CURATOR: Pop-up art, palpable connections and papermade fabulousness

Art-geek extraordinaire Courtney Sexton presents a weekly selection of Philly's must-see gallery exhibits.

0 comments

CURATOR: Pop-up art, palpable connections and papermade fabulousness

POSTED: Friday, March 9, 2012, 4:00 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Arts Events The Curator

West Philly Abstraction

Douglas Witmer is a man around town this week in addition to the pop-up show at Sugar, his paintings are also a part of the University City Arts League’s (UCAL) latest exhibition, “West Philly Abstraction.” The League, a member of the 40th Street Arts Collective, offers classes and community engagement opportunities in addition to the rotating shows in its gallery space. This month, “West Philly Abstraction” features the work of eight local artists (including Witmer), all of whom focus on form, color and composition in their pieces.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of this show, and even more so by the fact that despite their many differences, there is a palpable connection among the works by the chosen artists (props to the curator for that one!). At this point in (art) history, “abstraction” can sometimes seem like a blanket term for, “whatever I feel like putting on this canvas.” This is not the case with any of the pieces at UCAL. The artwork here is clearly intentional and the unifying theme relates to the difficulties of navigating space and time on a one-dimensional surface (literally and figuratively). Caroline Letham Santa presents semi-sculptural works of paper, Tremain Smith’s oil/encaustics create seductive planes and passageways and Todd Keyser ignites the ultimate illusion by layering painting over photography. This isn’t your average abstract painting exhibit. Check it out.

Opening reception tonight, 6–8 p.m., through March 30, free, University City Arts League, 4226 Spruce St., 215-382-7811, ucartsleague.org.

1 | 2 | 3

Posted by Courtney Sexton @ 4:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

0 comments

Comments (0)

Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
What we're trying to do this weekend
Coming soon to Philly: Two cockamamie movie promotion schemes
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
ICE CUBE: In Memoriam: Joe Tartaglia
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
PHILLY LOVE NOTES: An ode to Spruce Street
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.
CONCERT REVIEW & PHOTOS: James Blake @ TLA 5/11

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January

Past Archives: