High 5 Gallery is one of those cool new art spaces that I've known about for a little over a year,…read morebut took awhile to get to. But it's hard not to appreciate and get behind an art gallery that's owned by a talented female artist who works hard to set up monthly shows that follow a unique theme and feature some incredible local artists who aren't readily featured in other area galleries. That moment finally came when I went to see Off White, an intriguing exhibit that exclusively featured artist of color, and included my friend TelenitArt (https://www.facebook.com/telenitart/). Not only was it an impressive show that showcased a good range of artists who worked with several different mediums, but I was also impressed with how the bulk of the artists were on hand to answer questions and give tours of their work. This month's show left me in absolute of of the Pen & Stencil pop art of street artist KC Grummun, who gives historical figures and Rocky Balboa a punk rock twist among other things.But toss in other shows like the open house exhibit for the Women's Caucus for Philadelphia Art, and it shows their commitment towards bridging the artistic gap.

The Arthur Ross Gallery presents dynamic art exhibitions throughout the year, and all are welcome…read moreto enjoy the shows for free! The gallery is a quiet, meditative space during the average day, but the openings are lively and fun. Love this place!

Very interesting gallery that often hold events related to arts and history. If You have an…read moreopportunity to go to an event they have a nice spread however, you know the college students are therefore anything they can get to eat for free so you'll have to be patient. But the art, the talks, and history are well worth showing up for an event. Just go to happy hour elsewhere before arriving or after you leave.

Gallery wise Artjaz is just decent. The first time you'll get a kick out of looking at the snazzy…read moremask paintings, and the jazzy shots of various musicians. But from month to month The art that this gallery has to offer doesn't exactly change all that much. During this First Friday I could of sworn that I was looking at exact paintings that I saw 2 years ago, for the 4th time. That doesn't slide very well in an ever changing art world. But at least the art that they show is generally worth looking at. And I do appreciate the free veggie and cheese hookups.

Cool space to see this year's Sundance Shorts Series. Nice staff and fair pricing for tickets. I…read morehope to come back for a show or screening soon!

This is a unique and evergreen venue that adapts to whatever artist / act / DJ / event is…read moreexhibiting within its walls. Such a gem right off the Spring Garden stop, I attended a fantastic mixed poetry reading and open mic night back in October. They have two levels and there's bathrooms at the back and a couple of different ways to set up seats. The stage itself is the perfect size for a DJ setup or smaller show. I look forward to the next time I get to go back and support this eclectic spot - an obvious haven for artists and the entire scene here in Philly. Stay up to date via their Instagram and website - in all likelihood this spot will have something eye catching programed on any given week. Get there and support this institution and Philly artists!

I have been coming to events at OCJAC since 2014. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wircberg are true assets to…read morethe local Jewish community.

What a great gallery in Philly. The space is very inviting. The art work was amazing. I…read moreparticularly liked the pastels by Linda Robinson

Ugh! I thought that I've already been to the worst gallery that First Friday has to offer…read more(http://www.yelp.com/biz/larry-becker-contemporary-art-philadelphia#hrid:dyhw4pVDk3wufuaulP6heg). But Gallery Joe is absolutely horrendous! I've been here before way back when, but I totally forgot about it because it keeps it's doors closed, or closes early during so many First Friday's. And after revisiting it on on Friday I either wish it would figure out how to step up it's game, or stay that way. Since it's rarely open I thought I was going to be walking into a treat. Instead I came across pencil drawings on white paper that were so beyond plain that they were a joke. Some had squiggly lines that were sort of made to look likes water, while others where a total scribble fest. And some of them even looked like they were made with a Spirograph. Spirograph? SPIROGRAPH! because of how average the art was I thought that it was at least going to be somewhat inexpensive. How much did these Spirograhic scribble fests end up costing? $800-900! What the shit? $900 for something that my cousin's baby daughter could do? Fail! I was so stumped that I thought that it had to be a joke for the month, so I went to check out it's archival room. Inside the Archival room were pieces of paper that where fully shaded in with charcoal. The majority had darker charcoal X's shaded in over grey squares. To the artists credit if I did something like that I probably would have ended up slicing a hole through the paper. But it was still a big pile of crap. lesson learned. on the next tour consider this place skipped.

I'm not sure what the last reviewer is talking about. This was my favorite gallery waaaay back when…read moreI was in grad school in Philly (2001 - 2003) because I was nearly always inspired by what I saw there, month after month. I went back to visit a year ago (I live on the other side of the country now) and was so pleased to find it just as I remembered. The two artists showing at the time (Allyson Strafella and another whose name I can't recall) were both amazing.

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Such an amazing exhibition to visit! Big fan of textiles, especially quilts! The staff at the front…read morewas very friendly and the art was lovely to see.

I took a trip to Philly to DJ with my boy DJ Trauma. We had some kill time and we decided to hit…read moreSouth Street. Rolled up in Zagar's showroom, but seemed more like a museum. I was blown away by Zagar's work with breaking mirrors and then using the pieces to construct unique pieces of art.. When you drive around Philly, you'll see his work everywhere.. Truthfully something to experience... http://www.philadelphiasmagicgardens.org/

Last week on my day off I decided to take a road trip to Philly...sometimes the museums in DC gets…read morea little old being a native. When you walk in this place-its just Amazing!! I cant describe this experience-its a must see for anyone whose interested in photography, art and just the unknown. There was another guy that stood there in the middle of one room with me and we couldnt move-there was just so much going on with his artwork. so many angels, hidden messages, beautiful pieces of mosaics put together-handcrafted ..it was unbelievable. The cost is 5 dollars (donation) and it is worth every bit of it!! I drove back to VA/DC with amazing shots and I almost didnt want to share my experience- I wanted to keep this experience a secret but I have to give props to the artist Isaiah Zagar. Wow!