Author Archives: Paula Paul

Victoria Huggins Peurifoy

Victoria is an author, Poet, Spoken word artist, Storyteller, writer, biographer/Ghost Writer, Photographer, Consultant, Facilitator, Voice Talent, and Narrator. She is a member of White Rock Baptist Church. Ms. Puerifoy has self published 11 books, three chapbooks and three CD’s including her autobiography, A Blade of Grace, and a children’s book, Battery Man.

• 27 year resident of Germantown.
• Facilitator of two poetry classes at the Center in the Park
• Co-Host of bi-monthly poetry venue Poetify-Poetry to Edify located at the Church of the Brethren on Germantown Avenue

Contact information
P. O Box 29523, Philadelphia, PA 19144, 215-205-3063
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/vhp
https://www.facebook.com/victoria.h.peurifoy
E-mail: vzeebnud@verizon.net

Carole Loeffler

As a young child I remember spending lazy summer afternoons lounging on the grass of our ample suburban lawn staring at the sky through the filtered frame of the tallest trees and their wavering limbs. I want to instill moments of quiet, peace, joy, awe, wonderment and nostalgia in the viewer.

•Resident of Germantown since June of 2012
•Runs the Gray Gallery – a space for emerging artists situated in an historic home in Germantown

Contact: caroleloeffler@hotmail.com
618-521-4325
www.caroleloeffler.com
www.graygallery.co
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Carole Loeffler

Carole Loeffler, aggregate threads (of connection), 2014, 91”x 54”x49”, branch, balloons, ribbon, string, felt

Carole Loeffler, daydreaming, 2013, 73”x56”x25”, school chair, felt, ribbon

Carole Loeffler, palpable threads, 2014, 99’ long x 2-3” x branches 21” & 24” length, fabric, wood, ribbon, glitter glue

Carole Loeffler, sneaking scarlet, 2013, 59”x10.5”x5”, sneakers, felt, jersey fabric, glue, poly fill

Carole Loeffler, grasp, clinch, clasp, embrace, 2014, 23”x20”x22”, foam, felt, glue, fabric, polyfill, ribbon

Carole Loeffler, flourishing fuchsia flood, 2014, 61″x56″x14″, foam, wood, fabric, felt, ribbon, glue

Allison Wooley

My artwork lately tends to be mindful and has a deeper meaning than ever before. After experiencing a great loss several years ago, I have used my creative side to heal. The artwork reflects that and tries to share important memories I am holding onto. My last art gallery show at the Plastic Club, I sold block printed works to raise money for Pre-Eclampsia and it was a very successful show. I look forward to continue fundraising through art gallery sales for this cause in memory of my daughter Soleil.

Also, I love to make everyday things to wear like handbags, jewelry and summery tops, so I do dabble in fashion design and illustration. I have my own local label called wooleybear wear and used to sell my designs to consignment shops. Lastly I often fuse my love of painting with my love of textiles as well, by sewing and weaving onto painted canvas.

My connection to Germantown began about seven years ago when I began teaching Art at Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice. I moved out here about four years ago from West Philadelphia.

Contact: wooleybear@gmail.com

Allison Wooley, Female Study,2012, ink on paper

Allison Wooley, Lake Erie Tree, 2013, mixed media

Allison Wooley, Fashion Illustration Studies, 2013, color pencil

Allsion Wooley, How About the Funk?, 2014,marker

Karen Smith

Karen Smith(center), percussionist and playwright,
with Weez the Peeple ( V. Shayne Frederick and Bert Harris)

Karen Smith is a percussionist leading for Weez the Peeples in performances throughout the city as well as Sistahs Laying Down Hands, a spoken word, vocals, dance and percussion ensemble. During the summer of 2014 she took her drumming talents to the Youth Advocacy Program of the Mural Arts Program. Karen recently acted as Outbeat Coordinator for American’s First Queer Jazz Festival as well as performing in this groundbreaking jazz event in Philadelphia.

Since the start of 2012, Karen has been utilizing her theater management skills to create a production company of her own, which entails overseeing budgets, contracts,connecting with sponsor, interviewing and hiring performers for workshops and full production of her project “3 Divas 3” performed both in Philadelphia and NYC in 2014. Currently, Ms. Smith will be premiering a multi-media play in February entitled, Stay Free, focusing on the leadership of Frederick Douglass.

Over the last few years Karen has worked in after school programs combining positive self expression through live music (drumming circle) along with exercise and nutrition routines.

Karen continues to volunteer with The Philadelphia Futures Organization: a not-for-profit organization that prepares high school students from low-income families to enter and succeed in college.

Born in Brooklyn NYC, living in Germantown, Pa.

Contact:milesofella2@verizon.net

Steve Giordano

I have been a musician since the age of 6. Although I have had a few “teachers” along the way at different times in my life, my real teacher has been the music itself. Obviously, our ears are the most important and personal mechanism when it comes to music. Musical knowledge should never supersede listening. Along these lines, our musical taste is personal, but deserves the chance to evolve without being stifled by rules or close minded opinions. In my young adult search for a jazz teacher, I never quite found what/who I was looking for because everyone had a “method” that never included self musical exploration or how to think about music. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me because I looked at music from a common sense point of view without inhibitions and sort of became, for my students, the teacher I was looking for.

The following is my life’s understanding of music and how to play with it, have fun with it, and experiment with it and hopefully, how to think about it. Please check out the “writings” section to read more about my thoughts on music and teaching, and feel free to get in touch if you are interested in taking a lesson.

I have lived in Germantown for 20 years teaching and doing house concerts through Groupon/Sidetour.

Website: stevegiordanoguitar.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jzguru1

My composition/jazz projects:
Quintet
Behn Gillece – vibes
Steve Meashey – bass
Joe Mullen – drums
Bob Meashey – trumpet/flugle horn
Steve Giordano – guitar

Musical Candlelight
Steve Giordano/Carla Jenkins (composition project)

Organ Trio: Dave Posmontier – organ,Dan Monaghan – drums,Steve Giordano – guitar

Guitar Duo: Jason Klinke – guitar,Steve Giordano – guitar

Symbiosis Syndicate: John Swana – EVI/Trombone,Bob Meashey – trumpet/flugle horn,John Mosemann – percussion,Joe Mullen – percussion,Steve Giordano – piano/synthesizers

Various trios with various world class musicians

Yolanda Wisher

Poet, musician, and educator, Yolanda Wisher was born in Germantown and raised in Montgomery Country, where she was named the first poet laureate. She is the author of Monk Eats an Afro and co-editor of Peace is a Haiku Song. Wisher heads the Art Education department of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and is a Founding Cultural Agent for the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture.

Wisher has been a Germantown resident since 2000 and directed the Germantown Poetry Festival from 2006-2010.

Website: www.yolandawisher.com

Contact: yolandawisher@gmail.com

Deborah Curtiss

Deborah Curtiss, having painted and exhibited since 1960, approaches painting as a composer and an explorer to discover visual metaphors for the complexities of life. While referencing recognizable forms and situations, she evokes inner and other realities of being human that reflect upon our time and place on earth. She is a founding member & resident of Greene Street Artists Cooperative, the location of her studio for daily creative activity.

http://www.DeborahCurtiss.com
http://www.greenestreetartists.org
Deborah Curtiss
debcurtiss@verizon.net
Greene Street Artists
5225 Greene Street #15
Philadelphia PA 19144-2927

• Lived and worked in Germantown since 1985: Alden Park until 1992, Greene Street Artists thereafter.
• Studied at Antioch College, Yale University School of Art, and University of the Arts.
• Taught at Philadelphia Museum of Art, PCA, Drexel U, Temple U, Wallingford Community Arts Center, UArts.
• Currently focused on writing her ARTobiography.

Gary Reed

I see photography as the eye that doesn’t blink, that doesn’t judge, but is an enhanced eye that can view the world on another plane of existence. I look, not for what is beautiful, but what is honest.

Minor White was once quoted as saying: “No matter how slow the film, the spirit will wait for the photographer.”

@afromacnerd
215-839-9427
garyreed@gmail.com
www.garyreedphotomedia.com
www.about.me/garyreed