|
|
|
Archive: May, 2009
 |
In this week's paper, I wrote about tapestry artist Susan M. Hess. (And, for the record I did not know this before tapestry does not refer to the poor décor that college students rely on, but to woven pieces of art that incorporate illustrated poetry.) Here's what I said about her upcoming exhibit:
It's no wonder artist Susan M. Hess used Emily Dickinson's poetry as therapy. The famous recluse had a way of making ennui feel fun, or at least funny in the poem "I'm Nobody" (which inspired Hess' exhibit), she jokes, "How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog." Hess' needlework, precious and proper, depicts Dickinson's words. Next to the stitched-out poem "A Great Hope Fell," which explores how despair sucks you in like a rip current, Hess sewed a rosy pink blind, shut tight without a speck of sunlight coming in. And there's nothing funny about that.
Here's more from my talk with her:
City Paper: Have you loved Emily Dickinson since being forced to read her in middle school? Or was it something you've come to enjoy recently?
Susan M. Hess: I actually hadn't read any of her work until just a few years ago. I was teaching piano to children, and kept an Advent calendar around to read off to them, which one day said that it was the anniversary of her birthday. So on a whim I bought a book of her's and felt very connected to it right away.
CP: You say in your artist's statement that you use her work as therapy, which is interesting because she's pretty dark at times.
SH: Oh yeah, she was a recluse most of her life. But that made her able to describe pain, depression, death and psychology in a way that few people can, which is why I was drawn to her.
CP: Do you see your work as an homage to her then?
SH: Not really. Freud says the subconscious thinks in images, and I think that that's what I was doing here. Prior to this, I didn't think I was an artist, but I knew I could sew things so I made art in the way that I knew how, in response to someone who inspired me to.
To read more on Hess' exhibit, which begins June 3, click here.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
 |
| Nothing Golden Stays |
The folks over at WXPN are billing this event as our very own SXSW. I don't know about that however, it does seem to have a fairly cool line-up, which includes The Avett Brothers, Rhett Miller and the ever-dreamy Pete Yorn (whose loveliness is pictured above). The event kicked off today, and will be continuing through Saturday. Also, there will be workshops on marketing, fundraising and basically keeping radio's ass alive, and Sean Hoots from Hoots & Hellmouth spoke this morning about the relationship between artists and radio check out more from that on the Web site.
Thu.-Sat., May 28-30, various times (this evening's acts start at 9:45 p.m.), $75-$100, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, xpn.org/music-artist/noncomm-2009.
 |
| NKCDC |
An art installation, duh. I happenstanced upon it while biking on Frankford Avenue the other day (it's around the Rocket Cafe/Circle Thrift area). I immediately thought it looked an awful lot like an installation, but kids were playing throughout it and adults were drinking nearby. As I got closer, I realized it was a full-on birthday party, complete with balloons and everything, so I figured I was wrong.
NKCDC's Web site confirms that some kid, in fact, had a pretty bougie b-day this "Caterpillar Theater" piece was donated to the corporation, and it was originally part of Design Philadelphia's A Clean Break exhibit last October. The NKCDC is smartly booking performances at it throughout the summer. I think it would make for a pretty cool alternative to the standing-near-pretty-but-boring-trees photo everyone takes for their prom/wedding/graduation.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
 |
| Brothers Four |
Did you know the word "hootenanny" was basically an early-2oth century term for "whatchamacallit?" Yep. From there it changed into slang for "party," and then at some point become synonymous with a bunch of people playing old-timey music on acoustic guitars. Every month, Walking Fish hosts a version of latter. Feel free to bring your own banjos, fiddles and gee-tars to join in on the bluegrass tunes, or just watch and listen.
Wed., May 27, 7-10 p.m., free, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave., 215-427-WALK, walkingfishtheatre.com.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
 |
| Babble |
Memorial Day Weekend likely left you as soft as a trip to California (pre-Prop 8 passing, of course). Well, the folks over at Philly Gay Calendar just gave word via Twitter of an impromptu Prop 8 rally outside of City Hall tonight, which should toughen you up a bit. Now quick, go make some witty signs.
Tue., May 26, 7 p.m., free, City Hall, 1 Penn Square, twitter.com/phillygaycalen.
 |
| gophila.com |
| Think he got a shad? |
You may be a little overwhelmed by the lavish events coverage that The Clog has been pouring on you today. Well, there's more, but before you get angry over your indecision remember what February felt like? How you wanted to leave the house so badly, but couldn't because it was too frigid, and besides, could you really go to the bar for the third time today? Seasonal sensory deprivation, I believe they call it.
This weekend is the opposite: It'll be in the '80s, so get out and go to the
African Spring Festival (Saturday, 1:30-4:30 p.m., 1100 E. Chelten Ave., 215-685-2236): Hosted by the Greek-stereotypes-be-damned sorority Sigma Gamma Rho, this jubilee features performances by the Nzuri Dancers, storytelling by Baba Abiodun and sales on books, jewelry and other goods. African food (Ethiopian please?), too.
Delaware River Day (Sunday, noon-6 p.m., Columbus Blvd. & Chestnut St., 215-922-238): Fishtown's Shad Fest was amazing, but I have one gripe: Where was the free kayaking y'all were promoting? I couldn't find it for the life of me. Thankfully, free kayaking (and life-jacket fitting, water gear fashion shows, fishing and boat races) will be at this fest. For real this time (hopefully).
Annual Antiques Show (Saturday-Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 100 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700): 'Cause Father's Day is coming up, and doesn't your dad watch Antiques Roadshow? If so, experts will be on hand to find out if that landscape painting he's been hording is worth anything. Chances are no.
Harp Festival of Philadelphia (Friday-Monday, various times, 30 S. 13th St., 215-732-1918): Sounds really lovely, right?
World Music Festival (Saturday-Monday, noon, Second St. & Germantown Ave., atthepiazza.com): Haven't been to that weird, maybe-awesome-but-maybe-not development yet? It's hosting yet another event this weekend, and this one features the ladies from the Philadelphia Independent Craft Market, masking-making workshops and world music. (Duh.)
Want to bombard yourself with more choices? Check out our listings, especially the Events/Festivals category.
 |
| The North Stars |
| "Nightjohn," by Jerry Pinkney. |
In its 25th year, the Celebration of Black Writing Festival has transformed over the past few decades into a Free Library Festival-sized, three-day bonanza that puts a much appreciated emphasis on both local talent and getting children into books. It kicks off today and Friday, with events like an open mic night for Philly's best student writers and speeches by nationally renowned writers at local schools.
If you don't have kids, worry not Sunday is for everyone, with all sorts of lit and non-lit fun: drum-making workshops, book vendors, basketball tournaments, panel discussions on black writing, a talk with illustrator Jerry Pinkney (whose work is pictured), a class on how to examine your relationship with your father through letter-writing and a bunch of other stuff.
If you need more convincing, check out the full schedule here.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
As you can see from the video up top, Simon Scaham is a slightly caustic Brit who's fascinated by America particularly its economic, political and social crises. Your first instinct may be to brush him off because he's a foreigner critiquing you, me and everyone we know.
Don't.
For one thing, think of how well the BBC does it. For another, the dude pretty much hits the nail on the head most of the time in his book The American Future: A History (which he'll be reading tonight), he explains at length why we're so obsessed with our "history," to the point that we talk about it when it's still the present. We only need to look at the presidential election for proof of that. Remember how many times you heard the phrase "this is historical" before Obama was even elected?
Tue., May 16, 7:30 p.m., $7-$14, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-686-5322, library.phila.gov.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
'Cause he's from Philly, and when's the last time you saw a rapper at Johnny Brenda's?
Mon., May 15, 8 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, Frankford & Girard aves., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.
 |
| Akira Suwa | The Philadelphia Inquirer |
This weekend, I took a trip through Fishtown and Northern Liberties, but it might as well have been a trip through time: I first sifted through old clothes and kitchenware at a flea market run by longtime Fishtown residents. Afterward, I hopped over to the hip Trenton Avenue Arts Festival, and then I attended the hipper-than-hip opening party for The Piazza at Schmidt's.
Riding past the old, imperfect-but-lovable Bambi Gallery on Frankford Avenue on my way to NoLibs, and then coming across its shiny new incarnation at The Piazza, it was easy to feel like an angsty teenager whose favorite bands are all selling out. But that was just a fleeting feeling. I agree with most of what architecture critic Inga Saffron says about the new development:
The evidence might lead to the assumption that The Piazza is a cheap, cringe-worthy theme park. In reality, The Piazza, which [opened] this weekend, is anything but. Actually, it's pretty wonderful The Piazza accomplishes something rarely seen in new American developments: It feels like a real place.
Indeed, as much as it's not something that developed organically, the galleries, restaurants, clothing stores and JumboTron seem to mingle together in harmony the way something authentic would. (When I say "authentic," I simply mean that these businesses did not migrate into the neighborhood on their own, over time.)
I also dug the "five-minute neighborhood" aspect of it, as developer Bart Blatstein called it wandering easily and quickly from shop to shop, and getting free beer in between was nothing I could complain about. Still, I don't think I like the look of it it's very similar aesthetically to Blatstein's previous work at Temple University: monolithic, gray and kind of deadening. Any thoughts?
- ActiVman
- adventures
- Arts
- Ask A Man-About-Town
- Award Tour
- Awards
- Bad Idea Factory
- Beer
- Below the Curve
- Bikes
- Booze
- Brian Hickey
- BRT
- Budget
- Budget Fuss
- Business
- Casinos
- City Council
- City Hall
- CouncilMANIC
- CP Abroad
- CP in the Community
- Criminal Justice System
- Day Tripper
- Death and Taxes
- Delaware River
- Design
- DROP
- Drugs
- Dubious Distinction
- Elections
- End of Days
- Environment
- Fashion
- Film Fest
- Financial Meltdown
- FrackTrack
- Free Library
- Gambling
- Gay Stuff
- Get Lit
- Greenstorming
- guns
- Hall Monitor
- Health
- Health Care
- Hello, Kitty
- Holidays
- Ice Cubes
- Iggles
- Immigration
- In Memoriam
- Labor
- Lawsuits
- Letters
- LGBTQ
- Maps
- Marcellus Shale
- Media
- MMA
- Mummers
- Music
- MUST READ
- Mysterious Mysteries
- Nation
- News
- Non Sequitur
- Opinion
- PA politics 2010
- Parking Wars
- Parks and Recreation
- People Send Us This Stuff
- Philadelphia Police
- Philadelphia Union
- Philaphemera
- Philly From Scratch
- philly madness
- Photos
- Poverty
- PPA
- President Obama
- Print Edition
- Prisons
- Protest
- Readers Write
- Real Estate
- Rock Bottom
- Schools
- Science
- Screwing Philly
- SEPTA
- snow
- So Lush
- Soccer
- Sporting Life
- Sports Complex
- State Politicians
- State Politics
- Street Art
- Strike
- Stuff We Like
- Taxes
- Taxi Drivers
- Tech Fetish
- television
- The Budget Crisis
- The City Paper
- The CLOG
- The Human Condition
- The Mayor
- The Phightin Phils
- The World
- Things that make you go hm
- Tinfoil Hats Off
- Under the Table
- Under the Tables
- Urban Development
- Urban Planning
- urban wildlife
- Video Poker
- We Call Shenanigans
- Weather
- Web Junk
- Weekend Omnibus
- White House
- What We've Found
- Women's Issues
- Flyered Up!
- How 'Bout That Weather?
- it's always sunny in philadelphia
- Stu!
- Shopping
- get out
- 10-track mind
- ArtsFlash
- Bloggity
- Bruce Being Bruce
- Colleges
- Comedy
- Gigantic Surprises
- Hello Canary
- Hello Puppy
- errata
- get lost
- Inside The Fishbowl
- Library Closings
- Local Support
- Movies
- Murder
- Night Moves
- Recycling
- radio
- Scientology
- Sex
- Sixers
- Skeeze Police
- State Politicians Screwing Philly
- That's a cool stencil!
- Theater
- Things We See
- This Week
- This Week in Oates
- University City
- WIN
- What we don't heart
- trailer!
- what we heart
- Feeling Guilty
- Askadelphia.
- Broke in Philly
- Contest
- Dance
- Dear Paper Doll
- Do A Good Thing
- Education
- Film Fest Schism
- G20-20 Vision
- Goodbye
- Gossip
- Great American Heroes
- PATCO
- Pearl Jam Week
- Puppy
- Stars of the Photostream
- sustainability
- Lower Merion Webcam-Gate
- The Cycle
- Equality Forum
- Bureaucrat of the Week
- Animals
- ElectionEar
- Photostream
