“We come to bury 2024, not to praise it.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with 2024.” (with apologies to William Shakespeare)
2024 was a year that saw the war in Gaza pass its one-year mark with no sign of letting up, and another war, in Ukraine, pass the two-year mark, likewise keeping up the killing and destruction. On our own soil, 2024 saw half the voting population lose their minds and vote for an aging carnival barker peddling his fascist way of life. UArts dropped a bomb by closing abruptly with seven days notice leaving students, staff, faculty in the lurch. And Philadelphia’s new mayor squandered any goodwill she may have had in the city when she and City Council rammed through an ill-conceived sports arena that will serve the few rich and harm the many. Were there bright spots? Sure. The PMA hires Imani Roach as the head of the Center for African and African Diasporic Art. The Cultural Fund gets $8 Million from the William Penn Foundation to help the city’s small arts organizations. And lest we forget, Opera Philly changed its pricing for tickets – all tickets $11 each. Sadly, Artblog lost one of its fine young writers, Dereck Mangus, in 2024. Final observation: We are all standing. We are together. We will go forward and make art and help each other and it will be ok. Or even better than ok.
Artblog also did well. 21 years strong and we continue to grow. We’ve included some of our metrics as well as our Reader’s Choice. Were this year’s most-read articles a surprise to you?
End of the year Miracle
Philadelphia Cultural Fund gets $8M from William Penn Foundation
William Penn Foundation wants to support the small arts organizations in our sector. $8M split over 4 years, that’s $2M more per year for arts organizations. Yes please, we’ll have what they’re having.
Big Boo award – 76ers, City Council and Mayor Cherelle Parker
We couldn’t pick just one. They all deserve it. It is well earned Big Boo Award.
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-sixers-arena-vote-city-council/
Big Yay award!
Richard Torchia – Torchia, an accoladed artist and Pew fellow, served selflessly and tirelessly from 1997-2023, as Director of Arcadia University Art Gallery, where he created excitement with his inspiring shows (Ai Wei Wei, Olafur Eliasson, Sister Corita Kent, Printed Matter zines, and most recently, Scott Kip’s Perpetual Inventory.) Thank you, Richard!
Pie in the Sky Prediction
Philadelphia Orchestra, following the lead of Opera Philly, announces all seats for all performances will be $11.
Forman Arts Initiative’s art center blossoms on North American Street causing the City of Philadelphia to declare North American Street the official Philly Arts Corridor.
University of Pennsylvania changes its name to University of Ben Franklin.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces contagious, grumpy-making virus targeting Republican men aged 50+ in Washington, D.C. In a footnote, CDC concedes that artists in Philadelphia have natural immunities to the virus.
Best Discoveries ever!
The Artblog was thrilled to be able to cover Dr. Sheena Howard, who also has an inspiring Instagram feed, as well as Cyrus K. Stratton, drag king and artist.
Reader’s Choice:
Artblog’s most read articles this year are…drum roll, please…
Megan Galardi interviewed by Pete Sparber
Shakespeare circus performance by Ryan deRoche
Jester Artspace by Susan Isaacs
University of the Arts Closure by Lauren Whearty
From the VAULT top pieces:
David Huggins by Corey Armpriester
https://www.theartblog.org/2019/12/david-huggins-an-uncommon-life-2/
A short walk through the uncanny valley of art by Clayton Campbell
https://www.theartblog.org/2023/07/a-short-walk-through-the-uncanny-valley-of-a-i-art/
Beyond the Canvas by Dereck Mangus
https://www.theartblog.org/2023/10/beyond-the-canvas-technologys-influence-on-modern-art/
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Books by Philadelphians in 2024 that we love
Nosebleed by Derick Jones
Pew Fellows Wishlist
Billy Dufala (RAIR)
Moor Mother
MacArthur Fellow (Genius) Wishlist
Billy Dufala (RAIR)
Best Newsletter of the Year Award
Artblog. Obvs! Our newsletter is way up nearly 20% over last year. Get it while it’s hot! Sign up here. My oh my how ArtblogConnect has grown. Hotter than hot! Over 430%. Mind blown. Want to sign up, click here.
Finally made a good decision Award
PMA – Philadelphia Museum of Art
For hiring Imani Roach to head the African and African Diasporic Art Center
Tragedy of the Year Award
UArts’s collapse and closure
https://www.theartblog.org/2024/06/university-of-the-arts-closes-everybody-loses/
The Nifty Award
2C Books
Bookshop and reading group by Marginal Utility
http://www.marginalutility.org/category/extracurricular/
Kudos Artists
Judith Schaechter receives Smithsonian Visionary Award
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-visionary-award-honors-glass-artists-dan-dailey-and-judith-schaechter?fbclid=IwAR2Z7lUprTPJQMgUaP4hbq5PMBwCUeZQeezjdZ47aGCEZKAKYCWQFP0iVcQ
Institutional Whiplash Award
Philadelphia Free Library
Returns Saturday hours at many branches, but loses entire Author series staff, who quit en masse, in a huff, over money??? Well, we don’t know. But the Author Events series is back. It is retooled and reopened with a new staff.
Questionable Move Award – Aka I hope this works out Award
PAFA
Drops degree programs to return to core mission and certificate program.
Best Podcast Award
That’s easy, Artblog Radio. We also have a deep content with nearly 300 episodes on Apple and Spotify.
Worst Podcast Award
I think we can all agree that this year, Wired’s Uncanny Valley takes the crown. The name has become a meme at this point, and with similar shows already out there. Congrats!
Comings and Goings
Val Gay is the new Executive Director of the city’s Office of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE). Will Val Gay’s Creative Philadelphia get any real support from the Mayor for the city’s arts sector? We hope so.
https://www.creativephl.org/about/mission/
Harry Philbrick leaves The Fabric Museum and Workshop and returns to PAFA as Interim Director
Big “goings on” at Asian Arts Initiative.
1 – Joyce Chung becomes AAI’s first Curator
2 – Anne Ishii leaves ASIAN ARTS INITIATIVE after six years to become Program Director at United States Artists
3 – Dave Kyu becomes interim director of Asian Arts Initiative
Dan Tadmor becomes Director at Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History – https://theweitzman.org/ ALSO! Weitzman Museum moves another step closer to inclusion into the Smithsonian.
Rob Blackson, mainstay of alternative community art, from Temple Contemporary to Philadelphia Contemporary to Art Phila, accepts a position as Director of Kohl Gallery, Washington College in Maryland
Art Philly has hired Bill Adair (formerly at PEW) as their new Creative and Executive Director. The project is “What Now: 2026” https://www.artphilly.org/what-now-2026 about the vibrant art scene in the city.
Commonweal moves from Center City to Kensington
Forman Arts buys buildings on North American St. helping make that street the new arts corridor and hires inaugural Executive Director, Adjoa Jones de Almeida
UArts – All gone, nothing coming – we all lose
Anna Marley Leaves PAFA for Lead Curator role at Toledo Museum of Art
Nasheli J. Ortiz González steps down as Executive Director at Taller Puertorriqueño
University City Arts League becomes The Arts League (TAL) and Executive Director, Zoë Rayn, exits The Arts League
Fabric Workshop and Museum hires new Executive Director, Kelly Shindler, and launches online store
The Village of Arts and Humanities announces its new Executive Director, Corrien Elmore-Stratton
Rubin Museum to close after two decades.
Philadelphia Opera postpones Festival O due to financial struggles. David B. Devan, Opera Philadelphia’s longtime General Director & President moves on. Anthony Roth Constanzo was appointed General Director and President of Opera Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Announces New Curatorial Leadership
Eleanor Nairne joins as Keith L. and Katherine Sachs Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art and Department Head, Modern and Contemporary.
James Claiborne returns to the Barnes Foundation as Fleischner Family Deputy Director for Community Engagement.
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PASSINGS
Quincy Jones was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader who passed away at the age of 91. PBS Newshour presented a memorial to Jones you can find here. The Associated Press also wrote a nice piece.
Nikki Giovanni dies at age 81. Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Read the Atlantic’s celebration of life.
Dikembe Mutombo dies at age 58. Basketball star and Roberta’s favorite passed away this year. You can read more at the New York Times
Anne Fabbri was among the first female students merged into the classes at the previously all-male Harvard College. She passed away at the age of 98. You can find her memorial here and also read more about her at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Joe Mooney sculptor, and writer passed away at the age of 74. You can find a memorial at the Philadelphia Inquirer. You can find much of his work on his website.
Dereck Mangus, one of Artblog’s contributors, passed at the age of 46. You can find a memorial to him on Bmore’s site as well as here on the Artblog. You can find his articles on the Artblog.
Stephan Salisbury culture writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer passed away at the age of 77. You can find the lovely memorial written on the Inquirer’s site. His website is a repository of many of his thoughts and writings. You can also find his book and a short film called “Mohamed’s Ghosts”.
Lewis Tanner Moore arts advocate and collector passed away at the age of 70. You can find a wonderful memorial with a lot of interviews at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Jerry diFalco artist, printmaker, and poet passed away at the age of 69. You can find his memorial at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Da Vinci Art Alliance and Fleischer Art Memorial did a collaboration workshop in his honor. You can find that information here.
Emmanual Kelly passed away at the age of 80. He was an architect at Kelly Maiello, one of the city’s first Black-owned architectural firms, and a board member of the Association of Public Art and The Fabric Museum and Workshop. You can find another memorial at WHYY.
John Sevcik a long-time faculty member of Fleischer Art Memorial passed away at the age of 72. Here you can find info on a memorial event held in his honor at Fleisher. John Thorton made a film in his honor, available here.
Richard Serra whose monumental steel forms transformed public spaces passed away at the age of 85. You can find an interview with him on Art21. You can also read a memorial on the Guardian:
Frank Stella was a painter, sculptor, and printmaker passed away at the age of 87. You can find a memorial in the New York Times. Christie’s did a short studio visit a few years ago and you can find that video here.
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Artblog Markings
If you’ve read all the way to the bottom, we applaud your stamina and fortitude, and thank you for your interest in Philadelphia’s lively art scene! Come back for more content in 2025 and make sure to keep in touch with us – our inboxes are always open! (support@theartblog.org + editor@theartblog.org). Happy New Year!
