Views of local band Velvet Grüve at March 2025’s Germantown Art & Sound. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)
This Friday, Germantown Art & Sound will take its final bow for the year, officially closing the summer and uplifting local artistry in the process.
As usual, the night happens at Our House Culture Center, on the corner of Germantown Ave. & Johnson St., from 7 to 10 p.m.
Attendees won’t go hungry, as they have the option to purchase from the Philly Cinco de Mayo food truck, serving up its selection of tacos, quesadillas, and birria.
Alongside food available for purchase, complimentary wine will be served.
And to make the night just that more immaculate, the hyperlocal DJ Heat___Wav will spin tunes to keep the vibes as high as they’ve been all year.
For the final show of the year, neighbors can expect six dynamic artists, each offering their own style and offerings. Ahead of Friday’s show, learn more about two of the shining artists to be featured.
Drew LeVan
Drew LeVan has always been drawn to art since his younger years. Coupling his passion for art with the need to do something that could provide employment opportunities, LeVan solidified himself as a graphic designer.
LeVan’s expression through graphic design can range from an animal, such as a fox or wolf, to a call for justice, like “End The Occupation” or “Protect Trans Youth.”
He loves graphic design, as it works the “puzzle part” of his mind, he shared.
LeVan’s work really shines through his process of black-and-white sketching, done by hand, which he then scans and digitizes to adjust colors and isolate elements, creating new works of graphic design art.
When you stare at LeVan’s work, it’s hard not to notice the amount of detail done to create these pieces.
That’s due to his “grid-work,” which starts with a hand-drawn field of small rectangles, each a tiny pen-and-ink world, which he later mines for standalone icons and color pieces, turning his sketching discipline into modular design.
While LeVan is no stranger to art, this is his first showcase. When asked how he feels, he told GIH he’s looking to unmask his imposter syndrome.
“Hopefully, this builds up the confidence more,” he said. “And also just building connections with like-minded people within the community.”
The graphic designer will have work for sale as low as $2 at the showcase.
LeVan is also new to the Germantown area and says he’s looking forward to immersing himself more within the neighborhood.
Kaya Proctor
“Art is healing” isn’t just a phrase, but rather a real way of life for some.
And it was her need to decompress that brought about Temple alumna Kaya Proctor’s passion for painting. Couple that with her yearning to stay within budget, and you’ve got a full origin story.
“I was so broke for so long and art is really expensive sometimes, so I just started making stuff myself to fill the walls [of her apartment] and then I just started really enjoying it after a while.”
Even Proctor’s choice of material is still informed by her origins, as she uses textile drop cloths, which she finds at hardware stores, that have become her signature.
Proctor’s style is a nod to the most primal forms of communication. Think: cave drawings. The painter uses bold silhouettes, simple line work, and minimalism to help convey the story she seeks to tell.
These works of art often stem from a single word, such as “balance,” which evolves into an introspective scene that offers a glimpse into Proctor’s world.
But what guides her creation process? The process itself.
Proctor is clear when she names that she is still learning and growing through all of her pieces. And those growth areas are often seen.
“…there’s a lot of aggressive texture because I sometimes mess up and I gotta go in with a trillion different layers of different paint,” Proctor said.
But her trial-and-error doesn’t negate the raw beauty encapsulated within the work.
As a longtime attendee of Germantown Art & Sound, Proctor is glad to finally be a part of an esteemed lineup.
She discusses Art & Sound’s mission to offer emerging artists opportunities and portfolio building beyond the showcase, which may also include connections to press and professional headshots taken by co-curator Julian Moore-Griffin.
“I haven’t heard of any other local art show that’s doing anything remotely close to what they’re doing, and it’s been a privilege to be part of and witness it.”
Proctor will have works of art for sale ranging from $10 to $50. However, original works will be priced higher.