CFEVA Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2022:
Art Scavenger Hunt
Please join us and the Center for Emerging Visual Artists as we will be organizing a citywide street art scavenger hunt that highlights Philadelphia artists, their work, and the neighborhoods that inspired them. Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) entails hundreds of free-to-attend, self-guided tours that take place in studios, galleries and businesses all across the city. POST is an exciting and interactive way to allow Philadelphians to get to know the creative side of their neighborhoods while engaging in the ever-growing art scene of the city.
The artist-driven scavenger hunt will be happening on October 15 & 16, 2022 and continue on October 22 & 23, 2022. Art lovers will have 12:00 pm-6:00 pm all 4 days to hunt for works of art in various neighborhoods.
For POST 2022 we will be highlighting one artist's work and a specific, awesome neighborhood in Philadelphia. We will be releasing a clue to where you can spot this specific piece of art in the city. Hunters need to take a selfie of themselves in the location with the art visible and share the image via Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #post2022 #hahaxpara. Each night, one victorious name will be drawn from the day's pool of hunters to win a special prize. At the end of POST, we will be picking the two hunters (first place and runner-up) that found the most art on the list and award them special prizes for being dedicated art lovers. We have a stellar lineup:
Saturday, October 15: PHYLLIS GORSEN
About: I have painted in different styles and mediums over the years primarily in figurative, collage and abstract work. The main theme of my practice has always been about one thing, connection; connection to each other and to our internal and external worlds. I explore these connections by highlighting human interactions as well as objects and patterns that symbolize these interactions. In my latest body of work, I am bridging a connection to wildlife with fantasized scenes between creature and person. The technique I developed to construct these collage paintings involves applying vacillating layers of different materials. The subject matter is rendered with vibrant color and texture intended to excite the eye with energetic patterns, movement and vibrancy. My process starts with a painted rendering of an image, some fabricated, some embellished from photographs of everyday scenes. I use a variety of materials: paint, charcoal, painted paper and canvas, and papers collected from all over the world. Applying the mixed mediums in multiple layers generates surfaces that are imbued with uncertainty and surprise, giving the painting a life of its own. It is a tedious and time consuming process that only ends when a unified image appears from all the intricate pieces. I incorporate all these elements to force the eye to slow down, find figure and space, and feel the vibration of color that is woven throughout. My hope is that viewer is captivated by the visual allure of the surface and the playful depiction to appreciate the connection to those creatures that nurture us.
POST Quadrant: SOUTH PHILLY (EAST)
Artworks Location Hint: Turtlebug & Hawthorne Park
(see HAHAxParadigm’s instagram for extra hints)
Sunday, October 16: ZIUI CHEN
About: Affections are chaotic forces, urging us to seek the good or hurt of others. But, conversely, the etiquette of displaying one's affection can cause a variety of misunderstandings based on the differences in culture and the significance of said interactions. As an artist, I am interested in the concept of indecorous affections. I believe the embodied experience of their confusion redefines the most subtle misbehaviors as meaningful. Hence, I prefer to question the social expectations of safe interactions for showing affection in my paintings
POST Quadrant: WEST
Artwork Location Hint: Schuylkill River Park
(see HAHAxParadigm’s instagram for extra hints)
Saturday, October 22: SEASON EVANS
About: I am a quilt and textile artist creating functional quilts, patchwork art pieces, and site-specific installations. Rooted in traditional quilt making and with a dedication to craft, I see quilts as objects and as storytellers, using the simplicity of line and the essentials of geometry to create visual stories of everyday life. The goal of my work is to focus on narrative using the essential elements of a pattern and material.
My fascination with narrative, the essentials of materials, and the root of pattern creates a space for my process to continually evolve, allowing me to tell stories honoring quilt making practices while discovering new methods and aesthetics. The quilt making process - an intimate, tactile, and repetitive process - becomes meditation, with each stitch reinforcing the relationship between material and story. A finished quilt and its narrative creates a dialogue between minimal geometry and the emotional response.
POST Quadrant: NORTHWEST
Artwork Location Hint: TBA
Sunday, October 23: BENJAMIN LONG
About: Philadelphia-based artist Benjamin Long's paintings and mixed media work have been featured in various exhibitions and publications both locally and nationally. Imagery is based on a personal iconography that strives to forge an aesthetic connection to the viewer.
POST Quadrant: NORTHEAST
Artwork Location Hint: TBA
