CRED OnSite: Vacant Storefront on South Street Becomes a Gallery for Young Philadelphia Artists
A vacant building at 325 South Street will become a gallery tonight for young Philadelphia artists who may not otherwise have the opportunity to display and sell their work.
As part of the Arts on South program, which loans unused real estate to local arts groups, area artists age 25 and younger will have a gallery all to themselves for the next four months.
Known as CRED OnSite, the space is an extension of CRED Magazine, a tri-annual publication featuring the work of young local artists. The project is “about dismantling the boundaries between people [who had] enough money to go to art school and those who didn’t,” said Aviva Kapust, CRED’s editor-in-chief. “Some kids’ parents don’t understand or aren’t willing to support their creativity.”
The magazine, with its third issue due out in October, accepts submissions from young Philadelphia artists who then vote on the art to be published. Voting is based solely on merit, said Kapust. “It’s amazing … they’re voting for work done by an 8 year old … and they’re voting for work that’s done by a 25 year old M.F.A. student and then that work appears side-by-side on printed pages.”
CRED Magazine applied for and was awarded a four-month stint in the Arts on South program. But the space won’t focus on the magazine, according to Kapust. Instead, education will be a priority. CRED plans to host workshops on creating a magazine, setting up a storefront, and marketing for artists. The space will also serve as a gallery and store, and won’t take any percentage of the commission from artists — all artists receive 100% of sales.
For Tali Purkerson, a participating artist, CRED Magazine and its OnSite counterpart represent a departure from the traditional artist-gallery relationship. Too often, publications and galleries require prior experience — regardless of talent — which can have a disparate impact on individuals of certain classes, races and ages, she said.
She first got involved with the magazine because the organization “seemed to really respect artists and more importantly, non-conventional work, or narratives that weren’t … being told or published.”
CRED OnSite, she said, operates on the same principles. It is “incredible that [Arts on South] can open up the space and create a place of access and a place to work, meet and show new things without killing its meaning or imposing an agenda.”
Purkerson, 25, is a resident of West Philadelphia and her work, which incorporates several mediums, will be featured at tonight’s opening.
More Than a Magazine
It’s important to note that CRED and its parent organization, The Village of Arts and Humanities, aren’t just empowering young area artists, said Purkerson. The organization is giving back to its city in small, yet powerful, ways. They’re building gardens and embarking on sustainable initiatives. “We are infusing [Philadelphia] with our energy,” she said. “I’m really thankful to be a part of something like this.”
The organization also intends to help another city launch its own CRED Magazine. Thanks to a $100,000 grant from Impact100, CRED plans to create a tool kit for launching a magazine by, for and about young artists — and use it to help another publication get off the ground.
When to go
CRED OnSite’s grand opening will take place tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. as part of the South Street Headhouse District “Fourth Friday” event. The launch will feature visual art, spoken poetry, a DJ, and light refreshments.
For the next four months, the gallery and store will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday at 325 South Street in Philadelphia.
Photos by Kate McGovern
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