Art Spiel Picks: Philly Exhibitions in November 2024

HIGHLIGHTS
Mickalene Thomas. I’m Feeling Good, 2014. Rhinestones, acrylic, oil, and enamel on panel, photograph courtesy of the gallery

The change of the seasons can stir up deep emotions. There is uncertainty and anticipation as the days get shorter, the wind picks up, and the mornings grow colder. It is at these times that I find myself both introspective and aching for connection with others. For me, this cocktail of emotional contradictions can be soothed by a good book, a show, or some art. Viewing the following exhibitions, I felt connected with fellow human beings who, through their unexpected processes and determination, create work that gives us openings into their journeys and identities.

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Art Spiel Picks: Philly Exhibitions in July 2024

HIGHLIGHTS
Wind Challenge III at Fleisher Art Memorial, partial installation view, Alexis Granwell (left) and Brynn Hurlstone (right)

There are many thought-provoking shows in Philadelphia this July. Beginning at Fleisher Art Memorial, three innovative Philadelphia sculptors combine materials in unexpected ways to reflect on intimacy, vulnerability, and natural phenomena. At the Fabric Workshop in center city, artist John Jarboe brings her cabaret aesthetic to create a stunning immersive experience titled Rose Garden following her life and gender journey. In Kensington, at Peep Projects Todd Stong’s delicate drawings and wall-sized multi-panel monotype reflect on the complexities of history, contemporary life, and what the artist terms queer cultural production.

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