In conversation

Theodore A. Harris in conversation catalog contributor Stan Mir 

Thursday December 12th

5:30pm to 7pm

CFEVA, 237 S 18th St., #3a Philadelphia PA 19103

RSVP Here.

Hearing Justice: A Sonic Response in Solidarity with a Colonial Critique

Walter S. Gershon and Taji Ra’oof Nahl in performance

Friday December 6th 

5:30pm to 7pm

CFEVA, 237 S 18th St. #3a Philadelphia PA 19103

RSVP Here.

Hearing Justice: A Sonic Response in Solidarity with a Colonial Critique. Space Activators: Walter S. Gershon, Saxophones Percussion; Taji Nahl, Sound Production and Manipulation

In solidarity with Theodore Harris’ exhibition, Thesentür/The Thinker Nina Simone and the Politics of Music, Taji Nahl and Walter S. Gershon will serve as sonic activators, responding to the exhibition. Working at the intersection of free improvisation, sound art, and groove based musics, Gershon and Nahl will be in sonic dialog with their perceptions of the exhibition's sensations and sensibilities. This particular combination of analog (saxophones/Afro-Caribbean percussion) and digital (rhythm generators/synthesizers) instruments also echoes Harris’ work, a digital production of a rather analog artform (collage). In addition, the duo of Nahl and Gershon are well suited for this particular context as they are both artists and scholars. The duo has had the pleasure of working together over the past year and are looking forward to interacting with Harris’ exhibition as well as with all who come to be with us in community for this event.

POST Closing Party at Box Spring Gallery

Crane Arts, 1400 N American St., 100C,

Philadelphia, PA 19122

For more info: BoxSpringGallery.com

CELEBRATE WITH CFEVA!

POST Kickoff Party + 25th Birthday CelebrationTuesday, October 1st, 2024 from 5–7pm at CFEVA

237 South 18th Street, #3A, Philadelphia PA 19103

Kick off the anniversary celebration with a POST Party! Raise a glass and toast to 25 years of POST with birthday cake and goody bags!

Kindly RSVP below:

Join us for the Opening Reception of CFEVA’s Fall 2024 exhibitions:

Ziui Chen, Asian Girls Are Everywhere!

Kirk Maynard, Introspections: Societal Margins and Dreams of Diaspora

Opening Reception: September 26, 5:00-7:00 PM at CFEVA (237 South 18th Street, Suite 3a, Philadelphia 19103)

Kindly RSVP below.

Join us for an opening reception on June 13 from 5-7pm at CFEVA (237 South 18th Street, Suite 3A, Philadelphia PA 19103).

CLICK HERE TO RSVP.

On View in the CFEVA Galleries

Visit during CFEVA’s Summer 2024 Public Hours:
June 4-29, Tuesday-Saturday 12:00-6:00 PM
Please note that CFEVA will be closed for the following holidays and events: June 6, June 19, July 4.

In CFEVA’s Felicity R. “Bebe” Benoliel Gallery:
Adam X Eve: Past, Present, & Future
A Series by Diaja

On a daily basis, we are bombarded with imagery and information that influence and shape the way we think, feel, and ultimately, the way we live. Ever since the emancipation of slaves, historically the media (Specifically focusing on the news), has been used as a tool to vilify Black Americans and create fear in its white viewers. Though present-day its racist roots are not as overt, there are plenty of signs of covert racism, biases, and stereotypes that fill what we consume from our reputable sources. Harsh headlines for certain people groups, yet headlines of empathy for their white counterparts, which often leads to sentences/treatment that suit these said headlines. Because the skin of Black/African people is often seen as a weapon, I wanted to change the narrative highlighting the Black and African diaspora as works of art to be admired and celebrated, countering the media's status quo, negative narratives, and stereotypes. I welcome you to see, feel, and experience Blackness differently.

Ceres (Diaja) is a fine art portraiture and conceptual photographer. pursued her passion at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Ceres had an equal love for photography, in which she took a course to sharpen her natural skills and educate herself on various photographic techniques.

After graduating, and working close to 7 years in the fashion industry, Ceres decided to fully dedicate herself to photography. She merged her love for fashion, painting, and photography to create a brand that would be impossible to ignore. Within 2 years of transitioning her work was recognized by Vogue Italia, Huffington Post, and numerous Fashion publications. Ceres' photography is known for storytelling through photographic series. These series’ are often inspired by current events, Black and African culture, and social disparities. Her goal as an artist is to impact others, give back to her community, and give a voice to those unheard and overlooked.

To view more of Diaja, follow @omg_diaja__ on Instagram or visit Diaja.com

On View in the CFEVA Galleries

In CFEVA’s Side Gallery: Rondo: Anesu Nyamupingidza

Rondo, the shona term for clay, a word taught to me upon inquiring about the term for ochre in my native language. Rondo is the colours of the people- all people-, the colours of their lands, the colours of their pasts and their futures. Rondo is an indicator of environmental change, from early stages of succession to the creek sides of fully grown forests in the stabilisation stage, and of constant human presence extracting and exposing elements that contribute to its richness.  

This research delves into the significance of soil, ivhu, and the project is a visual representation of my field notes. Rondo is the type of soil, in all its different colours, that I managed to grind up and turn into a watercolour paint from foraged rocks. The lichens represent one of the many different ways rocky surfaces start to get broken down, as they are among early succession plants, into the soils we see today. These lichens are Lichens of the West Indies from the New York Botanical Garden’s online herbarium collection. 

Visit during CFEVA’s Summer 2024 Public Hours:
June 4-29, Tuesday-Saturday 12:00-6:00 PM
Please note that CFEVA will be closed for the following holidays and events: June 6, June 19, July 4.

Open by appointment July 1-31, Tuesday-Friday. Call 215-546-7775 x13 to schedule your visit. Please allow 48 hours to confirm your appointment.

Now in its third year, the CFEVA Secret Postcard Fundraiser is a celebration of small but powerful artwork created by Philadelphia-area artists. This year we want to highlight the contributions of our artist community over the last 40 years as we celebrate our 40th anniversary! The event will occur on December 6th at Gross McCleaf Gallery at 127 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA. All artworks are accepted as donations to CFEVA. Click on the link below to secure your ticket today. We look forward to seeing you there!

Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cfeva-secret-postcard-fundraiser-2023-tickets-753939231537?aff=oddtdtcreator

The registration deadline for the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours is August 1! Attend this event/open studio preview to sign up in person. RSVP HERE.

During this POST Community Event, connect with POST artists in your neighborhood, ask questions, and strategize with your neighborhood art network for a successful open studios event this fall.

A very special thank you to Douglas Witmer & Green Line Workspace for hosting!

About the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours:

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), a program of The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, is the largest tour of artist studios and creative workspaces in the region, a true celebration of the contribution of artists to the vibrancy of Philadelphia, and one of the premier open studio tour events in the country. Artists, creative spaces and neighborhood partners are all vital to the rebuilding of our communities post-pandemic, and are all illuminated through POST. Join us this October, as you discover why across two weekends, POST is a beacon of local creative & business practice and highlights the best results of a booming artist culture.

POST 2023 will return to its original format, with studios and creative spaces organized based upon their location relative to Broad Street. Studios open East of Broad on October 14 & 15, Studios open West of Broad on October 21 & 22, 12-6pm all four days.

Register for POST at www.cfeva.org/register