The Board Show: The Plastic Club & ACPS
2015 WINTER SHOW
The Board Show
January 11 – February 27, 2015
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THE PLASTIC CLUB AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY
OFF THE WALL GALLERY AT DIRTY FRANK’S @OTWDirtyFranks
facebook.com/OTWDirtyFranks
WHAT’S NEXT? 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
August 2 — September 18
2015 Midsummer Show Opens Thursday, August 6, 7–10 pm
September 20 — November 20
2015 Autumn Invitational Opens Thursday, September 20, 7–10 pm
Submission Deadline for STAY CONNECTED 11th Annual Community Juried Show WITH MEDIA 11th Annual Community Juried Show November 22 — SOCIAL Thursday, October 29 11:59 pm
FB: facebook.com/OTWDirtyFranks Opens Thursday, December 3, 7–10 pm Twitter & Insta: @OTWDirtyFranks
December 26
ON COVER: Elizabeth MacDonald’s “Starry Night à la van Gogh,” Carole J. Meyers’ ‘Fancy House,” Sy Hakim’s “Graces and Destiny,” Alan J. Klawans’ “Clockworks,” Bonnie J. Schorske’s “Morning Hoops”
ARTISTS &LEADERS
We kick off 2015 with a simple idea—at least on its surface. The Board Show, which runs through February 27, brings together 17 exceptional artists across a diverse array of media. Ten are Off the Wall veterans; seven are new—by no means indicative of the tremendous talent and accomplishments that precede their debuts in our space. The organizing concept is this: all of our artists are Board members of The Plastic Club and/or the American Color Print Society.
These two amazing organizations, which date to 1897 and 1939, respectively, are emblematic of our city’s ongoing, 155-year love affair with membership organizations devoted to art and art-making. To offer historical perspective, before the first shot of the Civil War was fired, two other such organizations, the Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Photographic Society of Philadelphia (of which some of these artists are members, too), had already held their first meetings! The two organizations of The Board Show broke down important barriers. The Plastic Club, founded by women, brought gender equality to art clubs. The American Color Print Society. also founded by women — as was Off the Wall, incidentally—was instrumental in helping color printing gain acceptance as an art form. The collegial spirit and camaraderie have stood the test of time. Each club supports its members in every way possible—through group workshops and opportunities for one-on-one mentorship, through regular exhibitions and demonstrations of new media and techniques—and, in doing so, inspires and actively promotes personal and professional growth. But no nonprofit organization, however great its impact, can survive without volunteers — always dedicated, sometimes visionary — at its center. And here is where our 17 artists, current volunteer leaders of their clubs, re-enter the picture. Their commitment and contributions sustain, and add, momentum and resources. They ensure these organizations fulfill their missions. They raise awareness and open doors for the next generation of members. You can say then that The Board Show is about much more than the art you see. It’s also about passion and energy that don’t always make it onto the canvas or the press because, like the art, they need to be shared. Jody Sweitzer Curator
Togo Travalia Manager
Marlene D’Orazio Adler BOARD MEMBER AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY I have been a member of the American Color Print Society for many years and about two years ago, I joined the Board. Prior to that, I just participated in the annual group shows. Since I started serving on the Board, I have been able to embrace my membership on a more personal level. My responsibilities include acting as the liaison for helping members posting information on our website. I also have a volunteer role with the Guild of Papermakers, where I’ve been assistant to the director since the beginning of the organization some 25 years ago. When you are involved with a group of fellow artists who lead an organization, you get a sense of pride that you are doing something that helps keep the organization strong. There are many ways you can get involved: helping to hang shows, planning events, teaching member workshops. I have always made a point to participate by serving on a committee or taking leadership in seeing a project through. The best thing is that you get to know people in a more personal way. “DusK” handmade paper with inclusions 125.
“Sunrise” handmade paper with inclusion 125.
“Knowledge beyond Our Gate” monoprint and collage 200.
“Tikkun Olam” (above) monoprint and pen and ink 300.
See more of Marlene’s work: printmakersguild.com/index.php?page=artists/adler
Art Brener BOARD MEMBER AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY As an ACPS board member, as well as exhibition chairman, I am guided by our mission statement. I believe it is important to keep in constant contact with our members and to encourage them to participate in each of our shows. I also work to bring new printmakers and younger artists into the organization, not only as a way of showcasing new printmaking techniques and uses of media, but also to bring them eventually into leadership roles, as a way of extending the life and purpose of the organization. Part of my role as exhibition chairman is to seek venues for shows. We generally show in Philadelphia. However, I’ve instituted a program to find different exhibition opportunities by suggesting that our members recommend galleries in their home area. Later this year, we’ll be exhibiting at a large gallery in Scranton, PA. Like most nonprofit and volunteer organizations, a handful of people do most of the work. I do not find that discouraging at all. In fact, I see it as an opportunity to work cooperatively in a group. And I also see it as a chance to reach out to members across the country, involve them in what we are doing and create a volunteer group that will help us achieve our mission. “City Music” screenprint 300.
“Orange Juice” (above) screenprint 300.
See more of Art’s work: printmakersguild.com/index.php?page=artists/brener
Thelma Grobes BOARD MEMBER AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY “Lounging” (above) etching 450.
“Russian Toque and Babars Hat” etching 450.
See more of Thelma’s work: artistshouse.com/artist/thelma-grobes
Michael Guinn VICE PRESIDENT THE PLASTIC CLUB Serving on the Board of Directors of The Plastic Club enables me to support decisions that I think will further improve and sustain the Club. I also welcome the opportunity to provide feedback to the Board about suggestions and concerns of members through my contact with them at workshops and openings. Besides that, the Board members are just good people. “Space Junk” oil on canvas 650.
See more of Mike’s work: plasticclub.org/guinn.html
Sy Hakim BOARD MEMBER AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY In addition to having its own print shows, which are educational as well as aesthetically valuable, the American Color Print Society contacts art departments of universities and colleges to inform and invite students to show their art. The ACPS also offers honorary student memberships through higher-education art and print departments, thus enabling direct contact with the workings of the art world. (left)
“Crossing the Bridge” mutli-woodblock color print 400.
“Graces and Destiny” multi-woodblock color print 350.
Visit Sy online: syhakim.com
Anders Hansen BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB The Plastic Club is a place for artists and those who love art. The Club is first a community—ranging from experienced masters to dewy-eyed novices, and including our models and associates. It is collegial and supportive, and run completely by volunteers, who do the work out of love. Speaking personally, I like to encourage others there as I have been encouraged. Moreover, I’ve met wonderful people and made priceless friends. I’m happy to be involved with our Salons, musical events, film screenings and poetry readings—promoting lively discussion, education and delight in the non-plastic arts. As The Firesign Theatre put it, “We’re all bozos on this bus!” “Autumn Storm” mixed media 225.
See more of Anders’ work: plasticclub.org/Hansen.htm
THE PLASTIC CLUB plasticclub.org After 118 years, the heart and soul of The Plastic Club is still the workshops. By the late 1990s they had been reduced to two, on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and the participants were mostly old women who sometimes had difficulty climbing the stairs. Lunch was prepared for them by Betty MacDonald for quite a while, but even that ended, and the women then brought their own. They shared companionship, friendship and warmth for much longer than they cared to admit. Emily and Harriet Sartain, Violet Oakley, Cecilia Beaux, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Elizabeth Shippen Green and Wuanita Smith were the founders and distinguished members who brought life to this institution at the turn of the century. Later members included most of the noted professional women artists in the Philadelphia region; however, by the last decade of the 20th century, membership had dwindled. Our living historian, Elizabeth (Betty) MacDonald, was brought to the Club against her will by her artist mother, who thought her artist daughter would flourish in this environment. Betty learned to love this place. And as President, Betty held this club together when membership diminished to less than 30. How she did it, we do not know. In 2015, Betty is still on the Board of a much revived Club that now has 200 members and 10 weekly workshops. We wouldn’t be here if Betty had locked the door and given up. We thank her.
AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY americancolorprintsociety.org When you look at the art of printmaking today, it’s hard to believe that the work would not have been acceptable in a respectable fine art exhibition 75 years ago. At that time, a fine art print was one color—usually black. But a courageous act of defiance by a small group of women in 1939 changed all that. They formed the American Color Print Society and had their own exhibition in what’s now the Print Center. Today, ACPS is a strong national association of artists, with members locally and throughout the country. Our mission is to promote and foster the original graphic arts, and to encourage and promote exhibitions of original color prints. We are dedicated to creating, exhibiting and developing the techniques and media that enhance the art of printmaking. Noted artists who have been ACPS members include Benton Spruance, Jerome Kaplan, Stella Drabkin, Jacob Landau, Dorothy Hutton, June Wayne, Eugene Feldman, Ethel Ashton, Bernard Kohn, Jeannette Kohn, Mildred Dillon, Abe Hankins, John Taylor Arms and Françoise Gillot. This past November ACPS celebrated its 75th Anniversary with an open show at The Plastic Club, our home base. This July, we will be exhibiting in the AFA Gallery in Scranton, PA, following recent shows at Villanova University, the Free Library and in the international print festival Philagrafika.
Photo courtesy of DoN Brewer, donartnews.com
Bob Jackson VICE PRESIDENT THE PLASTIC CLUB BOARD MEMBER AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY We open doors and leave people alone—to create. Artists who join The Plastic Club don’t need instruction. They are art schooltrained or self-taught. They just didn’t have a corner of their home in which to put an easel or worktable. They want space and models and colleagues around them. “Atlantic City” mixed media 225. “Don’t Even Think of Parking Here” mixed media 50. “Peeing in the Bath” mixed media 50.
“Taxi” (above) mixed media 100.
Alan J. Klawans BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB + AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY The Plastic Club is an organization that encourages artists to show their work. It has workshops so artists may hone their skills. “City Manhole Cover” digital photograph 350. “Clockworks” (right) limited edition digital print 395.
Visit Alan online: alanjklawans.com
Patricia Shaw Lima BOARD MEMBER AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY As newsletter editor for the American Color Print Society, I’m proud of this organization’s educational component, offering workshops and free exhibits open to the public. We support young printmakers by offering a monetary award and several free ACPS memberships to recent printmaking graduates. “Dimenticare” (above) intaglio collagraph with chine-collé 425.
“Look at Me” intaglio collagraph with chine-collé 425.
Visit Pat online: patriciashawlima.com
Elizabeth MacDonald
BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB + AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY (right)
“Starry Night à la van Gogh” bobbin and needle lace 800. “Under the Sea Wind” monotype 200. “Women’s Work Series: The Singer” woodcut 300.
“Women’s Work Series: The Prostitute” woodcut 300.
See more of Betty’s work: plasticclub.org/macdonald.html
Carole J. Meyers
PRESIDENT AMERICAN COLOR PRINT SOCIETY The American Color Print Society provides many opportunities for printmakers. For the past four years, we have granted free one-year memberships to all Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts printmaking seniors. Several of these recent graduates have won prizes in our juried shows. By volunteering their services, new members gain behind-the-scenes knowledge and experience the camaraderie of our dedicated members. “Fancy House” (left) monotype 350.
“Fluff” monotype 200.
“Orange U Blue?” monotype on homemade paper 150.
See more of Carole’s work: 705westprintshop.com/ carole-j-meyers.html
Janice R. Moore
BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB Here’s an example of how The Plastic Club welcomes people into the world of creating art. Bob A. was very shy and didn’t interact much with other people, but when I asked to see the sketchbook that he drew in during services at the Ethical Society, I was excited by what I saw. I invited him to come to a Plastic Club workshop, which he now attends regularly, where he now greets people and invites them to look at his work. He has been in shows at the Club and Off the Wall Gallery. Last year, he had his first solo exhibit at the Ethical Society, where he gave a talk about his artwork. The whole (continued on the next page) audience stood and applauded.
Janice R. Moore I am proud to be on the Board of The Plastic Club. It’s a welcoming place that fosters an egoless, safe, creative environment and that allows Bob and many others to connect with artists at various levels of work—and grow.
(continued)
“Edge of New Stars” (previous page) pastel 200. “Molten” mixed media 150.
“Poire à deux avec l’accessoires” digital photograph 150.
See more of Janice’s work: plasticclub.org/Moore.htm
Arthur B. Ostroff BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB
The Plastic Club is a welcoming place not only for artists, but those simply interested in the visual arts and related activities There are workshops, Salons, movie nights, concerts and dinners. Anyone can enter the open shows, which are juried only for prizes, giving newcomers a chance to let others see their work, and the possibility of a rewarding career. Our club is a real Philly treasure. I recently started a new activity, as Artist in Residence at two library branches. The program is a combination of literacy —a read aloud, noting and defining key words in the story—and making art based on the story. Participants range from pre-school to middle school, stimulating their brains and creative skills. I find it as rewarding as they do. “Terraces” mixed media 225. Visit Arthur online: aostroff.com
Bonnie J. Schorske
BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB According to its Constitution, the Board of The Plastic Club seeks to promote a wider knowledge of art and to advance its interests by means of social intercourse among artists. The Board also creates a pleasant environment for artists to gather together to refine their craft, network, support each other, exchange ideas, display artwork, socialize and have fun. One of my particular interests has been to establish an endowment to protect the Club’s future. The single most important thing an aspiring artist can take away from being part of such an organization, is to take his or her art seriously and enjoy the ride. “Morning Hoops” (right) digital photograph archival pigment print 165. “Wanamaker Organ I” digital photograph archival pigment print 245.
Visit Bonnie online: schorske.com
Susan Stromquist BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB It is rewarding to plan and direct the Plastic Club exhibitions, in which all who enter—life-long professionals alongside beginners—are given an opportunity to show. They bring a wide variety of media and approaches. Installing a 100+ piece show is very satisfying—like solving a giant puzzle. I find relationships in subject, content, feel, form, color and composition, so the works contrast and complement each other. I aim to best showcase each for its individual qualities as well as honor connections throughout the group as a whole. “Hunted Line 1, 5 (above) and 6” oil transfer drawings 300. each
See Susan’s video work: vimeo.com/susanstromquist
Jane J. Wilkie
TREASURER THE PLASTIC CLUB The Plastic Club Board and many of its members volunteer their time and expertise to allow the Club to function. Upcoming artists need only show up at workshops, exhibition openings, movies, Salons or dinners to learn and grow as artists. From standing side-by-side with fellow artists sketching, painting or printmaking, to showing their work at the open exhibitions and enjoying fellowship at dinners and salons, they will learn that the life of an artist is a life of continual learning as well as giving back. It is life itself. Jane’s nests are made from grape vines and fabric: “Nest of Mud Cloth” (above) 85.
“Robin’s Nest” 225.
“White on Whte Nest” 85.
Visit Jane: jjwilkie.com Visit Rick: wrightartstudio.com
Rick Wright BOARD MEMBER THE PLASTIC CLUB There’s no end to my pleasure at seeing more and more of my students showcasing their own strong photographs on the walls of Off the Wall Gallery and The Plastic Club. As an artist and instructor (often a mentor), it was a great pleasure to take a “seat” on the Plastic Club Board in 2014. The Board duties are simply an extension of my steady involvement with the rich local art world here in Philly. I lecture for the Philadelphia Photo Society, give Salons on photo technique and philosophy at The Plastic Club, and endeavor to expand member awareness of Photography-as-an-Art. This life in art is an easy chore. “Lady of the Lake” large-format photography archival pigment print 275.
From the artists & volunteers of Off the Wall Gallery,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
& THANK YOU for helping make 2014 so very special...
7 shows 98 artists 359 works countless new fans & 101 sales We’re excited to start filling 2015 with great new art, inspiration, discovery and our growing community!