This Friday, September 7th, is First Friday in Philadelphia again. This entire week Old City has been hosting the annual Fringe Festival which means that this Friday will be an evening filled with music, dance and drama as well as some of Philly’s finest artists. For information on events, schedules, and ticket sales, be sure to check out the Philly Fringe page and, as always, you can visit the Old City Arts website or InLiquid.com to see what’s happening in the Old City art scene.

“The image arts always have been and always will be the non-verbal language of the spirit, the silent educator of the soul. The image educates where reason never reaches.”
-Dorothea Blom

Perseus and Andromeda
Peter Paul Rubens (b. June 28th, 1577 - d. May 30th, 1640)

Happy 430th birthday to Flemish baroque painter Peter Rubens.

“For the soul, then, beauty is not defined as pleasantness of form but rather as the quality in things that invites absorption and contemplation.”
-Thomas Moore

The Annunciation
Henry Ossawa Tanner (b. June 21st, 1859 – d. May 25th, 1937)

Today is the 148th birthday of African-American Realist painter Henry Ossawa Tanner.

Relativity
M.C. Escher (b. June 17th, 1898 – d. March 27, 1972)

Maurits Cornelis Escher would be 109 today. A long time graphic artists, Escher’s optical illusions are still pleasing crowds to this day.

“We may appreciate the efforts, and even admire the greatness of the men who have tried to find the universal, the general ‘behind’ appearances; yet at the same time their quest was doomed to fail, for all universals break down as soon as the Creator, He who made man in His image, is denied or left out of account.”
-Hans Rookmaaker

Wrapped Reichstag
Christo (b. June 13th, 1935 - )

Christo turns 72 today. Perhaps someone should give him a birthday cake wrapped in fabric?

Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds
John Constable (b. June 11th, 1776 – d. March 31st, 1837)

English Romantic painter John Constable was born 231 years ago today.

To our Philadelphia readers:
Starting July 1st, 2007 the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be increasing their admission prices.

Adults:
$14 (up from $12)

Students with ID and youth between the ages of 13 and 18:
$10 (up from $ 8)

Seniors:
$12 (up from $9 previously)

Thankfully the free admission for children 12 and under, Philadelphia public schools, and the “pay what you wish all day” Sundays are still in effect.

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