Visual Art

by Robin Rice

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Published: Jan 14, 2009

In the late 1960s and '70s, Howard Kottler (1930-1989) fired ceramic decals onto commercially manufactured plates. His then-surprising techniques were applied to daring and witty social commentary relating to sexuality, religion and war.

Jan. 30-Feb. 22, Clay Studio, 139 N. Second St., 215-925-3453, theclaystudio.org.

Luminous stillness, linear clarity and intimacy characterize the paintings of George Tooker, born in 1920. In mid-20th-century America, Tooker chose realism and political commentary when others safely espoused abstraction.

Jan. 30-April 5, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 128 N. Broad St., 215-972-7600, pafa.org.

Pairing a painter of atmospheric monochrome landscapes with a rollicking, improvisational colorist was a stroke of curatorial brilliance. Each is a poet in his own way; together, there's more to think about.

Through Feb. 1, Rosenfeld Gallery, 113 Arch St., 215-922-1376, therosenfeldgallery.com.

It's a beautiful year in the neighborhood. The Fishtown/Kensington area has long been known as a secretly fashionable unfashionable area for artists of all types. Proximity, the gallery, celebrates the neighborhood by showcasing local talent. Among the six in the current show, Marie Ulmer (age 91) is showing prints executed in the 1930s; Andrew Leach provides "scientific" info on strange birds of his own invention; and Alicia Curtis embroiders the threads connecting many different things.

Through Feb. 1, Proximity Gallery, 2434 E. Dauphin St., 267-825-2949, proximityart.com.

Like Klimpts glimpsed through a rainy window, Clara Fialho's paintings on canvas and paper are cellular geometries: meditative, transcendent, enriched with gold leaf.

Feb. 3-28, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, 709 Walnut St., 215-413-8893, mayerartconsultants.com.

Local post-colonialist conquers the world (of design history). At Locks, Jane Irish situates pseudo Séveres porcelain vases in a context of Rococo-based paintings of anti-war demonstrations. The vases are ornamented with images of Vietnam and poetry by Vietnam veterans and arts writers including Carter Ratcliff and Tom Devaney.

Through Feb. 21, Locks Gallery, 600 Washington Square S., 215-629-1000, locksgallery.com.

It's déjà vu — but not all over again — when the PMA juxtaposes 60-some Cézannes it already owns with artists the master inspired. Among them are Alberto Giacometti, Jasper Johns, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso — and the sole woman in the group, Liubov Popova.

Feb. 26-May 17, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Main Building, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org.

This set of thirteen quilts include an appliquéed "hand quilt" by Mississippi artist Sarah Mary Taylor, commissioned for the film The Color Purple.

Through March 1, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Perelman Building, Fairmount and Pennsylvania avenues.

Benin City in Nigeria has a continuity of sophisticated art and court life from the 16th century to today. Cast bronzes, ivory and coral jewelry and wood sculpture are among the treasures in this show.

Through March 4, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South St., 215-898-4000, museum.upenn.edu.

The experience of clear-cut sensory input might be artificially imposed. It certainly doesn't work that way for everyone all the time. Exhibition curator Anabelle Rodriguez-Gonzalez presents a group of artists — including Dan Gizzie and Samantha Ernst, Mark Price and Jacqueline Reis — who address the possibilities of more complexity.

April 3-May 16, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org.

(robin.rice@citypaper.net)

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