7 First Friday Shows to Check Out
The Barnes is hosting a Creative Genius Connectors Salon. Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
Chiptunes: Obsolete Sounds in the Modern World @ Chemical Heritage Foundation
“Art meets obsolete technology” in this interdisciplinary show exploring nostalgic sounds the Millennials among us likely won’t even recognize, like dial-up modems and original Game Boys. Musician Paul Weinstein, who goes by Chipocrite, will be performing live.
Creative Genius Connectors Salon @ The Barnes
Meet artists and art lovers at this salon focused on “intention and ethics in activist art,” with speakers Conrad Benner of StreetsDept.com, spoken word artist and actor Lindo Yes, and Meredith Sonnen of FringeArts, hosted by Small But Mighty Arts and the Artistic Rebuttal Book Project. Stick around afterward for First Friday at the Barnes, with access to the collection and live jazz from Mike Stern of Blood, Sweat & Tears with saxophonist Steve Wilson and bassist Harvie S.
Barbara Shelly and Joseph Pro @ PII Gallery
These are two separate, and very different, exhibits within one gallery. Barbara Shelly is an abstract artist whose paintings capture movement; she describes it as “making paint dance on canvas.” Joseph Pro is an architect who also sculpts and paints, creating both large-scale steel installations and smaller wall pieces made of wood. The works will be up through the end of September.
Isaiah Zagar @ South Philly Barbacoa
Mosaic muralist Isaiah Zager, whose work you’ve definitely seen along South Street even if you’ve never been to his awesome labyrinthine gallery, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, is displaying some of his smaller pieces at South Philly Barbacoa, just named one of America’s Best New Restaurants by Bon Appetit.
Waiting Room by Rick Buttari
Rick Buttari: Drawings & Paintings @ F.A.N. Gallery
Rick Buttari’s graphite and charcoal drawing and oil paintings — including what looks to me like studies paired with the final works — are on display at F.A.N. Gallery. The exhibit opens Friday and runs through October 1st, with an artist reception on September 9th.
Maps @ Jinxed Fishtown
Cartophiles, this one’s for you: Jinxed Fishtown, the antiques and vintage shop, gathered together its map collection so you can browse them all at once. The maps date back to 1712 and range from pocket-sized travel guides to big pull-down maps like you’d see in a classroom.
Villnus @ Little Berlin
Villnus opens on Saturday, but hey, maybe you’re busy Friday and still need an arts and culture fix. The four artists participating in this international group exhibit, including local Andrew Terron, are focusing on food and boundary, which I thought I understood until I got to this part of the description: “The works in the exhibition relate directly or abstractly to ideas of the human colon as well as human colonies.” In addition to the multimedia art up in the gallery, the artists will each be hosting a dinner in September.
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