On the Grid Program: November 23-December 27, 2014

10th Annual Juried Exhibition

ontheGrid OFF THE WALL GALLERY AT DIRTY FRANK ’ S You are here —on the grid!

@OTWDirtyFranks facebook.com/ OTWDirtyFranks

November 23 – December 27, 2014

TENTH ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION

NEW YEAR IN THE OFFING December 28 — January 9, 2015

New Year’s/Mummers Hiatus

January 11 — February 27

2015 Winter Exhibition Opens Thursday, January 15, 7–10 pm

March 1 — April 17

Mary Liz Memorial Masters Exhibition 11 Opens Thursday, March 5, 7–10 pm

April 19 — May 29

2015 Spring Show Opens Thursday, April 23, 7–10 pm

Thursday, May 7 11:59 pm

Submission Deadline for Tenth Annual Community Juried Show

May 31 — July 31

Tenth Annual Community Juried Show Opens Thursday, June 4, 7–10 pm

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR JURY We consider ourselves supremely fortunate to be able to call on such talented volunteers every May and November, who sort through hundreds of entries to craft our biannual juried exhibitions—and then award prizes. ON THE GRID was no exception as our four invited jurors each put in about a day of time and provided insights that we cannot quantify. We are deeply grateful for their enthusiastic service.

RUSSELL BRODIE

artist and musician; 2014 Mary Liz Fellow russellbrodie.com

ROBERT YONG LEE artist and filmmaker; member, The Plastic Club and Photographic Society of Philadelphia

VERONIKA SCHMUDE

artist, urban explorer and lighting technician; member, Photographic Society of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Sketch Club and Rittenhouse Square Artist Guild jpgmag.com/people/VeronikaS

JODY SWEITZER

artist; instructor, University of the Arts; curator, Off the Wall Gallery jodysweitzer.com

MARLISE M. TKACZUK

artist; program coordinator for continuing education, Moore College of Art & Design; member, The Print Center marlisetkaczuk.com @MarliseMTkaczuk ON COVER, TOP: Alexandra Orgera’s “Tangram,” Rob Lybeck’s “Moravian Grit,” Jocelynn Tice’s “Spaced,” Ed Snyder’s “Open Hydrant”; MIDDLE: Annette Newman’s “Outbound,” Bob Gorchov’s “City Dog”; BOTTOM: Jim Biglan’s “Dive Bar,” DoN Brewer’s “Dollar General”

John Baccile On the small scale, we’re people of flesh, blood, hopes and fears. On a bigger scale, we’re a city of glass, steel, order and chaos. Both scales are us—reaching out to become more connected.

“In the Jawn” manipulated digital photograph 50.

Visit John online: johnbaccile.com

Jessica Barber My work is characterized by an interest in the urban and industrial environment, especially in the city of Chester, as well as the effect of this environment on the human experience. Images in this series, like this one, encompass portraits of human adaptability to these spaces, as well as depictions of these structures themselves as they ooze vitality or descend into decay.

“Refined Structure 1” monoprint 250.

Visit Jessica online: jessicabarberfineart.com

Glenn Benge Street photography frames meaning, captures the instant, freezes time and space. That is my goal. Henri-Cartier Bresson calls it the ‘Decisive Moment.’ I call it my ticket to ride: the best possible use of my eyes and my small-motor reflex that clicks the shutter. Working with a telephoto lens allows me to crop an image... (continued on the next page)

Glenn Benge (continued) ...on the fly, remove a lot of clutter at the edges of what I want to see. “Fly-Bye” catches two young ladies balancing, one guided very carefully along a tight wire, another just floating on her own path.

“Fly-Bye: Mt. Airy Village Fair” digital photograph 250.

Visit Glenn online: bengephoto.com

Jim Biglan

closest to home

Every great city has its famous and infamous dive bars. After living in New Orleans, Chicago and Philadelphia, I’ve had ample experience with these places.

This drawing is not a specific place but a composite of many places I’ve been to.

“Dive Bar” ink on paper 200.

See more of Jim’s work: google.com/profiles/james.biglan

Meryl Bonderow

“Riverside” digital photograph 50.

This photo looks out from Bartram’s Garden to the Grays Ferry refineries across the Schuylkill. You can feel the tension between the two sides: industrial relics that once spilled oil into these waters viewed from a historic green space soon to be connected to Center City by the Schuylkill River Trail.

DoN Brewer The Dollar General Store that was located at 25th and South Streets was a great resource for my community. The low prices helped to serve folks both rich and poor who stopped in the store for everything from bacon and eggs to cat and dog food. I would see some Visit DoN online: people counting out pennies donbrewermultimedia.com to buy toilet paper, and I saw relatively wealthy people stocking up on laundry detergent. The staff was so friendly, kind and helpful, and all of the young people who worked there were African Americans.

Over time, I learned their names and they knew mine. There was always a line at the cash “Dollar General” register and I’d often see digital photograph on plexiglass friends and neighbors.

265.

mary-rowe memorial jury prize: best of show

Real estate development and gentrification put the Dollar General out of business. It’s been replaced by a Petco Unleashed that sells high-end pet food.

The corner store that was a thriving, busy place that employed blacks is now full of expensive dog food and an all-white staff—and it is now virtually empty of customers. Petco moved into my neighborhood to compete with the two existing pet supply stores, The Philly Pack and Doggie Style, stocked with the same products and offering similar services. The nearest Dollar General is now at 26th and Jackson, too far to walk.

This photograph, printed on Plexiglas, is of the metal racks that once lined the sidewalk outside the Dollar General store, which received daily deliveries of basic supplies to serve the community. Now Petco Unleashed only serves the wealthiest of dogs and cats.

Paula Brumbelow Burns

“Suspension” digital photo 100.

“Keep the Lights On” 35mm silver print 85. (below)

Bridges enabled the urban grid to expand to the suburban frontier and people to travel easily between them.

Shown are the suspension cables that allowed the Brooklyn Bridge to span the East River and create one of the first successful bridges of this style. These suspension cables ensure the safe crossing of 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians each day.

Urbanization trends within the Pacific Northwest have followed the natural land where buildings are built bigger and taller and quickly begin to block the natural views of the mountains.

This photo captures how this built environment has physically blocked the view of the harbor and mountains. Additionally, when the lights are always on, light pollution further removes residents from connecting with nature and the skies above.

Vincent Bush I instinctively draw hearts each time I pick up pen and paper. The heart is a universal symbol of love, to which all people relate. I interpret both human feelings and iconic cultural symbols with my imagery.

“Rocky Love” digital print 30. multiple framed prints available

Visit Vincent online: vcabdesigns.com

Nicole Clifford Most of my work highlights the endurance of urban architecture in decay. Abandoned spaces can be stunning both in terms of their architecture and the fascinating objects left behind, often replete with historical context and detail.

Decay as artwork evokes a sense of melancholy, a debate between loneliness and solitude and an excruciating beauty that is difficult to capture without human expression.

My goal is to force both to collide: to photograph the raw beauty of these spaces and to photograph others interacting with these “Double Basin” spaces—others who may not have felt digital photograph the impetus to explore the spaces or to 120. become part of them See more of Nicole’s work: without my intervention jpgmag.com/people/NicoleClifford and persuasion.

Matt Cohen Philadelphia is a place of possibilities with many opportunities for expressing who we are. I enjoy taking photographs that capture the spirit, exuberance and sincerity of people doing just that. Whether at a planned event, in a public space or through a message crafted on an abandoned building, I find these qualities in the faces, movements and creativity of my subjects.

“Waiting for the Green Light, Philly Naked Bike Ride” (above) “Dilworth Plaza, Opening Weekend” digital photographs 150. each

Jacque Ferretti This grouping of faces is part of the “Talk on the Street” series I’ve been developing over the past five years. In each case, I never looked at the person speaking.

I simply wrote down random words overheard on my city walks. These sketches were my reaction to what I felt from hearing their statements.

I created each in just a few minutes in order to quickly translate into a face what they were trying to say.

Visit Jacque online: jacqueferretti.com

“Talk on the Street” mixed media on canvas 500.

Leroy Forney Modern life and commercial enterprise require vast quantities of materials used to temporarily protect, promote and facilitate goods for purchase, only to be immediately and thoughtlessly discarded as trash. Much of this throwaway material has been ingeniously designed both for strength and for visual appeal.

It influences our perception of the products it contains, yet we are largely unaware of its design and specialization. The artwork created for this exhibition elevates and repurposes these materials, and is composed of items scavenged from Philadelphia’s trash bins and sidewalk debris. (in our 3D space,along with Julius Scissor’s “Hairy Lox”)

“Bouquet” “Explosion” urban object urban object’ collection collection “Shelter, Row on Row” UPS box and SEPTA forms 50. each

Visit Leroy online: leroyforney.com

Julia Fox My work attempts to capture the character of unique architectural structures in the cities I have lived in. As a tribute to the entropy of the architectural inspiration, I often embellish the physical features of structures in hopes of communicating both the See more of Julia’s work: nature of its development cargocollective.com/juliafox and the degree of the structure’s deterioration. It also helps me explore the unique features that initially attracted me.

Architectural portraits like this one focus on the effects of time and contemplate the relationship between the structure of the building and whatever “Cleaners” history it may represent in oil on particle board the city in which it was built.

85.

Wayne Franks I was intrigued by the word “Grid” in the title of this show. My art usually reflects my interest in geometry; as a result, I wanted to enter and share art that reflects the geometry of the city. This view of Olde City is a case in point, clearly incorporating many grids.

Locations here in Philadelphia or New York City are most often the subjects of my cityscapes.

“Olde City Philadelphia” silkscreen print with watercolor 185 .

Rachel Glidden When I think of urban life, I think of the density of people weaving their lives in and around one another.

Now I pause to wonder why this image is of a solitary person. The indicators of his urban connection are the vastness of the surroundings and City Hall right behind him.

Visit Rachel online: rachelgliddenphotography.blogspot.com

Bob Gorchov To me, particularly with my hearing aids (in both ears), walking in the city is like walking through the set of a Fellini film: sounds (horn blasts, bits of conversation, hammers pounding, cars screeching), as well as colors, signs and lights, assault me from all sides. And scattered throughout this mayhem are dogs—walking on leashes with their owners, taking leaks on trees and fire hydrants, sniffing out other dogs.

“Man in Crosswalk” digital photograph 125.

most scratchable underbelly of the grid

The city is more to me than sounds and dogs, but sounds and dogs are a big part of it. These paintings are intended to express how the city has imprinted its presence on my imagination.

Visit Bob online: flickr.com/photos/bobgorchov & facebook.com/RobertGorchov

“the city” acrylic and ink on canvasette 185.

“city dog” acrylic and ink on canvasette 180. (above)

Ted Gutswa I was born and raised in Philly but was away for 30 years.

Since returning, I’ve seen that the city has changed for better and for worse, but I’ve always loved this city because it’s been my home. And I continue to love Philly—the good and the bad. This photo, taken three blocks from City Hall, is of fellow citizen who lives literally on the grid. Sad as this is, he

“Living on the Edge” digital photograph 50.

is our neighbor.

Robin Harrison Robin loves Christmas, yarn, ornamentation and cats.

“Bundles, North 5th Street” mixed media assemblage 110. for both

Find out more about Robin’s community: cisworks.org

Robert Yong Lee The Grid mediates our experience of the natural world, and that includes our experience of sky and daylight. In “Roof Work,” the Grid has elevated a worker into the sky. At the same time, it frames and dominates man and sky alike.

“Elevens” shows an architectural homage to sky and light; the sky returns the favor, as sunlight collected and scattered by the surrounding glass canyon illuminates structure, detail and human life within.

“Roof Work” digital photo 150.

“Elevens” digital photo 125. (above)

Rob Lybeck Being primarily a photographer of the built environment, including cityscapes and streetscapes, I cannot help but be affected by what goes on in and around the urban structures I photograph. This photo offers one glimpse of the kind of scenarios I encounter in my travels.

“Moravian Grit” digital photograph 200.

best ref lection of the grid

See more of Rob’s work: facebook.com/pages/ Rob-Lybeck-Photography/ 468507533199777

Stephen Millner I am drawn to the complexities of cities, and my art is often about discovering the “key” to a given city: that essential element that, if you understand it, makes everything fall into place. Whether a city is radial— expanding from a central point—or gridlike—parallel streets with perpendicular “Sugar” avenues—it has a unique character and mixed media collage warmth. I often include images and maps 185. from other places, but my Visit Steve online: stephenmillner.com heart is in Philadelphia.

Bill Myers

One day I was driving up the 2600 block of North 26th Street, right below Lehigh, when I saw this coffin with a body in it, just sitting on the sidewalk and carrying the message, “We need to stop the shooting of people in the City of Philadelphia!!!”

“I Want to Live!!!” iPhone photograph 100.

See more of Bill’s work: psop1860.ning.com/proϐile/billmyers

Michael Nathan Philadelphia is a blue collar city. The mail carrier takes a moment to refresh and rest in his letter box.

“City Heat” digital photograph 150.

Visit Michael online: pictage.com/170540

Annette Newman

“Outbound” digital photo 150.

SEPTA facilities are often dirty and deteriorating—yet somehow they can also be beautiful and intriguing. They often are where you can find all of Philadelphia blurred together for a pleasing perspective of the city.

best stop on the grid

Tri Nguyen

I walk the streets of Philadelphia looking for moments that are extraordinary in their simplicity. I capture normal scenes of everyday urban life that elicit stories in the mind of the viewer, placing them for a fleeting second in that location or into the life of the subject of the photo.

“Ghost Train” digital photo 160.

“Umbrellas” digital photo 160. (above)

Alexandra Orgera This photograph was taken within a few blocks of my home. As I walk around my neighborhood, I am continually inspired by the visual “collages” formed by unintentionally overlapping structural and natural elements.

Whether interpreted socioeconomically, historically, spiritually or purely visually, these elements can offer insights about the life of a city and the people who reside within it.

best distil lation of the grid

“Tangram” digital photograph 65.

Gene Renzi On the Grid, to me, means the City alive, never sleeping. Things are always happening: celebrations, picketing, shopping, dining and traveling. You name it and it can be found.

“Turning Lanes, Atlantic City” medium format photograph silver gelatin print 250.

HAVE WORK TO SHOW US? Submit a digital portfolio:

offthewallgallery@gmail.com

Veronika Schmude My photographs all focus on the decay of the Grid, from roadside trash and landfills to graffiti and blight and the detritus left by man’s abandonment and nature’s reclamation. The Grid, for me, is what is left behind.

See more of Veronika’s work: jpgmag.com/people/VeronikaS

“Curbside Comfort” digital photograph 150.

Chuck Shultz A vacation in New Hampshire is an eight-hour drive from the place I am used to knowing. I was torn from the city I love and found myself in the white mountains of New Hampshire. There is no difference.

The flume flows through the gorge.

“Untitled (NH & Phila)” I was reminded by mountains, creeks oil on canvas and rivers something about the city I had 350. overlooked. The frame you see is also part of the composition. The layered frame of the city is suited for high buildings and a busy cross street. Philadelphia and New Hampshire are naturally different—but the same.

Julius Scissor Some people in Philadelphia eat them.

This is an assemblage made with hair from Philadelphians.

“Hairy Lox” mixed media assemblage 1500.

Visit Julius online: juliusscissor.com

Mina Smith-Segal Love Park in Center City is for me the best scene to paint. I can sit there with my paints and brushes and sheets of polypropylene and paint for hours en plein air.

I observe it all—photographers, wedding parties, musicians, protesters, the homeless, City Hall workers, tourists and of course the skateboarders. The sights are fascinating. All people deserve to be there—and yes, definitely the artists.

May Love Park continue to flourish.

See more of Mina’s work: plasticclub.org/smithsegal.html

Ed Snyder

“Love Park Rocks!” watercolor 280.

best movement through the grid

This image, captured at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, makes a bold statement of manmade shapes against the Delaware River and New Jersey sky. The Navy Yard remains a secret, as most people think it is off-limits to the public. Guess what? It’s not! The city is slowly building it into an amazing industrial park. I like photographing here because it still has something of a forbidding nature to it.

The open hydrant image is one of the most iconic of “city” photographs. It is a rare, albeit illegal, source of urban fun and relief to landlocked residents during hot asphalt summers. Cracking open a hydrant has all kinds of metaphorical meanings as well, giving a sense of freedom and control to people who may lack either.

“Boats and Planes” & “Open Hydrant” digital photographs 200. each

Laura Storck Traversing our vast city on any given day, one can witness the perfect trifecta of urban growth, decay and renewal. Like automatons, we walk among one another, preoccupied, in private worlds of our own. But we can’t deny our yearning for beauty, selfexpression and human connection.

It persists in spite of urbanization and its effect on our humanity. “#philly_mannequin_ChestnutStreet” digital photograph 150.

See more of Laura’s work: instagram.com/laurastorck

Michael Tantaros A city has many attractions, distractions and intersections, but I tend to find what I am looking for in the midst of all there is to experience.

“Intersections” mixed media construction 650.

Jocelynn Tice The night life in Philadelphia is a vibrant scene. Captured are a couple of Space Pirates at one of their favorite venues, Trilogy.

Visit Jocelynn online: jocelynntice.com

best representation of a medium

“Spaced” pastel 800.

Emi Travalia

(with Noa Travalia) “Let It Go”

Elsa was a queen who made an eternal winter. I wanted to be Elsa in this photo because she has power over nature. But the photograph is of our city and fall is the season now. My sister helped me by taking this photo, and Elsa has a sister who helped her, too—Anna.

digital photograph 40.

Noa Travalia Sky blue is one of my favorite colors. On a perfect day, there is nothing in the way of the squares and rectangles of the buildings working together, towering over us and sometimes looking like something else completely.

Doesn’t the Comcast Center look like a giant flash drive?

“Sky-Blue Flash Drive” digital photograph 40.

Wa-oo-ba-ke This painting represents my metaphysical perspective on the nature of life: building atoms evolving to supporting social communities of equality in pockets of the big city—just like what we can discover right here on the ‘lily pad’ of Dirty Frank’s and Off the Wall Gallery.

“The Big City People Who Lived on the Little Lily” India ink and acrylic 50.

Visit Wa-oo-ba-ke online: waoobakeartwork.com

Katherine Weber Out of place (and out of step) in downtown Fort Worth, these cattle are apparently rehearsing for a parade.

The Saint hits the streets of Lower Manhattan on his feast day. He was making his way to the two-headed snake girl when we spotted him jaywalking, pausing to sanctify a sausage hoagie and waiting in line for a cannoli. Later he hopes to win a plush dolphin.

“San Gennaro on the Move” digital photographs 150. for the triptych

Jaither West

“Urban Cattle” digital photograph 200.

Find out more about Jaither’s community: cisworks.org

Jaither paints the world around him and the people that inspire him. He is always looking and learning.

He learned to become an artist from his grandmother.

“On My Street” acrylic on canvas 200.

STAY CONNECTED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

FB: facebook.com/OTWDirtyFranks Twitter & Insta: @OTWDirtyFranks

Our best wishes for a

HAPPY & CREATIVE NEW YEAR!

We look forward to seeing you often in 2015.

Still in 2014, join us Sunday, December 14 at Dirty Frank’s to welcome back Traveling Wares, a Philadelphia holiday shopping tradition, first organized by our curator Jody Sweitzer in 1993.