In advance of the Philadelphia Art Book Fair coming up on May 5 and 6, we present a think-piece by Vox Populi member Matt Kalasky, who asks, is arts advocacy the same thing as artist advocacy? He argues that the creation of empathy is one of the artist’s most important productions, and that artists’ labor should be oriented more towards people than products.
Read MoreSpurred by seeing a recent ad in which artist Maurizio Cattelan appears, Matthew Rose reflects on the relationship between artists and advertising. He asks, why haven’t more artists appeared in or contributed to major advertising campaigns?
Read MoreRoberta chats with Paul Chan about his installation, “Pillowsophia,” at PAFA’s Morris Gallery. The haunting piece is a hollow hooded figure made of black nylon placed high against a wall. In continuous motion from wind blown into its cavity by a powerful and noisy industrial fan, the piece is engineered and stitched in such a way that it dances what seems like an ecstatic death dance. A response to the times, which are filled with violence against black men, the piece is powerful and emotionally moving.
Read MoreDave reports from the latest meeting of the City’s Art Commission. He offers a thoughtful critique of the proposed design for the new Holocaust memorial, as well as updates on plans for the Discovery Center in Strawberry Hill and the Don Quixote statue at American and 2nd Sts.
Read MoreIn honor of Barkley Hendricks, who died on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, we are running this interview we did with the artist in 2009, when Hendricks was having a solo museum exhibition at that time at his alma mater, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In the interview, he talks about painting, photography and jazz.
Read MoreKathy Cho thinks about Asian Futurism, white-washing, and opportunities for activism with the Organizing for Action Fellowships. It’s always good to step outside of our social media bubbles and work with people one-on-one!
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