But the real reason I decided to blog this morning, is that someone I know is running for City Controller - and, since I know and respect him through a ‘brown bag lunch’ group that I’ve been part of for several years, I want to commend Brett Mandel to you.  He’s also a neighbor and a real activist with good values, a husband and father of three who ran Philadelphia Forward - a tax reform watchdog organization - and cut his watchdog teeth by working in the office of the City Controller before the current one, who is also running for re-election.  (He’s also, from my perspective, a sports freak.)

I, for one, urge you to vote for him - Brett Mandell - in the primary on May 19.

Incidentally, there’s lot’s more I need to tell you about what’s happening in my art world.  I’ll get back to you when I have a chance.

Thanks for ‘listening’,

Ed

As one project, having been told repeatedly by gallerists that I should try painting bigger, I rigged up my bike to carry all required supplies and large canvases, and signed up for a painting course at Fleisher about painting outdoors, specifically around the Italian Market area.  (The painting at the left is an example of what came from that course - much later in 2008 and in Fitler Square. This painting is 30″ high by 5′ long and hinged at the center, so I could ride and carry it wet.)

Here is another (currently available) large painting that is another result of my explorations. I have a solo show coming up at Twenty Two Gallery in November, so if these are still around, they might be in that show.  In the meantime, they, along with several others, will be hanging in the offices of the City of Philadelphia Ethics Commission and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.  The heads of each are both friends of mine and collectors of my paintings.  (i.e. I consider anyone who owns at least one of my paintings a collector.) And I figure, what better use to make of my artwork in this tough time for sales of anything, than have it in public view?

These two are both paintings begun in the fall and finished in the studio this winter. The first shows the early construction of the National Museum of American Jewish History on Independence Mall (28″x44″ oil), and the second shows construction on 1706 Rittenhouse Square (28″x44″ oil). (click thumbnail to view larger image)

I also made about 18 +- pen and ink sketches, a few (only partially done) little water color and/or gouache sketches and post cards while Sophie and I, along with three couples of old friends, were in Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia in the fall.  Very little of that batch is “ready for prime time”.  So, my second project is to use those as a basis for creating some ink and gouache paintings that represent what we saw - and loved - about that trip. And I’ve just begun on that.

The really big project that I’ve been working on - and it’s taken much more time than I could have imagined, but it’s coming along well - is Art in the Open: Philadelphia.  It is a festival around the arts and specifically artists working in Philadelphia, the “first annual” of which will take place in the spring of 2010. Although funding for the project has been difficult to come by in this economy, it has attracted as institutional partners a bunch of heavy-weights including (as of this writing) Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the University of the Arts, Bartram’s Garden, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Philadelphia Hospitality, Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, Fairmount Park Water Works Interpretive Center, and (here’s the really big one) The City of Philadelphia through its Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy!  

The kernal of the festival will be thirty “Plein Air” artists - half from Phila., and half from other parts of the country.  They will be selected by a jury of well known curatorial experts, and, unlike most “Plein Air” painting festivals, this one will not be limited to traditional landscapes painted on site, but rather will encompass a much broader interpretation allowing many media, abstraction as well as representational, installation art, and,  who knows, maybe even, other ’small acts of creation’ which could include dance and music for four days along the river.  The piece of the Festival will take place along the Schuylkill between the Water Works and Bartram’s Garden.  Leading up to it will be an educational symposium discussing the Schuylkill’s part in the history of plein air painting in this country as well as it’s part in the ecology of the area and in the development of the city over time. Many of the other institutions will be running related programs and shows in their locations, and there will be teachers, docents, and materials available for others to join in the fun, and even, perhaps, to show their work publicly.  We also expect to have an educational component at schools and in neighborhoods throughout the city.  We expect to draw large crowds particularly through our partnership with Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, Philadelphia Hospitality, and other partners.

Finally, I want to report to you two more important things:  1) On Wednesday, February 18, I am turning 65. I’m not usually big on birthdays, but I must admit that this does seem a really big one to me.  Growing up, 65 was the end of work life and the beginning of retirement and . . . old age.  It’s not lost on me. This is clearly the beginning of, shall we say, a new phase.  I’m heading into it with high hopes and in the best physical shape I think I’ve ever been in.  And although my memory clearly has holes in it that it didn’t have before, there’s still much that I want to do and be involved in.  And 2) on Thursday, February 19, I am gallery sitting at Twenty Two Gallery (236 South 22nd. Street - just South of Locust) from noon to 6 pm. There is a solo show of new oil paintings by Jerome Schwartz, a fellow “mature” artist whom I first met years ago at Fleisher. It’s worth seeing.  There is also a show up of a few works by each of the nineteen or so member/artists.  

I plan to bring a few snacks and, for late in the day, a bottle or two of wine - so if you are in the area, stop by to see the show and to chat.   

Six hours is a really long time to sit in one place!

Best Regards,
Ed Bronstein

P.S.  I almost forgot. Please press on the following link and vote [at least] once, so that Rebuilding Together Philadelphia will get the money for their veterans project. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/home/text/0,,HGTV_32656_82769,00.html

(Thanks again)

P.P.S.  Still interested? Here are two more recent large paintings:

Next I want to tout TwentyTwo Gallery at 236 South 22^nd Street in my neighborhood, where I am now a member. Although you may have known of it as a coffee shop, it is now a cooperative gallery with between 15 and 20 local artists. Each of its members ‘gallery sits’ for one day per month. And the gallery has openings on the second Friday of each month. This month is the Members’ Show with several pieces by each artist on display. So here are three dates to remember: