Brooke Hoffman • The Philadelphia Examiner • June, 2010

Along with teaching middle school art and being a family man, Todd Marrone is an artist. He relates more to graphic or comic book artists, but still appreciates more traditionally known painters like Picasso. His work is very pop-culture based and is influenced by Keith Herring and John Burgerman. Marrone feels his artistic style helps create a connection between the art world and his students. It appeals to them and gives them a sense that they too can become artists. As a teacher, he has been very supportive of his students; recently he and a former student, now a senior in high school, have collaborated on a series of paintings that can be currently seen at MilkBoy, Bryn Mawr entitled the “Colabyrinth.” Another student, who is currently a sophomore at Drexel, started the Formation Skateboard Company and has worked with Marrone on about twelve different board designs. (more…)

Brooke Hoffman • The Philadelphia Examiner • June, 2010

Wanted: Willy Wonka is looking for his Charlie to lead philosophy/discussion group in coffee house setting once a month. Required skills include a love of art, new ideas, and an appreciation for stimulating conversation.

Local artist, Todd Marrone has been organizing Socrates Cafe for about three years and is currently looking for a partner in crime to help lead discussions and meetings. The concept of this discussion series stems from the book of the same name by Christopher Phillips who was a professor of philosophy. Phillips had become disgruntled about the state of how philosophy was being taught; he felt academic students were trained to regurgitate old ideas instead of developing new concepts of thought. He decided to travel across the country holding “Socrates Cafes” where people could come together and hold discussions. He went everywhere including bingo halls and prisons. The conversation’s jumping point would be an abstract question and everyone in attendance was welcomed comment. (more…)

John Beeler • Main Line Times • June, 2010

Welsh Valley Middle School art teacher Todd Marrone quotes Leonardo da Vinci, “Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master,” and typically refuses to draw or paint on a student’s project. Of course all teachers are honored when former students acknowledge their work and ask for advice so he was thrilled when his former eighth-grade pupil, graduating Lower Merion High School senior Hanna Williams of Narberth, asked him to collaborate with her on her independent community-learning project, Senior Project, which in the case of Hanna (pronounced hah-na), a talented traditional oil painter, was an art project. (more…)

Phriends

Fortunately, frequent Phrequency contributor and phenominal photographer, Tiffany Yoon, was on hand to capture Saturday night’s Formation festivities.

Acrylic & Paint Marker on Skateboard • Works in Progress

Sneak a peek at the cruiser customization command center. Marvel at the oddly worded Philadelphia City Paper blurbicle promoting the Custom Cruisers reception and show.

Acrylic on Album Jackets • Arcadia Boutique

Many thanks to the attendees of Thursday’s Hanging Jackets opening reception. Additional e-props to DJ iLLumadel for supplying the groves, Arcadia Boutique for playing host and City Paper AND Philadelphia Weekly for issuing all-points blurbetins.

David Robinson • Main Line Times • November, 2008

The phrase “passing the torch” may bring to mind the vision of our ancestors moving through darkened caves, with tiring elders handing the flame of leadership to the next generation. In the art world, “passing the torch” might be thought of as the moment when ancient hands drawing beasts and visions on cave walls pause to take the torch from eager apprentices and hand them charcoal and umber to begin their artistic journey.

MilkBoy Coffee in heart of Ardmore, will be the site of such an exchange First Friday, Dec. 5 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Welsh Valley Middle School’s charismatic art teacher, Todd Marrone, will be passing the torch to the young artist, Lower Merion senior Emmett DeMuzio. (more…)

Beauty & the Bot

CBS 3’s Nicole Brewer continues to sing the praises of UsedWigs Radio. On her network blog, she refers to our recent segment as her “funniest interview EVER.” Arguably, props of the maddest variety.

CBS 3′s Nicole Brewer Gets the Scope on UsedWigs Radio

It must have been a slow news week in Philly… but we’re not complaining. The lovely, talented and extremely patient Nicole Brewer of CBS3.com spent some time with Team UsedWigs and produced a great video highlighting our little nonsense-filled website and podcast. Swing by and check her/it out.

Sasha Toten • Bi-College News • February, 2008

Philosophy might sound like a daunting subject to discuss, especially if you have never taken a course related to it. But what if you were discussing it without books, in a café, on a weekday night, amongst people from all different age groups and backgrounds?

This is what has been happening at the Milkboy in Bryn Mawr town every third Monday of the month, from 7-8:30 p.m. (more…)