dragnet press from philadelphia inquirer

Galleries: 'Dragnet' brings dark, gritty views to South Street

By Edith Newhall

For The Inquirer

What does an unjuried, uncurated group show of 48 artists whose works were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis look like?

Not as unprofessional or chaotic as you might imagine. Sage Project's "Dragnet: The Art Show" benefits from a smart, airy installation, and there are a few wonderful pieces in the formerly empty South Street storefront space that Sage, an artist-member organization, calls home.

There are times, of course, when "Dragnet" offers a powerful argument in favor of the juried or invitational show. Stylistically and philosophically, the works assembled here are all over the map. Still, it's fascinating to see a slice of the Philadelphia art scene that's so unremittingly dark and gritty, the terrain of photographer Zoe Strauss and video-installation wunderkind Ryan Trecartin.

The show's resonantly 1960s title - taken from the film noir-inspired TV series and chosen in advance of the open call - seems weirdly prescient. So does the poster of mug-shot-style photographs (by Heather Phillips) of all the show's artists hung at the front of the gallery, a promotional format that was clearly chosen in advance as well.

Two entirely different works dominate this show, and in vastly different ways.

Elliott Hasiuk's Screw Ball is a calculatedly creepy installation of found '60s and '70s paperbacks, from sci-fi to porno to how-to, piled on the floor and on a display ladder. A video monitor mounted behind the ladder can be seen between its steps, on its screen a film of disjointed found images that's accompanied by a similarly disjointed, disturbing audio. You have the sense you've entered a used-book store of early hippie-vintage owned by a Charles Manson follower.

And then there's Gerard Cerini's Sky, a life-size aluminum-foil sculpture of a nude man sitting on the floor and looking upward, arms wrapped around his knees, the embodiment of solidity and calm. While walking around it and looking at nearby works, I had the eerie sensation I was sharing the room with another living person. Sky has nothing in common with Duane Hanson's photorealist facsimiles of humans (not to mention Hanson's faithful renderings of clothing) - it's made entirely of aluminum - but it has the same uncanny presence.

Every possible style of painting is brought together in this show, but most of the work is moody and introspective. For all its brilliant Fauvist and Day-Glo color, Jed Williams' Speak to Me, a painting of a man who appears to be walking in a park and speaking on a cell phone, communicates separation and loneliness. Mark Dilk's thickly impastoed portrait of a man that could be based on a colonial American portrait, Take Out My Eyes, is as poignant as it is rich and tactile. Minimal abstract paintings by Assulu Kadyrzhanova, Arthur Ostroff, and Dustin Doran favor somber deep blues, near-black Payne's gray, dark green, and ochres.

Now and then, a relatively cheerful aberration seems to have snuck in, such as Joanathan Pappas' The Nuclear Family - six charming, seemingly happy, Gumby-like figures made of tape, clay, and wire, positioned on a wood block - and June B. Blumberg's Blue Lion, of a sweet-looking blue beast in watercolor and pastel on paper. But these, too - the figures with their forced smiles, the lonely lion - hint at a darker side.

ca conrad interview for Advanced Elvis Course from THE MORNING NEWS



In his new book, poet and self-described“vegetarian sin eater” CAConrad develops a theosophy based on the music and celebrity of Elvis Presley. Using prose poems, found art, and snippets of conversational dialog, Advanced Elvis Course details CAConrad’s excursions to Memphis where he interacts with acolytes of the King.

TMN: What prompted your journey to Graceland?

CAC: It was actually many trips, and they weren’t prompted—not at first they weren’t. Although there were several trips friends wanted to take with me, I said no, because Graceland is a meditation into the best parts of the soul of America, and you feel it and meet other pilgrims much easier when alone. 

The book isn’t a travel book, or a guide to Graceland. It’s actually about the investigations into what’s happening with this spiritual leader Elvis Presley in the bigger picture of our world. The book sets out to investigate “out loud,” so to speak, or investigate with everyone “out loud.”

The queer content of the book has prompted an angry stir from some of the more conservative minds surrounding Elvis and his legacy. I’ve taken to sending a reply to all hate mail with this linkwhere I break down for them the lyrics to “Jailhouse Rock,” which really pisses them off. It’s no surprise though, sadly, since reports show that gay bashing is up by 29 percent. But I’ve been tested by fire; bring it on, I say!

TMN: It seemed as though you were openly welcomed into the community of Elvis fans in Memphis. Was this as it actually happened or were anti-gay aspects of your experience omitted?

CAC: Oh, I would never leave such things out, if they happened. If I met any homophobes there I didn’t know it. Everyone’s so high on Elvis at Graceland; no time for the haters. It’s funny you say this, though, because the book was reviewed by a gay newspaper and the reviewer was annoyed that some people in the book acted like I was a unicorn or something. But I just figured that the reviewer doesn’t get outside his immediate circles much. When I’m outside big cities people often act like I’m cool because I’m gay. That’s funny because a lot of gay people are not cool at all—gay Republicans for instance. And trust me when I say that straight Republicans are even cooler than gay Republicans!

TMN: Why is it so easy for so many people to see Elvis as a divine figure?

CAC: In her memoir, Elvis and Me, Priscilla Presley recalls Elvis asking, why, out of all the people in the universe, had he been chosen to influence so many millions of souls? Elvis was a Capricorn, born January 8th, and eight rules the center of Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, which is all about getting things done, no bones about it! Never forget Elvis’s signature, “TCB: Taking Care of Business!” He was also born a twin, and Elvis knew he absorbed his dead brother’s life-force at birth, setting his course and setting the high-octane engine for that course.

CaConradTMN: What’s your favorite object in your office?

CAC: The photograph my friend Heather Raquel Phillips took for the book, and not because it’s a picture of me, but because I really feel that picture, reaching for the giant blue E of Elvis in the sky! I told her about the dream I had and she said, “Let’s do it!” She’s a terrific photographer; she can do anything!

TMN: Do you think a person has to choose a side in the Beatles/Elvis debate?

CAC: I just quote John Lennon, who said, “Before Elvis there was nothing!” John answered it for us.

TMN: Why format the book as you did, as a series of prose, poems, and snippets of conversation?

CAC: My main voice is as a poet, and any poet worth his or her salt knows the true value of breaking the rules. By allowing the book to come out of me just as it wanted to, instead of forcing it into the restraints of formally acceptable forms, much more was able to be expressed. I believe strongly in the hybrid-genre building of a book. It’s a joy to write this way, and so far the feedback has been that it’s a good read as well.

TMN: What’s something you’re not good at but wish you were?

CAC: Bringing the dead back to life. I despise death, hate that we are so temporary. There’s so much to do! It seems impossible to do it all. And there are so many people I’ve loved who are dead. I really hate death. I’m opposed to death, more than anything else in life!

TMN: What are you working on next?

CAC: Another long-term project, The Book of Frank, recently came out. But I’m hard at work on my (Soma)tic Poetry, a poetry which investigates life between Soma, or the divine, with Somatic, or the flesh of things. (This is something updated monthly.) And I’m in the middle of finishing a very exciting collaborative (Soma)tic experiment with my friend Thom Donovan, and this involves the music of Arthur Russell.

I’m also working on a book of Astral Projection poems, poems written as a result of out-of-body experiences. Also there is a collaborative book I’m working on with poet Frank Sherlock titled The City Real & Imagined: Philadelphia Poems, and this is coming out in January 2010 from Factory School Books. I’m very excited to be working with so many brilliant poets, and I wouldn’t trade this time for any other!

TMN: Would you be willing to relocate if necessary?

CAC: But I relocate every day, keeping my mind open to the undiscovered beauties. And I don’t care if that sounds corny, I mean it! —ERIK BRYAN, Aug. 4, 2009

Great Adventure for my birthday, thanks!

i usually go every year. we waited out the rain & made it on just as many rides in half the time. 

plus took lots of fun pics and met a fantastic 14 year old young man, who rode my favorite coaster with us, EL TORO, What a beautiful creation!

thanks for the love, jen. 




























sexy singles


PDN ran this hilarious spread last week featuring "sexy singles" in the Philadelphia region. 

the photos and bios were serious & seriously funny.

my spin off begins with these two gems. subject, me. taken by me :)

Charles A. Jones

march 6th, 1914 - july 22, 2009

the most amazing man to ever enter my life.

here's what i read:



how do you honor such a wonderful man's life in just a few paragraphs?

it may truly be an impossible task. But, in the vein of my grandfather, i will try to muster the words and strength to do so.

but of course no amount of words will ever leave me feeling i've honored him in the way i feel about him in my heart.


My grandfather, the patriarch of our family. the love of my life.  to those of you here today, you must know something about who he was & i thank you for paying respect. for me, he was the guiding force for so much in my life. he was a hard worker, a gentle hand, a loving caretaker, a man of great faith and conviction. he had pride in his family, and praised us all individually. he was a remarkable husband, father, grandfather & great grandfather. 


i always felt a special bond with him. he was my mentor and always encouraged me with great enthusiasm to pursue and develop my creativity. when times were tough in my life i knew i could make it through for him. when times were good, he would always be one of the first to share in my joy. as i grew older, i am so grateful to have had the time spent with him to really get to know him. i felt a kinship with him that was so unique and undeniable. he made me laugh, made me feel special & gave me all the comfort a granddaughter could possibly want.  spending time and talking with him left me feeling fulfilled in a way i cannot describe. 


this is how i feel he had an affect on our family. why else would we all stay so close. his son moving only next door, mine & my aunt's family living only miles away.  we've remained close & our family has grown in the spirit of love and faith that he passed onto all of us.


my grandfather wore many hats & possessed countless attributes but he remained a humble, quiet, gentle and generous man.when asked what the most valuable lesson he had learned during his existence, he assuredly answered, "christ died for our sins on the cross". he loved the lord and was not afraid to "go home" and meet again with his loving wife, his only reservation was that he loved being with his family. we can all feel comfort knowing where he is today. 


after the loss of my grandmother he discovered a new side of himself.  he enjoyed being in his home, decorating, baking, cooking, visiting with family, especially the children who provided him with so much joy. he couldn't possibly collect enough toys and books for them. he just loved to give and he always did, passing on the generosity gene to all of us who learned from him.


94 years had brought many experiences throughout his life.  he stayed close to home and saw a world changing around him. from outhouse to indoor plumbing. horse drawn buggie to motor vehicle, the great depression, 2 world wars during his lifetime, air travel, space travel, a man on the moon. from segregation to our first black president. he seemed to sit back and marvel at it all. he always stayed present & loved the changing of times but always remained the same strong man. after all, you don't live 94 years without being strong.


today i ask that you think of the life he led & feel joy in your heart for him. lets remember his life today, not his passing.

i would have kept him around forever if i could but i'm grateful that he was able to live well and retain his dignity up to 

the very end. so as he moves from beyond this earth into eternal life we can keep him here in spirit, where he can continue 

to exist in our hearts and memories.


shelter dogs



i haven't been able to get to the shelter in a while. i feel terrible for it.

here are pics from last month. there are always beauties waiting to go to a permanent home.

check my link to camden county animal shelter to the upper left for more info.

berlin mart







a couple years ago, i was doing a project at the mart and i was there every weekend.
lots of pictures, more junk. 

went yesterday, some pics some junk. much easier. still fun.