Ugh! I thought that I've already been to the worst gallery that First Friday has to offer…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/larry-becker-contemporary-art-philadelphia#hrid:dyhw4pVDk3wufuaulP6heg). But Gallery Joe is absolutely horrendous! I've been here before way back when, but I totally forgot about it because it keeps it's doors closed, or closes early during so many First Friday's. And after revisiting it on on Friday I either wish it would figure out how to step up it's game, or stay that way. Since it's rarely open I thought I was going to be walking into a treat. Instead I came across pencil drawings on white paper that were so beyond plain that they were a joke. Some had squiggly lines that were sort of made to look likes water, while others where a total scribble fest. And some of them even looked like they were made with a Spirograph. Spirograph? SPIROGRAPH! because of how average the art was I thought that it was at least going to be somewhat inexpensive. How much did these Spirograhic scribble fests end up costing? $800-900! What the shit? $900 for something that my cousin's baby daughter could do? Fail! I was so stumped that I thought that it had to be a joke for the month, so I went to check out it's archival room. Inside the Archival room were pieces of paper that where fully shaded in with charcoal. The majority had darker charcoal X's shaded in over grey squares. To the artists credit if I did something like that I probably would have ended up slicing a hole through the paper. But it was still a big pile of crap. lesson learned. on the next tour consider this place skipped.

I'm not sure what the last reviewer is talking about. This was my favorite gallery waaaay back when…read moreI was in grad school in Philly (2001 - 2003) because I was nearly always inspired by what I saw there, month after month. I went back to visit a year ago (I live on the other side of the country now) and was so pleased to find it just as I remembered. The two artists showing at the time (Allyson Strafella and another whose name I can't recall) were both amazing.

My trip to the Falling Cow Gallery made me appreciate what galleries like SPECTOR and Space 1026…read moreare doing. This is mainly because the artist on display had an outsider quality without that something special that the artists at the other two galleries seem to have, whether or not I like the work. It was a bit contrived, watered down pop art with an attempt to connect to contemporary issues by depicting pop images in conversation with images from the news. Some of the past shows look interesting, so I will probably check out some shows in the future. A few months ago they did a show called 'boobies' the proceeds of which benefitted breast cancer research. The name is juvenile but the sentiment good.

This is a gem of a gallery that features an eclectic mix of pieces. It's run by a co-op and I love…read morethat the artists are often the ones working there. Everyone is always warm and welcoming and the pieces are interesting and well priced. They participate in the first Friday exhibitions too. Make it a point to stop by and specifically check out the pieces by Joe Klaus - stunning! I've got one of his originals in my home and highly recommend.

I still don't get why they kept the 3rd Street name after they moved. But 3rd street is a pretty…read moresolid gallery that offers a lot of diverse art displays that are generally exclusive to Philadelphia. And it's been doing so for awhile. Last months display featured works of art that were themed after horses. There were ink drawings, paintings, and full sized statues that were made out of sticks in honor of them. A couple other themes from the past year have included dragons, and familiar Philadelphia structures that were redesigned to look like fortresses. This month's display featured the awesome art of John James Pron. PHILApocalypse was pretty much multimedia artworks of famous Philly landscapes being destroyed, but pretty much done in dark and amusing fashion. Picture the Waterworks by the Art Museum getting flooded and people surfing during it. Or people camping out in the Academy Of Music while Philly goes underwater, or Spring Garden becoming a desolate wasteland. It's definitely worth checking out.

Seraphin Gallery is conveniently located in Center City. It always seems to have good shows and…read morethere are of a variety - I never know what will be there next! Anyone interested in art, contemporary or 20th century, should visit Seraphin.

Very nice gallery space and lots of great art. However, the man that runs the gallery is rude-only…read morespeaks to certain people and ignores others. He's ignored a couple serious potential buyers.

Ulises is a great little bookstore right off of Frankford ave right under the El. They have a…read moresmall, well-curated selection of books by artists and dealing with modern topics in art. They already have a variety of events planned, and will change the theme quarterly. This quarter features the topic of "Active Voice" and has video, audio, and a curated reading room as part of the event list. The selection is fantastic, and the space is bright and welcoming. Definitely a great addition to the area

A rude, condescending woman, beware. She lost out on thousands of dollars of business from me for…read moreher utter lack of professionalism. I know exactly what I need in terms of framing, I don't require suggestions, a general estimate would have been very easy to make had you have actually wanted to be of service. You told me all I needed to know about you from the way you spoke on the phone, insult after insult. Despicable. I would never step foot in your business because you are unprofessional, long day or not.

We've been going to Ursula for framing on all manner of things for years. Her reputation is…read moreexcellent, which is how we found her in the first place. She's so nice about it, even when I bring in some completely stupid or bad-taste item, she never lets on in the least that she might wonder what's with that. I've had some collectible print materials framed, and she immediately recommended the anti-UV glass to prevent fading - something I might not have thought of had I done it myself. One of her most impressive projects was framing a silk print, suspending it between two sheets of glass so that both sides can be viewed by flipping it over and rehanging. If you haven't seen her videos on how to hang framed items on the wall, check them out. Very good practical advice, and I learned that I had been routinely hanging items too high (that's the problem with being tall) for many years. Call and make an appointment to see her though, don't just drop in.

I love stopping by this gallery during First Fridays. Being located in Old City, it's housed in one…read moreof those beautiful historic buildings that immediately sets the mood. The original wooden floors are gorgeous and somehow make the space feel both elegant and welcoming at the same time. What keeps bringing me back, though, is the art. While the gallery is known for contemporary two-dimensional work, I always seem to find pieces that push beyond that. There are often sculptural elements, installations, and mixed-media works that spill into the gallery space and make the experience feel much more immersive than simply looking at paintings on a wall. The artists and exhibitions vary quite a bit, from highly abstract works to pieces that are more realistic and representational. The common thread seems to be experimentation. There's usually some interesting combination of materials, textures, or techniques that makes you stop, look closer, and think about what you're seeing. One of my favorite parts is the little nook toward the back of the gallery. There always seems to be something unexpected tucked away there, often a kinetic or three-dimensional piece that adds another layer to the exhibition. It's become the first place I check whenever I visit. Philadelphia has a lot of great galleries, but Pentimenti stands out because it consistently showcases work that feels thoughtful, sensory, and a little different from everything around it. Always a fun stop during First Fridays and one I find myself returning to again and again.

So putting up a First Friday event has me in the mood to review another spot that will surely be…read morevisited while many galleries that have offered viewing like it have disappeared (Lineage, Qbix, etc.) Pentimenti has really held onto its own and managed to bring in some diverse art. while it's on the small side it manages to be a two sided gallery that puts on two different displays monthly. This month featured the smooth and striated painting styles of Jacob Lunderby. His mountainsides almost had you staring into the horizon line. it also had the bizarre video arts of Tim Tate. When I peered into one of his video cylinders I saw the close up shot of a nude man and promptly ran away. but when I peered into others i saw hands typing, people dancing and then some. talk about art that's more than meets the eye.

The venerable Print Center of Philadelphia is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2015. Special…read moreexhibitions in honor of this anniversary are taking place in the gallery spaces at the charming Print Center itself as well as other cultural institutions in Philadelphia such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They def are worth seeing. And if you're on the lookout to purchase art, the store in the Print Center always has a lot of things on offer. Here's hoping for another 100 years from the Print Center as one of the driving cultural institutions on the Philadelphia scene!

Looking to plan a small non-traditional wedding in Center City on a budget? Give Ashley a call at…read morethe Print Center to get more info and schedule a tour. While we ultimately decided to go with a different venue, Ashley was extremely responsive and a pleasure to talk with. The Print Center is a two story gallery space and can serve up to 80 people, however we felt that it would best fit a group of 50 or less. Because of the primary nature of the space & the age of the building dancing is not allowed, but the upstairs galleries would be perfect for a small dinner or cocktail reception. The store in the back of the first floor has quite a collection of contemporary prints for sale, and unique cards, books, and gifts. The current exhibition - ephemeral sprawl part one was expertly displayed. I look forward to visiting when the second part of the exhibition is up this Spring.