The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program awards West Philadelphia artists 1 year of free studio space at 40th & Chestnut Sts. In exchange, residents share their talents within West Philadelphia by leading workshops, teaching classes, exhibiting, etc. Founded by artist Edward M. Epstein in 2003 and managed by Gina Renzi since 2008, we address the need for studio space in West Philadelphia, assist artists with career development, and make the 40th Street area a nexus for visual arts.
Please join us for our first ever Young Artists Exhibit
November 16 – December 7
here at 40th Street Artist in Residence (AIR) Program Gallery, 4007 Chestnut Street, First Floor
Opening Reception: Saturday November 16, 2PM - 6PM
Gallery Hours: Saturdays November 23, November 30, and December 7, 1-4pm + by appointment
There are very few spaces in Philadelphia to see art work by youth (an age range we have loosely defined as 18 and under). This show is an opportunity for youth to present their art in the gallery. This artwork will range from drawings and paintings to video and dioramas. Our connection to young artists through art is part of a practice that we find meaningful and important to share with our community of friends, family and neighbors.
Opening on Saturday, November 16 youth affiliated with 40th St. AIR Artists will be showcasing their artwork. Along with the work being presented, please join us on-site art-making, snacks, dancing, and more!
AND visit The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) at 7pm on Thursday November 21 to see the films of Johnny Dickie (16 years old)!!! We'll preview some of his work at this opening here at AIR!
Meet our artists during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST)! Our artists will keep their studios open for YOU Saturday October 19 and Sunday October 20, 12-6pm. See their work and hear their stories! Refreshments served at both locations.
Don't forget to visit BOTH buildings, 4007 Chestnut 1st floor and 4013 Chestnut!!
2012-2013 Resident Mike Harpring co-taught a Kinetic Sculpture Class for area youth at Neighborhood Bike Works as part of his community outreach project. The three month course introduced participants to kinetic sculpture through a variety of workshops and art projects, and culminated in the creation of a giant ride-able spider, aptly named Big Mama, which was raced in the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. Check out the videos below that co-teacher and previous AIR resident Jim Garvey made:
Meet our artists during Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST)! Our artists will keep their studios open for YOU Saturday October 19 and Sunday October 20, 12-6pm. See their work and hear their stories!
from Plastic Fantastic with 49th & Chancellor and Huey Community School, September 2012 and Plastique Cirque's Event and Exhibition, May 2013
an exploration of play,circus arts, plastic history, relationship to water, water bottles, feminism, plastic ocean, puppetry, tetrahedrons, art, collaboration, celebration
but first the Project Description of Plastic Fantastic at 49th & Chancellor Streets
Plastic Fantastic is an immersive, nomadic environment for play, built from 6,000 postconsumer plastic water bottles on a 16-foot diameter geodesic dome. The dome serves as a centerpiece for organizing social relations. Inspirations include Fluxus, subRosa, the Yes Men, Creative Time, Yayoi Kusama, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, and El Anatsui. Some of the places that Plastic Fantastic has lived are Salisbury University, Vermont College of Fine Arts, and the Schuylkill Banks next to Fairmount Water Works at Art in the Open 2010.
For the community outreach for the 40th street Artist-in-Residence Program and the thirteenth iteration of Plastic Fantastic, in fall of 2012 we worked with block captain, Ms Coffee of the 4900 block of Chancellor Street, the residents and property owner John Cox to bring Plastic Fantastic as a public art project to a lot at the corner of 49th Street and Chancellor Streets. Recycling buckets for the blocks were donated by University City District A new batch of water bottles was collected from friends, Planet Fitness, Bikram Yoga Philadelphia and United by Blue’s collection from Bartram’s Garden clean ups (note the more dirty bottles on the dome). Hector Medina’s Metal Shop contributed their time and skills to guide and make a new dome armature. Huey Community School students and neighborhood youth worked with me to transform the dome into public art. A group of West Philly high school students cut the plastic grid to fit the unusual shapes and add in more bottles to more fully cover the dome. A celebration of the finished dome was had with a party with grilled pineapple tortas by Raw Peas and sounds by Staco.
In mid-October, Plastic Fantastic was relocated to a highly trafficked area, for a two week visit at the Rotunda. After a hiatus post-Sandy, since early Spring 2013 Plastic Fantastic has enjoyed residency in the backyard of the 40th Street AirSpace, which had been previously cleared by the 2011-12 AirSpace residents. During this time, Upholstery developed the site specific theatrical production “Marvin & Mae (in a Sea of Plastic)”, a fantastical tale of loneliness and love told through puppets made entirely of plastic waste, that premiered at Plastique Cirque in May, and runs again tonight (8/9) for AIR Exchange.
Underpinning Plastic Fantastic are concerns about the politics of water, environmental issues, recycling, self-care, and equity. Plastic Fantastic creates possibility for social change through play, collectivity, community development and production. Through this process we improve our relationship with the everyday. Please “Feed the Dome” a positive message.
Now on with the documentation...
Plastic Fantastic at 49th & Chancellor, September 2012
Installing Plastic Fantastic Dome with Kelly Anne (Raw Peas), Andrew and Todd. Visitors take a recycle bin donated by University City District and learn more about the project. Plant donations from Bartram's Garden. Sunday, September 23rd, 2012
Plastic Fantastic Dome, 16 foot in diameter, water bottles, plastic grid, 3/4" conduit 49th & Chancellor Streets, Philadelphia, PA 2012
Plastique Cirque, May 10, 2013
"Play", neon sign, diedra krieger, 2013
MERMAID TEARS
Upholstery's "Marvin & Mae (in a Sea of Plastic)"
"Meditative Play Tetrahedron" water bottle caps, paper, mixed media, Diedra Krieger, 2013
"Bottles" Woodley White (Outside the Frame Collective), 2013
"Tipplers Planet", mixed media, water bottles, Anna Perricci
"Cartwheeling through Feminist Theory" video performance, damali abrams and Diedra Krieger, 2013
"Aquarium Wonderland", Digital video installation, Sean Stoops, 2013
xo End Notes xo
I kept a playlist of the videos produced from the 40th Street AIR Space Residency which includes videos documenting a view from inside the artist's studio.
We are excited to announce Plastic Fantastic's next adventure will be to Alaska at the Anchorage Museum with the Gyre Exhibition in 2014!!
