The news today is short and sweet and loaded with information you will want: About the Free Library video game rentals! About the Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival! About Blah Blah Gallery moving around the corner from the Italian Market! About the Eco-Social Salon event themed about water, with artists whose work deals with our water ecosystem. Enjoy!
NEWS
Free Library begins video game rentals – more than 100 titles
…from the Philadelphia Inquirer article by Michelle Myers
The Last of Us, It Takes Two and even the Bluey video game have arrived at Philadelphia’s libraries, along with a catalog of more than 100 games for Play Station 4 and 5, Xbox One and X, and Nintendo Switch.
Kids, teens, and adults can borrow up to three games for three weeks. [Ed. note: If you’re wondering how this works, it appears to be “hardware” and not computer downloads. For example: A Plague Tale: Innocence
1 player Featured supported: Optimized for Xbox Series X; smart delivery; 60 frames per second; 4K Ultra HD; HDR10; impulse triggers. Physical Description: 1 computer optical disc : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. Technical Details: System requirements: Xbox One or Xbox Series X console with optical drive.
“Requires download(s) (significant storage, Broadband Internet connection and ISP fees apply)”–Container]
For Kelly Richards, the library’s president and director, video gamesoffer “a unique opportunity for learning and social
interaction by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.” According to the Pew Research Center, gaming is particularly popular among teens, with eight in 10 reporting having a console at home or having access to one.
“Young people who play video games are likely to read material related to the games they enjoy,” said Kris Langlais, head selector for the Philadelphia libraries’ video game collection. “We hope that by offering video games for the community to borrow, people will find interest in relevant books and become regular library patrons.”
Gamers and aficionados can now reserve copies of games at freelibrary.org/videogames but must have a library card to do so. (Applying for a library card is free and can be done online or in person.)
Megan Galardi, founder of Blah Blah with the works of Sierra Montoya Barela and Julia Policasto, part of the current ‘Fluid Realities’ exhibition. Photo courtesy of the gallery.
Blah Blah Gallery Moves to South Philly!
From the Gallery: Blah Blah Gallery made its mark in Philadelphia with a mission to empower and uplift women and non-binary artists. From our humble beginnings in the 319 N 11th Street building, we’ve showcased diverse and impactful works of local and national artists.
As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, Blah Blah Gallery is thrilled to announce we are moving to our first storefront space in South Philadelphia at 907 Christian Street!
Blah Blah will be closed for the remainder of the month for renovations. We will reopen this summer in our new space, with an official opening date coming soon!
Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival
May 26 to July 7, 2024
For its 2024 edition, PHLAFF is expanding—in scope and size—to celebrate Latine voices, storytelling, and culture over six weeks of programming, including live music, dance, theatre, poetry, spoken word, community, and more than 140 films.
The Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival (PHLAFF) kicks off Memorial Day weekend for its 13th edition with an ambitious six-week program that will run from May 26 to July 7 and feature over 140 Latine/x/a/o films alongside an outstanding array of Latine cultural experiences and activations at venues around the city.
“Twelve years ago, PHLAFF was founded to showcase the extraordinary and innovative work of emerging and established Latine filmmakers. Now, entering the 2024 season as the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival, we are preparing for a new era celebrating Latine creatives from around the world, expanding into other disciplines, extending our timeline, and integrating with other offerings. More than ever, we are committed to fostering a new generation of talent, building community, providing increased access to our programming and a space for creatives and audiences to connect,” said festival director Marángeli Mejía-Rabell.
This is the first season for PHLAFF as a newly renamed and expanded arts and culture festival. It marks the beginning of a three-year strategic plan to diversify the genres, disciplines, and forms of artistic work showcased, made possible thanks to a grant from Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures project.
In collaboration with PhillyCAM, PHLAFF is welcoming an inaugural cohort of emerging artists who will develop projects to showcase their creativity and contribute to advancing Latine/x/a/o arts and culture in Philadelphia and beyond. PHLAFF 2024 Los Fellows are Alejandro Ceballos Jimenez, Iliana Pagán Teitelbaum, and Erik Alfredo Martínez.
In addition, the festival is launching a program for cultural producers to nurture creative talent, promote cultural diversity, and foster meaningful connections between artists and the community. Wilfredo Hernandez and Jennifer Mota are PHLAFF 2024 Cultural Producers in Residence.
The festival will host a 72-hour filmmaking competition in partnership with ReelTalk. Following PHLAFF’s First Friday event at the Barnes Foundation on Friday, June 7, 6-9 pm, teams of filmmakers who sign up online or at the event will have three days to concept, create, and complete a short film using a genre and line of dialogue provided by us. The resulting films will be screened at a later date.
The LOLA Awards, which present and recognize Latine films on a specific genre or topic, will focus on essence—the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality that defines a filmmaker’s true intention.
The 9th annual Youth Salon will feature workshops and a showcase celebrating the work of young Latine/x/a/o filmmakers under 22 years of age during the festival. Submissions for the Youth Salon will remain open until May 5.
For more information and upcoming announcements, visit www.phlaff.org, sign up for the festival newsletter, follow us @phlatinfilmfest on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to use the hashtag #PHLAFF2024.
Eco-Social Salon, Site-Seeing & Screening Series #7
Water Works-In-Progress
June 22, 2024, 4-5:30 pm Making Worlds Book Store and Center
210 South 45th Street | Philadelphia PA 19104 Register (space is limited)
With Sebastien Derenoncourt, Lori Waselchuk, David Scott Kessler, Paper Buck, + With Sebastien Derenoncourt, Lori Waselchuk, David Scott Kessler, Paper Buck, and Waterway Arts Initiative representatives Kaitlin Pomerantz, Ryan Greenberg + collaborators.
On Saturday June 22nd, 2024 from 4-5:30pm at Making Worlds Books 210 S 45th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Please RSVP – Space is Limited
This Salon-Style program invites artists working with themes of water to share their in-progress work for feedback and discussion with the Eco-Social Salon, Site-Seeing, and Screening Series audience which is an event series and learning community that convenes irregularly where ecologically-themed artwork is presented and excursions taken.Confirmed Presenters Include: Sebastien Derenoncourt, Lori Waselchuk, David Scott Kessler, + Waterway Arts Initiative representatives Kaitlin Pomerantz, Ryan Greenberg + collaborators.
Free Library begins video game rentals – more than 100 titles
