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“American tattooing began with the sailor”, says John Brady, CEO of Philadelphia’s Independence Seaport Museum.

And, while sparsely clad, voluptuous women or anchors a la Popeye may not be everyone’s first choice in ink these days, the act and idea of expressing oneself through the art of tattooing still remains a popular tradition that is ever-evolving in our time.

On Thursday, February 9, the Independence Seaport Museum debuts Past to Present: Tattoo Paintings, a three month exhibit dedicated to the contemporary tattoo art movement.

On display in the museum’s second floor community gallery, many of the tattoo paintings are for sale and can be purchased through the museum’s store.

In addition, guests can get “inked” by an electronic artist which was featured in the Museum’s 2009 exhibit Skin & Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, and for the real deal visitors can wait to make an appearance at the museum’s three day tattoo festival in June.

Past to Present: Tattoo Paintings at the Independence Seaport Museum
Where: 211 S. Columbus Boulevard
When: February 9-May 20
Cost: Admission is $10-$12
More info: www.phillyseaport.org

Celebrate Valentine's Day early with the Penn Museum's love-themed lecture and reception this Thursday, February 9. (Photo by L. Hansen-Flaschen courtesy Penn Museum)

The Young Friends of the Penn Museum are continuing their tradition of non-traditional Valentine’s Day events, this year bringing Philadelphians “Love Hurts,” an exploration of the harsher side of love in ancient times.

Previous year’s lectures, including “Ancient Girls Gone Wild” and “Cougars, Playas, and Baby Mama Drama” shed light on the love lives of the ancients. This year’s lecture given by museum scholars is sure to contain equally salacious tales.

Whether you are dateless and disgusted by pink heart candies and all things February 14th or just looking for interesting facts on relationships to share with (read: impress) your friends, even happily-in-love couples are welcome to attend this event.

Stick around after the program and join the Young Friends for a cocktail reception (cash bar).

Tickets are available online.

Love Hurts: Annual Penn Museum Young Friends Valentine’s Event
Where: 3260 South Street
When: Thursday, February 9, 6:15 p.m.
Cost: $10 ($5 for members and full-time students)
More info: www.penn.museum

The ICA is home to provocative contemporary art.
(Photo courtesy ICA)

The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania is offering free admission all month long.

Since the 1960s, the ICA has led the way in revealing the hottest trends in contemporary art with the first-ever museum shows of Andy Warhol, Laurie Anderson, Agnes Martin, Robert Indiana and other influential artists.

Take advantage of the month-long free admission by checking out the Charline von Heyl exhibition, featuring 18 paintings and collages; Jennifer Bolande Landmarks, a site-specific installation; and Living Document / Naked Reality: Towards an Archival Cinema, which explores cinema’s complex political, formal and ideological history from the 1910s-1960s by showcasing the work of six international artists.

Free admission to the ICA is sponsored by the Amanda (C95) and Glenn (W87/WG88) Fuhrman Fund.

Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S. 36th Street
www.icaphila.org

Watch PAFA artists as they work inside their studios, many with stunning views of the city.
(Photo by F. Dean for GPTMC)

On Friday, February 10, join the faculty, students, and staff of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) for an Open Studio Night in the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building from 5:30-8 p.m.

You’ll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the professional academy artists’ studios, as well as the exceptional works-in-progress being created by PAFA students in more than 175 individual studios.

Artists and art lovers alike will enjoy this exclusive opportunity to meet America’s next generation of artists in person.

You’ll even have the chance to speak to the art students one-on-one to discuss the concepts and inspirations behind their diverse and exciting original paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints that will be part of this spring’s Annual Student Exhibition.

This event is free and open to the public.

Open Studio Night at PAFA
When: Friday, February 10, 5:30-8pm.
Where: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.pafa.edu

Celebrate the eve of Lent with a delicious, cream-filled Swedish pastry and a cup of hot coffee, followed by a Swedish film. (Photo courtesy American Swedish Historical Museum)

Treat yourself to something sweet at the American Swedish Historical Museum’s “Semlor And A Movie,” Saturday, February 18, 11 a.m.

Different cultures have a variety of delicious foods that they eat before the start of Lent in late winter.

For example, the English have “Pancake Day,” and Mardi Gras is often celebrated with King Cake. People in Sweden eat semlor, rich puff pastries filled with almond paste and whipped cream, served along with strong coffee. Drool.

The plump, cream-filled buns, traditionally eaten on Tuesdays, actually begin appearing in shops as early as January. Fat Tuesday (in Swedish the day is known as “Fettisdagen,” meaning Fat Tuesday) would be more aptly named Fat January, February and March.

Enjoy homemade semlor and coffee for yourself as the American Swedish Historical Museum in FDR Park hosts “Semlor And A Movie,” including an engaging Scandinavian film.

Register in advance online, or over the phone at (215) 389-1776. Advance tickets are $12, or $15 at the door. Order an extra semla for $6. RSVP by February 13.

Semlor and a Movie at the American Swedish Historical Museum
When: Saturday, February 18, 11 a.m.
Where: 1900 Pattison Avenu
Cost: Advance tickets are $12, or $15 at the door. Order an extra semla for $6
More info: www.americanswedish.org

Paul Evans (1931-1987) , Sculpted Steel Wall Collage, 1970. (Image courtesy Michener Museum)

The creative energy, broad technical repertoire and innovative designs of studio craft artists of the Delaware Valley are subjects of the Michener Art Museum’s new installation entitled Intelligent Design, opening February 3.

Whether a mosaic tile, an abstract form in wood, a wall sculpture, or a ceramic vessel, as nonverbal forms of human expression these works not only reflect cultural values but can function to transform the particulars of our everyday lives.

Says Curator of Collections Constance Kimmerle, “The strong studio craft tradition of southeastern Pennsylvania represents a significant collecting opportunity for the Michener Art Museum, and it’s exciting to be doing this in the area in which the museum is actively building its permanent collection.” Cheers to that.

Intelligent Design at the Michener Art Museum
When: Permanent exhibition opening February 3
Where: 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown
Cost: Children under 6 free, Adults $12.50, Seniors $11.50, College students $9.50, Ages 6-18 $6
More info: www.michenermuseum.org

Acclaimed photographer Tal Shochat's work will be on display courtesy of the Andrea Meislin Gallery in New York. (Photo courtesy Andrea Meislin Gallery)

The National Museum of American Jewish History invites you to help celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the Festival of the Trees, as it opens its new exhibit “In Praise of a Dream,” a special photo collection by acclaimed Israeli artist Tal Shochat.

Shochat’s work will keep with this theme as she highlights only the most beautiful fruit trees that she has found in her travels throughout Israel.

Shochat’s distinctive photographs produce an ethereal, dream-like feel, as each tree is impeccably pruned and photographed against a black background. The result is a symbol of strength in an otherwise unnatural environment, and a hand-picked reminder of the beauty in nature that surrounds us daily.

“In Praise of a Dream” will be the inaugural exhibit on the Museum’s concourse level, opening up an exciting new chapter for the Museum.

In case you haven’t had a chance to make it over to this phenomenally-designed building, “In Praise of a Dream” will be running, very appropriately, through Earth Day, April 22.

Advance ticket purchase is required for Saturday visits, and is available online.

“In Praise of a Dream”
When: Wednesday, February 1-April 22
Where: National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East
Cost: $11-$12, Free for members, active military and children under the age of 12
More info: www.nmajh.org

The Wall Street Journal just published a flattering review of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s soon to open marquee exhibition Van Gogh Up Close, featuring more than 40 of the close-up works the masterful artist crafted in his later years. The writer describes the exhibit as “full of revelations” and “brief moments of peace in a turbulent life” as much for the artist 130 years ago and the viewer today. Check it out for yourself once the exhibition opens to the public on February 1. [Wall Street Journal]

 
The Franklin Institute got some serious national air time on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend.

The subject of the segment was automatons, writing- and drawing-capable robots from the late 1700s or “mechanical marvels from a time gone by,” recently brought to the forefront of popular culture thanks to the bestselling children’s novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret and the Oscar nominated film Hugo.

Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director for the Franklin Institute, is featured in the segment discussing the institute’s major role in exploring the science of automatons.

A machinist at the institute reassembled the ancient parts of an automaton in the museum’s collection to find an extraordinary artifact of science from the past. The remarkable “boy machine” uses levers to move its arms, so that it can write poems (in English and French) and draw four different pictures.

Visit the Franklin Institute’s historical automaton, or “Amazing Machine,” yourself!

Check out the clip above to learn more about the history of automatons.

Lost art of automatons alive again [CBS]

Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Penn Museum with traditional Chinese dance, music and crafts. (Photo courtesy Penn Museum)

Ring in the Year of the Dragon at the 31st Annual Chinese New Year celebration at the Penn Museum, Saturday, February 4 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Festivities kick off with a dance performance by the Penn Chinese Dance Club at noon, followed by a Lion Dance workshop conducted by the Penn Lions where guests will learn the joyful movements of the thousand-year old dance.

The all-girls MeiMei Dance Troupe takes the stage at 1 p.m., performing a patchwork of dances about legendary Chinese folk tales.

And be sure not to miss the 3:45 p.m. finale, as lion dancers and drummers from Cheung’s Academy wind their way through the Museum with a traditional lion dance to chase away evil and usher in a year of good luck!

Family programming will be offered all day long and will include puppet shows, trivia games, Chinese calligraphy, crafts, traditional story times and more.

Chinese New Year celebration at the Penn Museum
When: Saturday, February 4, 11 a.m-4 p.m.
Where: Penn Museum, 3260 South Street
Cost: Free with museum admission
More info: www.penn.museum