Erik Ruin, the current 40th Street Artist-in-Resident, invites neighbors to the opening of his new exhibition tonight, from 7 to 9 p.m., at a temporary storefront gallery at 4212 Chestnut Street (below the Scribe Video Center).
The exhibition, titled “Staring at the Cracks,” features a combination of prints, projections and sound to tell stories of solitary confinement. Ruin managed to construct a unique environment to share the emotions and experiences of formerly incarcerated people.
Some rooms are populated with wall-size print installations, other rooms – by shadow-puppet and video projections by Ruin and award-winning Toronto filmmaker Brett Story.
Along with the installations speakers throughout the space will play snippets of audio interviews with men and women describing their experiences in solitary confinement. Finally, innovative klezmer and jazz trombonist Dan Blacksberg will play a unique and haunting bed of sound to enhance the dramatic atmosphere.
The exhibition will run until July 23 and will be the last in a series of exhibitions presented by Ruin as a 40th Street Artist-in-Resident. On July 23, Ruin will be bidding farewell with an all-day studio sale, live music, and closing reception (3 p.m. to 11 p.m.).
To read more about the 40th Street Artist-in-Residence program click here.
In case you haven’t already heard … tonight is the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll in West Philly. This thing (as the lines at participating shops and restaurants last month showed) has gotten big. People are coming from around the city. Our insider advice? Get there early. It starts at 5:30 p.m.
The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) has sent a letter to Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and Penn President Amy Gutmann to draw attention to the enrollment cap at the Penn Alexander School (4209 Spruce St.).
SHCA board members agreed last month to draft a response to the enrollment cap that would demand that children who live within the school’s boundaries be admitted to the school. The thrust of the letter includes that request. It reads:
“Any child living in the catchment area has the right to attend Penn Alexander and should have that right guaranteed from first grade through eighth grade.”
Pssst. Do you like Indian food? The no-nonsense, $5 kind served as a Bollywood film plays nearby. If so, read on.
Philly.com includes a profile today of the backroom bistro at Rice & Spice, the unassuming international grocery store at 4205 Chestnut St. Mosey past the stacked bags of rice and spices to the rear of the store and you will find one of those hidden West Philly gems (And, believe me, I understand that writing this helps “unhide” it. Blame philly.com.)
Writer James Osborne talked to a number of customers for his story, many of them students who craved familiar food.
“It’s close to how you get food at home,” said Sachin Sachdeva, 27. “That’s the selling point. That, and it’s relatively cheap.”
Today’s kittens are an adorable brother and sister pair, Johnny and Cherry.
The kittens were rescued from the streets of West Philly. Too young to fend for themselves, they were lucky to find a rescuer to take them in. Now they’re looking for a place to call home forever — preferably together.
Cherry (girl) and Johnny (boy) are both active, playful, and mischievous kittens who will keep you entertained for hours. Once playtime is over though, they’re just as happy to curl up and cuddle with you.
These kittens haven’t spent any time around dogs or kids yet, but they should do fine. They would probably do best in a home with older children.
Both kittens are spayed/neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, up to date on vaccinations (FVRCP and rabies), and received flea/parasite preventative medication and treatment as needed. Adoption application and $85 adoption fee (per animal) are required. Adoption application is available online at www.citykitties.org.
If you would like to meet Johnny and Cherry, stop by the Baltimore Pet Shoppe (4532 Baltimore Ave). The kittens will be in the shop window until Saturday, July 9, and will be moving back to foster care after that.
Last month’s Stroll was a huge success. It brought enormous crowds of neighbors and visitors who strolled to over 15 Baltimore Avenue locations for deals and treats of all varieties, each for only a buck. Participants included Green Line Cafe, Baltimore Pet Shoppe, Dahlak, Desi Village, Milk & Honey, the Gold Standard, and even the Curio Theatre.
Tomorrow’s Stroll will probably be as crowded as the previous one, so come early in order to avoid at least some of those lines.
Here’s a nice video from last month’s Stroll put together by the UCD:
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