Debbie Morton of Morton Contemporary Gallery and Paul Gratz of Gratz Gallery
The extraordinary exhibition “The Peter Miller Story” has opened at Morton Contemporary Gallery, where they held a opening night reception last week! (Through January 14, 2024)
Prominent Gallerist Paul Gratz of Gratz Gallery and Conservation Studio in Doylestown has rediscovered the works of painter Peter Miller, an American Modernist. Miller was a wealthy heiress (born Henrietta Myers) and a spiritualist who painted for the love of art rather than ambition. Even so she had notable success, her colorful works having showed at the prestigious Julien Levy Gallery in New York.
Mike Greenidge, Strategic Content Manager Fox29 Philly (middle) checks out the Peter Miller collection.
Miller’s work was mostly forgotten until Gratz had the opportunity to buy the paintings remaining in her estate. The work needed extensive conservation, some of it having been stored in a barn. Gratz is a professional conservator. He was able to do the work during the pandemic.
Renata Fox-Rapp and Erin Touey maintain the guest list for openings at Morton’s. It’s easy to get invited to events like these if you join their mailing list. https://mortoncontemporary.com/Michael Flores and Jessica StageZev Sunleaf and Jay DavidsonDavid Christiansen and Michael Toub Philly Vegan Club Members Marial Blasetti, Neurocritical Care Educator – IRRAS AB and Jonathan Burton, Independence Historical TrustFergus “Fergie” Carey, legendary bar master (we share the same exact birthday, I just learned on the ‘net. 7/23/23!!), Debbie Morton, curator/operator of Morton Contemporary Gallery and Breland Moore, Sports Anchor/cohost of “The 215” on Fox 29Inga Saffron, legendary Inquirer Architecture columnist and Paul Gratz, curator of Peter Miller Collection. His formal training began at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where Peter Miller studied. The exhibition is beautiful and several pieces sold last Saturday night.
Book one of Morton Contemporary’s two chic gallery locations in the heart of Center City’s Midtown Village for your next office party or private event. An approximate 1000 square feet of usable party space is available in both locations. Private parties, office gatherings, fundraisers, proposals, and more! https://mortoncontemporary.com
Like A Good Neighbor: Neighborhoods surrounding Rivers Casino in Fishtown just got a million times better; local civics and other nonprofits now have more funding for capital improvements and expanded programming, thanks to the casino’s annual $1 million contribution to the Penn Treaty Special Services District (SSD).
Through grants the SSD makes to community organizations, the casino funds are used to benefit residents of Fishtown, Northern Liberties, Olde Richmond and South Kensington. Recipient organizations sponsor neighborhood festivals and community gatherings; make physical improvements to parks, playgrounds, gardens and other infrastructure; and operate arts, sports, education and recreation programs.
This year’s $1 million check brings Rivers’ total contributions to the Penn Treaty SSD to $11.4 million since 2009, just before the casino opened.
There are still tickets left for PETE DAVIDSON LIVE 11/25 at 10PM (The 7pm show is sold out)
Brian McKnight — Friday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m.
Grammy-nominated singer Brian McKnight will captivate the audience with his soulful melodies and remarkable vocal prowess. Tickets for The Event Center show start at $59.
Cage Wars 63 — Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m.
Cage Wars 63, a high-energy evening of mixed martial arts, is coming to Rivers Casino Philadelphia. The fights will take place in The Event Center; tickets starting at just under $68 are on sale now at CageWarsMMA.com/tickets.
Stop byRivers Casino Philadelphia for fun, food and live entertainment. Thanks to them for being an advertiser for the past year. I do love to play there, and get my Dunkin.
The Junior League of Philadelphia (JLP) hosted their Fall Fête Fundraising Masquerade cocktail party on Friday, October 27, 2023. The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. (JLP) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
Maria Perry and April FranciaBarbara Manning, Colleen Mita, Stephanie Lippincott, Jillian Kukucka, LaCoya Pace, Erin Nanovic, and Dalia Omran
“Our Fall Fête was a huge success! The Junior League of Philadelphia brings like-minded women looking to make a positive impact on the community together and that is exactly what this event did,” said Stephanie Lippincott, President of the Junior League Philadelphia. “The money raised at Fall Fête will go towards fighting food insecurity and improving the Greater Philadelphia community. Food insecurity is more than hunger, it is an all-encompassing condition that affects all areas of a person’s life — including overall health, education, and housing. The JLP’s goal is to help alleviate not just hunger, but the connected disparities.”
Lauren Clemence, Erika Rodriguez, Rachel Silver, and Ashley WhiteTammy O’Hara, Nyree Ellison, and Kateryna EndrizziMaliha Khan, and Gregory BentonVictoria Buckley, Betsy Nelson, and Rejena BuckleyBrenda Hillegas, and Rebecca HarneyKathryn Young Galla, Rebecca May, Jacqui Rathera, Lacey Mielcarek ,Jennifer May, and Angela Velez – Photos by Andre Flewellen – PhillyChitChat team member of a decade.
The Junior League of Philadelphia is committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information, please visit their website. Stay up to date with the organization’s events and news by following their Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
The Philadelphia Fund Alliance (PFA), a group of Philadelphia-based asset management industry professionals, celebrated their annual fundraising gala on November 2 at Rittenhouse Hotel, benefiting PhillySafe seeks to make place-based investments with proven crime deterrent solutions (street cleaning, greening, lighting and resident-owned home security systems) in dis-invested neighborhoods.
Since its inception in 2016, PFA has raised over $700,000 for Greater Philadelphia area charities.
The annual fundraiser not only supports a great cause,
but also highlights Philadelphia’s deep roots and influence in national financial markets and services, including traditional mutual funds and alternative asset vehicles.
Through our annual event, we will raise money for a local charity and, as an ancillary benefit, we will raise awareness about our collective accomplishments and milestones in the asset management industry.
Jim Mahoney, Tait, Weller & Baker, Mary Ellen Mahoney, with Donna and Jim ShawRoger Pereira, Carly Winter, Caitlin Cohen, and Thomas Matousch, AWM Trust Solutions at PwCMatt Ramano, Justin Dutka, Josh Sohmer, Chuck Nevin, Brian Cassidy, and Reese BlairKate Williams, and John FalcoMorgan Klinzing, Sunny Patel, and Meghan McGettiganJohn Alshefski, Senior Vice President – Investment Manager Services at SEI Investments, Tom McCarthy, and Bruce Leto, Co-Chair, Investment Management at Stradley RononMaria Palmer, Nancy Cloran, Maggie Malloy BackRow- Tara Reilly, Kim Togno, Lori WayneLauren Engel, Kyle Whiteman, Dan Conroy, and Brian London
Ray, a brand rooted in hospitality and making art and design a part of everyday life, opened its first residential building, Ray Philly within the North American Street creative corridor last month. Pictured about the Ray Philly Team proudly stands in front of the building at 1525 N American St,
Six Acre Capital is a real estate developer, owner and operator founded by Mark Lansman (l) and Jake Borden (r) with Rennee McIntyre Vice President of Marketing · Scully Company
The 103,000 square foot building features six artist studios on the ground floor, 110 residential units – including 25 studios, 67 one-bedrooms, 18 two-bedrooms – free communal art studio (called the makerspace) for residents, and a commercial space, was built from the ground up, but purposely built as if were a factory of yesteryear.
Jazman Means, Rod Robinson and Samantha WebsterSherri ApterWexler, Wexler Gallery which opened nearby a few days after Ray Philly; adding to the vibrancy of the neighborhood, Cynthia Porter, Lewis Wexler, David Glesson and Rachel Zimmerman, In Liquid Gallery, located in the Crane Arts Building and really ignighted the improvement of the neighborhood from abandon warehouses to a vibrant communighty.Jessica Scully, president of the Scully Company , Suzanne Demisch, artist at Ray with Dasha Zhukova art patron and founder of Ray, with new development projects in three cities.
“Ray Philly is a home and gathering space where people can express their unique voices and perspectives, whether as residents of the building or participants in Ray’s free public programming,” said Suzanne Demisch, Creative Director at Ray. “We’re excited to be part of the City of Brotherly Love and look forward to delivering an experience that brings art and design into people’s daily lives.”
Ray Philly rooftop with a view of the Philadelphia skyline.
Ray exists to perpetuate art and culture in the built environment. Founder Dasha Zhukova was inspired to apply her work within cultural institutions and public art spaces into a new category of the built environment. Dasha established the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in 2008, seeking to create a space devoted to the discovery and exploration of global art and culture. Her experience at the museum, particularly observing how people interacted with both the art and architecture, was the catalyst for launching Ray.
Anaïs Cooper-Hackman, Programming and Partnerships Director · Ray Philly, with Heather, Vincent, and JeffSiblings Lindsey Scannapieco and Michael Scannapieco came out to see Ray Philly, and meet up with old friends.
Ray Philly appears to be more than just a residential building; it seems to be a dynamic and integrated space that promotes a fusion of art, design, and community. Donations were suggested for entry and 100% of proceeds generated from the event were donated to South Kensington Community Partners (SKCP), a place-based non-profit located in Old/South Kensington with programs serving OSK and the surrounding neighborhoods of Eastern North Philadelphia.
On November 8, RAIR (Recycled Artist In Residency) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its signature annual event – Trash Bash, last night at the beautiful Atelier FAS in North Philly. RAIR a unique, non-profit arts organization uniquely situated within a construction and demolition recycling center in Northeast Philadelphia. Ginger Rudolph, Sara McCorriston and Billy DuFala, co-founder of the Recycled Artist in Residency (RAIR) program in Philadelphia, which aims to raise awareness of sustainability through the creative reuse of materials. Dufala describes his work as an investigation of human beings and their relationships with themselves and others. Sarah M, Judy Wicks, author/activist , Christopher Plant, KISMET COWORK, RADIOKISMET, and Jermaine Jenkins, Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships at AIA Philadelphia, board member of PMA’s Collab Philly. Their annual event is happening Novermber 18, this year’s Design Excellence Award honoring American designer Stephen Burks. Samantha Wichen and Fern Gookin, Director of Sustainability, Revolution Recovery, and co-founder of Rair Philly, who’s mission is to continue challenging the perception of waste culture.
The whole concept of this creative organization is very unique and the work created is definitely one of a kind. An eclectic crowd gathered at this annual event, from business executives – Michael Newmius and Kevin Lessard, creatives Sarah H Gamble , philanthropists, politicians including Sen Shariff Street, entrepreneurs Lindsey Scannapieco,
Alexis Tuttleman and Max Tuttleman, Husband, Father, Philadelphian, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist.Rachel Zimmerman, Founding Artistic and Executive Director of InLiquid, Co-Chair Philadelphia chapter of ArtTable, Board Member of GPCA (Save the date March 9 for InLiquid’s annual fundraiser- InLiquid’s Art for the Cash Poor) and John Wind, founder and chief designer of Maximal Art, wearing a Andy Warhol inspired Campbell soup sweater from Joan Shepp. You can find his jewelry at the iconic fashion store on Chestnut Street as well.Blair M was happy to support Rair as well as to connect with old friends. Tony Diaz loves the unconventional items which are given a new purpose.Salt Design Studio = Angela Fleagle, Rian Herilla, Sara Pevaroff Schuler, Le Xu, Olivia Boon and Katrina RogusJason Kim, Ellen Houle, Leanne Weiner, Emilly Rollet, Kiet Tran, and Jon Wybar is the co-founder and owner of Revolution Recovery (the incredible company who created the material that built the temporary bridge on 95 which collapsed earlier this year, it makes sense he’s connected with a recyling art organization)Reny Beloff, Kristin Katz, Yameen Allworld and Liza Tedeschi, board member RAIR (Recycled Artist In Residency) is a non-profit arts organization uniquely situated within a construction and demolition recycling center in Northeast Philadelphia.The RAIR workspace includes a large project space, wood shop equipment, metalworking facilities, access to the waste stream for materials, and a material storage area. Artists-in-residence receive attentive support from RAIR’s staff who act as liaisons between the artist and the recycling facility. In addition to providing artists on-site access to recovered materials, construction equipment, and a fully-equipped studio space, RAIR’s residency program offers artists the opportunity to use the entire 3.5-acre facility as an expansive project space for the development and presentation of ambitious experimental work.
Lewis Wexler, and Sherri Apter Wexler owners of Wexler Gallery Celebrated The Opening Of Their New Philadelphia Location at 1811 Frankford avenue last month. It was formerly in the historic district of Old City where they opened in 2000.
Pei-ru Keh editor of Wallpaper Magazine, with gallery owners Lewis Wexler, and Sherri Apter Wexler and furniture designer Jomo Tariku, Jomo Design Furniture. The four of them participated in a panel discussion about current trends in design and art.
Wexler Gallery, opened a flagship showroom at 1811 Frankford Avenue in the heart of Philadelphia’s bustling Fishtown neighborhood, definitely Philly’s new vibrant art and cultural center.
The new gallery space will serve as Wexler’s flagship location and feature a roster of established and emerging artists, as well as the main offices for the Wexler staff complete with meeting space for clients and customers.
Lana Masor, Gallery Manager at Wexler Gallery NYC and Samantha Goldberg
They have another gallery in Manhattan 200 Lexington Ave.
Lauren Rufrano, Jomo Tariku, Justin Wesley, and Mark AllenNick Missel, contemporary Sculpture, patent attorney, artist Ben Gillespie, lighting designer and owner of Ovuud and Jessica Uphoff, URBN
Thanks to my photographer Talya Hailey who shot this for PCC as I had two other events. It was definitely a party I missed. So many fun and talented people attended. Being a creative brings such personal joy of accomplishment.
Marsha Moss, Public Art Curator & Consultant, Jill Sablosky, Sculptor and Crystal CuevasCrystal Cuevas, Claudia Volpe, and Micah Monroe
Occupying a former pretzel factory built in 1910, the 11,000-square-foot gallery features a dramatic, 35-foot-high central atrium topped by large skylights cut out of the timber ceiling.
Franz Rabauer, Brian Daggett, X, and KellyJerome Maury, Sherri Wexler, gallery owner, Stephanie Giesecke, and Nina Halper
The Wexlers aspire for the gallery to serve as a cornerstone, drawing in other artistic hubs like Corridor, and numerous others within the Crane Arts building vicinity (I always thank the Zimmerman sisters for really helping this area after they opened InLiquid nearly a decade ago in the Crane Arts Building), along with the Clay Studio and the recently inaugurated Ray Philly, a residential complex featuring artists’ studios on the ground floor, supported by collector Dasha Zhukova. It’s becoming a very exciting area, great for weekend strolls.
John Colabelli, Publisher of Philly Style Magazine, Brian Emmons, development manager for Southern Land, artist Emily Lucking, Esq., Life Coach and Allan Domb, Condo King
Congratulations to Emily Lucking, not only is she a successful Life Coach where she helps others attain their goals, but she goes after them herself. Last month The Laurel on Rittenhouse Square began displaying ten of her paintings in the lobby the luxurious building. I stopped by for the celebration reception.
The Lucking family.
Stop by the Laurel to check out Emily’s art, which is for sale, and one of the Laurel’s luxury apartments as well.
Chris Darway, Artist, designer, teacher, writer. Wayne Art Center and Nancy C. O’Meara – Director and Craft Show Manager
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show was founded in 1977 and was the first retail craft show established and organized by a volunteer committee for the benefit of a non-profit institution. This trailblazing show has served as a prototype for successful subsequent shows in cities such as Washington, D.C., and Glencoe, IL among others.
Ami Snyderman Lonner chair of this years show, her dad Rick Snyderman and brother Evan Snyderman of Manhattan, and Renee Cohen
The Show is presented each November by the Museum’s Women’s Committee and the Craft Show Committee for the benefit of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A portion of each year’s proceeds is dedicated to the purchase of a craft object for the Museum’s permanent collection. Funds raised are also used to underwrite education and publication projects within the Museum.
Martha Morris, Bryn Mawr, Linda Madara, Bryn Mawr, Linda Fuller of Haverford and Carole Jones of Philadelphia (I prepared some of these photos this way as they will go in the Main Line Today January issue. )Courtney Richards, Philly Pr Girl, Kate Marlys, Philly Pr Girl – Sunday Philly Pr Girls will be hosting their 8th annual Tailgate Party at the Eagles game. Catherine Joseph Booth 312 has great textiles.Henry Fader and Marjorie Rosenbluth Philips, who is wearing items she purchased at the craft show over a 12 year period.
Proceeds have enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for the Audio-Visual and Conservation departments and monies have been contributed to the renovation of both Museum infrastructure and galleries as well as external installations such as the Rodin Museum and Mount Pleasant, an 18th century house in nearby Fairmount Park.
Joan Spain and Joan Pileggi, or the Joan’s as they have always been known on the social circuit, live spending time at the PMA Craft Show, as well as supporting many of the arts and cultural endeavors in the City. They were happy to see their friend Karen Morris a milliner , booth 410.Meghan Patrice Riley Studio of Broklyn NYThe Jane and Leonard Korman Family Prize for Excellence in Clay was awarded to Thomas Harris booth 606. Presented by the Korman daughters Susan Schurr, Cathy Altman and Alison Korman, and flanked by Philadelphia Museum of Arts Sasha Suda, director and CEO of the PMA
Hello readers. Social season is winding down. I think this is something I repeat every time Social Season ends, it’s kicked my butt. This year more than ever. It’s after the pandemic and people are excited to be out and about. More than once all three of us have been booked on a given night. Although a lot of the content appears on my media partners sites, CBSPhilly, Metro, and Tribune. I will be putting events here to catch you up as well, today though I just want to publish HughE Around Town stuff for those who might not see my Social Media posts. (I took this photo 12;30 10/31/23)
So many events happen in the fall season that I don’t have time to attend. For years Mike and I were volunteers for AIDS Walk Philly, but in the last decade I haven’t been able to make it. Mike, who had volunteered for 15 years, decided to walk with friends this year. Thanks to PR maven Cari Feiler Bender who snapped this photo for us to enjoy. 10/15 For 20 years it is has been my privilege to work with @aidswalkphilly and Robb Reichard. It’s not too late to donate at www.aidswalkphilly.org. What a beautiful Sunday morning! #aidswalkphillyCherri Gregg, WHYY, Karen Hua, NBC10, Pierre Robert WMMR, Cari and Rob Reichard.
Speaking of Karen Hua, she had another fabulous Hulaween Party this year. Heidi Klum move over.
Jane Fonda spotted in Philly late last month. Jane Fonda and Maura Tierney @mauratierney_ with the cast of Assassins at Arden Theatre Company which closed October 29. The Arden Theatre Company the show a genius work of Stephen Sondheim. Jane than appeared at a speaking engagement at the Kimmel Center on Monday October 23. (IG Post Arden Theatre)
