Area 919

Area 919's art gallery is wonderful and worth a visit; it's well-lit, comfortable, and sports an inviting aura (read: no nauseating wallpaper). Unsure if the artists on display were part of a permanent collection or just there for the evening, but I enjoyed what I saw. (One room was full of contemporary art, the other, architectural antiques.)

I spoke with Michael Garden, the owner of Area 919, who is passionate about his work. He even invited me to photograph the place from his upper floor office/perch.

The front showroom - actually Baltzell, not Area 919 - was full of furniture, textiles, and accessories. Nothing was exactly my style (or price range, sadly) but your mileage may vary.

Parking in Northern Liberties is usually a pain in the arse, but Area 919's parking lot ought to help those who are parking-challenged.

Ever since I made my modeling debut here during Yelp's fashion extravaganza I've had the chance to get to know the owner Michael Garden, and he's definitely proven to be a good soul.

Unlike most gallery owners I've come to know, who usually just keep to the sidelines and socialize with a few people in their arts circle, Michael does a great job of engaging the crowd no matter how big it is. He takes the time to give you a good walk through of the art he's showcasing, does a great job of explaining the imagery, and even takes the time to get like minded people from the crowd connected. It's things like that that really make Area 919 stand out for me.

And the displays that it brings in are nothing short of fantastic. the Black and White photography display that's currently featured has closeup shot of scarred body parts, alongside up close shots of religious statues that have gone through wear and tear in certain areas. The juxtaposition of both alongside each other is pretty incredible. and 919 does a good job of adding some extra touches to it's displays. When they had their Found display, Michael commissioned Yelp's own Juliana S. to write poetry for the descriptions. And she delivered in a huge way.

But awesome displays aside, The indoor Parthenon is still one of my all time favorite rooms.

I attended the opening of Philly artist John Rosser's show at Area 919 recently and really liked what I saw. Not only was the art though provoking, but the space itself is a wonderful backdrop for beautiful things.

There are two galleries: one currently holds the Rosser exhibit and the other has architectural pieces from around the world. The gallery has a raw, industrial feel but maintains polish and sophistication. That's totally my aesthetic, btw.

When you walk in it's a bit confusing at first as you enter through Baltzell, but you can see Area 919 from the door, so you know you're in the right place. Bonus points for the parking lot, great acoustics and amazingly cool owner.

They'll be expanding in the future so stay tuned for more beautification of Philly!

Area 919 has a couple different rooms with each room having a different theme.

As you walk in you are in what looks like a home. There you have a bed and all kinds of vintage furniture for sale. John Rosser's pictures in another room were some of the most interesting pictures I've ever seen. I absolutely loved them. The East gallery had a bar and some awesome statues of all sizes. My favorite statues were the polar bears and there was also a sun dial with a nice saying on it but I can't remember what it was for the life of me. I just remember going back to it and repeating that it was very nice and I would like to have it. Stupid me, I should have taken a picture at least... oh well.

I'd like to come back to another show here.

Great space and super cool layout.
Unique, vintage and classic furniture for sale at reasonable prices.
A definite place to stop and look around.

michael garden, who runs area 919, asked me to write some things - really anything - inspired by (and to be displayed next to) each piece in his new exhibit, a collection of folk and outsider art, americana and the wonderful wares of a curiousity shop. it's a personal collection, composed of things he's found and saved over the years, testaments to his friendships with the artists, old things, rare things, things that have been used by many hands, that kept the pipes running and gave our dolls faces, and have still survived, things that should be taken out of the collective closet now and again, arranged just so, and seen. this is an america i know, that maybe you know, that hasn't passed away, even if our forefathers have, that you'll find passed down to you in the turn of a phrase or an honest day's work, populated perhaps by what they call "outsider" art: old men suddenly inspired who can't stop painting, painting on plywood, on the boards of their houses, with whatever paint they can find or people bring or just mud and coca-cola, painting american flags again and again, painting the will of jesus, the warnings of a prophet, the ramblings of a poet, or, like here, just love birds. i like to visit this place.