Art is alive in Miamisburg

Come experience a vibrant collaboration of art by three local Dayton artists and community leaders at an Opening Reception Friday, June 15th in Downtown Miamisburg. The Opening Reception kicks off the beginning of a special exhibit that will run through July 5th, featuring: Painting on Rusted Steel by Mike Elsass, Abstract Expressionism by Ron Rollins and Urban Photography by Larry Faulkner. Join us for hors d’oeuvres, wine, music and mingling as we celebrate the eclectic work of these three Dayton artists.

Ron Rollins of Kettering is an editor at the Dayton Daily News and paints colorful, highly gestural images in the style of the Abstract Expressionists he has studied and admires. He recently showed his work at the Dayton Circus arts collective’s Sideshow 7 exhibition at the Yellow Cab building in downtown Dayton. The Miamisburg show will be his second exhibition.

His work is multi-media on paper and canvas, usually combining pastel and conte crayon layered over with acrylic. He seeks to create unusual shapes and color combinations that are lyrical and moody — and which another local artist recently described as “pugilistic.”

Rollins’ work at the DDN includes nearly a decade as arts and entertainment editor, during which he wrote extensively about the local arts scene, including visual arts and the Dayton Art Institute. He is currently editor of the Ideas & Voices opinion pages.

The type of photography Larry Faulkner focuses on is typically centered on urban landscapes.  An urban environment allows him to break down scenes to a minimalist view.  He looks for scenes that can be broken down to basic elements, yet still have a high impact for the viewer. This particular exhibition will emphasize Maimisburg’s downtown.  Faulkner believes most residents see their environment every day and, therefore, miss the appealing visual drama that exists in their downtown. With these photographs, Faulkner hopes to remind residents of the attractiveness of their built environment.

Mike Elsass paints abstract on rusted sheets of steel, and his art is spiritual and meditative. By painting, sponging, and sanding, the steel evolves until the final coating. Many pieces have over 40 coats of paint and glazing. To Mike, the steel represents strength, life’s elements, aging, imperfection and beauty. Mike’s spirit lies on the road; from his first series in Quebec, Canada to the Gulf Coast winter and the Louisiana swamps, he draws his energy from nature and life. The Arizona desert and the Kentucky countryside blend his art. His beautiful Ohio country barn loft and studios on Easy Avenue and Front Street in Dayton give him time to reflect and paint in solitude.  Mike’s art can also be seen his Oregon District art gallery The Color of Energy.

Experience a dynamic exhibit unlike any other, as these three artists blend their work into a collaborative series in the heart of Miamisburg.

(submitted by the show’s guest curator Annie Bowers)