Philadelphia’s best kept arts and culture secret is the 30 minute “loading zone” parking in front of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts’ (PAFA) Hamilton building on Broad Street. You pull up, pop into the Portfolio Gift Shop to get your member button and then boom, you’re in the Hamilton Gallery. In 30 minutes, you’re back at the car and on with your weekend.
We were so blown away by “George Tooker: A Retrospective” we visited it twice, the day it opened, January 31 and the day before it closed, April 4. This was Tooker’s first museum retrospective in three decades.
I’m still haunted by Tooker’s take on America in the Cold War era, particularly his paintings of social protest. His facial expressions are so vivid and original, absolutely magnetic. But with the clock ticking you can’t let your self be transfixed. . .
Pictured above, “Landscape with Figures, (1965-1966)” is downright frightening, a sea of blank disturbing faces in office cubicles, showing “a dystopian society in which individualism is suppressed.”
How different our work life is at Simon PR in the posh Bellevue, with our Facebook pages up all day and our sunny yellow wall paint.
PAFA Curator of Modern Art Robert Cozzolino said, “Among the many reasons to look again at the hauntingly beautiful work of this quiet independent artist is the capacity his paintings have to reflect both the public and private aspects of humanity.”
With the sweetheart parking deal, there’s no reason not to enjoy this gem of Philadelphia. PAFA’s Hamilton Gallery is a welcome world class addition to our contemporary art scene and they’ve had one stellar exhibit after the other since they opened a few years ago. Have wheels but limited time, enjoy art in the City.
We were so blown away by “George Tooker: A Retrospective” we visited it twice, the day it opened, January 31 and the day before it closed, April 4. This was Tooker’s first museum retrospective in three decades.
I’m still haunted by Tooker’s take on America in the Cold War era, particularly his paintings of social protest. His facial expressions are so vivid and original, absolutely magnetic. But with the clock ticking you can’t let your self be transfixed. . .
Pictured above, “Landscape with Figures, (1965-1966)” is downright frightening, a sea of blank disturbing faces in office cubicles, showing “a dystopian society in which individualism is suppressed.”
How different our work life is at Simon PR in the posh Bellevue, with our Facebook pages up all day and our sunny yellow wall paint.
PAFA Curator of Modern Art Robert Cozzolino said, “Among the many reasons to look again at the hauntingly beautiful work of this quiet independent artist is the capacity his paintings have to reflect both the public and private aspects of humanity.”
With the sweetheart parking deal, there’s no reason not to enjoy this gem of Philadelphia. PAFA’s Hamilton Gallery is a welcome world class addition to our contemporary art scene and they’ve had one stellar exhibit after the other since they opened a few years ago. Have wheels but limited time, enjoy art in the City.
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