|
|
|
JUST OPENED: Queen Village Art Center
Queen Village Art Center has all the bases covered - in colorful marker, paint or blank drawing paper. Even the mirrors, which line the walls of the first floor children's workshop, are fair game. They're decorated with the budding creations of young students and, as founder and director Jill Markovitz explains, "We are all about exploring art. If you are constantly focusing on producing the perfect product, you miss the fun in exploring along the way."
JUST OPENED: Queen Village Art Center
Queen Village Art Center has all the bases covered — in colorful marker, paint or blank drawing paper. Even the mirrors, which line the walls of the first floor children’s workshop, are fair game. They’re decorated with the budding creations of young students and, as founder and director Jill Markovitz explains, “We are all about exploring art. If you are constantly focusing on producing the perfect product, you miss the fun in exploring along the way.”
The Art Center, a sister branch of Fairmount Art Center, is in the former home of Philadelphia AIDS 
Thrift Store. With the help of architect Salerno Ziegler, Markovitz says they “completely gutted the place,” redesigning and remodeling the spot to provide an optimal creative atmosphere. For those who might have visited the previous location, cramped with long, disorganized racks, the renovations are enlightening, literally.
Large glass windows invite natural sunlight to the front studios, large workshops are suitable for adequate table space and spacious hallways of the gallery allow students and visitors to peruse the progress being made each day.
As Markovitz says, “We purposely designed it this way so that students can hear and see all parts of the artistic process.” As their mission supports, the more they see, the more they can explore. “These kids are full of creative ideas, we just try to hone in on what’s developmentally appropriate for the curriculum.”
Classes have already commenced and to prove it, gallery walls are filling up with abstract paintings; deep, custom-made sinks are filled with paintbrushes; and easels in the adult art studio hold impressive examples of first-class sketches.
The 3000+ square foot Art Center officially opens its doors this weekend, complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony, lots of pizza, and a full-on Mummer’s parade. All are welcome to attend and support the new art venue on the block. As Markovitz says, “We saw at our Fairmount Center how we were filling up all the classes and since we are all about community, we wanted to bring our program to a new cool neighborhood.”
Sun., Nov. 13, 1-5 p.m. Queen Village Art Center, 514 Bainbridge St. 215-756-ARTS, phillyartcenter.com.
Photos by Josh Middleton and Jill Markovitz
- Activism
- Arts
- Arts Events
- Books
- Dance
- First Person Fest
- Last Chance
- Museum
- On the Fringe
- Philly Artists
- The Curator
- Theater
- Visual Art
- Arts News
- Artist Profile
- Arts Preview
- Street Art
- Been There, Done That
- Big Ups
- Comedy
- LOL With It
- Stand-up
- Critical Mass
- DVD
- Events
- Friday Fill-in
- Ice Cubes
- In Memoriam
- Interview
- Just Do It
- Just Opened
- Kaleidoscopic
- LGBTQ
- Art Phag
- Mailbag
- Movies
- Film Fest
- Movie Review
- On set
- Scenester
- screening
- trailer!
- Music
- 10 Track Mind
- Album
- Album Review
- Concert Review
- DJs
- Local Support
- Now Hear This
- One Track Mind
- Philly Bands
- Show
- Somebody Else Was There
- Song
- The Showdown
- concert photos
- jazz
- DJ Nights Blogged
- Night Watch
- Now See This
- Poetic License
- Printed Matter
- Radio
- Shopping
- Coveted
- Fashion
- What We Heart
- TV
- 24
- Idol Hands
- Mad Men
- ProjRun
- True Blood
- Useless Lost Recaps
- Couch Potato
- Shore Trash
- Turned ONN
- TopMod
- Video Games
- Free Online Game
- PSP
- PlayStation 2
- The 1-Upper
- Wii
- Web Junk
- CAGE MATCH
- Free Online Toy
- Weekend Omnibus
- Win
