Frankford Community Blog | Local News, Events, Community Resources
On Saturday May 24th the exhibit will change at the Destination Frankford art gallery. A new photography exhibit will open with an opening reception and block party. Your final opportunity to see the Dumpster Divers exhibition Reclaim will be this Saturday. See the details below.
The Dumpster Divers, whose work is currently on display at the Destination Frankford Gallery, are hosting three Art Workshops for the Frankford Community.
All workshops will take place at the office of the Tookany/Tacony – Frankford Watershed Partnership at the Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth Street , 3rd floor.
TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE WORKSHOPS, contact Leslie Kaufman at lesliekaufman@verizon.net. Registrations will be accepted until two days before the designated workshop. There are a limited number of slots, so register early to make sure you get a seat!
Learn to create your own collages from photos, magazine images, different kinds of paper and all sorts of printed materials. Adults will benefit by learning a brief history of collage and copyright considerations of digital compositing. Everyone will learn how to cut, tear, and arrange images to make strong compositions using different kinds of glues and adhesives. Come with photos and magazines and leave with your own artwork!
Workshop Leader: Dan Enright
Tools and materials provided by instructor: glue, some exacto knives & cutting boards (for adults), magazines, found paper, printouts
Open to: All ages, maximum of 12 participants
Participants should bring: scissors, papers, magazines, photos, other printed materials
Experience the fun of turning ordinary trash into treasure. In this workshop participants will learn new ways of seeing and creating art using discarded materials from everyday use. Things normally thrown away or ignored take on new meanings as they become elements of artistic compositions. You don’t have to have any art background to create this fun and rewarding project. Parents are encouraged to come with their children and work together. There will be a refreshments break midway through the workshop.
Workshop Leader: Joel Spivak
Tools and materials provided by instructor: 2′ square sheets of cardboard and glue
Open to: Children and parents (one parent per child) maximum of 10 participants
Participants should bring: scissors, “junk drawer stuff”, ie: string, bottle caps, buttons, clean items from your trash. All items should be easy to glue onto cardboard.
Participants will be provided with tools and salvaged materials, primarily obsolete laptop computers and will be instructed as to how to use the tools to take apart the laptops in order to repurpose them. Each participant will be given an old wooden cigar box that will be decorated with the computer parts. After the boxes are “trash-blinged” they can hold materials from recycling for uses the new artist sees fit in the future. A primary goal in these events is to give people a lifetime of permission to play with trash and recycling. Ideas for creative reuse of the boxes will be suggested during the workshop.
Workshop Leader: Neil Benson
Tools and materials provided by instructor: screwdrivers, hot glue guns, other miscellaneous tools, cigar boxes, computer parts
Open to: Ages 6 – 80; families preferred so adults can assist children, maximum of 12 children or 20 adults, or combination
Saturday was the grand opening of the Destination Frankford art gallery. There was a great crowd, music and food at the block party.
Tuesday we stopped by the Frankford Business and Professional Association meeting. Sorry to have missed most of the meeting but did get a pictures of these folks about to go back to work.
Thursday there were three important meetings. The EPIC stakeholders gathering was focussed on fitness and got a lot of interest from those attending. The PSA1 meeting was saved by Lt. Burton who arrived late due to official duties getting in the way. He remained until 8:30 PM answering questions. The Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls club met again to discuss the state of the club and continue plans for fundraising.
Friday we distributed the Gazette in print. We have one new spot at Simpson Playground for those in Northwood. You can find it on the table in the lobby.
Some pictures below of the events of the week.
You’re cordially invited to come out and help celebrate the accomplishments of our city’s finest young artists at the Starboard Side Gallery’s First Friday exhibit on Friday, May 2nd from 6 to 8 p.m.! Although participation in this prestigious event is usually only offered to artists with many years of experience, the 6th, 7th and 8th grade Art Majors from Arts and Sciences have been invited to show their work.
Each school day, these students meet for ninety minutes and, as a result, have made great artistic strides that they are eager to show this particular First Friday. This event is free and open to the public. In addition to the artwork being displayed and available for purchase, there will be light refreshments served as well as live entertainment.
The Philadelphia Charter School for the Arts and Sciences opened its doors in September 2012. Formerly known as H.R. Edmunds, Arts and Sciences is a take over school given to String Theory Schools by the School Reform Commission as part of the Philadelphia School District’s Renaissance Schools initiative. Arts and Sciences has one of the most comprehensive arts programs of any elementary school in the country. From a young age, students not only learn how to perform on stage, but also how to perform in life. Beginning in Kindergarten, students are immersed in the creative arts including Ballet, Vocal Music, Visual Art, Instrumental Music, Creative Writing, and enjoy French language study and Innovations in Science course.
By: Christine DeJesus
Kimberly Washington, Esq., of the Frankford CDC presented and informed the community about the project and beautification efforts that will be happening on the 4600 block of Paul Street. The FCDC has received a gardening agreement from the City to keep up the lot. Hopefully this will prevent illegal dumping. Ian Litwin of the City Planning Commission has already done work on the Daral Building which is located next to the lot. FCDC has received three grants, one for a pop up garden (like PHS does), sign improvements, and permanent park.
Community Design Collaboration will design the lot. There will also be a design of new signage for the neighborhood. This signage will be placed high enough so they will not be tagged with graffiti. They will be made with anti-graffiti materials. FCDC is working with the same group that makes the Fairmount Park signs. There will be 5 to 10 signs, one of each type and placement is still being worked out. The developer can put up a temporary fence.
The lot will have Art Shows every Saturday starting April 19th to July 26th and will be open from 12 noon to 5pm. The Daral building will be used if needed. Womrath Park – Christine Rojek who was the winning artist, designed a 16 foot tall structure that looks like water and two artistic screens which represents Frankford’s past, present, and future. They are anticipating November for the installation of the art piece. Kimberly will be in touch with Keith Green from PHS, to see what they can offer to the project. He may be able to clear the back of the lot and put up a fence.
Kimberly is shooting to get the Art Gallery Showcase going as early as Saturday, April 19th which will feature Dumpster Divers a five week series, May 24th photographers, and June 28th Philadelphia Sculptures. Food trucks and live entertainment will be happening on the opening day.
Design Wish List
• Lighting- Lighting should be functional.
• Possibly string lights from building to building (Mike Galdi disapproved that idea, he mentioned that it would look trashy)
• Lighting from the walkway
• Cobblestone walkway with lanterns
•Post lighting especially towards the back of the lot
• Motion sensors (for Security)
• Lighting on the Murals (both walls, down lighting from the top
•Security Cameras
• Removal of pre-existing trees
•Hostas (plants) on the walkways
• Raised beds near the sunny part of the lot (up front) so you can see it from the street
• Murals on both walls
• Have lot open in the front but closed off in the back to prevent cars from parking on the lot
• Existing fence will be painted (temporary fix)
• Window installed on the side of the building to look out onto lot
• Temporary Stage
• Seating- tables and chairs (possibly something that can be moved, storage will be something to work out)
• Bushes installed so that lot won’t look barren in the winter Example: Speckled Acuba, Witch Hazel, Mahoney, Holly
Programming Wish List
• Live Music
•Food trucks
•Music Festivals (Jazz)
• Event to showcase businesses on the Frankford Corridor
• Movie time- screening on the wall of the Daral building.
•Saturday- produce market – invite the owner of the produce market on the 4600 of Frankford Avenue
• Outside performances- Freedom Theatre/ Arden
•Plant a Plug- Mother’s day event for the children
• Puppet shows
The lot will be open for the community to use. (Will need a permit if you make people pay for the space) The idea is to have the space be permanent with an internet café inside the building, a permanent garden, and possibly the FCDC occupying the office space on the second floor. This information will be taken back to the Community Design Collaborative group and a follow up meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21st at Frankford Aria Hospital from 5:30 to 7:30 pm to go over what the neighborhood wants to see in the space. There will be a landscape Architect with options and will cost everything out. The pop up garden will be done next year; however, programming will take place in the space.
The Zoning Board heard two cases:
1000-38 Orthodox Street:
Amy Hollister, Kristie Dugan and Charles Durkin from Northwood Academy (Located at Castor and Adams Avenue) presented to the zoning board their plans to take the corner of Orthodox and Adams Avenue and make 30 parking spaces. There was a Cora Building which was demolished a year ago. The lot right now is dirt and rubbish that sits behind Kmart. They have implement trees and shrubs in their design. Northwood academy stated that they have notified the neighbors in the area of their plans for the vacant lot. One person from the neighborhood was present, and voted in favor of the plans. The Frankford Zoning Board will send a letter of approval.
2153 Haworth Street:
Christian T. Johnson, Esq. representing Ms. Jane Novawicky, stated that the neighbors were notified. He would like to legalize the subdivided property: 9 garages is Parcel B and a single family dwelling is Parcel C. When Parcel C was sold to Ms. Novawicky, the ownership of the nine garages was not legal. They were rejected because Parcel B (garages) had no open air and no access to them. Christian stated they only want to legalize the long standing use and will not change anything. They want this done to separate the deed for each parcel. Ms. Novawicky already has potential buyers for the garages, but does not know his/her intentions for the use of the garages.
The Frankford Zoning Board will send a letter of support to ZBA for the Parcels to be separated.
The next NAC meeting is scheduled for May 8th at 7:00 PM at Second Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow Street.
