ARTS: 5 things to check out this First Friday in Philly
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Zac Beaver, “Awake in the High”
There’s a bit to unpack here, but once you do, it sounds pretty damn cool: To make his art, Zac Beaver gets reclaimed windows from construction sites around the city. He makes reverse (so he’s painting backwards) acrylic paintings on them, of what he calls “portraiture and isolated imagery in Hanna-Barberian color and linework.” In case you forgot, the Hanna-Barbera studio created The Flintstones, Scooby Doo, The Jetsons and The Smurfs, among so many other little-kid faves. Any art that draws inspiration from the best Saturday morning cartoons is a win as far as we’re concerned.
Fri., May 1, 6-11 p.m., through May 3, New Boon(e), 253 N. Third St., newboone.org.
Barkley L. Hendricks, “Oh, Snap!”
The centerpiece this year of Art Sanctuary’s month-long Celebration of Black Writing Festival (May 1-31), Hendricks’ exhibition features works from this PAFA grad and Philadelphia native, many rarely seen. Art Sanctuary says he’s known for “his pioneering contributions to black portraiture and conceptualism. His best known work takes the form of life-sized painted oil portraits … most frequently people of color.” This collection is just one artful part of the 31st-annual festival; follow along via #CBW31 on Twitter.
Fri., May 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., through May 31, Art Sanctuary, 628 S. 16th St., celebrationofblackwriting.org.
The Banquet of Limitless Opportunity
little berlin presents an evening of music, art and interactive performance together with Humble Treasure Productions {HTP} and chef Ryan Saito, who is tasked with creating food that's inspired by (and complements) the night's performances. Here's what lb has to say, if you're up for it:
"An elite group of fated participants are invited to exist within the confines of a Dali-esque surrealist dinner party. The chosen ones will become subservient to the performers, while the audience members become voyeurs…throughout a four-course meal, the diners will be taken through a whirlwind of taste, stories, abstract art and psychological tests. Musical interludes and experimental stimuli will be intertwined into the night and take stage in front of the pigments of the gods."
Basically, anyone can be selected to be one of the 10 dinner guests, but refreshments "and surprises" will be available to everyone. This event kicks off ARTCON2015, on Sat., May 2 from noon on. More here.
Fri., May 1, doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., little berlin, 2430 Coral St., littleberlin.org.
Graphic & Novel
Check out AIGA's May exhibit, featuring local comic artists and other visual creators. Curated by Chase Alexander and Gaby Heit, the exhibit runs through May 31 and features artists like M. Jacob Alvarez, Beth Heinly and Christine Larsen, among many more.
Fri., May 1, 6-9 p.m., AIGA Philadelphia Space, 72 N. 2nd St., Facebook event here.
Michael Norcross' "Dark Matter"
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the third installment of Indy Hall's spring First Friday programming. They're calling it "a curious compilation of quagmires preserved on ink and paper," and in creating the works, "Norcross hurls himself in to the online unknown" through these vivid, black and white screen-prints. FYI: They're his representations of Wikipedia entries that fascinated him. "It attempts to domesticate mystery on stark, 18x24 posters," Indy Hall says, asking, "What do Saturn, spiders and sailing stones share in common?" Well, now we're intrigued.
Fri., May 1, 6 p.m., Indy Hall, 22 N. 3rd St., indyhall.org.
