Last fall, we told you about a grand exhibit marking the 25th anniversary of the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers, that predictably unpredictable band of found-object artists who have been re-purposing the city’s castoffs since 1992.
This year, they’re back with an intriguing exhibit of all new work and you’re definitely invited, starting with a First Friday celebration on Nov. 2 from 2-10 p.m. at the Dupree Gallery, 703 S. 6th Street.
The Divers and friends previewed “Re-Crafted”, their new exhibit, last weekend at the Dupree Gallery in Philadelphia’s Queen Village section.
Through Dec. 29, thirty different Divers — including new members Tim Barton and Eve Hoyt — will offer witty, smaller-scale assemblages — and, yes, that definitely says one-of-a-kind holiday gifts to us!
Clockwise from top left: Work by Tim Barton, Ellen Sall, James Dupree, Neil Benson, and Eve Hoyt.
You can check out the complete artist list and all the gallery hours at the Dumpster Divers website, here.
Clockwise from top left: Work by Burnell Yow!, Eva Aanya Preston, Carol Cole, Bruce Gast, Ann Keech, and Lion Studio. Center: Leo Sewell.
As an added treat, the Divers are partnering with CraftNOW Philadelphia and almost two dozen local museums, galleries and fine craft groups, each of which is offering November events to celebrate our city’s innovative craft culture — including the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s prestigious contemporary craft show (Nov. 2-4).
“Look! Up in the sky! It’s…” an eyeball-covered mobile by artist Sally Willowbee (second from left).
This year’s citywide craft theme is “Making a Difference” and the Divers have been doing that for 26 years – reminding us all that “trash is simply a failure of imagination.”
That’s artist and gallery owner James Dupree — Philadelphia’s own “Black Picasso” — in the white coat at center. Click here to see our photo tour of his fabulous Mantua studio.
Information on all the November craft events can be found at the CraftNOW Philadelphia website, here. And don’t forget to check the Divers’ own website for a list of gallery hours between now and Dec. 29.
We’ll see you here!
Kate & Dave
Some of the more than 125 works you’ll find behind our purple door.
Collage, fiber and found-object art by Eva Aanya Preston, Ellen Sall, I. George Bilyk, Burnell Yow! and Bruce Gast
Among our 46 featured Diver artists are (clockwise from top left): Leo Sewell, Ellen Sall, John Jonik, Hugo Hsu, Smokie Kittner and Harry Anderson
A 1990s rogue’s gallery of (semi-)dressed-up Divers….
Who are these people, and do they always dress like that? Well, actually, some of them do…. (Photo by I. George Bilyk)
Definitely the Divers: Work by Bruce Gast, Randall Cleaver and Leslie Stuart Matthews. (Photos courtesy of the artists.)
Patrick and Susan Moloney with one of their ever-ready coffee makers
Unexpected Philadelphia 