Most people can’t become engaged in a work of art unless it speaks to them. It must be at least relatable, even if not completely realistic. Human nature renders most people emotionally distanced from things that do not reveal a part of themselves.
May’s First Friday exhibitions are all about human connection.
This month’s artists, shown at […]

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in South Philly’s Italian Market, Phil Coty, 24, sits outside of his art gallery, Bobo’s on 9th, listening to the radio and writing “Aw, shucks!” on a piece of graphed notebook paper. Whenever anyone passes by, he looks up and hopefully asks, “Hey, you wanna see some art?”
Coty, a […]

I usually think of Darth Vader as the worst father in the history of the universe. After all, he blew up his daughter’s planet and chopped off his son’s hand.
But all that seems forgiven and forgotten here. A mass of children clamor around the Dark Lord of the Sith with grins stretching from ear to […]

Being a stand-up comedian requires not only talent and skill, but also nerves of steel. When you’re given no script and set up in front of several judging eyes all waiting for the next big laugh, it’s hard to keep your cool – but that’s the beauty of improv.
The Philly Improv Theater celebrates improv […]

The misconceptions and stereotypes that cloud the reputation of street art are quickly becoming ideas of the past, thanks to one man and his store.
Eric Cohen is the owner of Rarebreed, a store dedicated to hip-hop and street art culture. He is responsible for changing the name of graffiti in the city – from “destruction” […]

The Guns N’ Roses lyric “take me down to Paradise City” may not traditionally refer to Philadelphia, but next week it will certainly be applicable.
The city has always been known for its dedication to the arts – Broad Street, for example, lives up to its name as the Avenue of the Arts, with numerous theaters, […]

What do you get when you mix a love for yoga, a passion for the arts and a devotion to community health?

On April 4, First Friday in Old City features exhibits using pinhole cameras, ceramics, video and puzzling mixed-media at three local sites: AxD Gallery, The Clay Studio and F.U.E.L. Collections.
At AxD Gallery on South 10th Street, artists Marcia Treiger and Karen Brown showcase works that utilize the pinhole camera in different ways. Treiger developed color […]

To any frequenter, the stretch and sights of South Street have always held more than the glow of shops, bars and psychics – they hold unseen characters waiting to be found. One such man about town, Jason Richardson, has been living, working and making art above the South Street hookah bar Shouk for years.
Jason’s business […]

Many great artists gain the most recognition from their tortured lives and the abnormal events that fueled their creativity. The works they produce in reaction to these events are often overshadowed by the fabled stories that surround them.
Frida Kahlo’s life and work are no exception. The tragedies of her life have been the subject of […]