Solo Solito iMPeRFeCT @ Allens Lane Art Center
April 27, 2024 7-10 pm
Allens Lane Art Center
601 West Allens Lane
Philadelphia PA, 19119
Contact Vita Litvak: vita@allenslane.org
Allens Lane Art Center is thrilled to present Solo Solito iMPeRFeCT @Allens Lane Art Center, a night of celebration of an amazing community arts organization, and their fierce leaders, Renny Molenaar and Rocio Cabello. Founded in 2012, the iMPeRFeCT Gallery was established in Germantown with the “intention and hope of becoming a voice in the community and in the ongoing conversation with the art world.” Their programs include exhibitions, performances, writers’ and artists’ circles, as well as creations of works in public space. Their vision for the gallery is full of idealism and humanity – “where artists of very different persuasions can present themselves and their work with as much freedom as possible.” And that has always been the feeling in their space, one of freedom and openness to authentic human expression presented from a wide array of perspectives.
"Crazy", even "stupid", is how some people described our proposal to open a not-for-profit art gallery here in Germantown, they were probably right. Luckily, we found a community of "crazy and stupid", and we dare say, a bunch of likeminded dreamers who believed in us... and now, twelve years later, we have a warm, rigorous, diverse, and dynamic art space with an amazing history and the best community of friends ever!!! It is from this place of love, for people, ideas, and the creative process, that has sustained and validated this important work that is iMPeRFeCT Gallery.
iMPeRFeCT Gallery does in fact operate from a space of love. From the rigorous exhibitions to the fever pitches of a Friday Rumba night, that brings people together from all walks of life; to artists round tables, talks, poetry readings, and openings that welcome the community with intimacy and warmth, you can feel love and genuine care in everything that happens here.
Renny and Rocio are themselves important artists. Renny, born in Aruba and raised in NYC, studied the arts at Pratt Institute, Rutgers University, Bob Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop and Skowhegan. His work has been shown in museum and gallery spaces nationally and internationally. In 1987, he founded and directed the Black and White In Color Gallery, a non-profit gallery in the Bronx, which also went mobile with the Black and White In Color Casita Gallery. In 1996, Renny took a residency at the Fabric Workshop, where he created his piece “We The People” and that brought him and his family to Philadelphia.
Rocio, originally from Peru, creates work that reflects on themes of personal growth, trauma, the tragic disconnection between humans and nature and the resilience of the human spirit. Her work often takes place in public spaces, with installations like sidewalk paintings, murals, playground floor games, and “green interventions” in the form of fenceless green spaces. Rocio studied graphic design at the Fashion institute of Technology and Parsons and in 2020, Rocio received the Leeway Foundation Transformation Award.
The two artists met at Renny’s gallery in the South Bronx at a music performance. They fell in love and had two children and continued to make art the center of their lives. For the last twelve years, Renny and Rocio established their gallery as a true community space. Operating on a small budget, they’ve been consistently active and engaging, and have given a platform to hundreds of artists and musicians. Allens Lane Art Center is thrilled to support iMPeRFeCT Gallery with a special event celebrating 12 years of community building through the arts in Germantown.
On April 27th, join us for an intimately curated evening of music, homecooked food, and Young American Cider/Mojitos drinks. Honoring the long-standing tradition of providing space for local artists to put on their own solo exhibitions, Renny and Rocio, are curating a unique experience centering solo performances by four outstanding musicians and a dancer in Allens Lane historic Café Theater. Performing at the event are Raji Malik, Dende Macedo, Jamie Merwin, Rumi Kitchen, and Bethlehem The Vocassionist. To top it all off, Renny and Rocio will be preparing a special meal, Mu will provide sweets, and we’ll be serving Young American Cider and Mojitos! All proceeds will go directly to supporting the operations of iMPeRFeCT Gallery.
