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Labor Day at the MoAR, terrains, 20/20 Photo Festival, and Brazilian Day in Philly
The BSR Weekly Arts and Culture Roundup, August 31-September 6, 2023
Kyle V. Hiller
Take a load off this weekend if you can. And if you can’t, try to take it easy on yourself this Labor Day. While you’re at it, we’ve got a handful of events that will be perfect for an afternoon all for yourself—and maybe the kids or a friend or two. The Museum of the American Revolution opens its doors for the holiday, a new exhibit with a variety of artistic disciplines blends together at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, a photo festival arrives at Cherry Street Pier, and just around the way from there is this year’s Brazilian Day Philadelphia festivities.
terrains: into black existence
August 30-September 24, 2023
Da Vinci Art Alliance, 704 Catharine Street, Philadelphia
DVAA curatorial fellow Mai Eltahir opens an exhibition of seven artists exploring the poetics of Black ontology this weekend with an opening reception on Saturday, September 2nd, 5-8pm. The exhibition “offers a place to examine how artistic expression, emotional, and intellectual work collapse into constellations that complicate colonial boundaries of existence and endings.”
The artists include Jonathan Gonzalez, an artist working with performance, sculpture, text, video, and time-based media; Aamirah Khafre, whose interdisciplinary practice focuses on printmaking, graphic design, and textiles; Ingrid Raphaël explores image making; Danielle Morris absorbs the tradition of remembrance art into daily practice; Zekkereya El-magharbel’s work explores the intersections of African and Islamic worlds, drawing from Sufi poets as inspiration; Tafari Robertson uses various mediums to question the artistic effects of spaces and what ripples out when those spaces are created, sustained, or destroyed; and David Norori’s photographic practice revolves around exploring the nuances of daily life.
20/20 Photo Festival
September 1-30, 2023
Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia
The month-long festival is back and this year, it’s diving into the natural world from a photographer’s vision. The opening reception is on Friday, September 1 from 5:30-7pm with exhibitions, artist talks, a photo book fair, workshops, and more to close out the festival on Saturday, September 30.
Labor Day Weekend at the MoAR
September 2-4, 2023
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S 3rd Street, Philadelphia
Celebrate Labor Day with special events happening at the museum this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, a theatrical performance of Meet James Forten, the focus of the museum’s current exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia will take the stage at 1:15 and 3:15pm. Additionally, the family-friendly discovery center will open up for a chance to discover more about the Old City neighborhood during the 1700s, engage with crafts, and more. Children 12 years and under can enter the museum for free through the weekend.
Brazilian Day Philadelphia
Sunday, September 3, 1-7pm
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, 101 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia
Celebrate Brazilian Independence Day with the community this weekend at Penn’s Landing. Project Capoeira will present the day of events, bringing artistic and musical performances from folk traditions like capoeira and samba reggae drum bands and samba dancers. There will also be food and beverages, a marketplace, and more.
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