News
One of Philly’s newest cultural institutions (only minted in 2012) has a new figurehead: Mayor Michael A. Nutter has appointed native son Frank Sherlock as the City of Philadelphia’s new Poet Laureate! Succeeding Sonia Sanchez, Sherlock is the choice of Nutter and the Poet Laureate Governing Committee for all related events. There’s the Inauguration of the Mayor, spoken word and poetry events at City Hall, guest author events and poetry readings at the Free Library of Philadelphia, and mentoring a Youth Poet Laureate. Sherlock, a 2013 Pew Fellow in the Arts for Literature, is a native Southwest Philadelphian and a self-taught poet; you might recognize him from previous works such as Neighbor Ballads (Mural Arts Program, 2011).
We were thrilled this morning to learn that the Bookmobile, a collective favorite, is creating a monograph to go along with their vivid history. This project, Mobilivre/Bookmobile, is based on a touring exhibition of artists’ books and zines, housed in a 1959 Airstream trailer, that traveled across the US and Canada from 2001-2005, accruing many adventures (whether or not you consider being stolen an adventure is up to you, you cold-hearted person). It was enjoyable enough to cover the first time around, so although we’ve got circumspect details for now, their Facebook page is a great holdover.
Sooner or later, all restless young creative spaces grow up into responsible adult creative spaces. And when that happens, they move to Old City. Silly metaphors aside, Impart Creative, after two fulfilling years at the VentureForth co-working space, is moving to 10 N. 3rd Street (formerly the Sub2 Gallery). It’s not surprising in the least, then, that in addition to using their new space for web design, it’s going to double as an art gallery starting this spring! We’ll have to show them some First Friday love. Once the ice melts, obviously.
Opportunities
A final missive for entrants to the Force Field Project: it’s the last day for submissions, so act sharp and get your deliverables in before the midnight deadline! The Open Call page has everything you’ll require for last-minute fact checks, and they’ve also got images of the buildings here for your utilization.
While on the subject of eleventh-hour things getting out the door, it’s the last chance to help the Mural Arts Program become a finalist for the Scattergood Foundation’s latest grant cycle. For the uninitiated, the MAP’s Porch Light Project is a collaboration between Mural Arts and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), whereby they organize community co-creation of public art (26 murals and public artworks and five ongoing projects have come to fruition since 2008 as a result). To give them a boost, all you have to do is add your comment to Scattergood’s Porch Light page.
The 33 1/3 Book Series, now officially in its next cycle, has issued an open call for proposals. Due by Monday, March 3 at 9:00 am EST, this open call is specifically for those who are positive that they can deliver final manuscripts within 8-12 months of being accepted – so plan accordingly! For this cycle, the whole book is due between January and June 2015, although they’re planning other open calls for delivery dates beyond June 2015 within the next year. If you would like to submit a proposal for a 33 ⅓ volume, please read their full RFP for the details (there is no shortage), and use 33proposals@gmail.com.
Artist News
Join Rob Solomon for “Accumulations,” an artist talk and a survey on February 6. It’s a run-through of his works on paper from 2012 and 2013. The event begins at 4:30 PM at the Lawrence Gallery, Rosemont College.
Back in our orbit recently is Austin Lee, a great assister of our social media endeavors, Tyler grad/Yale MFA and all-around person we probably don’t see enough. He’s got his first NYC solo show at Postmasters right now, which for the purposes of not hurting peoples’ eyes we’ll call “OK AD INFINITUM” (it’s a lot of “OK’s,” trust us). That show opened January 25, and runs until March 8.
Jennie Thwing, whom we interviewed not too long ago, is doing a residence at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT this summer. Combine her skills and Vermont summer loveliness, and you know that some good things are sure to come out of that.
