Post by Chris Paquette
In case you haven’t noticed, Philadelphia is in the midst of a Photography renaissance of sorts.
From the programs at the PMA’s Eugene Levy Gallery brought to you by highly regarded photography curator Kate Ware to the the recent influx of dedicated photography venues such as Yo Darkroom, Basho, and Gallery 339, and right on down to numerous corner cafés that showcase the works of up and coming locals, Philly has plenty to see — and serves up a wide variety of photographic exhibits. With that in mind, here is a schedule of what’s being offered around the city this summer.
Project Basho
1305 Germantown Avenue, Phila. Pa. 19122
215.238.0928
Shozo Tomioka: Images from Noto Peninsula
Through June 29th
This exhibition features 25 images of by Shozo Tomioka, a Japanese photographer from Kanazawa, Japan. Made in the 1950s, his black and white images were created in the fishing villages of Wajima and its surrounding area. Influenced by Ken Domon, a prominent Japanese photographer of the same generation, Tomioka’s keen eye for composition with a sense of geometry captures the harsh, yet lively and joyful, lives of the local people.
Philadelphia Museum of Art: Eugene Levy Gallery
Perelman Building
Fairmount and Pennsylvania Avenues
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8100
Ansel Adams: Transcending the Literal
Through August 17th
Comprised of more than 40 photographs selected from the Museum’s extensive holdings of the artist’s work, this exhibition focuses on Ansel Adams’ less-familiar landscape images in order to demonstrate his innate understanding of graphic form and balanced design. The key phrase here is “less-familiar.” You’d be wrong if you avoid this show simply because you think you’ve seen enough of Adams’ photography. This wonderfully-presented show highlights a very sophisticated balance between abstraction and reality as only the photographer’s genius is capable of.
Gallery 339
339 South 21st Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.731.1530
Henry Horenstein: Animalia
Through July 5th
White-cheeked Spider Monkey by Henry Horenstein……. at Gallery 339
An exhibition by nationally renowned photographer Henry Horenstein. This exhibition coincides with the publication of Horenstein’s newest monograph, Animalia, a compilation of his animal photographs. The rich sepia-toned prints that comprise Animalia represent Horenstein’s distinct exploration of animal portraiture. The images are truly arresting; and in both a literal and a metaphorical sense, we see these animals as we have never seen them before…
Photo West Gallery
3625 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19104
You Go Girl
June 20th- July 20th
Photo West Gallery will be hosting the art show “You Go Girl” from June 20th through July 20th, with an opening Friday June 20th at 5pm. The show exhibits 8 local and national artists with their work portraying modern girl culture, either in the subject or the style. Ink line illustrations, dreamy photographs and a performance piece round out the array of views exhibited in the show of young women today. The artists are Brian Blomerth, Sarah Bloom, Anita Totha, Maiko Sembokuya, Sarah Everton, Christine Jones, Emily Glatt and Cecilia Corrigan. There will also be live performances from Philadelphia bands Normal Love and French Erection. See the PhotoWest blog for more.
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 | 215 898-7108
Trisha Donnelly
Through August 3rd
Using sculpture, drawing, photographs, text, sound, video, and painting, Trisha Donnelly has composed this installation, her first U.S. solo museum exhibition, using works made between 1998 and 2007.
Yo Darkroom
113 N. 23rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 789-9032
Daesha Harris : And yet must be… my Promised Land.
June 28th to August 24th
Danesha Harris, in a series of photographs on the theme of gentrification that contrasts African American teens with urban development.
Gershman Y
401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 • 215-446-3027
Stephen Shames Small Survivors: Vulnerable Children
Through August 15th
Acclaimed documentary photographer Stephen Shames shows images of children whose lives have been indelibly changed by civil war and AIDS. Many of the kids are now in school thanks to Shames’ efforts. These large format prints are stunningly presented in both The Open Lens and Borowsky Galleries at the Y.
–Christopher Paquette is both a photographer and a writer. Here’s a link to his blog C.H. Paquette Photography.
