. The land is ours and ours alone, and the land is there to be taken.

Evading many of the trappings found in traditional formal photography, the rectangle or square, the whole thing placed behind glass - Watkins shot for stereoscopes (the View-Master, its like that), his images were cut down, placed in circle shaped mattes.

Watkins' worked on what he loved. He worked and worked and worked. He made photographs. I can't imagine he was thinking about a market, or an audience, (I could be wrong here, but let me have the dream, pretty please....)

I WANT TO BE (like) CARLETON WATKINS.

Follow your spring dreams readers. And read up on your history players. You can't hustle unless you know the game. These are my words of wisdom: T-Dubbya OUT.

(Carleton Watkins, photographs and info - here.)

[Aaaaand, if you're not into throwbacks (but really, either way) give this guy a listen: Hennesy Youngman]
Seriously.

Reminder: Abelardo Morrell at the PPAC, TONIGHT!

Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, Visiting Artist Lecture, Abelardo Morrell, Tonight!

Every once in a while.....:Vincent Colvin

(source)

Every once in a while - you have the good fortune to meet someone inspired, and therefore - inspiring. Vincent Colvin is one of the most sincere, enthusiastic, un-ashamed-ly full of wonder and curiosity, person/artist (artist=person=artist (?) (different conversation all together)) I have had the pleasure of getting to know in a long time.

(source)

Recently relocating from Philadelphia to Austin, TX (noooooooooooooooo!), Vince has been keeping us updated of his doings over at his blog, The Benthos. Earlier this week it was a post about an Ammonoid Fossil he found in the Colorado River. Then just the other day, an investigative post on the common wasp and why it might be going rapid attack on a moth in Vince's garden (complete with 5 minutes of live footage)!

(source)

We talk about art, the art scene, the art market, trends in art, contemporary art, art history, our individual art practices, politics, popular culture, top 40, underground, indie, folk art, DIY, crust punks, intellects, sculptors, curators, professors, meter maids, and lunch truck ladies - - - but we mustn't forget the origin of all of this : WONDER.

Why do we make the things that we do? What compels us to enter those secret and special places inside of ourselves? Why are you infatuated with old globes and snake skins? Why does the sight of a whole section of different color duct tape in the hardware store make us giddy?

Wonder: wond-der. -verb: to think or speculate curiously; to be filled with admiration, amazement or awe; -noun: something strange and surprising: a cause of surprise; the emotion excited by what is strange; miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.

You get the picture. Now go pick some up !- figure out what turns you on and hold onto it! Wonder - it's what we can do.

(source)

Check out some of Vince's new experiments with woodcuts on his blog, here, you can also see more of his work on his website, here. Get jealous of Austin, here. Buy your ticket to visit and show up on Vince's doorstep, here.

Today the Sea was born!

(source)

Today the Sea was born! And she doesn't know it yet, but we have planned a fun filled weekend staycation. Thats right, we are going to vacation - at home. Not the toughest thing to do when you live somewhere as fabulous and full as Philadelphia ...

Don't want to give anything away - - - but for those inquiring minds, (Sea stay away) check out this link here and here, here and here, yum here, and the grand finale here.

Wednesday Work: STOP Motion/Stop Animation: The Brothers Quay

(source)

While studying abroad in Rome a few summers back, I had the good fortune to be introduced to the Brothers Quay, both their work and the artists themselves, while participating in a philosophy course dealing with ideas of vision and rationality. (or was it reality, or realization??? hmm, it did begin with an 'r'. The whole experience a blur!)

And I don't know if its the changing weather, a changing mood, or if I am just preparing to nestle down in the studio with my demons for a while (oy! demons!), but I have been obsessed - obsessed!- with all things macabre lately (see also, steampunk): The Brothers Quay fitting the bill quite well.

(source)

Twin brothers born in Norristown, PA, these boys are Philadelphia locals made it big. Both attending The University of the Arts back in the 1960s, moving to England shortly thereafter to study at The Royal College of Art in London.

All you really need to know however, is this: Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Brothers Quay (2010). Netflix it - watch "The Epic of Gilgamesh, or This Unnameable Little Broom" (1985), then watch "The Street of Crocodiles" (1986). Then watch them again. Try to wrap your brain around these TABLETOP realities created from everyday objects, from garbage, from your lunch scraps.

(source)

Their sets are teeny-tiny. Their attention to detail is ENORMOUSly articulate and thorough.

(source)

You want to watch it, own it, be it - NOW.

But...maybe you don't. (I'm heartborken.) In that case, check out these videos on Vimeo, "The Best of Animation/Stop Motion/Puppets" in today's music video scene. The image below is from
N.A.S.A feat Karen O and Ol' Dirty Bastard, the song is "Strange Enough".

Let's go, come out with me, bring your scissors, your glasses, your teeny-tiny working fingers and a video camera, let's make the world a smaller place - one full of much larger possibilities.

(source)

Wednesday Work: Wafa Hourani

(source)

(source)

(source)

Wafa Hourani is a Palestinian artist combining sculpture and photography is his current body of work, Future Cities.

Paraphrased from a fellow blogger,

"Future Cities deals with the social, political, and economic realities of Palestinian life to develop grim and apocalyptic predictions for the residents of the West Bank.

Each building is a miniature light-box illuminating glimpses into the private lives of the residents through film strips placed in the windows, an unnerving reminder that this science fiction horror is, for many, an everyday experience. "

(source)

While I applaud the ability to be real-world pertinent/political, I mostly enjoy this work for it's whimsical object-hood. Thinking about the process, and how much fun it would be to make this little world. I love the nuance the photographs of the darkened world create, but am very interested in the array of bright colors used on the models you can seen when shot in daylight.

(source)

I can imagine the working process, but find myself curious about the thought-process. Did Wafa Hourani think first of the concept then make the model, or does Hourani enjoy model making and after constructing a few, come up with the concept.

This is something I struggle with often. You creative folks out there - what works best for you? Plan or action? Plan to action? Attack and clean-up?

Regardless, *Cribs* Goldfish Edition - yes, why I would love to live here. (Those of you in Philly, does this remind you of the secret garden?)

(source)

I want ice cream.

You can read more about Wafa Hourani here, and here.

(source)

Wednesday Work: Wedding Season

Have you all been to as many weddings as I have this wedding season? Maybe I am at that age, but even so - it sure seems like there have been A LOT of weddings this summer.

Last weekend with an impromptu invitation to a wedding reception of friends in Ithaca, this weekend a little more stressful family affair farther upstate. (Really? My cousin that is soooo good at mimicking while whistling while not speaking, in the game cranium is getting married? He can do that?!? Fantastic.)

Anyhoo, weddings weddings weddings!

Have you seen the photography of Love Me Do? They are a bunch of local ladies here in Philadelphia with a great take on wedding photography.

They have an ever-growing portfolio, which you can check out here. And an extensive blog where they update wedding images as they shoot them.

When the time comes I would love to work with Love Me Do, unfooooortunately in front of the camera I become an Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill, though he still might have more of a smile than I am able to pull off. Have you seen the awkward "farmer and his wife" - yes that's me, the farmer- balding, perplexed, uncomfortable. (Look it up.)

"Boobs are for weddings." And cupcakes are for work days. Is this one over yet?

Hope you all have a good weekend - we'll be at a wedding! (Congrats Andrew!)

This Weekend

(source)

I won't tell you how I got there, but I have been thinking a lot about triangulation and refraction... Have you seen "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"(2002)?

(source)

Dealing with topics like depression, incest, mortality, and overall general angst, the movie tells a coming-of-age story set in Catholic School. The scene that stuck with me (I'm bringing it back around now), is one where the boys are doing their homework assignment on the topic of triangulation. They tempt death by triangulating where the end of a telephone pole might fall once it is cut down with a chain saw... check it out for yourself, here.


I think all this science-geek wonder and talk is my way of not dealing with all the packing we will be doing this weekend, but - what can you do?


For all of you that find yourself FREE this weekend, my tip to you - check out Hive76 , our very own group of science-geek wonder and talk right here in Philadelphia!

(Hive76)

With very open doors, Hive 76's mission statement reads as follows:


"Hive 76 is a community of makers and crafters organized around a shared workspace. We enable our members to invent, build, collaborate and share skills. We promote science education and the do-it-yourself spirit in our greater community to enable people to make things awesome and make awesome things."


Check out their calendar, we just missed their free lock-picking workshop, but there is an Open House on the 7th!

Also, some music for your weekend:

Check out Haight-Ashbury 's song Freeman Town, here.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

DEFY MONDAY: Summer Solstice

(source)

This may be the most important DEFY MONDAY yet as it is the Looooongest Monday of the year! Today is Summer Solstice, the FIRST day of summer and an astronomical phenomena. (A fitting way to start the season, don't you think?) Today we are the closest to the sun we are every going to get, which makes today the day with the longest period of sunlight!

How are you going to spend it?

With some summer solstice music,

(source)

or maybe with some other fun group activities?

(source)

Or is today a spiritual day for you?

(source)

Whatever you choose, I must confess, my summer solstice will be spent stuck at this desk. But if I could have it my way, this would be my ideal summer solstice,

(source)

But don't fret! What we will be able to do this summer solstice: thawing in the fridge as we speak, some delicious tuna steaks to throw on the grill when we get home tonight. A banging dinner to eat out on the back patio while we fashion some DIY style garden trellis for our rapidly growing vine plants, so that they can stop depending on our chain link fence and stray propane tank. Cucumbers, we are coming to save you!

For some great DIY Garden Trellis guides, check out here and here.

Also, another great for today and all those hot summer days in general,

(source)

Deer Tick

And they're coming here: to our own Johnny Brenda's, in Philadelphia on July 20th! You can check out their music here and here, and reserve your tickets to the show here. We saw them last June in Philly, opening up for Jenny Lewis. And I can say it, without a doubt - it was the best rock show I've ever seen.

But in the meantime: Hope you all get a chance to get out and enjoy that summer sun! (Don't forget your sunscreen!)