Latest / philly has heART / PII Gallery feat. Margaret Berczynski and Aleksa Berczynski

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PII Gallery feat. Margaret Berczynski and Aleksa Berczynski · philly has heART

0:14
Are you ready for this? Yeah, let's do it. How
0:18
was your weekend? Is it ever the same? Yeah,
0:22
no, it's always changing. I mean, it falls upon
0:25
us and it's it's time to lean in. Friday night
0:30
after work, my husband and I took the boys to
0:36
dinner at Locke Bar. It's not really just a bar.
0:39
It's a restaurant. So we went to Lock Bar. After
0:42
Lock Bar, we went to Opera, Philadelphia's production
0:46
of Il Viaggio Arame. I think I said that right.
0:50
Sure. These are some of the best seats I have
0:54
ever sat my high knee in. Really? Ever. Let alone
0:59
at the Academy of Music. And how'd you get these?
1:03
I got them the moment. The opera opened it up
1:07
to our non. Non donation here opera passed it
1:13
Is that what it's called? I believe so what we
1:16
saw was Amazing. I will say that my big kid was
1:22
acting out and so probably about a Half hour
1:27
45 minutes into it. My husband took him out of
1:30
the auditorium and Meanwhile, the baby is sleeping
1:34
in my arms. Yeah, but something about the program
1:37
was misleading I'm thumbing through the program
1:40
right now. But as I was watching the opera, I
1:43
started to realize that act one is really, really
1:47
long. We are sitting there for an hour and a
1:51
half, 90 minutes, the baby and I. No break. No
1:55
break. After we've left, I'm reading the program
1:59
and it looks like act one and act two were combined
2:03
because somewhere in between what I saw, There's
2:09
a note here that says 20 minute intermission.
2:11
We didn't get an intermission Maybe they said
2:15
at the beginning or something that I there may
2:18
have been a sign that we did not catch Okay,
2:20
I will say and I'm holding up to those listening.
2:23
I'm holding up the program right here to Robert
2:25
So this would be act one intermission here and
2:29
two gotcha intermission here act three We watched
2:35
this as though up until here. Okay. Was act one.
2:41
Gotcha. Wow. I mean, that's a long time for people
2:44
to sit. It is. Especially when you have someone
2:48
like you're trying to balance someone on you
2:50
in a chair. Yeah. This is the production where
2:54
it takes place in a gallery and the art comes
2:58
to life. Wow. Yeah. So there are pieces of quote
3:03
unquote art that are unpacked. as part of an
3:07
exhibition and there are characters that come
3:11
off quote -unquote the painting or the piece
3:14
of art for instance Frida Kahlo there was a Keith
3:17
Haring you know that surrealistic piece with
3:21
the man in the bowler hat with the apple yeah
3:24
green apple right in front of him yes he was
3:26
there oh my gosh oh great and this was the thing
3:30
that i think delighted the audience the most
3:33
people were losing it over it nice You got into
3:36
something, right? Yeah, I did. I did. Friday
3:39
night, I had the opportunity to go to see Mount
3:42
Joy at the Mann Center. You were totally right.
3:46
It's absolutely amazing there. It's so great.
3:49
As long as the weather holds out and you're good
3:51
to go. Mount Joy is a Philly band, so they really
3:56
leaned into the Go -Birds. There was Eagles chants
4:00
throughout the night, and they even brought out
4:03
the Philly Fanatic. They had a second show on
4:06
Saturday as well that I heard was also absolutely
4:09
amazing. I saw so many, not just yours, but so
4:13
many stories on Instagram from different angles
4:15
at that show. Oh, it was great. It was great.
4:20
I want to look at what a subscription to the
4:22
Man Center next year will be just because it
4:24
was also easy to get to. Yeah. Like for us in
4:28
the burbs. Right. It's an easy spot to get to.
4:32
So that was nice. Our marketing consultant, Becca,
4:35
shout out Becca. She mentioned to me once that
4:39
the man is one of her favorite venues in the
4:42
city. Yeah. I'm excited to see what the Capital
4:46
Project does to transform the space even more.
4:52
One more thing to talk about before we move on
4:54
to the conversation. Did you see the piece on
4:57
Calder Gardens in the September Philly Style
5:00
magazine and the October Vogue? It's having a
5:04
moment. It's also flooding my Instagram. I had
5:08
no idea what a big deal this was gonna be to
5:10
people outside of Philadelphia. Right. I mean,
5:13
obviously we know it's special. What's really
5:17
exciting too is it's also bringing up additional
5:21
conversations about what is the future of the
5:23
parkway. Right now it's a... thoroughfare of
5:27
cars, right? And I believe in the future they
5:31
will focus it more on walking space and spaces
5:36
and garden space throughout the city. pushing
5:38
into making this avenue of the arts as it's turning
5:43
into for the parkway. I just pictured the Washington
5:47
DC mall just now. Yeah. Also, are we buying a
5:51
bag from the Mansour Gabrielle by Calder Foundation
5:55
collection? I think you are. I might. This is
6:00
actually the second collection that Mansour Gabrielle
6:05
did. kind of in cooperation with Calder. The
6:10
first collection was released in 2018, and it
6:14
was a collaboration between the handbag company
6:18
Mansour Gavriel and Hauser and Wirth Gallery,
6:23
which I believe is out of New York. Wow. And
6:26
they were featuring the Calder motifs. So I don't
6:29
know what kind of... they must have gotten some
6:32
sort of licensing from Caldera Foundation, but
6:35
it doesn't seem like they played as big of a
6:37
role in it the first time around. And this time
6:41
around, seven years later, I suppose they're
6:42
just doing it in celebration or commemoration
6:45
of the institution opening. Love that. We'll
6:51
link to it in the show notes. And with that,
6:55
on to the conversation. This is Robert Marsh,
7:13
and you're listening to Philly Has Hard Podcast.
7:16
In this podcast, we sit down with artists, gallerists,
7:19
educators, curators, and other creatives who
7:22
comprise the Philadelphia art world to discuss
7:25
upcoming performances, exhibits, and other events
7:28
and initiatives that are not to be missed. The
7:32
artsy in Philadelphia is so rich that it could
7:34
seem daunting. Consider this your weekend cultural
7:38
recommendation. With me always is my producer,
7:41
Lucinda Deggerland. Hello, hello. And today we
7:44
have Margaret and Alexa of Philadelphia International
7:48
Institute Gallery. Welcome guys. Thank you. Thank
7:52
you for inviting us. Thank you, thank you. So
7:56
let the audience know kind of your start with
8:02
Philadelphia International Institute Gallery.
8:04
Sure, absolutely. So the PII stands for Philadelphia
8:10
International Institute. My mom here, Margaret,
8:14
she started it 35 years ago as a Polish immigrant.
8:19
We started, or my mom started, I wasn't here
8:23
quite yet, started the gallery to bring international
8:26
artists here to Philadelphia. And we saw a little
8:32
piece missing of where we can have artists come,
8:37
international artists, and also for people who
8:41
appreciate the arts and our immigrants to have
8:43
a hub and a meeting place. And from there it
8:46
grew on, and now we also have branched out to
8:48
American Contemporary and all different mediums.
8:51
Oh, wow, that's incredible. Incredible. Were
8:54
you always in the space that you are now, or
8:57
have you moved throughout the city? No, just
9:00
the same. space Philadelphia 35 years ago look
9:05
Especially this part of of the city look completely
9:09
different Yes, it was not that many galleries
9:13
and the building was some were even bought up
9:15
and it it was not what it is right now and It
9:21
was very difficult to start. Yeah, but Over the
9:26
years, this part of the city really bloomed to
9:29
the most beautiful part of Philadelphia. Oh,
9:32
yes. So we are very, very happy to be there.
9:35
Yes. And people follow us for many, many years.
9:39
Oh, yeah. So now is the Renaissance, I would
9:43
say. Oh, my gosh, that's perfect. Yes, absolutely.
9:48
And we're right there in the heart of Old City,
9:51
so right between second and third on race. And
9:54
now with First Friday has seemingly come back
9:57
full force. Oh, yeah. And we're so happy. So
9:59
there's a big resurgence of all the galleries
10:02
in that area. Oh, yeah. I mean, the entire old
10:06
city turns into a party place at the First Fridays
10:10
each month. And it's so great because they're
10:13
filling these galleries. They want to see the
10:15
new art. They want to be introduced to new artists.
10:17
And you're an amazing part of that. Thank you.
10:21
We appreciate it. And we're really happy to be
10:23
part of that community. Once again, that it is
10:26
resurgence, but I remember growing up coming
10:29
to First Friday and it was a party spilling onto
10:31
the streets. I remember art students having blankets
10:35
and selling their art. Oh my gosh. Crowded sidewalks.
10:39
It was a beautiful thing to be part of. And we're
10:42
getting back there. Yes, we are. Yes, definitely,
10:45
definitely. We're getting really a lot of visitors,
10:49
tourists as well. We recently have a lot of tourists
10:52
from Germany, from England, and they really prize
10:57
this part of the city as the most vibrant, I
11:01
would say. No, definitely. There's always, there's
11:05
little boutiques and there's shops there too
11:07
and it's very walkable. And there are other art
11:12
museums as well. There's a large furniture network
11:16
as well in that part of the city. It's so great
11:19
to see all of the artists come together. Alexa,
11:22
how did you get introduced to the gallery? Well,
11:25
it's always been a big part of my life. I grew
11:28
up in a very artistic family as is. I think the
11:31
majority of us at least have the artistic bone
11:33
if not our full -fledged artists. And growing
11:37
up, as soon as I got the chance to, I emerged
11:40
myself in arts. So I started out in musical theater,
11:44
always was painting, drawing, studied art history.
11:48
And when I got into my 20s, I studied film at
11:51
the National Film School of Łódź in Poland. And
11:55
when I came back, I realized the gallery was
11:58
my passion and I wanted it to stay here. I've
12:01
always been so close to my mom and us and our
12:04
love of art that it really just went perfectly
12:07
hand in hand. Oh, that's lovely. Real quick,
12:10
can I say something to our listeners? Margaret
12:13
looks so proud of you right now. Yes. I know.
12:20
How was it to continue this gallery with your
12:24
daughter? It was really amazing to introduce
12:30
her to the gallery. all the artists we work with.
12:36
She is such an asset and she knows a lot about
12:41
the art and she helped me to decide which artists
12:46
we would represent because sometimes we have
12:48
a lot of inquiries all the time actually and
12:53
it's difficult to decide and with her knowledge
12:56
and good eye for art it's much easier for me
13:00
to make those decisions. Can you tell us a little
13:04
bit about those artists that you do end up representing?
13:08
How do you come about choosing that artist? And
13:12
does that relationship with that artist continue
13:15
beyond their one month show? I would say the
13:19
relationship definitely continues. We have a
13:22
bond with all of our artists. It really has to
13:24
be a partnership. Whoever we decide to have a
13:27
show with. And when it started, it was... based
13:31
on the international artists because that was
13:32
our niche of trying to bring that to Philadelphia.
13:35
But as it's moved forward, we go through every
13:38
avenue and artists come to us. We found artists
13:42
on Instagram. We also just being part of the
13:45
art community have people we have sought out
13:48
ourselves. So it's all different ways that we
13:50
find our artists. That's incredible. At the time
13:54
when you were representing a lot of international
13:56
artists, what was the process like to get the
14:00
art to Philadelphia? It was not a very easy process.
14:06
Some countries, when you take the art for show,
14:10
they have to have photographs of every one of
14:15
the works coming out of the country. And they
14:18
have to bring the same amount of works. Otherwise,
14:24
they have to pay tax or something like that.
14:30
with shipments, sometimes we have little problems,
14:34
but usually it was a very smooth process. And
14:38
we have a few international artists which did
14:42
very well here. We have French artists. We sold
14:45
the show on first Friday. Wow. The whole show.
14:49
The whole show. Oh my God. Same thing happened
14:54
with Spanish artists. With Polish artist, she's
15:00
more graphic designer, but very modern. We sold
15:05
like half of the show. She will be coming to
15:07
the gallery in September 2026 again, because
15:12
it was very successful show. How far ahead, I'm
15:15
going to jump in real quick. How far ahead are
15:17
you? Have you planned your artists or your shows
15:20
out? At least a year, sometimes year and a half.
15:25
We're now booking 2027. Because especially with
15:30
artists who are not local, there is a lot of
15:34
preparations. They have to get a business visa,
15:37
not tourist visa, because otherwise it can be
15:41
complication. So they have to have a business
15:44
visa to come. We will send a letter that they
15:47
are coming for the show to PLA Gallery. And it
15:52
takes time. Everything takes time. You have to
15:56
think about the shipping on time. So it's a long,
16:00
long process. And with local artists, it's much
16:04
easier. Robert, did you know that the first time
16:08
Petit Garçon and I walked into Pi Gallery, they
16:12
were showing a Kazakh artist? No way. And at
16:17
that time, Petit -Garçon had spent more time
16:20
living in Kazakhstan than he had been living
16:23
in the United States. So it was really, really
16:26
interesting to kind of have that conversation
16:30
with Alexa and Margaret. Yes, of course. Oh,
16:33
my gosh. I saw look at Genova. I was born in
16:39
Kazakhstan. Wow. And when I mentioned that Some
16:44
other people were in Kazakhstan. She couldn't
16:47
believe it. She thought she's like on the island
16:50
Because it's actually the largest landlocked
16:56
country in the world It was interesting sing
17:00
throughout the month a lot of many people like
17:03
Oh my gosh, like how's it, artist, how beautiful.
17:06
And it brings us back to that point of like,
17:08
it really was a meeting place. And people finally
17:11
found a space where they felt seen. Oh, that's
17:15
so wonderful. Oh, it's beautiful. That's so great.
17:19
What can the audience see at Pi Gallery over
17:22
the next three months? Yes. So in October, we'll
17:27
have Natalie McDonald. it will be paintings and
17:34
different media. Excellent. November, we will
17:38
have a Polish -born artist, Nina Kędzierska.
17:43
She do tapestries. Oh, beautiful. And she works
17:45
with sisal. It's very rough material to work.
17:49
Yeah. And with her tiny hands, working with this
17:53
beautiful, monumental tapestries. gorgeous show.
17:57
I really had recommended to coming to this show.
18:01
It will be amazing. Excellent. Yes. And then
18:04
December we will have Patricia Moss -Reyland,
18:09
Philadelphia known artist. She show in so many
18:14
places and she will have also paintings and mixed
18:18
media. And we actually have quite a lot of artists
18:22
which are Philadelphia artists. bright young
18:27
people and very promising artists. So we are
18:33
always very excited going to the studios, see
18:37
the works. So it's whole process. So we cannot
18:42
do it like, oh, two months later. Right, yes,
18:46
you're right. Yes, and even local artists appreciate
18:49
the time to prepare. Yes. Everyone likes a little
18:52
bit of time. What's usually the expectation of
18:56
the artist and the number of works that you suggest
19:00
that they bring to the gallery? We like to have
19:05
the artist bring, if anything, bring too many
19:07
and scale it back. But not too much where it's
19:10
overwhelming. We still want to give each space
19:13
room to breathe. I would say... Do you want to
19:17
put a number on it, like 19, 20? Sometimes 14,
19:19
depends on the size as well. Because if they
19:22
have big canvas, like we have artists we represent
19:26
for years, Marek Wojtowicz, his canvases are
19:29
monumental. So he can bring 12 at the most, or
19:33
10, because it will look better. But with smaller
19:38
pieces can be even 20 pieces or more. What do
19:43
you specifically look for in an artist? I think
19:48
the main thing we look for is if something in
19:52
us is drawn to it. I think it's just true raw
19:57
talent. I think that is the main thing. I know
20:00
that when we see something and we're drawn to
20:02
it and it gets us excited, that's when we start
20:05
planning. At least that's me personally, and
20:08
that's how it's been moving forward. That's incredible.
20:14
Do you represent any emerging artists that we
20:17
should have on our radar? All of them? Yes, I
20:22
was going to say, all of them. I think we were
20:26
even discussing last month's show with Originally
20:28
Distinct, who is a local artist. And he's really
20:33
amazing. I mean, what he's done with both clothing
20:35
and his artwork. We have another artist showing
20:39
next month. We have Natalie Hope McDonald. I
20:43
wouldn't necessarily say she's emerging, but
20:45
good show to keep a lookout for because she's
20:48
everywhere. She's represented by the Philadelphia
20:51
Museum of Art. She's been represented by galleries
20:54
here in Philadelphia. We're just really happy
20:57
to support all of our artists. We really do stand
21:00
by each artist that we represent. Some of our
21:03
previous gallery owners have shared that some
21:07
mediums are definitely harder to sell to the
21:11
public than others. Do you have favorite mediums
21:14
that you like to represent? Paintings, probably,
21:18
and sculpture. And also works on paper. So our
21:26
favorite, who is very, very modern, is very difficult
21:31
because we don't have that much space to put
21:34
a big TV or screen to do a video as well. So
21:39
we are a little limited with that because how
21:43
the gallery is designed, it will be very difficult
21:47
to have visual arts represented. Yeah, only to
21:53
add on to that as well, sometimes we do even
21:57
have two artists show in the same month. So we
22:01
have had, since we do have a little bit of a
22:03
two room experience, we have had two completely
22:07
different artists. So you have like the full
22:09
realm and it's so interesting to see what people
22:12
respond to. In other instances, we've had a sculpturist.
22:17
also work with an artist. So there's multiple
22:19
elements. So we're always playing around with
22:22
different ideas to give the full scale and to
22:25
let people have different experiences within
22:26
the gallery. I love that. I love that. Like a
22:29
little artist collaboration as well. Where can
22:32
our audience find you both online and in real
22:36
life? Online, we have our website, which is pigallery
22:40
.com. on Instagram now as well. And that's also
22:45
Pi Gallery. And physically, we're our 242 Race
22:49
Street. So right between second and third on
22:53
race. Excellent. And we are open from Thursday
22:56
to Saturday, 12 to 6 p .m. And on first Friday,
23:01
we are open from 5 to 9 p .m. Excellent. And
23:05
it's always a good time. Yes. We're going to...
23:08
transition into some rapid fire questions for
23:11
you. If you could describe the Philly art scene
23:15
in one word. The first word that comes to my
23:20
mind is community. Especially since we've we've
23:26
branched out to doing local and American contemporary
23:28
artists as well. I thought about our gallery
23:31
and I think art is just a huge basis of this
23:35
community and just generally. I think it's a
23:37
really big connector. Oh, it's beautiful. So
23:40
as soon as I think of that, I think of us all
23:43
getting together and appreciating art. That's
23:45
great. Do you have one? We might be different.
23:49
I agree with this totally, but it's very dynamic
23:53
scene. in Philadelphia, very dynamic, so many
23:57
things happening, like Fringe Festival starting
24:01
in September, and all the concerts, and movies,
24:06
and theaters, and it's really very dynamic scene.
24:10
I love it. Very dynamic. Cheesesteaks, with whiz
24:13
or without? Oh, I'm a with whiz type of girl.
24:18
Yes, same with me. Excellent. You're gonna go
24:21
for it. Yes, go all in. If you could have any
24:25
artist in history produce a portrait of you,
24:29
who would it be? Oh, a portrait makes it interesting.
24:34
This is a new question to our rapid -fire line
24:37
-up. Because, yes, it's personal. I'm very excited
24:44
to plug our March show. Perfect. Where there
24:49
will be a portrait of... I believe my good friend
24:53
and artist and friend of the gallery, Alois McIlwain,
24:57
goes by Cultures Clothing. He's a really highly
25:00
decorated artist here in Philadelphia. globally.
25:04
Excellent. And yeah, he's going to be doing a
25:07
live portrait of me in March. Nice. We met him
25:09
two weeks ago, didn't we? At Bridget Myers. Bridget
25:12
Myers. Yes. Oh, so good. Yes. And you'll recognize
25:15
as soon as you see one of his pieces, you start
25:18
to recognize his art all around Philadelphia.
25:20
Oh, wow. And I believe he's even currently in
25:23
Europe doing more murals. Spain and France. Berlin,
25:27
Amsterdam. Wow. Yes. He's very well -known muralist.
25:31
Excellent. Excellent. So I will I have to say
25:33
that, but it's my portrait. Yes, yes. You make
25:39
the rules. Yes, exactly. Mine will be maybe between
25:44
Chagall and Salvador Dari. It's difficult. Beautiful,
25:51
but beautiful, yes. This is a listener question.
25:55
Is there certain music or reality show or some
25:58
type of background noise that you listen to when
26:02
you're working? That's why we create such a bond
26:05
with the artists as soon as I do prep and I start
26:08
working throughout the month I start talking
26:11
to the artists about what music they like and
26:14
Usually I go as far as even what I'm wearing
26:16
represents the artist It's a really important
26:20
thing because every artist that I've spoken to
26:22
usually does have their own music style and what
26:25
they listen to when they're working. And I think
26:27
as soon as they enter the gallery to play what
26:30
inspires them makes a nice difference in ambiance.
26:33
Oh, that's beautiful. Your favorite art museum
26:36
outside of Philadelphia? My San Francisco Mama.
26:40
Oh, lovely. Yes. I like it very much. Yeah. I
26:44
think I'm always drawn to the textile museum
26:48
in Łódź. in Poland. It's really beautiful. And
26:53
also, it's a whole new view on textile and art,
26:57
and it's always very empowering when I go there.
26:59
Lovely, lovely. Your favorite Philadelphia neighborhood?
27:03
Well, we are an old city. I do have to say I
27:06
have a soft spot there. Second would be South
27:10
Philly, but every so often I have to. I was just
27:12
in Rittenhouse for the Fine Arts Festival. That
27:16
park is so great. I love to just go and sit,
27:19
have lunch, so everywhere but soft spot here
27:23
in Old City. Yes. Okay, set the scene. We are
27:27
planning a heist. What piece of art are we stealing
27:30
for your collection? Should I say it on here?
27:35
No, just kidding. In case like one day. If I'm
27:40
going to do a heist, going to borrow... Because
27:43
Chagall is one of my favorites as well. So I
27:46
would maybe say Chagall, or wouldn't it be very
27:49
cool to maybe have a piece from Frida Kahlo.
27:53
Nice. Margaret, are we having a heist? Are you
27:56
going along with us? Yes. Dali. Dali. Nice. Perfect.
28:01
Perfect. And then finally, what's your favorite
28:03
beverage at the moment? Oh. Diet Pepsi. Yes.
28:12
But yeah, it's something bubbly. I love it. Love
28:16
a little bubble. Love a little caffeine. Perfect.
28:19
Yes. Do you like your green tea? Lovely. Green
28:23
tea. Perfect. Perfect. Well, now I'm curious.
28:25
Thank you both. This is lovely. Thank you very
28:29
much for the opportunity to be in your show.
28:33
Thank you, really. Yes. Thank you. And we'll
28:36
see you on first Friday. Exactly. Everyone check
28:39
out Pi Gallery. them this weekend because First
28:55
Friday in Old City is this Friday and our pick
28:58
for the night is PII Gallery opening. Natalie
29:02
Hope McDonald show will open as Margaret and
29:06
Alexa mentioned in our conversation. And we,
29:10
Robert and I will be pouring complimentary drinks
29:12
for the first hour starting at 6 p .m. So come
29:16
have happy hour with us. Yeah, enjoy the evening.
29:18
Da Vinci Art Alliance opening on October 2nd,
29:22
two new shows, and we will be pouring refreshments
29:25
for opening reception on October 4th from 4 to
29:29
7. The Philadelphia Theatre Company's primary
29:32
trust is ongoing, but the Drama Discovery Day
29:35
series, Child Care Matinee, whoo, a mouthful,
29:39
is Saturday, October 4th at 2 p .m. Check out
29:42
the show notes for 10 % off coupon code off single
29:45
tickets. Ooh. This weekend? is the last weekend
29:50
of six at the Academy of Music from the Ensemble
29:54
Arts Broadway Series. There's some feminism for
29:58
you. The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents
30:01
Sphinx Virtuosi on October 11th at 730 at the
30:07
Perlman Theater in the Kimmel Center. The Pico
30:10
Free First Sunday Family Day is at the Barnes
30:13
this Sunday, October 5th. The Philadelphia Ballet
30:18
Gala and Gala performance is October 11th. There
30:21
are Young Friends level tickets still available.
30:25
The Museum for Art and Wood Young Artist Speaker
30:28
Series featuring Sterling Crews' hair is on Wednesday,
30:32
October 15th at noon free. Ballet X's 20th Anniversary
30:37
Gala is October 28th. At the print center through
30:41
November 22nd, a solo show titled False Dawn
30:45
and a group show titled Memory Loss. Tickets
30:50
for the traveling exhibition Dreamworld Surrealism
30:53
at 100 are available. The exhibit does not open
30:57
until November 8th and runs until February 16th.
31:01
We cannot get over the fact that the PMA is the
31:05
only United States venue getting A stop. Take
31:09
that National Gallery of Art. And with that,
31:13
Philly has art. And art! Has anybody bought the,
31:16
um... From Originally Distinct? Originally Distinct,
31:20
that one jacket, the silhouette. You know, I
31:23
was thinking about that earlier. I was like,
31:25
oh, I wonder if I should bring the postcard from
31:28
that show if you didn't grab one, but... Everyone
31:30
was interested. He ended up doing limited edition
31:35
digital prints, and those were bought up. Oh,
31:37
nice. So they were smaller format, and there
31:40
was a limited... More accessible. More accessible,
31:42
and I believe there was 12, 15 of those, and
31:47
those sold. Wow. Yeah, that was an amazing piece.
31:50
People really responded. Responded, yeah. Really
31:53
responded to that one. And we're hoping if...
31:56
Even when we work with him again, he has a cardigan
31:59
of that piece. Like it's actually, he made it
32:02
with flowers all over it. Like merch. And he's
32:06
really cool. They had a rack of clothes in the
32:08
back of merch that was based upon the art or
32:13
tied into it. And his merch sold out. So that
32:16
was a really good idea. And that was a big learning
32:19
experience for us as well. Like people apparently
32:21
really love limited edition merch on top of everything.
32:25
Okay, real quick. I found that there are brands
32:29
that are actively collaborating with The Met
32:33
to produce, like, limited edition collections.
32:39
Like, have you ever heard of Lili Sadouki? She
32:41
does the knotted headbands. She has a collection
32:45
in each collection. There are about four artists.
32:49
It's Kudinsky, Lee, Toulouse, Mondrian, AIS,
32:55
Grease, Grease. Also, Pac -Sun is collaborating
32:59
with The Met, which is insane. It's sold out,
33:05
nearly. And also, have you ever heard of Todd
33:07
Snyder? It's like, he collaborates with The Met.