News

Dave Henderson, "Glorious Month of June". — Dave Henderson, “Glorious Month of June”.

Our very own Elizabeth Johnson is curator of EDGE VS LINE at Lafayette College, a celebration of what happens when Edge (a sculptural term) meets Line (a term associated with flat art forms). The show features seven Lehigh Valley and two Brooklyn artists, including Dave Henderson, shown above, and closes today, so get there quickly to see it before it’s gone.

After about five years of arduous work, Hidden City chronicler Nathaniel Popkin is about to welcome his first novel, Lion and Leopard, into the world. Published this fall by The Head and The Hand Press, the book is historical fiction, about an immigrant artist who takes on the art establishment and dies tragically (not a spoiler, apparently). Popkin is officially launching the book by way of a talk, signing, and reception in the main hall of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, on October 30, at 6:30 PM. At 5:30, as an extra special way to delve into the world of Lion and Leopard, Popkin is co-leading a gallery tour of paintings done by some of the characters in the book. For more information about both events, visit PAFA.The book goes on sale November 12, but you can pre-order from the publisher now. In the meantime look out for reviews, events, and readings, and become a fan of the book on Facebook.

Red Grooms' "Philadelphia Cornucopia." — Red Grooms’ “Philadelphia Cornucopia.”

Thanks to the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, there’s an easy channel to helping keep Philly’s endangered treasures safe. Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts are seeking support for their conservation through votes, shares and donations, and this can all be done online. There, you can also see the current vote count and who is currently in the lead. Among the endangered artifacts are Red Grooms’ sculpto-pictorama Philadelphia Cornucopia, housed at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Vote for the institution or artifact you are supporting, then share your vote on Facebook and Twitter. If you’re so inclined, you can also send a donation of any size to help conserve the artifacts.

The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts is hosting ten weeks of free Art Salad Talks, covering themes in contemporary art, on Thursdays at noon this fall, through December 5. Featuring artists, historians, musicians, and curators, the cafe-style chats are welcome to anyone with a lunch, as the moniker indicates. Check out the DCCA site for the full roster of talks.

Opportunities

A Blade of Grass is seeking socially-minded artists for their year-long fellowships. Participants receive ABOG production of a short video documentary on each project, access to ABOG’s conference room for meetings, and access to our broad network of specialists outside the art world. Eligible applicants include individual artists or artists collectives with projects that engage directly with a specific community or communities. Artists can’t be current students, must be legal residents of the United States or U.S. citizens, and be at least 25. Artists who have won a full ABOG Socially Engaged Art Fellowship in the last three years are prohibited from entering again, and applicants must have a Web site with past work that a selection panel can review. ABOG is hosting an informational workshop on November 6, 2013, so if you are applying you can get the full array of insights before submitting application materials. Their site has the complete program guidelines and application procedures.

The legendary Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, recognizing teenage talent in artists such as Andy Warhol (1945), Robert Indiana (1946) and Richard Avedon (1941), is calling for submissions. Students in the U.S., Canada or in American schools abroad may submit original works in any of the Awards’ 28 art and writing categories. All works are evaluated based on originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal vision or voice, first regionally through 100+ affiliates of the Alliance and then nationally by a panel of creative experts. Past panelists on these blind juries have included the likes of Nikki Giovanni, Red Grooms, Paul Giamatti, Faith Ringgold, Wangechi Mutu, David Sedaris and Andres Serrano. Deadlines for art and writing submissions vary by region, occurring throughout the winter months. This year’s National Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners are announced in March 2014.

Artist News

Joe Girandola's "monumental" works in duct tape. — Joe Girandola’s “monumental” works in duct tape.

Finally crowning duct tape as an honored member of the art-supply pantheon, Joe Girandola’s ArtPrize® Exhibition in Grand Rapids, MI, opened last week and runs until October 6. Duct Tape Murals is displayed on the sides of Grand Rapids’ Auto Fixit Body Shop Inc. Using thousands of rolls of colored duct tape, Girandola created three-dimensional relief murals (coated in UV protective surfboard resin) to be installed outdoors Auto Fixit venue.

Terence Smith has been one of the figures behind this year’s Cooper River Fest out in the Jersey suburbs, and if you’re in the area today swing by for some informative, delicious and sustainable fun. The festival area is located at Cooper River Park Drive North, just west of Cuthbert Blvd.; they’ve got a map of each site, each dedicated to its own stewardship activity.