November 02, 2016
Jen Dunlap/for PhillyVoice
A screenshot from Jen Dunlap's 'Lonely Little Arms' (digital video) — part of the 'Swing State' show at little berlin gallery.
There’s a phrase in the curators’ statement about this show that really sticks with the reader: At the Nov. 20 artists’ reception, attendees will participate in the #RedSandProject, started by New York City artist Molly Gochman, by pouring dyed sand into the cracks in the sidewalk “symbolizing how people fall through the cracks in society.” Among them: victims of human trafficking, many of whom are here in Philadelphia .
Carol Cole's 'Shining Through'
Dubin Garfield told PhillyVoice.com that the exhibition's title comes from curator Valetta’s desire to “get to the essence of the young women, their feelings and desires, their hopes and vulnerabilities, so that the general public will be sympathetic to their plight.”
“I found it hard to believe that young women from my city were involved in human trafficking,” she says. “These young vulnerable women fall for the [trafficker’s] line, and are soon trapped in a cycle of drug use, prostitution and ‘love.’ I think we have to strengthen our young women so they recognize a con when they hear one.”
Through Nov. 27, First Friday event Nov. 4, 5-9 p.m., Old City Jewish Arts Center, 119 N. Third St. The Nov. 20 reception is 1-4 p.m., with artists speaking at 2:30 p.m. On Nov. 9, the Center will show the film “Not My Life” at 6:30 p.m., which focuses on trafficking.
“Portraits and Abstractions” @ Painted Bride Art Center
In a 2013 report by The Sentencing Project, a criminal justice reform organization, states that there were 5,361 women serving life sentences in prison in the United States. Philadelphia artist Mary DeWitt has painted the faces — and heard the stories — of many of these women.
She’s taught painting to women in the Pennsylvania correctional system, and has received attention about and had exhibitions ( like the one at Eastern State Penitentiary ) focused on this work in Philadelphia over the past decade.
The internet has helped signal-boost the voices of these women, literally; DeWitt combines her portraits with their voices and publishes the work onYouTube and on her website.
Terri Smallwood spent 43 years in prison and was released last year on bail with help from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. When DeWitt interviewed her, Smallwood spoke of the emotional turmoil of her experience:
“Your behaviors, your self-esteem, your spirit, gets broken … everything,” she said. “[With a] sentence, you either get the strength and survive it, you go on medicine or you kill yourself.”
This exhibition will showcase pieces from her ongoing series, plus new abstract works.
Reception Friday, Nov. 4, 5-7 p.m., Painted Bride, 230 Vine St.
Mary DeWitt's 'Brenda Watkins'
Mary DeWitt/for PhillyVoice
Alright, so this one’s not on First Friday, it’s the next day, but it’s timely nonetheless. Our Great National Nightmare is drawing to a close on Nov. 8, and the 17 artists in this show have a few things to say about it all.
They’re ready to, as little berlin puts it, “reveal a handful of the complicated and seductive social conditions we face in this moment of choosing (or dreading) our next president.”
That means this show is going to examine the “power dynamics of places,” like the South, our own Philadelphia — hey, Pennsylvania’s a swing state! — and even the not-exactly-physical “place” of the evening news (the worst place, amirite?).
Bless them, the group is also hosting a “post-election recovery roundtable” on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. (which includes a “satirical gallery tour,” which sounds just delightful) to discuss moving forward. Is alcohol the answer? I bet it’s alcohol.
Nov. 5, 6-10 p.m., through Nov. 27, little berlin, 2430 Coral St.
Angie Melchin's 'I Know What I Don't Want' (lithograph) — from the 'Swing State' exhibition at little berlin gallery.
Angie Melchin/for PhillyVoice
