Friday night, March 14, was the opening of my first show in 2008, The "F" Word, at the S.M.I.L.E. gallery. I am fortunate enough to be showing with 5 wonderful women artists: Betsy Alexander, Rachel Citrino, Liliana Didovic, Francine Strauss and Madelen Warhola. It was curated by my good friend, art historian Dr. Debra Miller. This is the first time my reliquary boxes have been shown in public. Here is one of them "As I Promised" , which attracted a lot of attention because the teeth in it are real.
Our best friend in the world, artist Morel Pagano, was present in all his glory. Mo will be 79 next week, and can still kick anyone's ass, artistically or otherwise. Here is Mo, with the Italian vice-consulate, Renzo Oliva, and his beautiful wife, Juri, who is also a painter.
Afterward, we went downstairs for an excellent Thai dinner at the S.M.I.L.E . cafe. The chef, Ken Tutjamnong, is not only a master in the kitchen, but another fabulous painter. He and Liliana had a killer two-person show this February at the DaVinci Art Alliance. Here are Carl and I at dinner. Also present was Kevin Quigley, a surrealist painter and cartoonist who lives in Newport, New Jersey in a haunted lime green house. Kevin, Carl and myself will be having a show in June at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville, NJ "Fading Ways".
If you get a chance to stop by, the gallery is located at 105 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia. It'll be up through the beginning of April. Hours are Monday through Friday, Noon- 5pm, and Saturday from 5 -10pm.
