Where do you go for a taste of the international art world right here within the Dayton community? 
12 S Ludlow, next to the Fifth Third garage, there is an art gallery. Edward A. Dixon Gallery, to give it a name. It opened recently, the ribbon was cut just a few months ago on September 22nd, and like most Dayton art galleries you may find, it’s run by an art-loving long-time member of the Dayton community: Ed Dixon.
Ed’s been working in Dayton for years now, but it was more than love of art and Dayton that made him decide to open the Ludlow gallery; the Edward A. Dixon Gallery was opened with a purpose.
Any reader of DMM is more than likely familiar with Dayton’s unique community. It’s friendly, it’s collaborative, it’s deep, so on and so on — I’m sure you all can fill in your own adjectives. At Edward A. Dixon’s Gallery, it’s global.
It’s a pretty small shop, but the art within speaks to places far beyond its Dayton home, which is what makes Edward A. Dixon’s gallery a Dayton one of a kind; an entrance to Ed’s gallery is an entrance to a deeply diverse art experience. The gallery features a mix of paintings, sculptures, etchings, and more from a wide variety of eras in art. Ed hopes to freshen the Dayton art landscape with a breath of high-end local, regional, and international artwork. You may find oil paintings from France, abstract etchings from Germany, you may even find an acrylic-oil rendition of one of your favorite albums.
Or, if you come now, you may find the work of the Cuban painter Julio Antonio Pino Varens. Pino Varens is an abstract Colorist whose work often blends Afro-Cuban legends with Varens’ personal experiences.
Pino Varens continues to paint from home amidst both harsh creative and importation restrictions enforced upon artists by the Communist Party of Cuba. Pino Varens’ struggle for artistic freedom means less access to essential supplies as well, making it all the more difficult for Julio’s art to reach beyond Cuba.
The works ties in nicely with the featured “What Is Art” exhibit hanging on a wall nearby. The project addresses the boundaries and definitions debated over for ages when discussing the quality of an artist. Ed is proud to add the perspective of Pino Varens’ work which bursts with character and color
that warrants a trip to Ludlow St. in its own right.
The Edward A. Dixon Gallery is currently featuring four of Pino Varens’ works, each of which are currently for sale. The collection at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery is meant to build excitement for Pino Varens’ coming summer exhibit in the Fifth Third office , which will be showcasing Pino Varens’ most recent, on-going work.
If you don’t want to wait till then, or want a piece of the international community here in Dayton, stop by the Edward A. Dixon Gallery on Friday between 4-8p, Saturdays 12-4p, or by appointment.
