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It’s opening day for Van Gogh Up Close, the latest headlining exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The exhibit, featuring more than 40 of the close-up works the masterful artist crafted in his later years, has already received praise from The Wall Street Journal and is sure to garner more in the coming weeks.

Ppurchase your timed tickets in advance to guarantee your chance to see these works of art.

Van Gogh Up Close at The Philadelphia Museum Of Art
When: February 1-May 6
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, ages 13-18 $20, 5-12 $12, kids under 4 Free
More info: www.philamuseum.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]

View more than forty works by Vincent van Gogh — never before seen together — during Van Gogh Up Close.
(Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

On the heels of the splashy Zoe Strauss photo exhibition still on display at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art comes another blockbuster art exhibition opening February 1.

It’s called Van Gogh Up Close and it features more than 40 of the close-up works the masterful artist crafted in his later years.

In reducing the depth of field and maximizing the expressive impact of his brushwork and color, Van Gogh painted intimately focused views of clumps of iris, tangles of almond branches and other audacious still lifes that manifest the power of this painter.

Look out for great programming presented in conjunction with the exhibition, including a curator-led tour on March 9, a special film series starting February 26 and an art history course on Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.

Bonus: travelers coming to Philadelphia to catch the exhibition can choose from the Best Western Center City Hotel, the Radisson Plaza-VVarwick Hotel, the Rittenhouse Hotel and the Four Seasons for Van Gogh-inspired travel accommodations that combine a premier overnight experience with tickets to the post-Impressionist feast for the eyes at the museurn, 15% off Amtrak tickets, 10% off in the museum store and a special celebratory Van Gogh dessert at Granite Hill restaurant.

Plus: after you’ve experienced the stunning landscapes on display, take a trip to the isles of Hawaii during the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Special combo ticket packages begin at $50 and include one adult admission to Van Gogh and one adult admission to the Flower Show. Call (215) 235-SHOW (7469) for more info.

Get advance tickets online.

Van Gogh Up Close at The Philadelphia Museum Of Art
When: February 1-May 6
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, ages 13-18 $20, 5012 $12, kids under 4 Free
More info: www.philamuseum.org

The much-anticipated Zoe Strauss photography exhibition officially opened at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with an all-night dance party on Saturday night DJed by Philly's own Questlove. (Photo by M. Edlow for GPTMC)

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years, a photography retrospective, opened this weekend at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with a Questlove-DJed all-night dance party complete with Philly-centric snacks and drinks.

Zoe Strauss is a Philadelphia photographer with a growing international reputation. The exhibition includes about 150 prints and 54 billboards displayed throughout the city from Manayunk to West Philadelphia and from Northeast Philly to I-95 South.

The billboards are particularly poignant in that they are void of any words, not even any tying them back to the museum exhibit. Most will remain up until March 26, although a few may come down in February.

Strauss takes photos of subjects that most would probably, sadly, ignore: crack addicts, dismembered war veterans, Alzheimer’s victims, the homeless. But every photo, no matter the subject, has an undeniable beauty that forces you to take notice of them.

Bonus: the museum has created an awesome contest around the Zoe Strauss Billboard Project. Enter by “checking in” on Foursquare to any of the 54 billboards around the city. Then take a picture of the location and tweet the photo using the hashtag #zscontest. The more billboards visited, the more chances to win.

The winner, selected at random, will win the grand prize of a private tour of Zoe Strauss: Ten Years, along with lunch with the artist and curator. The winner will be announced on April 2.

Check out a shot, below, of Questlove DJing the opening party.

The exhibition is already receiving critical acclaim, including a glowing review in the New York Times. Be sure to check it out for yourself!

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
When: Now through April 22
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free with museum admission
More info: www.philamuseum.org

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Two of Zoe Strauss' photos have been muralized at 15th and Girard Avenue. You can see Strauss' 'Black Friday Balloons' on top and 'Cake from Shrimp and Petroleum Festival' below. (Photo courtesy PMA)

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years, a mid-career retrospective of the work of Zoe Strauss, a Philadelphia photographer with a growing international reputation, is coming to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on January 14.

An awesome element of the exhibition outside the museum walls is a special billboard project.

Here’s the deal: additional images by Strauss will be displayed on 54 billboards throughout the city from Manayunk to West Philly and from Northeast Philly to I-95 South, extending the reach of the exhibition into many of the neighborhoods where Strauss has worked.

We have a special sneak peek of the billboard project; check out the photo above and another below.

And make sure to get advance tickets for the exhibition at the Art Museum; they’re sure to sell quickly.

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
When: January 14-April 22
Cost: Tickets start at $12
More info: www.philamuseum.org

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The museum's Great Stair Hall is transformed into an intimate cabaret for Art After 5, an evening of live music and dancing paired with snacks and drinks from Starr Events. (Photo by Dave DiRentis Photography courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Friday evenings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art take on a whole new groove with Art After 5, a unique blend of entertainment from 5–8:45 p.m. in the Great Stair Hall.

Each first Friday of the month spotlights an eclectic mix of international music, and all other Fridays recognize emerging jazz artists (often local).

The event is always free with museum admission, and grants you after-hours access to the treasure-filled galleries. Music is paired with delicious snacks and drinks from Starr Catering. Relax at a table with waiter service or stop by the bar.

This week’s edition, January 6, is a special Tango Night. It’ll be a romantic evening celebrating the golden age of Argentine tango.

Dance to live music by JP Jofre New Tango Quartet and enjoy dance performances by Dances of Vice as well as Sergio Segura and the Strictly Tango Dance Company.

Art After 5 is always a stylish way to start your weekend, especially when tango is involved.

Art After 5: Tango Night
When: Friday, January 6, 5 p.m.
Where: Philadelphia Museum Of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free with museum admission
More info: www.philamuseum.org

Kick off your Christmas weekend with a special Escape to Toyland edition of Art After 5 this Friday. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Does it sometimes seem like kids have all the fun during the holidays? Not the case if you stop by the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday, December 23 for Art After 5’s Escape to Toyland.

Every Friday night the museum hosts Art After 5 in the Great Stair Hall. It’s a mix of live music, delicious food by Starr Catering and after-hours access to the exhibits.

This Friday, December 23, you can kick off your long weekend and tap into the holiday spirit with a special themed Art After 5: “Escape to Toyland.”

Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society will provide the background music with their hot holiday jazz from the 1920s, 30, and 40s. The tap dancing Minsky Sisters and Cassandra Rosebeetle from the theater dance troupe Desert Sin will be playing the parts of the toys (in this case dolls).

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Escape to Toyland
Where: 26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
When: Friday, December 23, 5–8:45 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
More info: www.philamuseum.org

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years is a mid-career retrospective of the work of Zoe Strauss, a Philadelphia photographer with a growing international reputation.

The blockbuster exhibition opens on January 14 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The exhibition will include 170 prints and a selection of artist-created slideshows, one of which will be projected on the museum’s exterior façade during the exhibition’s opening week. How cool is that?

Billboards

Additional images by the artist will be displayed on 39 billboards located throughout the city from Manayunk to West Philadelphia and from Northeast Philadelphia to I-95 South, extending the reach of the exhibition into many of the neighborhoods where Strauss has worked.

Inspired by other photographers of the American scene, including William Eggleston, Walker Evans and Nan Goldin, Strauss’ art has focused primarily on the fascinations of everyday life.

That means something for everyone to relate to in her work, one of many reasons you should be sure to see this exhibition.

Another reason? Zoe Strauss: Ten Years is planned in conjunction with a bunch of awesome programming.

Opening Dance Party

It kicks off with a dance party on January 14 at 8 p.m. Music will start with a mix curated by Zoe Strauss and her wife Lynn Bloom as guests arrive, and will continue until 1 a.m., DJed by David Dye of WXPN. Drink tickets will be available, with light Philly-inspired snacks and non-alcoholic beverages available for free. Tickets for the dance party are $8, available pre-party only, online. Bonus: there will be valet bike parking!

Other Interactive Programming

Beginning on January 16, Strauss will also offer scheduled office hours in the Director’s satellite office, where you can meet and speak with the artist. There will be three free lectures related to the exhibition as well.

Lastly, as a complement to the exhibition, the Philadelphia artist duo Megawords will create a space for conversation adjacent to the exhibition gallery with seating, art, a special Zoe Strauss: Ten Years edition of their ‘zine and books and postcards for sale.

Here, museum visitors can gather, talk and read about various matters connected to the work of Strauss, like photography, city planning and urban living.

There’s a lot to look forward to, and we’ll keep you posted along the way.

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
When: January 14-April 22
Cost: Tickets start at $12
More info: www.philamuseum.org

The museum's gorgeous Great Stair Hall will be made even more resplendent for the holiday season.
(Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29 at 10 a.m., the Philadelphia Museum of Art will join in the citywide holiday cheer underway by illuminating 90 Norway Spruce trees as part of a grand holiday season kick-off event in the Great Stair Hall.

Join in the tree lighting ceremony, which will also feature holiday culinary treats (a preview of the museum’s seasonal offerings); hot chocolate, coffee and tea; holiday music from a special Art After 5 guest; and an exclusive curator-led tour of Dutch Treat: A Glimpse of Holland’s Golden Age.

Executive Director Timothy Rub will also speak about the museum’s many holiday offerings.

For more on holiday lights in the Philadelphia area, click here.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Tree Lighting
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Great Stair Hall (east entrance off the Rocky steps)
When: Tuesday, November 29, 10 a.m.
Cost: General admission
More info: www.philamuseum.org

The hiladelphia Museum Of Art will be a one-stop-shop for holiday gifts this season, with a wide range of locally crafted art, jewelry, food and more. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

With the holidays just around the corner, you may have started compiling your gift list for those you love.

Just in time, the Philadelphia Museum of Art Store is opening a pop-up bazaar called Philadelphia Produces Original Design, or P.POD.

Created by Philadelphian Alex Stadler, P.POD was inspired by the risd|works store, which stocks items strictly designed by Rhode Island School of Design alumni. P.POD, in turn, will only showcase and sell items designed and/or produced in Philly. The bazaar will be open from November 11 through December 31.

Using the motto “freakish, brilliant, or gorgeous,” Stadler has assembled work from Philadelphia designers in disciplines ranging from jewelry, fashion and toys to stationary, furniture and decorative arts. Prices range from $30 to $3,000, so there’s truly something for everyone.

Other unique products include origami-inspired folding lighting by MIO, cold-brewed La Colombe coffee in decorative bottles, a seven-foot-long crocheted giant squid by Angela Davidson and sculptural jewelry.

The “P.POD Pantry” will feature handsomely-packaged local brands like Metropolitan Granola, John & Kira’s Chocolates, and La Copine limited-edition bourbon cider syrup and chocolate pretzel toffee.

University of the Arts students will create special display units (pedestals and risers crafted from reclaimed pine and recycled newspapers, pamphlets and Design Philadelphia catalogs) for the bazaar.

P.POD will kick off the holiday season with an opening party on November 11 from 5–8 p.m­­­., where you can discover first-hand the talent and ideas being developed in Philadelphia by Philadelphians.

Philadelphia Produces Original Design (P.POD)
When: November 11–December 31, opening night party November 11, 5–8 p.m­­­.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.philamuseum.org