[Today in art news: Chester laps Philly in setting up a map-plus-list of artists and arts orgs; social media-savvy job seekers can apply for a position with the Chemical Heritage Foundation; and two exhibitions to keep an eye out for. — the Artblog editors]
News
Big news out of Chester–an initiative called Chester Made is striving to help arts and culture in the area, and its first presentation to Chester City Council is scheduled for June 24 at 7 pm, at which time organizers will present a Cultural Assets Map–a mapped inventory of artists and arts organizations in Chester. (And we want to say: Where is Philadelphia’s Cultural Assets Map?!)
In addition to the map, this proposal would create a designated Chester Cultural Corridor (C3) along the Avenue of the States between City Hall and Widener University. (And again, we say: Where is Philadelphia’s Cultural Corridor (C3)?!)
Chester Made, organized by a number of collaborators, including the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, is scheduling its first-ever “Arts Loop” down the Avenue of the States from 8 – 10:30 pm on June 24, after the presentation. Curated by the Artist Warehouse and presented by PECO, participating shops and galleries include Search+Rescue, Art on Avenue of the States, Delaware County Historical Society, Andre Café Acoustique, Open Mike’s Café, Abu’s Juic’E, The Social Cigar Lounge Private Cigar Club, Blaq Rain Boutique, and the Artist Warehouse.
Here’s the full list of collaborators and funders of Chester Made, FYI: City of Chester, Widener University, Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Chester Arts Alive, Gas & Electric Arts, and the Artist Warehouse. Major support for the Chester Cultural Corridor has been provided by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from PECO and the Endowment for the Humanities.
Let’s dance! Or, let’s play ball
Jonathan Stein emailed to say he organized a dance-writer mini-anthology of responses to the exhibit Dance, Movement, Spectacle at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Check out the article and browse around ThINKingDANCE, a hotbed of creative nonfiction and poetry by writers besotted by dance and performance! Among their writers, you will find Ellen Chenoweth, a finalist in our recent Art Writing Challenge contest! See Ellen’s post on artblog here.
It’s been a few years of awaiting this “phantastic” athletic addition to our city’s art cachet, and now it’s official: the Phillies and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program have announced the public dedication of the eight-story Phillies Mural! The brainchild of David McShane, the dedication is happening on Saturday, August 1, at 11:30 am on the Walnut Street Bridge between 24th Street and Schuylkill Avenue. The event is free to attend, and you’re likely to see members of various Phillies organizations, including current players and alumni, the Phillie Phanatic and Phillies Ballgirls, Mural Arts leadership, city officials, and more.
Freeman’s has had some earth-shattering sale results as of late, and their latest auction is particularly noteworthy. In their upcoming auction, American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists, they’re offering two outstanding works by Pennsylvania Impressionist Edward Willis Redfield depicting scenes of Centre Bridge. A leading founder of the New Hope School, Redfield’s work is going to be on display on June 7 beginning at 10 am, alongside New Hope colleagues including Coppedge, Garber, Sotter, and more.
Opportunities
Common Field, a new site to keep on your radar, is an excellent substitution for the now-defunct Association of Artists’ Organizations. Created to serve independent projects, spaces, artists and curators, its grassroots events are worth checking out; at the beginning of this year, they inspired Locally Sourced, a show organized by Transformer and inspired by Common Field at the American University Museum in Washington, D.C.
The Barnes Foundation is seeking a part-time Teaching Artist to work with K-12 schoolchildren, for one or more grant-funded initiatives at the Foundation facility or offsite within the school classroom. With about 10 hours scheduled per week, this position covers two days per week from September to June. Please apply online, with your cover letter, resume, sample lesson plan of your best work, and three professional references. Candidates who are interviewed must provide a portfolio of additional work and complete a mock teaching assignment.
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) is searching for a full-time Social Media Specialist, who collaborates with the Marketing Specialist to lead a cross-organizational social media team. To learn more and be considered for this position, please send a cover letter with salary expectations, resume, and three work samples to SocialMedia2015@chemheritage.org.
Artist News
Robert Straight’s studio is a hotbed of activity these days–his Instagram feed shows packers boxing up a couple of older works to be shown in Dream Streets: Art in Wilmington 1970-1990 at the Delaware Art Museum from June 27 – Sept. 27, 2015 (opening June 26, 6-8 pm). In addition, Straight’s website now includes a number of new paintings, some based on a Navajo weaving, and some new sculptures.
Klea McKenna’s “Three Rainstorms” is on view at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. Night Begins the Day is an international group exhibition that includes work in many media by 25 artists, interweaving the Jewish tradition of days beginning at sundown rather than dawn. The show runs from June 18 – September 20, 2015.
