Carol Taylor-Kearney   {  taylor-kearneyarts.com  }

I think we all look for some joy...I have found my refuge with Philadelphia CollageWorks...It's been a treat to see their White Collages!

Andre Breton once said, “The imaginary is what tends to become real.” The artists at Cerulean Collective galleries this month—Kathleen McSherry, Elaina Posey, Diane Collins, Rachel Romano, and Karen Rapp Bull—fulfill that rare ability to marry what they have at hand, that is their materials and observations, with their imagination to come up with the unique. And moving from one gallery to the next really calls on mental agility to contemplate each artist’s distinct vision.

The report I received from an artist-friend on the exhibition of art work at Cerulean Collective galleries was that it was “very competent”. So I was expecting to see art work that was well executed though perhaps a little dry. But the artists-- Chris Feiro, Susan D’Alessio, Andrea Lyons, Pia De Girolamo, and Amy Herzol—proved my expectations were clearly wrong. Each room and each artist offered not only its own character but an alternate way of using their vocabulary. Ch

Mashiul Chowdhury has shown his art work at Cerulean Arts and other venues throughout Philadelphia for some years. Presently, he is having his first solo exhibition at Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio from March 28th – April 21st. Called “Urban Perceptions” the exhibition of small size but powerful scaled works can not rightly be called landscape nor cityscape. “Perceptions” is exactly the word for these paintings as they seem to both record structures in the city and reco

Back in 1991 when Old City Arts Association began First Friday, a once-a-month, coordinated opening of art galleries, art spaces, and restaurants to visitors, the public was unaware of the happenings in this part of the City of Philadelphia. Innovation induced people to come to a part of the city they would visit only for historic landmark trips to Independence and Carpenter’s Halls, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, Elferth’s Alley, and Christ Church, to name a few. Now

As I sit here watching the snow falling outside my window, I think back to visiting Cerulean Arts this past Sunday when it seemed that Spring was finally on its way. What a reminder that weather can change. This is rather like going through the spaces at the Cerulean Arts Collective exhibitions where each artist presents powerful works of distinctive character that change the “weather” of each room. The climes, in this case, are Liz Price, Cathleen Cohen, Denise Sedor, Mic

As everyone in the Philadelphia area knows, March is not only the month when crocuses and daffodils begin to sprout and promise Spring, but the Philadelphia Flower Show makes its yearly appearance. Many of the areas other venues tie into the flower theme to give us the encouragement that warmer weather may be on its way—something especially needed after the snows of recent days. Cerulean Arts Gallery is doing its part by presenting “Abloom”, an exhibition of six very dif

I am disappointed—disappointed in myself that is. I usually attend the openings for the Cerulean Arts Collective, but due to scheduling conflicts, was unable to attend the opening for the January 27 through February 24th Collective Exhibition. I cherish these events because it allows me to meet the artists and talk to them about their passions and their process and everything in between. Seeing this work really brings home what I missed. These would have been some very in

Following this past weekend’s Women’s March Anniversary and the launching of #PowerToThePolls in Las Vegas, I wanted to go over some of the local doings where women’s art has taken prominence . The place to begin is at an exhibition that has already taken place—from November 29th – December 24th-- at Cerulean Arts on Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia. And if you missed the exhibition, you can still catch the works online at https://ceruleanarts.com/pages/a-starling-in-shadow-1 a

On an icy January 6th of this new year of 2018 I found myself at an event at Stanek Gallery in Old City Philadelphia. Stanek Gallery opened in November of 2015 on 232 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia. The founders of Stanek Gallery, Katherine Stanek and Deborah Fine, are working artists whose studios are housed in the same building as this beautifully arranged gallery. Since their opening Deborah and Katherine have introduced a number of innovations to their gallery. One is a c

In a continuance of reporting the exhibitions at the Cerulean Gallery, I am covering the two exhibitions of the Collective. Why? Where else can one find high-quality original art of five artists in a solo exhibition each and a group exhibition of some sixty artists. Moreover, next door Cerulean Gallery has a historic, curated group exhibition, “A Starling in the Shadow”. But more on that later… Kassem Amoudi, Laura Marconi, Diane Pieri, Gus Sermas, and Sally Van Orden are

A glow emanates from the doorway to Atlantic Gallery. The cause, of course, is the art work on display in a group exhibition by the International Encaustic Artists called Hopeful Darkness. Ingrid Dinter juried the exhibition that was conceived and organized by Melissa Rubin, a Vice-President to IEA. The IEA has chapters throughout the United States (including Alaska) and invited artists working in encaustic and cold wax techniques, whether members of the organization or no

Cerulean Arts began as a gallery for fine art and crafts and studio for art education. Painted the signature blue of its name, Cerulean has been a pop of color and culture on Ridge Avenue, along with its neighbor The Divine Lorraine, since 2006. Recently, Cerulean has expanded into the building next door and expanded its programming as well through the Cerulean Arts Collective. (Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective.) Every four weeks the gallery hosts a special, cu

Having spent the Thanksgiving week in Ocean City, New Jersey, I am brimming with the benefits of food, family, and fun. But my time away was also rich in aesthetic experiences—from homemade table décor to the beauty of the off-season seaside to Ocean City itself festooned for the holidays. But of special note was a visit to “Art on Asbury”, the gallery for the Ocean City Fine Arts League. The league is a membership organization that “promotes public participation and appre

Takashi Yamashita’s exhibition at Atlantic Gallery called “Ku Emptiness – Mu Nothingness, a photo journey” lives up to its expressed theme. But to come at “Ku Emptiness – Mu Nothingness” as a photo journey or an exhibition is unfair: it is really an experience. From the moment I stepped through the door it felt as though I had floated into a foreign place—a place with no particular direction, only intervals. Active islands of monochromatic rectangles and squares of variou

Cerulean Gallery is presenting a collection of jewel-like paintings representing familiar urban scenes of Philadelphia, even some urban deca