Glen Sacks at the Gallery of the 40ST Artist in Residence • 4007 Chestnut Street
From April 10 through April 30, 2010, the gallery at the 40ST Artist in Residence program presents recent works by Glen Sacks, one of the five artists in residence.
An open studio event will take place on Friday, April 9 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
Sacks is showing large-scale photographs that document street-side memorials, storefront places of worship, abandoned churches, murals that commemorate peopled killed in gun violence and other sites in the urban Philadelphia environment that demonstrate different ways of addressing loss, grief, and spirituality in public spaces.
Sacks earned his BFA from the University of the Arts and MFA from Bard College and has shown his work in New York, Italy, and Columbia. He has received numerous grants and fellowships, including the Rome Prize of the American Academy in Rome, the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, and the Mid-Atlantic NEA Regional Fellowship.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Call for Artists! Apply for the 2010-2011 residency!
Applications are now available for Residency 2010-2011!
The program is intended mainly for emerging artists who live in neighborhoods west of the Schuylkill River. All applications are due by May 10, 2010, and residents will be selected by an advisory board comprised of artists, former AIR residents, educators, and community organizations. A more detailed description of the application process can be found here and the application itself here. Please contact 40th.air.app@gmail.com with any questions.
The program is intended mainly for emerging artists who live in neighborhoods west of the Schuylkill River. All applications are due by May 10, 2010, and residents will be selected by an advisory board comprised of artists, former AIR residents, educators, and community organizations. A more detailed description of the application process can be found here and the application itself here. Please contact 40th.air.app@gmail.com with any questions.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Article in Daily Pennsylvanian • 2/9/10
Programs bring up-and-coming West Phila. artists close to campus
by Pamela Ellermann | Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 1:16 am
The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program, located at 40th and Chestnut streets, provides five artists from West Philadelphia studio space for one year. The program has served over 30 artists since its creation in 2002.
The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program, located at 40th and Chestnut streets, provides five artists from West Philadelphia studio space for one year. The program has served over 30 artists since its creation in 2002.
Just a few blocks from campus, two programs link Penn with up-and-coming West Philadelphia artists.
The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence (AIR) and ArtsEdge programs aim to provide emerging West Philadelphia artists an opportunity to devote themselves to their art without distraction.
AIR, which offers local artists free work space, was founded in 2003 by artist Edward Epstein in collaboration with Facilities and Real Estate Services.
ArtsEdge, entering its second year, offers subsidized studio and living space for two artists per year — a writer and a visual artist — sponsored by the Kelly Writers House and the School of Design, respectively.
These programs provide artists a space where they can work independently, when emerging artists would otherwise experience geographic and financial constraints, said Ed Datz, executive director of real estate for the University.
AIR, having served almost 30 artists during its lifetime, has undergone several changes. Originally, the program supported four artists on a six-month residency, but has now added another artist, Epstein said. Residencies now run a full year.
The program has also modified its application system, allowing any artist from West Philadelphia to apply in an effort to make the program more inclusive. In previous years, applicants had to be nominated by previous artists or board members, said AIR manager Gina Renzi.
The program’s artists often hold workshops with local schools or contribute to public works, such as a mural at the Rotunda.
Epstein said some AIR artists have continued to work with the schools that they collaborated with during their residencies.
“Basically, we are interested in making the arts at Penn visible,” as well as making West Philadelphia artists visible to the University, Director of the Kelly Writers House Jessica Lowenthal said.
Previous ArtsEdge resident Greg Romero helped coordinate activities between the Philadelphia Dramatists Center and Penn by organizing shows at the Writers House.
This year, residents are working together to hold a panel about art that incorporates multiple genres to exemplify the “energy and creative impulses” that ArtsEdge supports, Lowenthal added.
The program helps foster a sense of community by enabling artists to live and work on the same block, according to Renzi. Previously, artists were housed together. ArtsEdge now offers separate apartments for its residents.
“Trying to imagine how two strangers live together made sense in the abstract,” Renzi said. Practically, it added a “strange wrinkle” to the project, prompting the need for separate quarters.
Before they were accepted to ArtsEdge, the artists in this cycle were worried about finding affordable housing in Philadelphia, Renzi said.
In addition to providing space for artists, Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services helps carry the operating costs, Datz said.
by Pamela Ellermann | Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 1:16 am
The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program, located at 40th and Chestnut streets, provides five artists from West Philadelphia studio space for one year. The program has served over 30 artists since its creation in 2002.
The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program, located at 40th and Chestnut streets, provides five artists from West Philadelphia studio space for one year. The program has served over 30 artists since its creation in 2002.
Just a few blocks from campus, two programs link Penn with up-and-coming West Philadelphia artists.
The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence (AIR) and ArtsEdge programs aim to provide emerging West Philadelphia artists an opportunity to devote themselves to their art without distraction.
AIR, which offers local artists free work space, was founded in 2003 by artist Edward Epstein in collaboration with Facilities and Real Estate Services.
ArtsEdge, entering its second year, offers subsidized studio and living space for two artists per year — a writer and a visual artist — sponsored by the Kelly Writers House and the School of Design, respectively.
These programs provide artists a space where they can work independently, when emerging artists would otherwise experience geographic and financial constraints, said Ed Datz, executive director of real estate for the University.
AIR, having served almost 30 artists during its lifetime, has undergone several changes. Originally, the program supported four artists on a six-month residency, but has now added another artist, Epstein said. Residencies now run a full year.
The program has also modified its application system, allowing any artist from West Philadelphia to apply in an effort to make the program more inclusive. In previous years, applicants had to be nominated by previous artists or board members, said AIR manager Gina Renzi.
The program’s artists often hold workshops with local schools or contribute to public works, such as a mural at the Rotunda.
Epstein said some AIR artists have continued to work with the schools that they collaborated with during their residencies.
“Basically, we are interested in making the arts at Penn visible,” as well as making West Philadelphia artists visible to the University, Director of the Kelly Writers House Jessica Lowenthal said.
Previous ArtsEdge resident Greg Romero helped coordinate activities between the Philadelphia Dramatists Center and Penn by organizing shows at the Writers House.
This year, residents are working together to hold a panel about art that incorporates multiple genres to exemplify the “energy and creative impulses” that ArtsEdge supports, Lowenthal added.
The program helps foster a sense of community by enabling artists to live and work on the same block, according to Renzi. Previously, artists were housed together. ArtsEdge now offers separate apartments for its residents.
“Trying to imagine how two strangers live together made sense in the abstract,” Renzi said. Practically, it added a “strange wrinkle” to the project, prompting the need for separate quarters.
Before they were accepted to ArtsEdge, the artists in this cycle were worried about finding affordable housing in Philadelphia, Renzi said.
In addition to providing space for artists, Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services helps carry the operating costs, Datz said.
Article in The University City Review • 2/24/10
40th St AIR Unites Artists with Community
UC Review | 24.FEB.10
By Kaley Lacovetta
Special to the UC Review
Like most artists, Cecilia Paredes always dreamed of having a studio of her own. For years, she worked from her small apartment, sectioning off a meager mock studio space with curtains. Her limited workspace hindered her from creating the large-scale pieces she longed to make. Yet as most local artists know, finding affordable studio space in the city can be an arduous, if not impossible, endeavor. So when Paredes saw flyers for 40th Street AIR’s free studio program, it seemed as if her desire for space could finally be fulfilled.
And after much patience and persistence, Paredes’ wishes were granted. "I kept calling and calling, asking is it time to apply yet," says Paredes. The conceptual artist was accepted into the program last summer, and has recently begun work on her biggest project yet, an enormous labyrinth.
40th Street AIR, an acronym for Artist-in-Residence, seeks to alleviate the plight of the artist by providing free studio space in exchange for community outreach. Artists are provided with rent-free workspace for one year. Currently, AIRSpace has two facilities, at 4007 and 4013 Chestnut Street, for a total of five studios. Both buildings are owned and funded by the University of Pennsylvania. While in the program, artists are encouraged to share their talent with the West Philadelphia community by holding workshops, teaching art classes, creating public art, etc. Paredes contributes by leading a workshop at a local school, teaching 8- to10-year-old children how to create art with found materials in nature. She reminds herself and the children, "You don’t need any money to do art. You can do art from a twig." The outreach opportunity has blessed Paredes. "It proves that it is also the one who gives that receives as much as the pupil or receiver."
The program was founded in 2003 by artist and current director of the University City Arts League Edward M. Epstein in an effort to create "studio space for service," and also as part of a movement to make 40th Street more "artist friendly." Epstein emphasizes art as an essential element of community culture. "Our mission is to help emerging artists in the neighborhood." In fact, in order to be considered for the program, an artist must either live in or be strongly affiliated with the West Philadelphia area. Epstein understands that many local artists remain under-recognized due to a lack of workspace and the difficulty of finding an outlet in the community for one’s art. The program serves to "assist in the career growth and provide exhibition opportunities" for local artists.
West Philly native Vinson Houston is another one of over 40 artists who have benefited from the program. Houston has always been actively involved with the arts in the community, primarily through teaching, both at the Spring School of the Arts and the UC Arts League. It was at the Arts League that Houston met Epstein, who encouraged him to apply to AIR. The program’s goals for neighborhood outreach mirrored Houston’s own ideas. "It’s using art as a form of activism or community advancement."
At present, Houston is using AIRSpace to work on his performance piece titled "La Primavera," the story of a matriarchal agricultural society with a powerful secret hidden deep within its caverns. He has also returned to the Spring School of the Arts to assist the children with their end-of-the-year theater performance.
Other artists in the program include photographer Glen Sacks, performance artist Joanna Quigley, and visual anthropologist Beth Uziak. Sacks works with the People’s Emergency, and Quigley provides free dance classes for the community at the Rotunda.
Currently, the program is looking for individuals to join its newly formed Steering Committee, a community group that will assist in making crucial decisions about the future of AIR. If you are interested, send e-mail to 40thair.program@gmail.com. For more information on 40th Street AIR or to download an application, visit http://40streetair.blogspot.com.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Call for Artists!
Please note that this program is not being conducted by AIR. We're passing along the info from our friends at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists
Open to all Visual Artists: CFEVA’S New Courtland Artist Fellowship
Deadline March 5, 2010: The Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA), in partnership with NewCourtland, is pleased to offer Philadelphia area artists the opportunity to participate in an exciting, community-based fellowship. Through the NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, eight artists will be selected to bring innovative and engaging art-making to seniors in sites throughout Philadelphia. In order to apply, artists are asked to develop an intergenerational project that brings New Courtland’s residents together with school age children/teens to create a meaningful experience and a high quality artistic project. Work created by residents and their school age partners during the 2010 Fellowship Program will be exhibited with the work of the artist fellows in a large, well publicized exhibition entitled Art is Ageless.
Accepted artists will receive a fellowship award of $2,500. Once artists receive this award they will be responsible for conducting ten 1.5 hour workshops, attending several preliminary and post-workshop meetings, attending one sensitivity training session, and participating in the Art is Ageless exhibition in Spring 2011. Artists will also be separately compensated for purchasing all necessary art supplies and professionally presenting the artwork created in their program for the final exhibition.
For more details and an application please contact Genevieve Coutroubis at 215 546-7775 x11 or Genevieve@cfeva.org.
Open to all Visual Artists: CFEVA’S New Courtland Artist Fellowship
Deadline March 5, 2010: The Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA), in partnership with NewCourtland, is pleased to offer Philadelphia area artists the opportunity to participate in an exciting, community-based fellowship. Through the NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, eight artists will be selected to bring innovative and engaging art-making to seniors in sites throughout Philadelphia. In order to apply, artists are asked to develop an intergenerational project that brings New Courtland’s residents together with school age children/teens to create a meaningful experience and a high quality artistic project. Work created by residents and their school age partners during the 2010 Fellowship Program will be exhibited with the work of the artist fellows in a large, well publicized exhibition entitled Art is Ageless.
Accepted artists will receive a fellowship award of $2,500. Once artists receive this award they will be responsible for conducting ten 1.5 hour workshops, attending several preliminary and post-workshop meetings, attending one sensitivity training session, and participating in the Art is Ageless exhibition in Spring 2011. Artists will also be separately compensated for purchasing all necessary art supplies and professionally presenting the artwork created in their program for the final exhibition.
For more details and an application please contact Genevieve Coutroubis at 215 546-7775 x11 or Genevieve@cfeva.org.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Holiday Art sale! no piece is over $25! Dec. 12 and 13!
benefiting People's Emergency Center.
People’s Emergency Center (PEC) nurtures families, strengthens neighborhoods, and drives change. We are committed to increasing equity and opportunity throughout our entire community. We provide comprehensive supportive services to homeless women and their children, revitalize our West Philadelphia neighborhood, and advocate for social justice.
People’s Emergency Center (PEC) nurtures families, strengthens neighborhoods, and drives change. We are committed to increasing equity and opportunity throughout our entire community. We provide comprehensive supportive services to homeless women and their children, revitalize our West Philadelphia neighborhood, and advocate for social justice.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Open Gallery Hours
Come check out the exhibition currently in AIR's gallery:
Positive Form Found in Negative Spaces
Open gallery hours:
Thursdays, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
4007 Chestnut, 1st Floor
Positive Form Found in Negative Spaces
Open gallery hours:
Thursdays, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
4007 Chestnut, 1st Floor
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