Thankful

Today I celebrated Thanksgiving with my amazing family, but I also spent alot of time thinking about my other amazing family...my PSG family. I am so incredibly thankful for all of you. All that you've done, all of your support...it all helps this place grow like it has. 

So thank you all...for being here for me, the space and for yourselves, making your work. You continue to inspire me and keep me going despite many an obstacle. Thank you. xoxo Darla

Photos by the fabulous J. Kyle Keener of KeenerVision Studios

10x10: Final push for PSG

 Oh hi. Did you hear? PSG is opening this month.

... ... ...

OH MY GOD! PSG IS OPENING THIS MONTH!!!!!!

(Let's just take a moment and talk about how long I've been waiting to say that...Since April 2011. Yep. This would be why I'm so excited. Ok, ok...back to business.)

All the wonderful and exciting details are coming soon, and this is sure to be an exciting week here on the blog, so stay tuned. For now, I'm going for one last push to raise the last bit of money we need to finish up the space and I'm doing it the best way I know how...by making art. That's what this place is all about...and I feel so lucky every day that I am in the Sculpture Gym able to make my work (you know, with all that time between building stuff, hanging shows and setting up the shops....) This place is the ultimate bond of art and community...art and community have built it. WE made this happen! Whether you joined as a Charter Member because you are an artist or a maker, or supported us through our Kickstarter or Lucky Ant campaigns because you support the arts, or donated time or materials or equipment, or just told your friends about us...YOU helped build this place through your support. When the Knight Arts Challenge took a chance on this little idea back in 2011, I could never have dreamed how it would grow, how you all would help it grow...and we aren't even open yet! So just imagine what is to come... Thank you all...for everything. And now for your regularly scheduled blog post:

10x10: One

 
HOW IT WORKS:  
10x10 is a series of 10 different small sculptures that I'll be making as a fundraiser to benefit the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym. This piece is first up in the series! Each sculpture will be an edition of 10 (meaning each sculpture will only be cast 10 times.) After the 10th edition of this piece is sold, the 2nd sculpture in the series will be offered. Once the 10th edition of the 2nd sculpture is sold, the 3rd sculpture in the series will be offered, and so on. Each sculpture will be offered at the discounted price of $100 each. All proceeds will go to the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE: 
All pieces will be cast in Hydrocal and finished with a black graphite patina (See last photo for example of finish. The first 4 photos show the piece in clay.)
Each piece will be signed and numbered. Each piece will be shipped within 2 weeks of ordering. If you live in Philadelphia and prefer to pick it up, please let me know and shipping will be refunded to you.




To purchase or to see the listing, check out my Etsy page here.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions at philadelphiasculpturegym@gmail.com
 
ABOUT THE PIECE:
Title: Whether you like it or not...
Medium: Hydrocal, thread
Size: 2.5"h x 3"d x 4"d
Year: 2013
Edition of 10.

Whether you like it or not..., Clay model

Last Day on Lucky Ant!

This is the LAST DAY of our Lucky Ant Campaign...! We are all so very thankful for all the generosity so far and are happy to be able to give exciting rewards in return. As I know I've said before, the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym has truly changed my life...I've given so much of myself to see this dream through to a reality and to hear the amazing feedback from everyone has been what's kept me going through the hard times. The support from everyone, whether it be a donation of time, tools, or money, or some really great advice, or referring someone to us...it's all been over the top goodness. Starting a business is hard. Making art is hard. Finding a space to make art can be hard. Finding a community you love is hard. I think that the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym is going to make those things a little bit easier for everyone, myself included, and I am so excited for that. Coming together as artists, as makers, as small business owners, and as a community...I just cannot say thank you enough to everyone who has made this possible...  On opening day, you probably find me crying in a corner somewhere, overwhelmed with happiness...(be sure just to give me a snack and tell me to go lie down somewhere for a while, as I'm sure to be sleep deprived.) It's been a lot of work but it's all for something bigger than each of us alone. And I thank everyone for helping to build it...from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
xoxo
Darla

PSG in Philadelphia Inquirer

Bevan Weissman, Darla Jackson and Gustavo Actis in the Philadelphia Inquirer!

A HUGE thanks to Ellen Scolnic for the great article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer and to Ron Tarver for the great photos! To check out the article online visit this link: PSG in the Philadelphia Inquirer

Like what we're doing and want to donate to our Lucky Ant campaign? Check that out here: PSG on Lucky Ant

And I just want to say that I'm overwhelmed by the amazing feedback...I've gotten some pretty amazing phone calls and emails today from people who have read the article and just wanted to touch base.  I cannot say enough how excited I am for this space and how proud I am of everyone who helped get it to where it is today. It's truly been a community effort and I am humbled by all of the support and kindness. Thank you thank you thank you...

Happy New Year!

Mummers by Laura Graham

 Happy New Year to the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym friends, family and supporters! I hope everyone had a great time celebrating the beginning of 2013. I'm very much looking forward to all that this year has to bring (13 is my lucky number!) and cannot wait for all the exciting things coming up. Again, thank you all for your support and for taking the time to read about our progress here on the blog (Thanks to Jenny for writing yesterdays weekend recap!) I have met some incredible people through starting the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym and continue to be amazed by how this little business has brought together such a kick ass group. I am truly thankful to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for bringing the Arts Challenge Grant to Philadelphia and changing my life. I am truly thankful for everyone who has put time in to make the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym such an amazing place. And I am truly thankful for being given the chance to do what I love...Here's to an amazing 2013!

Olivia's 2013 has been pretty good so far!

Support PSG!!

For anyone who missed the PSG December Newsletter, here is a link: December 2012 Newsletter

Below is the note I included in the newsletter that I also wanted to share here on the blog. I am so proud of PSG and everything that has been accomplished this year...Check out the progress below:

2012 has been an interesting, yet amazing, year for the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym...To recap:

• PSG found a home in March 2012
• The first opening in the PSG Gallery was on May 19th, 2012
• PSG Gallery had 5 more amazing openings on First Fridays in July, September, October, November and December
• PSG Gallery sold 4 pieces of art and exhibited the work of 46 artists
• PSG donated memberships to AIGA, The Hacktory, the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and more
• PSG charter members participated in events outside of PSG Gallery, such as the PHS pop up garden and Indy Hall In Progress Show
• The very first PSG workshop offered sold out in 4 days
• I've met countless volunteers and PSG supporters
• PSG now has 21 charter members
• PSG has a group of 5 hard core volunteers, made up of Jenny Welsh, our Programs Manager, Gustavo Actis, our Shop Manager, Brynn Miller, our Assistant Shop Manager, Bevan Weissman, as yet untitled, and Molly Denisevicz, intern extraordinaire.
• We have a workshop schedule set up for January
• We've gotten some amazing press:

6abc Loves the Arts - Get Creative at the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym
The Atlantic Cities - Neighborhood Revitalization Tools: Band Saw, Drill Press, Welding Helmet
Philadelphia Business Journal - Places for people who want to make things
Grid Magazine - Open Shop: Co-working 'gyms' provide tools and space for beginners and experts alike
Newsworks - New 'gym' carves out a place for sculptors in Philly
Flying Kite Media - How to make it in Philly as a Sculptor
Knight Arts Blog - Winner Profile
Knight Arts Blog - Philadelphia Sculpture Gym settles into new Frankford home
Knight Arts Blog - Wooden Art and POST at Philadelphia Sculpture Gym

None of these things would be possible without the love and support that everyone has shown me and the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym. I am forever grateful to everyone who has ever said that they thought it was a good idea, told their friends about it, or donated tools, money or time...Thank you for all of it. You are all making so many's people's dreams come true...whether its someone like me who is starting the business, or one of the many artists who have been dying to have a place of their own to weld/cast/cut/etc for years, or one of the many people who just wanted a community that they felt like they fit into...you are making this place a reality for all of us, and for that I cannot thank you enough.
Here's to an even more amazing 2013...for all of us!
Most Sincerely,
Darla

 If you like what we're doing and want to see more awesomeness in 2013, we'd love if you would help support the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym by making a tax deductible donation. By clicking 'DONATE' below, you will be taken to the Miami Foundation Website (our fiscal sponsor). Please be sure to enter "Philadelphia Sculpture Gym Fund" under 'Select a Designation'.
Contact me with any questions at philadelphiasculpturegym@gmail.com  Again, I cannot thank all of our supporters and volunteers enough. But I will keep trying....so thank you thank you thank you!!!

DONATE

Thank you so much!

Philadelphia Sculpture Gym Table at Coldhearted II

Wow! You know it was a good event when it takes over a week to write about it. A huge thanks to everyone who made Coldhearted II and our very first workshop so successful. Our amazing vendors and Food Trucks, everyone who helped us spread the word and set up the space, everyone who came out on Friday and Saturday and especially Team PSG, who went above and beyond for this event. Also thanks to everyone at Hive 76 who participated in the workshop. Check out their post about it here: Hive76 Aluminum Casting

And for more photos, check out the Coldhearted II photo album on our Facebook Page. 

Coldhearted II

Lil Dan's Food Truck on their way in!

Beautiful work by Geoffrey Thompson

Zsa's Gourmet Ice Cream...so delicious!

Greensand molds at our Aluminum Casting Workshop.

Elizabeth Heller pours aluminum

A beautiful piece by Elizabeth Heller

Coldhearted II in The Spirit!

Seriously, this article made me tear up. Everyone had such wonderful things to say and I was reminded of the first Coldhearted we did in February.... It was our very first event in the space. It was cold. It was dirty. It was dark. IT WAS COLD.  And I look at how far we've come since then and I am amazed at what has been accomplished by the dedicated crew of volunteers that come every week and give their time and share their skills. We have made this place what it is today. So thank you to everyone for all the love and support. Hope to see you this weekend!

Thankful

I just want to take a moment to express the thoughts of thanks that I feel just about every day, but don't always get to say out loud...
I am thankful for my friends and family who have always supported my visions, no matter how crazy they seem at times. And for the amazing advice that follows and helps everything fall into place.
I am thankful for the new family of friends I've met through the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym. It's like I've known you all my entire life and I certainly could not have done this without you.
I am thankful for the determination that I learned from watching my parents, which I still see as they work to rebuild their home. 
I am thankful to have a healthy, wonderful, amazing family.
I am thankful for the support everyone has given me and this project. Again, it could not be done without you.

I hope everyone has an amazing day.

Image from here

Coming along...

The space is coming along...so much has been happening here with the help of dedicated volunteers and interns. We are working so hard to get everything ready and have come such a long way. We're just waiting on a few major things that are outside of our control so everything is taking a bit longer than expected (as I'm told things like this always do.) I appreciate your patience and promise you that it will be worth the wait. Thanks for believing in this and in me.

Here's a little reminder of where we started...