During the past few years the easternmost section of Philadelphia's Center City area known as Old City has undergone a surprising metamorphosis. This historic area, which includes the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, and Christ Church, as well as many wholesale warehouses, is being transformed into the country's fastest-growing fine arts district. While the economic recession of the early nineties was taking a grave toll on galleries across the country, gallery life in Old City burgeoned. In 1989 there were but four galleries in the vicinity, while today thirty-five galleries and fine furniture showrooms are compacted into an area two blocks square. This sudden growth is all the more astounding when compared to the dwindling fortunes of New York's Soho district during the same period.
A very lively collection of galleries in Old City represent work from the turn of the century to contemporary art. There are nonprofit cooperatives as well as commercial galleries, crafts and furniture as well as fine art. The specialty of most contemporary galleries in the area is showcasing emerging artists, lending Old City its own special flavor. For the most part, artists exhibited here have not yet made national reputations and are therefore still very affordable.
A major part of the Old City gallery development is the Second Street Arts Building, which houses four nonprofit galleries. The Clay Studio, on the first and third floors, has studio space for resident ceramic artists, holds classes for the public, and operates a sizable gallery. It exhibits emerging clay artists from all over the world. Sharing the first floor is the Nexus Foundation for Today's Art. Nexus, now in its eighteenth year, is one of the most successful co-ops in the country. Two recently established co-ops, Zone One and Highwire Gallery, share the second floor: Because they do not operate under the profit constraints of the commercial galleries, these four nonprofits are able to offer exhibitions that are often very innovative and experimental, adding greatly to the aesthetic diversity of Old City. The Second Street Arts Building is located at 139 North Second Street.
The oldest and one of the largest galleries in Old City is the Rosenfeld Gallery. Having opened in 1976, well before the current development, Rosenfeld has built a reputation representing emerging American artists in all the traditional fine arts media as well as glass, ceramics, fibers, and handcast paper. The gallery is also known for its Humor and Fantasy exhibitions mounted every summer.
In May, Rosenfeld will be featuring the water-color paintings of José Sebourne, who has worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for the past several years as he has honed his skills as a fine artist. This upcoming solo exhibition will be his first show of this magnitude and should go far toward establishing him as an artist of note. A large body of work will demonstrate the artists broad range of interests and will include realistically rendered urban landscapes, rural landscapes, and interiors. Using a rich but subdued palette, Sebourne always captures a palpable sense of light and a strong sense of mood.
Old City is bounded north and south by Vine Street and Chestnut Street and east and west by Front and Third. Maps of galleries in the area are available in any of the galleries. The Rosenfeld Gallery is located at 113 Arch Street (215 922–1376).