With thanks to Ian Litwin, of the City Planning Commission, the Destination Frankford Gallery will be opening this month on Paul Street right off Frankford Avenue in what was formerly the Daral store.  It took a lot of money to get it ready but now interior work has been essentially completed and final inspections are scheduled and exterior signage will be going up shortly.

It will be another step in the process of neighborhood revitalization in Frankford. The gallery will host RECLAIM, REDISCOVER, REANIMATE Saturdays from April 19 – July 26 from Noon to 5:00 PM.  Local artists will exhibit their work and the community will gain an opportunity to view contemporary art.

Three separate exhibitions will each focus on one part of the theme. “Reclaim” will include twenty-one members of Philadelphia’s Dumpster Divers, “Rediscover” will involve seven local photographers, and “Reanimate” will present sculptures from members of Philadelphia Sculptors. Each show will have its own reception that will spill over into the street and the pocket park next door. The public is invited to listen to live music, enjoy the offerings of food trucks, and peruse a local crafts market.

RECLAIM | Dumpster Divers

Saturdays, April 19 – May 17, 2014

Philadelphia’s Dumpster Divers are well known for their commitment to making art from what others would perceive as junk. Seeing the possibilities in trash and other under-utilized resources, they bring a new awareness to the concept of “upcycling” as they transform discarded materials into creative new art forms.

REDISCOVER | Photography

Saturdays, May 24 – June 21, 2014

Seven local photographers will use their cameras to explore Philadelphia’s urban terrain, concentrating on less visited locations and new perspectives of familiar imagery.  Using personal viewpoints, they draw attention to small moments, ambiguous settings, and underlying beauty that might be overlooked by the casual viewer.

REANIMATE | Philadelphia Sculptors

Saturdays, June 28 – July 26, 2014

Members of Philadelphia Sculptors will address the concept of bringing new life back to a place, person, or community. Work ranges from the figurative to the abstract, with artists employing techniques and materials that may reference the past as they create work of the present.

Information about the opening block party on April 19th will be posted next week.