First Friday Focus

Lori Hill's First Friday Hit List

by Lori Hill

Muse Gallery

Jur Dar (The Wind Horse) by Jill Katz, 2007, giclee print (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Keith Sharp is up to his old tricks again in his new series of photographs called "Wool-Gathering," this time juxtaposing images of naturally occurring beauty with the staged kind. Each scene is interesting in its own right, but together they are mind-bendingly fun. A woman and her golden, furry little pup smile on the left, while a woman's hands are swallowed by a blanket of golden fur on the right. A murky green creek reflects the foliage around it, while a murky green car reflects a photograph of the same scene in its shiny rooftop. In the past, Sharp has worked mostly with silver gelatin prints, reveling in the dark-and-light contrasts, but this series of C-prints is crisp and bursting with color. The clever titles wink at Sharp's intentions — "Pulling Your Leg," "Snow Job" — and the images are ripe for repeat viewings. Eric Fausnacht's paintings of our feathered friends are appropriately shown here under the title "Fowl Images," but there's nothing unseemly — just vibrant renderings of what are arguably the most unattractive of animals. Generally, I'd prefer to eat these creatures than look at them, but Fausnacht manages to make them look quite comely. His rich detail and attention to texture are impressive, and his stated influences in style (Warhol, Bacon, Koons) make the paintings all the more entertaining.

Reception Fri., Feb. 1, 5-8 p.m., runs Jan. 30-Feb. 24, 52 N. Second St., 215-627-5310, musegalleryphiladelphia.com.

International House

This month, two artists otherwise known as arts administrators come out from behind their desks to show off their own work at I-House. Nexus executive director Nick Cassway, aka DJ YardSale, messes about in the playground of public domain audio and video, specifically those available at Archive.org. The site is an amazing repository of classic movies, 78 recordings, vintage advertisements, government films, educational strips and, of course, kitsch. Cassway has made "music videos" by taking one song and one video from the site, combining them and calling it "The Third Idea." He says this is "nothing revolutionary, it's simply the implied narrative that comes from the combination of imagery and music." For example, one of the videos consists of a charming 1918 recording of Harry Fox (of fox-trot fame) singing "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" over home movies of a 1960s carnival. Cassway says "the dozen pieces in the show intentionally carry no copyright and will be placed online for anyone to further edit, mangle or manipulate." You can find them, after the show opens, at djyardsale.blip.tv. Sharing I-House this month is "Across the Roof of the World: Beijing to Kathmandu" by ICA marketing and communications manager Jill Katz, who traveled in Asia with 12 strangers and came back with exhilarating photos that capture the thrills of travel and the wonder of a culture with moving customs. Shelves full of incense, strings of prayer flags and the breathtaking landscape are only some of Katz's visual tokens of her time along China's Friendship Highway. I mean, Friendship Highway — does it get any sweeter than that?

Reception Wed., Feb. 6, 6-8 p.m., "The Third Idea" runs Feb. 1-March 28, "Across the Roof ..." runs Feb. 1-March 7, free, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, ihousephilly.org, djyardsale.blip.tv.

And Then There's...

Two shows are worth a day trip. Allentown Art Museum is showing National Geographic illustrations. The photographers steal all the thunder but the magazine's illustrators are equally talented at representing worlds— Mayan ball courts, dinosaurs and space stations — we can only imagine. Through May 25, 31 N. Fifth St., 610-432-4333, allentownartmuseum.org. Meanwhile, Delaware Art Museum gets in on the PMA's Kahlo action with "Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray." Approximately 50 photographs by Muray — some in stunning color — show the incomparable Kahlo in all her strange, regal glory. Runs Feb. 2-March 30, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, 302-571-9590, delart.org. ... InLiquid at the Bride lets Steven Earl Weber turn the Gallery Café into a corporate showroom for "GenRich," a commentary in sculpture on genetic science and biotechnology. Be prepared for genetically enhanced organs, cloned body parts and more. Receptions Fri., Feb. 1 and Fri., March 7, 5-7 p.m., 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org.

(l_hill@citypaper.net)