A painting from Benjamin Howard's "Asphalt Ascension" at Proximity Gallery
As always, First Friday has a exciting and promising line-up. With music, theater, and art, it is sure to be a September to remember!
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Liberty Vintage will host a vintage cycle show, live music, and negative image screen printing this month
August is shaping up to be a great month for Frankford Avenue. With new artists in the ‘hood, some brand new sidewalks, and the possibility of a week below 90 degrees, I think its safe to say were all excited…
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Kyle Fisher's "Living Room" at Part Time Studios
Before you split for the shore, check out Frankford Avenue’s July 1st Friday! Held over at Proximity is “Self Portraits of People I dont Know”, check it out if you missed it last month. Also of note; Kyle Fisher’s “Living Room” at Part Time Studios (pictured at left), and SUSPECT DEVICE BY Lauren Brick, Sydney Conaway, Emilie Fosnocht & Ingrid Burrington at Extra Extra.
New this month: Heathen Salon, a house salon where first friday goers chat, listen to music, check out neighbor’s artwork, and generally comiserate.
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Spring is finally here, and that’s something to celebrate. This past winter was enough to make even Midwesterners shiver in their snowboots. Frankford Avenue greets the sunshine and warm temps with arms wide open. There is hardly a shortage of things to do this coming First Friday. The arts corridor welcomes a new print studio, hosts two exhibitions part of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference and even acknowledges ‘failing’ artists. And this is just a dash of what to expect as you stroll along this vibrant corridor.
Details after the jump. Keep checking back throughout the week for additions…
Well, 2009 was good to the arts corridor! Frankford Avenue witnessed the debut of 7 new businesses. Pirhana Betty’s Art Market, Extra Extra, Part Time Studio, Philadelphia Argentine Tango School, Bella Sera Cafe, F & N Gallery and Angel Studios. And the good news doesn’t stop there. Girard Avenue welcomed quite a few places as well. Enter the new Slingluff Gallery, Fishtown Airways, the Milk Crate Cafe and the Music Fountain, just to name a few. The Caterpillar, a seasonal outdoor performance venue, burst onto the Frankford Avenue scene offering residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy a pleasant evening and talented artists. Every day it seems like something new and inviting is happening on these corridors. First Fridays are bigger and better than ever thanks to the enthusiastic and growing particpation of merchants and artists each month.
The excitement continues into 2010. This will be a big year for Frankford Avenue. The corridor will see the opening of another sit down restaurant and a vintage boutique, two percent to golory. Fifteen commercial buildings on the corridor and along Norris Street will light up their facades to improve the sense of safety in the evening hours in the next few weeks. And let’s not forget that it’s finally here! The long awaited construction project that will transform the face of Frankford Avenue from York Street down to Palmer Park. Look out for new sidewalks, signage, street trees, 4 additional art racks, trashcans and two spectacular bus shelters. Keep your eyes peeled for a constructions schedule and an anticipated start date in the coming weeks.
While we missed the First Friday this month (we were still enjoying eggnog), some folks carried on with the usual festivities. Pirhana Betty’s Art Market featured sculpture, jewelry and paintings by Laurel Patterson on January 1st. Proximity Gallery hosted an opening reception for the 2nd Annual Neighborhood Group Show on January 3rd. And there is still plenty to do the coming weeks of this chilly month. Highwire Gallery is hosting its opening reception Friday, January 8th from 5- 9 pm. Heat things up next door at the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School when you take the first class of a four week beginning tango dance session at 7 pm. Meander across the street and check out the Part Time Studios crew and the ’Polarbear Polaroid’ event. Hungry for more on Saturday? Mindy Kober’s solo show kicks off at an opening reception January 9th from 6-9 pm at Slingluff.
It’s a busy month on Frankford Avenue. Hot on the tail of Bella Sera’s grand opening comes Extra Extra, self described as an “artist-run space dedicated to the exposure of under-represented artists challenging the limits of the visual and performing arts”, is warming up for its first event this weekend.
Tucked away just yards from Frankford Avenue, the gallery at 2222 Sepviva Street will follow up First Friday this month with its November 6th performance by musicians Young Ice and Hopalong. Additionally, an interactive artistic activity sponsored by the ”Spatial Awareness Club” will occupy the main gallery area, as visitors get a chance to leave their mark on a 1996 Geo Track parcel map depicting the Kensington area. These drab blueprints of underground utilities must be colorized, and only the good people of Fishtown can make that happen! Stop by and color by numbers while listening to some aspiring local performers.
Extra Extra will return next month for a First Friday reception, and the opening of a second floor featuring “artist’s books, zines, prints, photographs, drawings and other print ephemera” by the collective of artists and friends who curate Extra Extra.
