The start of the snow storm!

Nick Pedersen's Artwork

Reviewed by Kevin Margitich. Thank Kevin!

____________________________

I didn’t know quite what to expect. I only saw one piece in person prior to the show, but what I knew from that one piece was that he had a great grasp on his medium. I checked out whatever I was able to find a week leading up to the opening. His multimedia work has a lot going on to say the least. The postcard for the show alone lured me in: Deer facing off in an end-of-the-world mess full of power lines, garbage, broken down structures, a McDonald’s and a bowling alley.

Lana and I picked up Nick Pedersen and his friend Dan from 30th St. Station an hour before the opening. They hung the show earlier in the day after a two-plus hour ride in from Brooklyn. Nick seemed as anxious for the show as he did just to know about the city and what was around him, as well as who we were and what we did. (We had all met briefly during the summer at the official opening of the Slingluff Gallery where we were part of the Group Birdhouse Show.)

Pulling up to the show, I was pretty struck by the layout. The walls were filled with a nice mix of large-scale work on thick wooden box frames, as well as a huge collage of black framed prints. Titled “The Reclamation,” the show is a scathing commentary largely focused on humans’ impact on nature and vice versa, where images are manipulated into a digital collage of improbable landscapes. Pedersen creates a hopeless habitat for wildlife where any inkling of home can not be found. The show’s title piece, an expansive 30” x 75” five panel creation, is where Pedersen’s theme comes full circle: Cityscape structures begin to be overrun with greenery and wildlife and pre-industrial man relearns survival.

This show will be up through November at The Slingluff Gallery in Fishtown, Philadelphia. You can view the show at slingluffgallery.com.

Cheers for now.

_____________________________

Special Offer Through The Slingluff Gallery

Collectible For All Boxing Fans And Fans of Smokin' Joe Frazier!

Forward written and signed by Smokin' Joe Frazier - $175

Shadow Boxers: Sweat, Sacrifice & The Will To Survive In American Boxing Gyms

Boxing gyms are uncovered in all of their glorious grunge in these photographs and essays that reveal both the stark reality of success and the possibility of promise in the sport of boxing. This intimate look at the fighters, trainers, and hangers-on who inhabit these gyms brings to life the tough--and surprisingly tender--world of American boxing. With the forward written by Joe Frazier, this book shows evocative images reveal the pain, sacrifice, and discipline of the "sweet science" as well as the triumphs, tragedies, and big dreams of the men and women who practice it. A dozen essays by veteran boxing writers such as Katherine Dunn, Carlo Rotella, Kate Sekules, F. X. Toole, Lucius Shepard, Robert Anasi, Loic Wacquant, Joe Rein, and Ralph Wiley explore the community and culture of boxing gyms, an endangered American institution that serves not only as the training ground for the next generation of great fighters, but as a sanctuary in tough neighborhoods, a lifeline for troubled kids, and a repository of a centuries-old tradition of pugilistic knowledge.

Good Wood x The Slingluff Gallery

BACK FOR MORE GOOD!
10.17.09

The Good Wood Exhibit is back and will exhibit in Philly this Fall at Slingluff Gallery. There will be a silent auction for the custom decks to benefit a great organization called Stay-True. Nir Sar started Stay True In 2005, as a Philadelphia public school teacher, struck by the utter helplessness his students expressed about the socioeconomic conditions they faced each day. While the students yearned for progress and change, they did not have the information, skills, or confidence needed to become actively engaged in a process of social advancement. These observations have led to the founding of STAY TRUE, an organization truly inspired by those students who, despite their environments, have decided to dedicate their lives to helping others.

So Jonathan Slingluff is more than happy to host the exhibit in his beautiful space so I'll be taking a trip out to Philly next month to make it happen. A few artists involved in the show:

Leo Espinosa / Mike Burdick / Don Kilpatrick / Mike Perry / Plastic Kid / Mike Daines / Justin Ward / Himanshu Sharma / Matt Gordon / Laura Borchert / Chris Reno / Colleen McGinn / Aubrey Stalnaker / Joe Schlaud / Nate Marcy / Jeff Mullin / Vince Troia / and more...

+ an Installation by AJ Fosik. Amazing artist originally from Southeast Michigan, who currently works and resides in Philly. Check him out! Such cool work!


View images of Slingluff Gallery here.

City Living

Here's a few observations I've had of city living since moving to Philly. I think within a year or two, these things won't be different or odd to me anymore. I'm sure there will be more soon but this is a good start.

It's ok to be pale. It's actually more accepted...

200 naked people on bikes might ride by...

There aren't many chain restaurants here...

Public transportation actually makes sense after the 2nd time riding it...

As long as you know the number streets you can figure out where you are...

You need to wear coats more...

You don't wonder why someone is walking instead of driving...

Always look for bicyclists when you're making a right turn, even if you know you haven't seen one in a while...

There's a lot of artists...

Expect there to be a stop sign at every intersection...

Even in the summer people wear pants and jeans...

The PPA doesn't regulate South Philly parking, but every where else they do...

There's some shady places under the "El"...

September 5th Opening

September 5th Opening , originally uploaded by Leigh Seddon-Slingluff.

The Slingluff Gallery presents Jason Adams and Vanna Weaver. First Saturday, September 5th from 6-9pm.

Raised in the sprawl of San Jose, CA, Jason came of age during a time when the holy trinity of skateboarding, punk rock and DIY art was still a dangerous combination, long before the slow air-conditioned death that is mall culture sank its fangs in. Becoming a professional skateboarder at the age of 17, Jason was given more platforms on which to stand/skate and be noticed, and he took the opportunity to begin unleashing his growing interest and talent in art. The hand-made aesthetic comprised of spray cans, stencils and bold lines that embodied his childhood days of skateboarding and punk. Jason began creating that were both intricately layered and immediately impactful; portraits of anti-heros and scenes of beautiful decay abounded, focusing on by-gone eras and rusting ethics still in place.

In just a few short years, Jason’s exposure as an artist grew- from logos on skate brand decks and t-shirts to international gallery shows. His work transitioned from hobby to craft to fine art, and these days find Jason Adams' artistic development in full swing. He's found his groove, and watch as he sprays the lines of his future all over the walls of the world.
Vanna Weaver from Pittsburg, PA specializes in documentary photography, attained her Bachelor's Degree in Photography as a Fine Art from Point Park University in conjunction with Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

"Meant for Each Other" is a romantic photo narrative comprised of lonely but alike antique objects. By applying the expression better off together, she combined ordinary, old fashioned subject matters; to form animated multiple exposure photographs. Each image pair works together and creates a more complex and overall complete photograph.

Heavy Rain

Last night was our 1st year anniversary. Crazy how fast time goes!

Jonathan booked a reservation in Media, PA for Iron Hill Brewery. It's about 35 min away, which isn't bad, but then neither of us knew it was supposed to rain. Well, let me rephrase that...down pour! The entire drive was extreme rain. So it took us a little longer to get there. We were really early anyway so it didn't matter.

We get there. We end up parking across the street from the restaurant/brewery, which wasn't far at all. It seemed extremely far though considering as soon as you opened the door you were drenched. So, Jonathan got out of the passenger's side since the river of rain water in the street was pretty deep. I was waiting in the car while he had a smoke. As I was waiting, it just kept raining harder. Which was unbelievable really.

I finally get out and we discussed our plan of attack. We decided it was just as "good" to cross the street in front of us than anywhere else, since we were in the middle of the block and the intersections were probably worse. Jonathan gave me his rain coat because I couldn't find mine and he asked "Ready?" I nodded my head yes. Then he said "1, 2, 3...GO!" He jumps out before me and I saw his shoed foot sink into the rushing river of rain. I jump right in after him and BAM....I lose my sandal. The river tore off my shoe, granted it was a dressy flip flop.

Instead of stopping, I kept running towards the other side of the street. But then I turned back realizing I probably needed my shoe. I started looking for it in the pouring rain, after I screamed across the street to Jonathan. Jonathan came back over, called and canceled our reservation and we were both looking for it now. After 15-20 minute search, I was looking at tires still hoping my shoe would be there. I saw on one tire that there were weeds stuck to it, and I thought that it was weird weeds could get stuck to a tire in this gushing river and my shoe wasn't anywhere to be found. I moved to the next car, about six cars from where I lost my shoe, and looked at the tire again. It looked like the water was moving differently around the front passenger tire than any other tire. I moved in closer and pulled out my shoe! Jonathan was around the corner, I think checking for my shoe in sewer grates, I yelled down to him and he made his way back to me. He couldn't believe I found it.

We walked back to the car sopping wet, and went back home. We changed, made a reservation at The London in Philly, about 10 min from us, and had a wonderful rest of the night. Nice and dry!