The ARTery Gallery at Front Street invites you to come see our New ”RUSTIC” Members Exhibition on display through October, a collection of rural, country scenes, objects, activities, people and landscapes. We would like to introduce our Gallery’s Highlighted Artist of the Month, David Zawisa, an exceptional painter and sculptor as well as our Visiting Artist for October, Leah Mendenhall, also a very talented local painter.
David Zawisa’s earliest recollection of creating art was at the age of 2 while drawing murals on his parents walls. The artist said “Without a care in the world, using crayon as my medium of choice, I learned then that art can evoke strong emotions, and that art is not permanent. So, I’ve been on a life-long quest to make my art timeless. I now work with oil-based paint, metal and wood as these materials seem to have lasting qualities. I may still use crayon, but I will never again admit to it.”
In his teens the artist painted murals on vans with an airbrush while working for Juan Parker in Columbus Ohio who was a very nationally known airbrush artist. Zawisa says his genre is eclectic because he is not bound to one type of work or a set style. The artist paints and creates whatever comes to mind that sparks his interest or imagination, so the sky is the limit!
He is both a unique and talented Painter as well as Sculptor at the ARTery Gallery at Front Street in Downtown Dayton, OH. Zawisa has studied and taken a variety of painting classes at the Cranbrook Art Center in Michigan, Middletown Art Center in Middletown, OH, and at the Rosewood Art Center in Kettering, OH. He enjoys creating 2-D paintings in oils on canvas but has been known to paint on a variety of materials including copper to create a unique relief with his paint colors replicating the look of patina.
David Zawisa’s “Perceptual Motion”
Zawisa gained sculpture experience through the creative process itself, figuring things out as he went along, visualizing ideas and then discovering logistical ways to bring his projects into reality whether it be a 2-D or 3-D piece. He is a creative, natural innovator and problem solver in life, so sculpting seemed a natural outlet for his special gifts, abilities, and insatiable imagination. Years ago, Zawisa was commissioned to draw some military aircraft by John Navitsky who was the US government military liaison, and he suggested Zawisa re-create a small re-sculpture of the well-known Vietnam Memorial statue of the three soldiers facing the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. The original artist approved it, as well as the US government, so David created his very first sculpture and the artist gained a lot of confidence in his sculptural abilities.
The fascinating piece of art pictured with this article by David Zawisa is entitled “Perceptual Motion”. It is an 11” x 15” framed Pen & Ink original drawing. The perpetual motion effect is more perceptible when seen in person, and it is currently hanging at The ARTery Gallery at Front Street. While you are there be sure to look for a moving metal sculpture he named “Sputnik” after the Russia satellite which has been sold, but is still currently hanging in the ARTery. Zawisa is currently working on Sputnik II which will not only include movement, but it will also include lights on the end of each of the metal antennas.
Come Meet Zawisa in person, our ARTery Artist of the month for October as well as our Guest Artist, Leah Mendenhall, and check out their current work on 3rd Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
The ARTery Gallery at Front Street currently has 16 member artists and artisans, and hosts a variety of work from Jewelry and Ceramics to Textile art, Printmaking, Sculpture, Painting, Photography, and Digital Art. The ARTery Gallery is located in the Front Street Bldg, Door B-C, 3rd Floor, and OPEN EVERY 1st Friday from 5-9pm, and also 3rd Sunday from 11am-4pm. Come join in the fun, rich in art, entertainment, and community. There will be lots of art studios open including the ARTery Gallery, Individual and Group exhibitions, live music, Outdoor vendors and food available via local food trucks in the parking lot.
*Current ARTery Artists include: Alison Bour, Amy O’Hearn, Ashley Simons, Rosalie Campbell, Bob Farley, Carol Farley, Jim Hayes, Kelly Ingerson, Bonnie Kuntz, Sarah Maxwell, Melanie Morrett, Ryan Taylor, Jo Anne Vincent, Leonard Williams, and David Zawisa.
Shows that are inspired by audience suggestions will be Wed – Sun nights, after this weekends grand re-opening. They feature long form improv featuring locally grown improvisors and we have a variety of shows ranging from hour long shows based on your personal stories to a local favorite, our improvised musicals! Our musicals feature the former music director of Second City, Trey Stone.
The Black Box Improv Theater
The area’s newest foodtruck, Slide Thru, was launched just last month by Chef Kali Muhammad. After he was laid off from his job at a catering company, due to the pandemic he found himself cooking for family and friends as a way to support myself financially, and keep his skills sharpened. “The support that my family and friends provided gave me the inspiration I needed to pursue my dreams and invest in myself. I figured I would do a food truck so that I could pick my business up and take it wherever I needed to go in the instance of another shelter in place order, “shared Kali.
Cake, Hope and Love is offering a Virtual Halloween Cupcake Class! They will be decorating 6 different Halloween designs on a half dozen cupcakes. Owner Shannon Teague chose designs that should be easy and fun for most all ages. The designs will be a cat, pumpkin, owl, Frankenstein, Spider and bat cupcakes.
Lush designs and laughter will fill Wright State University’s Festival Playhouse when they return to live performance with the hilarious farce, Ken Ludwig’s LEND ME A TENOR, as their first indoor live production in a year and a half. This giddy comedy, which has been called the best farce of the last fifty years, is a celebration of live theatre, student energy and talent, and Wright State’s audiences, who have waited so long for a chance to see the incredible gifts these professionally bound students offer. 
available now through Oct. 31!
Susie and Iván Núñez have developed a comfortable blend of international culinary styles that has evolved into the distinctive Casa Núñez flavor. Iván learned the traditional cooking of his native Puerto Rico from his grandmother and his great-aunt. As a young man, he not only owned a successful Mexican restaurant called “Paso Real” in New Mexico, but also placed third in the prestigious Chilympiad in San Marcos, Texas. He later married Susie in Gibraltar and the pair made their first home together in Madrid, Spain.
What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?
Mike and his wife Renee debated about the chili for the coney’s, Mike preferring an East Coast meaty ketchup based chili, while she preferred a Cincinnati based chili flavored with cinnamon and allspice. So they agreed they’d offer both for the first month and then go with the one that sold the best. But both sold equally well, so now every Monday they spend hours making 8 gallons of the two chili’s to prep for the week.
Clarece and Gerald Richardson, owners of 
The One Esca Group, a restaurant management company based in Dallas, Texas, owns and plans to operate Corner Kitchen. The One Esca Group, currently owns and operates the Spaghetti Warehouse located at 36 West Fifth Street in downtown Dayton so they are familiar with Dayton and region. They’re very excited to expand their presence through the acquisition of Corner Kitchen, which will be its own unique and very special addition to the greater Dayton restaurant scene. According to PR Rep Chuck Vella, on opening timeline, “It will be some months away.”
Owners Chris and Urmila Holloway are excited to welcome all to the new location of 
Comedian Donnell Rawlings, aka Ashy Larry, will perform one show at Wiley’s Comedy Club in the Oregon District on Thursday, September 9th. He’ll be working on perfecting his material for his upcoming Netflix special he’ll be taping at the end of the month. Donnell is He is best known as a cast member on the Comedy Central sketch comedy TV series Chappelle’s Show and the HBO drama The Wire. He spent most of last summer in the cornfields of Yellow Springs at Camp Chappelle.
“I think we’re all starving for connection and music is a powerful vehicle to bring people together” Zac Pitts, co-owner of Sound Valley said. “Live music came to a screeching halt when the pandemic started and I think the world realized just how much we took the experience for granted. Music just helps you feel better, especially when it’s live and in the moment”.