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Beauty from trash (and other 21st-Century artistic challenges)

"Global Conscious, Local Artists' at Pentimenti Gallery

In
3 minute read
Why are so many Philadelphia galleries really "Retro," refusing to recognize that times (and art) have changed? Only a few— very few— art galleries seem aware of the new aesthetics.

Pentimenti Gallery in Old City is one of them. Christine Pfister, the gallery's director, extends her horizons beyond City Line and/or North America— a broadening experience for artists and art lovers alike.

Pentimenti's current show, "Global Conscious, Local Artists," includes six artists, all based in Philadelphia and selected from submissions responding to Pfister's call for local artists who are responsive to today's current issues: the environment, technology and politics.

Each of these artists merits a solo exhibition, so the entire combine is like a kaleidoscope of today's visual scene. I was magnetically drawn into the gallery by viewing Theotokos: Ichor, Jay Walker's portrait of multi-colored duct tape and masking tape on the wall. This iconic image conveys the emotive power of a religious figure that's a complete disparity from its medium. Walker is a young artist from Texas with a master's in fine arts from the Pennsylvania Academy. He is worth watching.

Depressing implications

Emily Schnellbacher's installation, Fall, is another magnet. Several hundred painted, sewn fabric drops cascade down a corner of the nook in Pentimenti's Project Room, pooling out in a natural formation. You can almost hear the movement of the falling water. I originally assumed they were painted river rocks and wondered what was holding them aloft against the wall. Schnellbacher is a transplant from Indianapolis, also with an MFA from Pennsylvania Academy. Hers is another name to remember in the context of 21st-century art.

At first glance, Tim Portlock's ink-jet prints seem calm, conservative Kodachrome prints of urban, industrial landscapes, akin to popular painted landscapes of the 19th Century. But these prints combine 3-D special effects and computer game software to create images of urban decay, the beauty of the image contrasting with its depressing implications. Portlock, now a Philadelphian, received his bachelor's degree from the Kansas City Art Institute and MFA degrees from both the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois.

Raul Romero's two video presentations create a delightful interlude of fun and play with two tire swings on the Philly High Line— the former Reading Viaduct. He reveals a reassuring atmosphere of innocence.

Beauty from waste

Tim Eads and his collaborators have created a book, The Taxonomy of Trash, plus archival, pigment prints following his residency at Revolution Recovery, Philadelphia's innovative recycling project. Has trash always inspired artists? Or is this a new artistic mantra: to create beauty from waste? Whatever— here's an eco-friendly mission that may also, as a by-product, help us to experience beauty in our daily lives.

Shaina Craft's pastel drawings blend the figure with the landscape, creating a delicate pattern that's personal yet inviting.

These six artists are welcome additions to our city's art scene. They represent the future. We ought to welcome them. We need them.

What, When, Where

“Global Conscious, Local Artists.†Through July 13, 2013 at Pentimenti Gallery, 145 N. Second St. (215) 625-9990 or www.pentimenti.com.

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