CLICK ON THIS TEXT! The picture features John, our 80 year old neighbor who sits on our bench and smokes cigarettes all day. He’s our best friend in the entire world. Thank you Emily for writing such a nice review of us!!!

September 22, 2007 (PHILADELPHIA) - Debutante Set, an exhibition of new artwork by the members of The Other Woman (a ladies art collective) to be featured at Mew Gallery in South Philadelphia, is the premier exhibition of the fledgling ladies art collective. The show will feature work from each of the group’s four members, giving the public their first opportunity to view the drawings and installations of Aubrie Costello, the photography of Laura Graham, the sculpture of Darla Jackson, and the drawings and paintings of Laura McKinley within one space. From quietly contemplative to darkly cinematic, the exhibited works strive to pull into focus that which lies at the fringe of vision.

Untitled Pink by Aubrie Costello

Aubrie Costello’s work is a collection of layers which, when peeled back, reveal questions about social conditions, innocence, and the female mind. She uses her art to ask viewers the questions that she is asking herself.The excitement for Costello as an artist comes from the deduction of the work’s meaning through the breakdown of its layers.

Let Them Eat Cake by Laura Graham

Laura Graham’s photographs sing hymns to the fertility of possibility. The worlds in her narratives reflect our world with a whimsical conceit. Evident in Graham’s work are strong elements of fables and historical paintings.

Smoke and Mirrors by Darla Jackson

Darla Jackson’s use of Victorian style busts to comment on women’s issues is both poignant and alarming. Her almost violent skewing of female decoration rituals is meant to show the pressure that women have to “beautify” themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, Jackson shows us that if you look hard enough, sometimes you can catch a glimpse of what’s behind the smoke and mirrors.

Sofa by Laura McKinley

“Everything but the kitchen sink,” Laura McKinley’s latest body of work, serves as a visual documentation of her obsessive drive to realize her dream house. Drawing on childlike fantasies and nostalgic attempts to patchwork together all things domestically old-timey, the resulting suite of drawings, paintings and mixed media pieces communicate to the viewer the awkward aspirations of a first-time homemaker.

Overall, Debutant Set is, as the show’s title suggests, a coming out of four female artists, each using distinctive materials to talk about individual obsessions, and using the concepts their works share to make their ideas speak stronger and louder. Their voices overlap to form a complex conversation on the challenges and opportunities they face everyday as twenty-something women. With distinct histories and particular mentalities, these artists are wrestling growth while moving forward.

The exhibition opens on September 22nd and runs through November 2.

A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, September 22nd from 5 to 9 pm

at Mew Gallery 906 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA. 215.625.2424

If you haven’t already, sign up for this week’s craft night before you miss your chance on the summer sale! Just send us a message and we’ll tell you how!

While you’re at it, sign up for one of our great upcoming workshops before all the spaces get filled!!!****

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS!!

September 18, 2007 6-9PM: Frankenstein Stuffed Animal Workshop - We’ll be supplying a pile of sad, ignored stuffed animals for you to give makeovers to! Take them apart, sew them inside out, bedazzle them, sew a couple of them together and make siamese twins, just use your imagination! We’ll be supplying baubles, beads, buttons and other beautifying bits to create your one of a kind furry friend. There will also be hot glue and sewing machines, plus lots of other extra stuff. Bring your own stuffed animal or use a few of those provided. Create a monstrous creation just in time for the Halloween season! $20/person

September 20, 2007 6-9PM: there’s rumor we’re cancelling craft night again to host yet another dice rollin’ button makin’ whisky a gogo with Abi and Anthony. stay tuned…
$10/person

September 21, 2007 10-11 AM: CHILDREN”S WORKSHOPS are starting!!! Nikki Virbitsky of Tiny Airplanes will be hosting an 8-week series every Friday morning from 10-11 for artsy kiddies ages 3-7. Sign up your favorite kiddie now! $160/child

September 25, 2007 6-9 PM: MAKE YOUR OWN DROP SPINDLE - Nikki will also be hosting this wonderful event. Learn how to spin your own yarn using hand-dyed merino wool fibers and your own hand-crafted drop spindle! $40/person

October 2, 2007 6-9PM: BASIC CROCHET - Want to make yarn but don’t know how to use it? Our very own Carolynne McNeel will be teaching us some basic crochet ttechniques. You’ll be making your own hats and scarves from scratch in no time!! $35/person

October 12, 2007: FIGURE DRAWING CLASSES are starting!! Marc Lombardi, our highly certified and talented drawing instructor, will be hosting this 10-week session. Live model included! Time and more details to follow… $200/person

October 23, 2007: GOUACHE TECHNIQUES 6:30 - 8:30 PM - Learn to use this gorgeous medium and create original works of art with your new found skills. Rose Drew will be instructing. $25/person

Still in the works:
*Basic Sewing, Children’s sewing classes, Intermediate and Advanced sewing workshops!

*Wire jewelry

*Knitting Circle

*Reduce, re-use, recycle! Dump and trade clothing reconstrcution workshop. You supply some (CLEAN!) old clothes that you’re sick of, we’ll supply some too, and so will everyone else. We’ll use our bounty to create ridiculously awesome one-of-a-kind ensembles.

HOW TO SIGN UP: EMAIL US OR CALL US!!! You must pre-pay and pre-register in order to be included! We will send you the forms when you contact us. Don’t be afraid! We most certainly will not bite you.