New clay studio is opening this spring at 711 S. 50th Street (photo from Black Hound Clay Studio’s Facebook page).

A new clay studio and co-working space for artists is coming this spring to Cedar Park. West Philly resident and artist Bethany Rusen will open Black Hound Clay Studio later this spring at 711 S. 50th Street, just around the corner from Dock Street Brewery.

Renovations on the space are currently underway. To help cover start-up costs and other expenses, a raffle fundraiser will take place on Saturday, March 12 at Art Star Gallery and Boutique. Rusen says that quite a few West Philly artists and businesses have already donated items, including Dock Street, Talking Headz Salon, and Satellite Cafe.

Rusen is excited about the new studio, which is a “huge open space with 15 foot ceilings.”

Once opened, the studio will offer a co-working space for ceramic artists for a low monthly fee. Those who are interested in the space can email Rusen at Bethany@blackhoundclay.com to be put on the waiting list. The tentative plan also includes pottery classes starting in Fall 2016.  Continue Reading

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell was at a building site at the corner of Farragut and Sansom this morning as a modular apartment building was being dropped into place.

Another pre-fab, modular apartment building is going up along Sansom Street. This one is behind the Sunoco at Sansom and Farragut.

Even Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell was on hand when they started dropping the pieces in place on Tuesday morning.

The building’s units were dropped in one by one by a crane parked along Farragut Street.  Continue Reading

The Penn Alexander School’s first and only principal, Sheila Sydnor, will retire at the end of this school year, and The School District of Philadelphia has announced a search for a new principal to lead the school starting from the 2016-2017 school year.

                     Penn Alexander School

Sydnor has served as Penn Alexander School Principal since it opened in 2001. A veteran district teacher and administrator, she was selected from a pool of 60 candidates. Under her leadership the University of Pennsylvania-assisted neighborhood school has earned a reputation for educational excellence. The school was named as the best K-8 school in the district in the 2014-2015 School Progress Report.

On Wednesday, March 9, community members are invited to join in the conversation regarding the search for a new principal. A meeting with the search committee, which is chaired by Sean Conley, assistant superintendent for Neighborhood Network Two of the School District of Philadelphia, and Dr. Pam Grossman, dean of the Penn Graduate School of Education, will take place from 7 – 8 p.m. in Penn Alexander’s cafeteria.

The committee is holding a series of outreach meetings with key stakeholders. These meetings are an opportunity for community members to learn about the search process and voice their ideas.

When: Wednesday, March 9, 7-8 p.m.
Where: Penn Alexander School Cafeteria; Enter on 43rd street (between Locust and Spruce)

Developers present plans for a 21-unit apartment building at 46th and Spruce to the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee on Monday night. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Plans to build a four-story apartment building to replace the burned-out, single-floor building on the corner of 46th and Spruce drew concerns about parking and the flurry of new nearby apartment building construction last night during a meeting of the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) zoning committee.

The proposed brick and metal panel building at 4534-36 Spruce St. would include 21 mostly two-bedroom apartments, ground-floor retail and a rooftop deck. The developers need a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment to get to the building’s proposed height – 44 feet.

A 2011 fire gutted the current structure, a transitional housing facility. The building has been vacant since the fire.

Parking was the biggest concern at last night’s meeting. The proposal does not include on-site parking, and nearby residents are concerned that this building along with the new 40-unit apartment building at 46th and Walnut, and the 15-unit building built between two Victorian twins on the 200 block of S. 45th Street will make finding a spot exceedingly difficult.  Continue Reading

A police pursuit of a vehicle led to a crash this afternoon near 52nd and Catharine, according to reports. The pursuit, which began in Delaware county shortly after 4 p.m., ended in West Philadelphia when the suspects’ vehicle crashed. The police then chased two suspects on foot. One person was arrested, and another man remains at large, 6ABC reports.

One civilian was injured during the chase, according to reports. It’s currently unknown what led to the pursuit. Stay tuned for more information.

UPDATE: NBC reports that at least four people were hurt after the fleeing driver struck multiple vehicles near 53rd and Cedar.

Opening reception for Julianna Foster’s photography exhibit, Latent Ground, Feb. 21, 2016.

Contemporary and collectively-run neighborhood art galleries seem to come and go often. Danger! Danger! Gallery and Gush Gallery were two solid ones in West Philadelphia, but closed in recent years. The most recent arrival to the area is Black Oak House, a contemporary fine art gallery which is based out of a house near 51st and Osage. This one might stick around for a while because the house owners live there too.

Catherine Pancake and her partner, Miriam Stewart, moved to the area from Chicago and decided to purchase a home in West Philadelphia and run the gallery together. While in Chicago, Pancake completed her MFA and was exposed to many types of art galleries, but was mainly drawn to those that were based out of homes. “There are a few spaces that are domestic and small but have very potent artwork,” said Pancake.

Works by photographer Julianna Foster are currently on display at Black Oak House.

Through her past and current work as a member of Vox Populi Gallery in Callowhill, Pancake built a large networking of contemporary artists in West Philadelphia and is optimistic about curating quality solo shows three to four times a year. “I have a lot of experience curating festivals and art events that are women and LGBTQ focused; we would like to do more studio visits with artists who are not usually represented.”

Pancake sees an in-home gallery as less intimidating than a public gallery or a First Friday opening and she’s especially intrigued by the idea of living with contemporary art. “It helps people see how contemporary art can be hung or installed in a house, versus a gallery environment,” she said.

Currently on display at Black Oak House is a show named Latent Ground, which showcases the work of photographer Julianna Foster. The next opening, which will present the works of Sharon Koelblinger, is in April.

Those interested in getting involved with the gallery are welcome to visit their website or by simply showing up to gallery openings and speaking with Pancake or Stewart.

– Rana Fayez (photos courtesy of Black Oak House)