okay, okay, I know that it is only two weeks into the new year, but 2010 is seriously looking like it will be the Best Year Yet!

Tons and lots and a bunch of things happening, and most in the next few months are in conjunction with Philagrafika 2010! From January 29th to April 11th, PRINT will rule the art scene in Philadelphia and, jeez, I know I am not the only one excited about this!

The calendar of events speaks for itself to show the enormity of it all… and I’m so happy to say that I am participating in a few of the projects/shows going on! Expect many more posts about these events as they happen, but let’s get get started…

In honor of featured graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, PMG will host a night of zine-making, presentations by notable local zine artists, and a private viewing of the exhibition Etchings: Works on Paper by Isaiah Zagar. Art supplies and locally-brewed beer will be provided; however, participants are encouraged to bring their own interesting art materials and refreshments for their evening of graphic arts in the Garden. Guest zine-artists include Mark Price, publisher of Zine of the Month Club, Anni Altshuler and Leah Mackin of Holly Hobby, Jenni Drozdek, Michael Gerkovich and Gregory Labold.
February 3, 2010
Workshop: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Admission: $10/Adults, $8/PMG Members

January 9th to February 6th, 2010. The Hexagon, in conjunction with My House Gallery (Philadelphia), presents: Baltidelphia, an experimental collaboration curated by Phuong Pham (the Hexagon) and Alex Gartelmann (My House). The Baltidelphia exhibition features 21 Baltimore artists paired with 21 Philadelphia artists who were asked to collaborate/correspond through whatever means they chose–facebook, text message, twitter, carrier pigeon, postal mail, sky-writing, etc. Rather than get lost in the flood of tweeting that flickrs to your tumbl that feeds to your blog (LOL smileyface), Baltidelphia embraces communication, distance, and geography as points of departure to create a project.

For the past few months, I have been in communication with my assigned artist, Jenny Mullins. Through emails and phone calls, we discussed possible ideas and arrangements for our final project. We settled on sending one another 7 to 10 “somethings” (drawings/experimentations on a small scale) and working into the other’s pieces to hang in our respective cities. I created paper cuts that I installed to hang over Jenny’s pencil drawings.

The Philadelphia opening was last night and very successful! I took a kind of poor photo of the final installation here.

I look forward to what Jenny made using the pieces I sent her:


The words I chose for these paper cuts were plucked directly from our email exchange and notes from phonecalls. Since the project took place over busy times in both of our lives, it is not surprising that there would have been so many time-related words. I will have to wait until February 6th for the Baltimore show reception!

Scrapple t-shirts are back – just in time for the holidays! Hot off the press, the shirts are available from sizes XS to 2XL and now in light blue and cream!

On sale in my etsy shop or, for Philadelphians, at All By Hand at Liberty Place in Center City.

• • • • • • •

In Holly Hobby news, we are happy to be supporting two of our favorite art spaces this year! Get alllllllll your Holly Hobby items in one place AND help raise money for two influential art gallery groups in Philadelphia!

First up is the Space 1026 Art Auction, this Friday, December 11th at 7pm!

OR OR OR

Hit up Little Berlin on Saturday, December 12th at 2pm to participate in their ART DASH Fundraiser. $25 gets you the Holly Hobby package, if you can grab first!

We’ve included the following: the first three issues of Holly Holly Hobby Hobby, Besides/B-Sides (a collaborative book), a book of MASH, the Holly Hobby Status Update vovelle, the Best/Worst Screenprint, and MORE?! As always, Holly Hobby goods are for sale in my etsy shop as well!

This season, there’s a new store in town to hit up for all of your holiday shopping! Dear friend and scrapple-makin’ cohort, Julianna Lose is opening a fine art and craft consignment shop called All By Hand! The shop features a breadth of artists and artisans from the Philadelphia area whose wares include jewelry, sculpture, artist’s books, clothing, greeting cards, glassware, paintings, home decor, ceramics, accessories, baby goods, and so much more!

All By Hand is located at the Shops at Liberty Place in Center City Philadelphia. Join Julianna, her partner, Abby Flannigan, and the many artists featured in the store this Sunday at the Grand Opening from 12pm to 6pm!

Long Term Interaction: a group show
featuring works by Nicole Eiland, Julianna Lose, Leah Mackin and Michael Ryan
Friday, October 30, 2009
5:30pm – 7:30pm

University of the Arts, Printmaking Deptartment, 6th Floor
333 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA

Just installed some new work at the brand new(ly renovated) gallery space in the University of the Arts’ Printmaking Department… info on the show’s duration and reception coming soon!

Also, see that book hanging? Get your own copy at…

In case you thought I didn’t go into too much detail about my trip to the Pacific Northwest – you can read all about it over here at one of my favorite blogs, Printeresting.org! Anni and I were excited to be able to recount our adventures in detail for them and share the zine-tastic wonders that we discovered. Enjoy!

The trip out West was a success! I enjoyed spending time with old friends and meeting new ones, exploring new cities, and noshing on plenty of fabulous foods, but the highlight of the adventure was definitely perusing zine after zine at the various libraries and shops we visited. So inspiring and exciting, especially with current projects going on! And just in time for a slew of zine-related events happening this fall in Philadelphia…

PHILADELPHIA ALTERNATIVE COMIC CON
Sunday September 13th, 12pm to 6pm
941 Theater
941 N. Front Street
Philadelphia, PA

Little Berlin’s “B.Y.O.T.Y.(bring your own table yo) BOOK FAIR”
Saturday, October 17th, 12pm to 6pm
Little Berlin
119 West Montgomery
Philadelphia PA

This Sunday, stroll down Passyunk Ave. in South Philly and enjoy Crafty Balboa…

New amongst my usual wares, I am happy to present a personal/art zine project called Holly Holly Hobby Hobby!

Issue one is completed and issue two is coming together today, to be ready for the weekend!

This summer has been exciting for me, so far, and I still have a lot to look forward to including, but not limited to: the completion of the project I am a part of at work, a weekend down the shore/in Atlantic City (I will be dreaming of the diving horses and playing slots, I’m sure…), and the most exciting adventure of 2009 – a trip out to the Pacific Northwest! In between all of this, I am make, make, making and having fun, fun, fun. Hope everyone else is enjoying their summer as much as I am enjoying mine!