If you’re looking for something interesting to do tonight, check out this special exhibition opening at University City Arts League (UCAL). An emerging young artist, Patrick Maguire, has totally transformed the gallery space at 4226 Spruce St. The exhibition includes an amazing structure in the middle of the gallery, paintings on the walls, and ambient sound installation.

“Without ruining the experience it will be difficult to tell you much except that even the walls and doors of the space will be entirely different, almost disorienting–in the best possible sense of the word,” UCAL director Annette Monnier wrote in an email.

The opening reception for Maguire’s “We’re on a Road to Nowhere” exhibition is tonight from 6-10 p.m. You can also stop by any weekday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during the run of the exhibition (January 15th-February 12th).

For more information, go to: http://www.ucartsleague.org/

UPDATE (11/10/2015): Curio Theatre’s Benefit scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14 has been postponed to a later date. Stay tuned for more announcements.

Two local arts organizations, University City Arts League (UCAL) and Curio Theatre, are holding delicious and fun events soon, which will help them raise some cash.

The annual Chili Bowl fundraiser supports the Arts League’s pottery studio. (Photo courtesy UCAL)

• UCAL’s annual Chili Bowl event will be held this Sunday (Nov. 8), from 1 – 4 p.m. at 4226 Spruce Street. Everyone is invited to purchase a hand-crafted bowl for $20 and fill it with chili (kids eat free with a bowl-purchasing adult).

The chili, including vegetarian and vegan, is donated by local restaurants: Corner Bakery, Tortas Frontera, City Tap House, Rx the Farmacy, Harvest, Renata’s Kitchen, Milk and Honey Market, Qdoba, Distrito, The Restaurant School, and the Green Line Cafe. After guests stuff themselves with chili they can vote for their favorite.

All of the proceeds from the Chili Bowl supports UCAL and its beloved ceramic studio. Guests are encouraged to get to the Arts League early to insure that they get a ceramic bowl. Each bowl is individually crafted, a unique piece created by a potter, and they are in limited supply. For more information about the event, visit the UCAL website.  Continue Reading

Two West Philly long-standing arts institutions are offering new after-school programs. University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St.) is offering new classes for every age group, with a whole new set of classes just for middle-schoolers (grades 5-8). New classes include Animation, African Dance, Tai Chi, Mixed-Media 2D Art, and Poetry, and registration is still open. The following classes have already filled up: For K-2: Puppet Making, Tumblehop, Escultura; for grades 3-6: Beginner Digital Art. For more information and to register, visit this page.

Curio Theatre, which is housed in the historic Calvary Center for Culture and Community at 4740 Baltimore Avenue, is offering a new after-school opportunity for neighborhood schoolkids. Beginning in October, Curio Theatre Company is launching an after-school program for students in grades 1-8 for $100 per week. This service will end at 6 p.m. each day. This new program employs professional theatre educators who will offer the following services: prompt pick-up at the end of the school day, individual tutoring for assignments, and theatre lessons following every school day. Healthy snack options will also be offered. Currently, walking service is being offered to students from Penn Alexander School, the City School – Spruce Hill, and St. Francis de Sales schools. Please call 215-525-1350 or email: steven@curiotheatre.org for more information and registration. Also check out Curio Theatre School on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

It’s getting chilly out there. How about some chili? No, how about a LOT of chili? On Sunday, Nov. 9, there will be a chance to try many versions of this popular dish and vote for your favorite during University City Arts League’s 6th Annual “Chili Bowl” Cook-off, an event that benefits its great pottery studio.

Participants showcasing their chili-making talent at this year’s event include: Philly Cow Share, Greensgrow Farms, Guacamole, Green Line Cafe, The Gold Standard Cafe, Rx The Farmacy, Harvest Seasonal, Café Renata, Tortas Frontera, New Deck Tavern, Local 44, Atiya Ola’s, and Heathland. In addition, Milk & Honey will be serving Mac and Cheese and Metropolitan Bakery will supply bread. Drinks will be served by Yards Brewing Company. There will also be some music and entertainment: Ann Schwartz of Green Tambourine and her students will be performing throughout the event, from 1 to 5 p.m.  Continue Reading

Some really creative and entrepreneurial folks work at the University City Arts League, one of the oldest nonprofits in West Philly. They always find fun and delicious ways to raise money. Many of our readers have probably heard about UCAL’s annual Chili Bowl, all-you-can-eat chili as long as it fits in a handmade bowl from UCAL’s pottery studio (you need to buy it at the event). And now, quite fitting for summertime, UCAL introduces a first ever Ice Cream Bowl on Sunday, June 8, 1 – 4 p.m.. Sounds yummy, right? So here are the deets from the UCAL website:

UCAL pottery studio. (Photo courtesy UCAL)

“Bassett’s, Little Baby’s, Shake Shack, ‘Lil Pop Shop, Ben & Jerry’s and Weckerly’s will be offering their delicious goodies, but it’s the ice cream bowls that will share center stage. Cost for a handmade bowl with ice cream is $10 per person or $30 for a family of four. Each additional family member costs $5. An array of toppings will be available for outfitting your ice cream including Greg Salisbury’s mean chocolate sauce and whipped cream.”

Sunday’s event will also include family-friendly events like face painting, live music and wheel throwing from the pottery studio. There will also be a raffle and a sale of pottery “seconds.” Proceeds will go towards improvements to the pottery studio.

University City Arts League is located at 4226 Spruce St. More information is available at the UCAL website.

The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program, which awards one year of free studio space to West Philly artists, is accepting applications for the 2014-2015 season. This is a great opportunity for local budding artists who need help spearheading their career. In exchange, 40th Street artists-in-residence give back to their community by organizing workshops and exhibitions and teaching classes in the area.

Deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 19. The residency begins September 1, 2014 and goes on until August 15, 2015. Click here to download an application. If you have questions, email: 40th.air.app – at – gmail.com.

By the way, one of the current 40th Street resident artists, Brenna K. Murphy, is participating in a new exhibition, “Home”, opening tonight at the University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St). “Home” is a three-person exhibition, which focuses on the concepts of “home, memory and nostalgia” and uses a variety of media, including ink-transfer, embroidery and sculpture. The exhibit is also Murphy’s first curatorial project; her goal was to bridge the gap between the often divided art scenes of West Philly neighborhoods with those east of the Schuylkill river. The other two artists participating in the show are Kay Healy from Center City and Emily Manalo Ruiz from South Philly.

The “Home” exhibit’s opening reception is tonight from 6-8 p.m.. It will be on display until June 20. The gallery hours are: Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. For more information, visit this Facebook page.