Griddle Art: Pancakes and Booze Art Show
Pancakes and Booze Art Show showcases over 50 emerging local artists alongside syrupy treats and alcohol
Ever wanted to grab a drink or listen to house music while perusing some art? What about scarf pancakes? This weekend, at the Pancakes and Booze Art Show, you can do just that while enjoying the art of dozens of indie artists. Just make sure you don’t spill maple syrup on the artwork.
Tom Kirlin held the first Pancakes and Booze Art Show in 2009 at his unoccupied photography studio in Los Angeles, Calif. “I had all this space and great walls for hanging art,” he says. But he didn’t want it to be just a regular “art space.” He wanted it to bring people together. And that’s where the pancakes come in.
“When I was in college, the only place that was open after a night of drinking was IHOP,” Kirlin says. “I always had this silly idea to make a pancake restaurant with a full bar. So with the Art Show, I just merged the two ideas together.”
Six years later, the Pancakes and Booze Art Show has been to over twenty cities and featured thousands of artists from across the country. “We attract a lot of young artists,” Kirlin says. “Or artists that might not have ever shown their work before. The gallery system is so hard to get into — it’s so snobby. Our show is non-pretentious, and it’s a cool way to exhibit these young artist’s work.”
One such artist is Jae Martin Cox. A native of New York City, Martin learned his art on the streets. “I was a pretty unknown graffitist,” he admits. Now, his work combines the bright colors of graffiti and the block shapes of abstract style to create a new genre he calls “graffstract.” Says the Philadelphia-based artist, “Graffiti is always evolving. I want to capture that feeling of motion and put it down on canvas.”
Pancakes and Booze gives artists like Cox the opportunity to not only showcase their great work, but to hang out with a diverse group of artists. “It’s so open,” he says. “No one is segregated. No one is better than anyone else. Once you’re there, you’re just having fun.” Kirlin agrees. “Some people come for the art, some for the music, and some just for the pancakes,” he says. “Regardless, you’re going to have a good time.” — Connor J. Hogan
The Pancake and Booze Art Show will be held on Thursday, August 20th at 7 p.m. at Penn Social, 801 E St NW. Tickets are $5. Visit pancakesandbooze.com for more information.
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