Because July's First Friday falls on the nation's 232nd birthday, in addition to firecrackers, brews, hot dogs, and sliders, we also get to savor good art, as many of the Old City galleries stage their usual First Friday openings and extended hours. Note that some galleries will be closed on the 4th, so if you have a particular favorite that you always aim for, give them a call first to make sure that they will......

Because we're big fans of student artwork, we told you about NEXUSselects when it first opened and we're now reminding you that it's about to close this coming Saturday. NEXUSselects is a juried competition for seniors graduating from the Philadelphia region and this exhibition includes work by painter Anton Carlone from the University of the Arts; photographer Kelsey Fain from Drexel University; photographer Colin Leaman from Tyler School of Art; painter Gerold Mooney from University......

In April we called on our readers to submit their photos for the inaugural Phillyist Framed photography contest and show. The people at Studio 34 Yoga, the Phillyist staff, and of course, the selected winners have been busy organizing the event and turning digital camera files into professionally-framed prints. Now, here's where you come in: we'd love to have our readers and their guests on hand to celebrate with us. Use any of the......

We can't help but be aware that Philadelphia is a city that really pays attention to its always growing crop of art students, and there always seems to be terrific exhibitions where the focus is on student work, such as the one that we mentioned last week currently taking place in Northern Liberties' Projects Gallery. And yet another such exhibition is NEXUSselects, a juried competition for seniors graduating from the Philadelphia region. This exhibition "seeks......

Smile people: It's Friday! AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S GUANTANAMO CELL TOUR The champions of human rights are constructing a replica of the infamous cells at City Hall this weekend, available for examination or entrance by passersby. You can videotape a message to Bush, too. That must be one hell of an interesting video library. WHO: Anyone WHERE: City Hall's Dilworth Plaza,1400 JFK Boulevard (map) WHEN: From 1pm to 7pm HOW MUCH: Free! PENNYWISE AT THE FILLMORE It's......

Maybe there are some talented photographers out there who missed our previous entries about our Phillyist Framed photography show. For those who are unaware: we're putting on a show at Studio 34 that will give our readers a chance to show their photos in a gallery setting. The deadline for entries is midnight on May 21 (tomorrow night!), so if you've been procrastinating, now's the time to submit your best pictures. View the rules......

Perhaps you've seen our previous posts about Phillyist Framed 2008, a show we're throwing with Studio 34 Yoga that'll give you a chance to have your photos displayed in a gallery. Since entries are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, May 21, we wanted to post a quick reminder to submit your photos. Here are the rules. Let's see your best work!......

If you can get there early enough before all the savvy and experienced art collectors pick up the best works of art, from May 10 through June 1, 2008, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will host its 107th Annual Student Exhibition (ASE) in the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building. We're big fans of student artwork, and this exhibition has a reputation for being one of the best in the nation. Underwritten by the Women's......

We see photographers around the city all the time, our Photoist posts are always impressive, and the Phillyist Flickr Photo Pool has thousands of shots. So we know you're out there, and you've probably got a photo that you really love, sitting under-appreciated on your hard drive. You need a chance to show it off. Which is why we're putting on the 2008 Phillyist Framed Photography Show, a chance to display your photography in......

Think you have what it takes to be a renowned photographer? Always wanted to display your photos, but never had a place to do it? Maybe you're not quite that ambitious, but you've got one killer shot that you're sure could stand with the best of them? We at Phillyist have been impressed with your Photoist entries, so we want to give you a chance to display your photography in a more formal gallery......

Let us say up front that we buy into Virginia Woolf’s theory about women artists: it was/is often lack of opportunity, rather than lack of talent, that keeps the gender imbalance in the classic art canon holding steady. Controversy still abounds as to the placement and display of female artists, particularly whether it matters. If art is good, it is good, right, and will be recognized as such, regardless of gender. Would that it were......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Massive: WZT Hearts, Wet Hair, Secret Abuse, Nimby, Evan Miller, Teeth Mountain, and Prince Hand Vs. Prince Hand at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut), doors 7:30PM. $5 Celebration: Opening reception for A Celebration of Life and Art, works by the late Marge Peterson, at Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford), 5-9PM. Free Reading: David Levithan reads from his new short story collection, How They Met and Other Stories, at Giovanni’s......