Print Matters
An ambitious new
art biennial debuts
Much has been written about Philadelphia’s
burgeoning identity as a breeding ground for
artistic collaboration and experimentation.
Lured by inexpensive rents and cavernous
spaces, collectives such as Little Berlin and
FLUXspace, comprising equal parts recent
grads from the city’s art schools and New
York City émigrés, have sprung up in the city’s
former industrial corners. Of course, Philadelphia is also home to blue-chip institutions
such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and
the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Philagrafika 2010, a 10-week art festival,
aims to synthesize all of the above—and plenty
more—during a regionwide celebration of contemporary art with printmaking at its core. In
addition to celebrating the here and now, the
festival brings Philadelphia back to its roots as
ave
Date
AVENUE OF THE ARTS
the
Wicked:
The Untold
Story of the
Witches of Oz
Jan. 6–24
This blockbuster delves
into the story behind
the Wicked Witch of
the West (green and
misunderstood) and
Glinda the Good Witch
of the South (beautiful
and popular). Kimmel
Center. 215-731-3333;
kimmelcenter.org
AVENUE OF THE ARTS
Beethoven’s
Fifth
Jan. 28–29; Feb. 2
The famous symphony
rounds out a program
conducted by Spanish-
born Rafael Frühbeck
de Burgos, featuring
solo performances by
the orchestra’s princi-
pal harpist, Elizabeth
Hainen, and cellist,
Hai-Ye Ni. Verizon Hall.
215-893-1999;
kimmelcenter.org
Philadelphia
a center of printmaking—a reputation it held
even before the Declaration of Independence
was printed here in 1776. The far-reaching festival spreads its central exhibition, “The Graphic
Unconscious,” across five established venues,
including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the
Print Center. A simultaneous exhibition, “Out
of Print,” showcases five artists’ collaborations
with historic collections. And newcomers will
share the stage with festival headliners at
Independent Projects, a mixed bag of 70-plus
exhibits, performances, installations and
residency-based projects orbiting the two main
events. Jan. 29–April 11; philagrafika.org.
Gunilla Klingberg
Brand New View, 2009; Plotter-cut vinyl on window,
dimensions variable, installation view at Zeppelin
University, Bodensee, Germany
The first Naked
Chocolate Café
in Center City
so consistently
overflowed with
sweets-loving
locals that owner
Tom Block’s decision to open two
additional locations
was a no-brainer.
Now people flock
to all three Nakeds
for their homemade
Warming Trends
in Chocolate
truffles, cupcakes,
mini cheesecakes
and lemon bars.
But the place is
especially beloved
for its signature
drink: ultrathick
European-style hot
chocolate served
four ways—classic,
bittersweet, Aztec
(with cardamom,
nutmeg and cinnamon) or spicy
(infused with chili
pepper)—and
topped, of course,
with a thick dollop
of whipped cream.
This small treat
packs such a large
wallop that it’s just
the thing to get
you through the
coldest months.
1317 Walnut St.,
30 S. 17th St. and
3401 Walnut St.;
nakedchocolate
cafe.com.
UNIVERSI TY CI T Y
Soweto Gospel
Choir
Jan. 30
The 26-strong, Grammy
Award–winning South
African gospel choir,
renowned for its passion
and power, inspires and
uplifts with a cappella
voices and percussion
accompaniment.
Zellerbach Theatre.
215-898-6701;
annenbergcenter.org
CENTER CITY
Philadelphia
International
Auto Show
Jan. 30–Feb. 7
The automotive indus-
try shows off its latest
creations in the concept,
classic, luxury and exotic
categories. Pennsylvania
Convention Center.
215-418-4700;
phillyautoshow.com
FAIRMOUNT PARK
18th Annual
Junior Jazz
Festival
Through
February
Concerts featuring local
musicians plus dance
and theater performan-
ces. Scat Cat’s Junior Jazz
Jamboree, about an alley
cat who discovers jazz,
introduces kids to jazz.
Please Touch Museum.
215-581-3181;
pleasetouchmuseum.org
