Artist to Watch: Bonnie Macallister

I recently found this blog for a fellow Handmade Philly member, Bonnie Macallister. It was amazing to see all of the shows and arts orgs. in Philly she is connected with, people I'd never heard of before. Where is the Germ Bookstore?

Black and Blue Branches Print in the Works!

I'm headed to Silicon Gallery on Tuesday to check out the first proof of one of my paintings, the Black and Blue Branches painting in my etsy shop, http://www.allisonspaintings.etsy.com/.

I'm so excited! I had a customer purchase the print and another painting last week and I get to go pick out the finish and paper. I know it's going to be beautiful. Silicon does the scanning and burns cd's and then prints the image. The scans are really high resolution and you can see every fiber of the original.

Jesse Whitacre Show Opens Friday, Jan. 9th, 5-7pm

This is an artist I love, Jesse Whitacre, who is having an opening at Gross McCleaf Gallery at 127 S. 16th Street in Philly tomorrow night, January 9th from 5-7. I got to see some of his work in person and they are fantastic, but these new pieces look amazing, especially the Philadelphia skyline "Philadelphia City". They are collages and large sizes (24" x 60" for Philadelphia City) and the subjects range from South Philly at Christmas to portraits to nature and animals. Everyone in my office is going there, so come join us!

Team Meeting Friday, Nov. 21

the Mew Gallery Philly Etsy Team meeting.

Thinks to Do and See In Italian Market 'hood (besides the Italian Market)

I was walking down to Mew Gallery today and stopped to take pictures at a couple of my favorite places. First, I stopped at Spool and Loop, the new fabric and yarn shops on South St. Check out www.spoolsewing.com
I bought some beautiful fabric, even though I don't need any, but they were too hard to pass up.









Then I stopped by the block long flower garden at Kater St. (1 block south of South) between 16th and 17th. The pictures don't do the space justice, but it's a neighbor maintained greenspace on the back of a huge hospital and parking complex. There are water gardens and a huge array of plants of different colors and textures, for sun and shade, so if you like to garden, you'll get lots of ideas for your own urban plot.






I passed the Jamaican Jerk Hut at Broad and South (see the movie "In Her Shoes") where I had a great dinner a couple of months ago. Then I passed Isiah Zagar's outrageous mosaic museum/house at 11th and South, which was open! but I had no time to stop.








I cut down 10th and passed Morning Glory, the breakfast restaurant with the fantastic frittatas at 10th and Fitzwater, and up Christian past Sabrina's to the Mew.

You could make a day of walking up or down South St. in the quieter sections (below 10th), since now there are great shops/markets like Pumpkin's new local/organic market and restaurant and cafe, Spool and Loop's twin stores and the Kater St. garden. Last weekend I kept walking down to St. Alban's St., the one that has a garden running down the middle instead of a road and it was so peaceful and quiet for a city street and the houses are beautiful. It's below South St. between 23rd and 24th. The I backtracked up 23rd to Pine and turned down Pine to the public park/recreation center/tennis courts/community garden at around 27th and Pine. The park was huge for a city park, had so much to do, and their community garden was so organized and beautiful! The sign said as long as the gate was unlocked, visitors were welcome, so I was able to walk around inside and admire their cold frame system and composting structures and potting bench. It was a really relaxing walk past some beautiful sights in Philly and plenty of places to eat, get a drink or coffee, and sit down and relax.