An illustration from The Garden of Time by Zoe Cohen.

Nearly five years ago, when Zoe Cohen was pregnant with her first child, she knew she wanted to illustrate a children’s book. That book, the West Philly artist decided, would illuminate the Jewish holiday’s deep-rooted connection to nature and the seasons.

Come 2014, and that seed of thought has developed into The Garden of Time, an illustrated 32-page children’s book exploring this bond, both in history and spirit, through the eyes of Adam and Eve. Published in March by Skinner House, The Garden of Time features 12 illustrations by Cohen, which were crafted between 2009 and 2012, and the interweaving tale written by Rabbi Jill Hammer, author and co-founder of the Kohenet Institute.

To celebrate The Garden of Time, Cohen is hosting a book release party this Sunday, May 4th at The Cedarworks (4919 Pentridge St.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event will feature a potluck lunch and book reading, and will have copies of The Garden of Time available for sale and signed by the artist.

This week, West Philly Local had a chance to chat with Cohen about the book, how it came to fruition, and its ultimate message. Continue Reading

Photo by JR Blackwell.

If you haven’t been to West Philly’s Curio Theatre recently, you probably should go soon. Curio has just premiered its last show of the season, Oedipussy, a hilarious fusion of the well-known Greek tragedy and James Bond. Oedipussy was originally created by super inventive U.K.-based company Spymonkey, and this is its North American premiere.

Inspired by Barbarella and a little bit of Bond, this is a tale of the ultimate dysfunctional family: a jealous father, a messed-up son, and one mother of a brilliant comedy. The Times in London called the show, “Remarkable.Powerful. Joyful.” The Guardian said, “’Riotous laughter. Funny but shocking.”

The play is adapted by Emma Rice and written by Carl Grose and Spymonkey. The cast includes Curio Company members Aetna Gallagher, Paul Kuhn, Brian McCann and Harry Slack.

Previews began last night (this is your last chance to use 2013-2014 Dollar Stroll tickets!). The official premiere is Friday, May 2. All performances run Thursday-Saturday night at 8 p.m. The closing date is Saturday, May 24.

Tickets are $20-$25 and can be purchased here.

Photo from SaveDupreeStudios.org

For the last nine years, the once-ramshackle warehouse at 3617-19 Haverford Avenue has been a visage of artistic freedom—an ode to unrest and optimism demarcated by its intricate mural of kaleidoscope colors and intimate swirls.

Known as Dupree Studios, the sprawling 8,646 square foot art space is the product of Mantua-based artist James Dupree, who bought the lot in 2005 with a vision to transform it into a vibrant haven for creativity and passion. Since then, it has been a place where the 63-year-old Dupree has worked and taught, churning out art piece after art piece for commissions, exhibitions, and large scale projects—some of which are featured in institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and over 5,000­­ of which lie behind the studio’s front doors.

But, for the last year, Dupree has been fighting to keep it all in his hands after the City of Philadelphia seized and condemned the property in a two-block eminent domain grab as part of efforts to revitalize the Mantua neighborhood.

Dupree considers this nothing more than an abuse of eminent domain, though, and is pushing back hard—taking the fight to the courts and the streets. His artistic acts of defiance include an exhibit debuted at the studio in March, titled “Stolen Dreams in the Promised Zone”, and a documentary produced by Art Above Reality.

And now, Dupree is opening his studio’s doors this Saturday, April 26th “to show the public what the City of Philadelphia plans to tear down in the name of ‘revitalization’.” The seven-hour event, titled “Save Dupree Studios,” will start at 2 p.m. and feature guest speakers, musical acts, DJs, mural painting, spin art for kids, a book signing, and guided tours at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. A live interview between Dupree and management columnist Gene Marks is scheduled as the main event for 7 p.m. (view the video invite below).

According to multiple news reports, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority plans to demolish Dupree Studios to make way for a privately-owned supermarket and parking lot. City Paper reported in November that the supermarket was described “as a longtime ‘dream of this community and of Councilwoman [Jannie] Blackwell'” by city officials, with Blackwell allegedly stating during a City Council Rules Committee hearing last year that it “has been a long time coming. We wanted a whole extra block for the supermarket. But we fought long and hard, and even the people involved in the condemnation are saying, ‘When’s it going to happen?'”

Support for Dupree’s cause is far and wide, and crosses the political spectrum. In late January, 16 representatives from various arts and political organizations—including the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the conservative action group Americans for Prosperity, founded by the infamous Koch brothers—signed a Save Dupree Studios coalition letter that was delivered to Mayor Nutter and members of city council. From the letter:

“Seizing James Dupree’s art studio is not only unconstitutional and a gross abuse of eminent domain, it is unconscionable. … We are especially concerned about Mr. Dupree’s case because, as empirical evidence and history demonstrate, eminent domain abuse disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities. It is vital to protect all Pennsylvanians from eminent domain abuse, especially the most vulnerable.”

Dupree also launched a Change.org petition in November 2013 imploring Mayor Nutter to return him the deed to his Haverford Avenue property. So far, the petition has garnered over 3,000 signatures, and needs close to 2,000 more.

“All I could think of was how do you seize a person’s free and clear deed? How do you condemn a building that’s not condemnable?” Dupree told City Paper. “The answer is they made a big mistake. … They weren’t expecting a guy like me to be here.”

–Annamarya Scaccia

Photo from twentyfeetfromstardom.com.

Film Forward, a program of the Sundance Institute designed to enhance greater cultural understanding and collaboration, is bringing a couple of free events to West Philly this weekend.

Wynnefield Library (5325 Overbrook Avenue) will host a screening of the recent Academy Award winning documentary Twenty Feet From Stardom on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. The film is about people whose voices are familiar to millions of people, but no one knows their names – backup singers behind some of the greatest musical acts of the 21st century. The screening will be followed by a discussion.

On Sunday, April 13, also at 1 p.m., International House Philadelphia presents The Intersection of Film and Music, a workshop produced in partnership with Film Forward. The workshop explores the many roles music can play in the filmmaking process, how music can enhance or ruin a film, and many other questions related to the creative process of integrating music and filmmaking.

The documentary If You Build It will be used as a case study during the workshop. Peter Golub, Director of the Sundance Film Music Program and composer, and producer Christine O’Malley will discuss the film and its music. If You Build It charts the course of a year in the life of one of America’s most innovative classrooms. Go to ihousephilly.org for more information.

Photo courtesy of Make Music Philly’s website

This summer, Make Music Philly (MMP) will return for its second year of spreading good vibes and tunes across the city. The organizers behind MMP, though, want to make the free one-day festival on June 21 bigger than the inaugural showing, and they’re looking for your help.

Early this month, Make Music Philly launched its first-ever Kickstarter Campaign, “You Make Music Philly,” to raise funds for marketing, social media and advertising efforts that will cast MMP’s net even wider this year. So far, since launching, Make Music Philly 2014 has raised a little over $1,700 of its lofty $20,000 goal. The fundraiser has 10 more days to go, ending on Friday, April 11.

“The inaugural Make Music Philly was by all counts a huge success,” Natalie Diener, coordinator for this year’s MMP event, told West Philly Local.  “Our biggest hope for year two is for Make Music Philly to reach beyond the boundaries of Center City—for each neighborhood to really take ownership of the MMP events in their area.”

According to Diener, part of the goal this year is to double the number of citywide events to 300 (last year, there were 150 performances and 50 involved organizations). Kickstarter donations will be used to achieved this goal by funding an improved website, print marketing materials like this flier, media advertising, and tee shirts for attendees, volunteers and donors.

“The best way for us to reach into every neighborhood and across every demographic is to get the festival’s name out there in every media,” said Diener. “Our neighborhood outreach is being done entirely grassroots right now. We are making great strides to get new venues and artists involved, but the Kickstarter funds would be a tremendous help.”

Like last year, Make Music Philly will kick off at 8 a.m. and end at 8 p.m., and include all the do-it-yourself ingenuity Make Music Day—of which MMP is a part—is known for, for free. But there is one change: MMP will hold a grand finale spectacular at Penn’s Landing at the close of the june 21 festival, said Diener.

Interested venues and musicians can login and sign up here to register for Make Music Philly 2014. For more information, visit makemusicphilly.org or check out MMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

–Annamarya Scaccia

We dig this song and newly released video, “Walk It Off,” by West Philly’s indie hip hop artist and emcee Sterling Duns (Facebook page). A part of the vid was filmed on Hazel Avenue, according to the musician.

Sterling Duns describes himself as an instrumentalist, poet, hip-hop artist, comedy improviser, and astronaut enthusiast!