ArtStreet
Looking Back At The Best In Visual Art For 2013
It’s not too late to look back at the best in visual art for 2013. Here are some of my favorites
Longing: Sculpture and Photography, curated by Francis Schanberger, Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors (DSPS)
I wanted to somehow use the terms languid, languorous and louche to describe the photos in this show paired with coy, clever sculptural counterparts. And just lovely in the elegant setting of the recently gussied-up High Street Gallery.
Jud Yalkut: Visions and Sur-Realities, curated by Jeanne Phillip, Gallery 249, Roesch Library 1st & 2nd floor Galleries, and Art Street Gallery, University of DaytonAlmost too much to take in. Heady.
Meme: Culture in Transition, curated by Dennie Eagleson and Susan Byrnes, Herndon Gallery, Antioch College
“Artists coming as close as one can to grasping such a speeding concept.”
Works on Paper 2012, juror Robert Robbins, Rosewood Arts Centre
Ongoing proof of the region’s artististic mastery of watercolor, drawing, printmaking and photography. Oceans of achingly good lines.
Construction of Space: Tess Little and Jennifer Rosengarten, self-curated, Dayton Visual Arts Center
Enveloped by swirling jewel and pastel-toned flowers, grasses, weeds and scribbles embedded in a forest of earth, stone, metal. Preternatural.
The Fixed Shadow: Camera–less Photography, juried by Carol Panaro-Smith and James Hajicek, The Robert & Elaine Stein Galleries at WSU
How do I love thee, let me count the ways: photograms, scanograms, lumen prints, chemigrams, and photogenic drawings. Mysterious and beautiful.
Storm: Paintings by April Gornik, curated by Jane Black, Dayton Art Institute
Spectacular. Too few of these roaring waterscapes by this underappreciated Cleveland-born nationally recognized painter.
Jack Earl: Modern Master – A Retrospective, curated by Charlotte Gordon, Springfield Museum of Art
A keen sense of humor, magical tableaus, regional references, family values. In porcelain. Turned this painting snob into a ceramic stalker.
Your Turn: A collaborative exhibition by Bridgette Bogle and Francis Schanberger, self-curated, organized by Peter Benkendorf and Mark Chepp, The Collaboratory
Obvious and not-so-obvious quietly trippy photo and explosive painting pairings by this husband-wife team that made you so fascinated by their shared visual vocabulary that you poke your significant other and say [insert random snarky spousal barb here] as a reality check.
TODT: Heartland, presented by Gallery 249 and ArtStreet, University of Dayton
A retrospective of the Cincinnati-born, globally exhibited anonymous artist collective of works depicting a futuristic world controlled by science and government. Possibly on this list for the mere fact that it surprised the students that such bad-ass work was happening in the 90s.
Where is the Love I Playing for Change, Video, produced by CityFolk, Music by Puzzle of Light, various Dayton performers.
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Warm, dance-like-nobody’s-watching, beautifully shot.
Stanley Lewis: Works on Paper, self-curated, The Robert & Elaine Stein Galleries at WSU
A beautiful mess of the best kind of sure-handed mark-making. Like peering at the world through a “sketchbook” filter. Wonderous.
Streets of Dayton, Video, Reinvention Portraits, Steve Bognar, Julia Reichart and the Reinvention Team, Dayton Art Institute and www.reinventionstories.org.
A riveting looped video that merged three perspectives of travelling up and down the city streets. Literally unraveling and then raveling the city up again and again. Heartpulling. Spectacular.
Award-Winning Doc Part of Human Rights Discussion
The University of Dayton invites the Dayton community to a special screening of a recently released documentary by local filmmaker Aileen LeBlanc, Take Us Home, this Thursday, 7:30 pm, Sears Recital Hall (Humanities Building).
Take Us Home presents a personal, human look into the journey of Ethiopian Jews to Israel and sparks deep questions about justice, race, immigration, and identity. Following the screening Aileen LeBlanc will join Theo Majka and Mark Ensalaco for a panel discussion about the film. Refreshments will be served.
This is a FREE event sponsored by ArtStreet, the Human Rights Studies Program, and FilmDayton.
ArtStreet hosts the Friday Film Series – showcasing cutting edge, contemporary and classic films that focus on universal themes and include post-screening discussions with special guests.
ArtStreet Film Series Special Edition: Take Us Home
Date: November 21, 2013
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Sears Recital Hall, Jesse Philips Humanities Center
Sponsor: ArtStreet, Human Rights Studies Program and FilmDayton
Contact: Brian LaDuca
Phone number: 937-229-5101
Website: ArtStreet
Presented by ArtStreet, the UD Human Rights Studies Program and FilmDayton. Local filmmaker Aileen LeBlanc’s documentary presents a personal, human look into the journey of Ethiopian Jews to Israel – an issue which is in the news now and soon to be in the hearts of all who care about injustice, race, immigration, acceptance and identity. Hosted by director Aileen LeBlanc.
This event is free and open to the public.
Experience the Creative Culture Exchange at ArtStreet
Come experience the Creative Culture Exchange series at the University of Dayton this spring. This series, comprised of three separate events, brings together both local and national artists in order to discuss and challenge the way we as an audience view local arts organizations and what they have to offer. Through the exploration of just what it takes to create art at a professional level and bring that to an audience, this series attempts to grow an appreciation for art among audiences both new and old.
Tuesday, Feb. 26: “Why create cross-cultural arts experiences?”
The first discussion (Tuesday February 26, 7 p.m. in ArtStreet Studio B) poses this question to the leaders of non-profit art groups Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Cityfolk. This hour long conversation will take a look at the trials and tribulations of opening a minority voiced arts non-profit in Dayton, taken from the perspective of two Dayton arts non-profits that share a focus on promoting culturally diverse art.
According to ArtStreet director Brian LaDuca, the importance of this conversation is to raise awareness of “…the challenges that organizations like DCDC and Cityfolk go through on a daily basis in order to create and produce high quality culture for Dayton and create artistic homes for national artists. That beyond music and dance these companies work overtime to assure that Dayton continues to have a thriving, minority voice in creating cross-cultural arts experiences.”
Both the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Cityfolk have been focused on bringing diverse art performances to the Dayton community and beyond for over thirty years. The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, founded in 1968, is a modern dance company centered on the African-American tradition, with a mission to bring culturally diverse contemporary dance to its audience. Cityfolk, another Dayton organization, was founded in 1981 and has been working since to preserve the traditional arts of various ethnicities through the celebration of cross-culture performances.
Joining the conversation will be Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s executive director RoNita Hawes Saunders and director of development Ed Valles and Cityfolk’s executive director Kathleen Alter and education and outreach manager Jean Howat Berry.
Tuesday, March 12: “Why don’t you go to the theater?”
The second discussion (Tuesday March 12, 7 p.m. in ArtStreet Studio C) will focus on an examination of the social and cultural shifts affecting this generation of theater audiences, and what that means for contemporary theater. The conversation will take place between artists from various theater companies across the country whose focus is on producing new and challenging works for the 21st century.
This event will be hosted by ArtStreet director Brian LaDuca. Joining the conversation in person will be David Brush, the former executive director of Encore Theater Company, and joining via Skype will be Joe Barros, artistic director of the New York Theatre Barn, and Kevin Mayes, founder and current board member of the Bailiwick Chicago Theater Company.
Tuesday, April 2: “Where is the poetry?”
The third discussion (Tuesday April 2, 7 p.m. in ArtStreet Studio C and in conjunction with the University of Dayton’s LitFest) will focus on exposing Dayton’s creative writing and poetry scene, and figuring out where Dayton fits into the fold of contemporary poetry.
Joining the conversation will be Albino Carrillo (professor, Department of English), Jonterri Gadson (Herbert W. Martin Creative Writing Fellow), Herbert Martin (professor emeritus) and poets from Sinclair Community College.
For more information about ArtStreet at the University of Dayton, visit www.udayton.edu/artstree
Submitted by Lauren Glass – a senior at the University of Dayton where she is studying journalism and currently working as a social media assistant for ArtStreet.
Vinyl Party Tonight at UD ArtStreet
If you haven’t already found that perfect thing to do tonight, grab your favorite record and head over to UD’s Artstreet Cafe for Vinyl Party Vol 2. The free event is hosted by The Jaywalkers’ Sean Kaschak and sponsored by Omega Music on 5th Street. It’s an opportunity to share your favorite music and meet new musically-minded people. It runs from 7-9pm so if you do have other plans, you can make this your first stop.
It’s Here: 2 of 3 from Sean Kaschak on Vimeo.
Sticks work.
I had a “Christo” moment today. It may have been even better than Christo. As you may or may not know, Christo and his partner and wife, Jeanne-Claude, who died in 2009, are perhaps the best known environmental artists in the world.
Today I had the honor and thrill of assisting another talented environmental artist at Wegerzyn Metro Park. His name is Patrick Dougherty and he is best known for his Stickworks: large site-specific sculptural installations made of natural materials. He will be working at Wegerzyn for the next three weeks creating a truly willowy – it’s built of willow – snake inspired by the Serpent Mound in Adams County. When it’s done, visitors will be able to walk through its curvy body, go inside it and peer through its doors and windows, and walk around it. The willow snake sculpture will be allowed to decay naturally.
Volunteers can sign up to help, as I did, and work alongside the artist as he creates this local masterpiece. I had a great time, and I’m going back for another day!
To volunteer, and I highly recommend it as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, contact Bob Butts, Assistant Volunteer Manager at Five Rivers Metro Park. He’ll put you in the right place in the snake.
For more information on the artist Patrick Dougherty and his work, check out his website at: www.stickwork.net/
Before I left today, I took some pictures of the work in progress.
Jane’s Best Bets (3/23 – 3/27)
Photo Credit: Alli Shillito
Woohoo…it’s spring! That means you need to put a little spring in your step and make your way to some of these events going on this week!
On Wednesday, make your way to the Community Blood Center for Because Kerrigan Cared Week, where all blood donations will be made in memory of Steve Kerrigan, a veteran Dayton broadcaster who recently lost his battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. After you have donated blood, you will want to help replenish your blood supply by eating a good dinner! So be sure to head to the Bonefish Grill for their Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesdays or to Sammy’s El Pueblo for their Fajita Dinner for 2 for $19.99. All you who love debating political issues should head to the Trolley Stop for Drinking Liberally – Dayton. Even though St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, you will be able to attend the Green Drinks Dayton March at Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge, in which you will be able to find out about local organizations who “think green.” And if you don’t mind making a fool of yourself, head to Blind Bob’s Tavern for Karaoke with DJ Nancy. If you’re a really good singer, that’s okay too…except for the fact that you just make all of us bad singers look even worse!
On Thursday, if you want to celebrate that it is almost the weekend, head to After Work Thursdays at The Moraine Embassy for “Downtown Happy Times.” They say wine and yoga relax you, so be ultra relaxed by attending Grape and Lotus – A Wine and Yoga Practice at Metropolitan Arts Center. Love movies and art? Make your way to DAI’s Movie Night, featuring Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead’. Plus, the ticket price includes admission to the new exhibit, Creating the New Century: Contemporary Art from the Dicke Collection! If you are a film enthusiast, you may also head to Ajami: Dayton Jewish International Film Festival, which takes place at The Neon. There are a couple options available for young professionals who enjoy the arts, including Young Professionals Night at the DPO (Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra) or Jump into Strings (hopefully you don’t get hurt) with jumpstART. If you do decide to jump, join other jumpers at the Milano’s on Brown Street prior to the show! Or head to New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre. They must also enjoy jumping, as they say that you should “Jump into spring with a fusion of fresh, innovative dance and stimulating, live music!” A good friend of mine saw a preview of it and said it was AWESOME! And finally, all you car lovers must attend the Dayton Auto Show, going on through Sunday!
New Music for New Dance-Dayton Ballet
On Friday, if you haven’t made it to one yet this season (I’m talking about fish fry season, not spring), then make plans to attend the St. Charles Fish Fry. At the Spaghetti Warehouse, attend the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Fashion Friction’. If you enjoy music, head to the Schuster Center for Daugherty: Electric Guitar Concerto – Passport Performance. All you dance lovers should plan to attend the Russian National Ballet Theatre performance at Clark State Performing Arts Center. And if you can’t decide if you like music or dance better, then I have a solution for you – attend the Dayton Ballet’s New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre, which will have both! Catch a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South. If you like Buzz (not to be confused with getting buzzed), then watch Toy Story 3 as part of the ArtStreet Friday Film Series Presents at the University of Dayton. I have not seen it yet because I’ve heard it even makes grown men cry! If you love wine and Porsches (just make sure you don’t try to drive the Porsches after you’ve had a few glasses of wine), then head to the Taj Wine Tasting 2011 at Taj Ma Garaj. In addition to delicious wine and gorgeous cars, there will be yummy food from some of the area’s premier caterers, including Belmont Catering and Bernsteins.
On Saturday, start the day off right with the Dogfish Head Beer Breakfast at Spinoza’s. If you’re more of a health nut, then head to The Mall at Fairfield Commons for their 4th Annual ‘No Buts About It’ 5K Run/Walk. Over at PNC 2nd Street Market, you will be able to see Birds of Prey. Seriously. Just “pray” they don’t eat you! Before the weather gets 
too warm, all you chili lovers should head to the South Park Chili Cook off at South Park’s Hope Lutheran Church. Help “Big Brothers Big Sisters” by participating in their Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Woodman Lanes. And if you’re not available or have a thumb injury and can’t bowl, feel free to make a donation to support this wonderful cause! If you’re looking for a music, theater, or dance option (or perhaps some combination of these art forms!), spring over to Victoria Theatre for New Music for New Dance, Town Hall Theatre for Pinkalicious, The Musical, The Playhouse South for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or the Schuster Center for New Worlds – Passport Performance. And finally, if you love hockey and want to support a good cause, watch as the Dayton Gems Pack the House for Kyle Terrian.
On Sunday, head to the Little Art Theatre for brunch and a movie. If you like Joseph, watch him and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South. At Town Hall Theatre, you will still be able to see Pinkalicious, The Musical. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see New Music for New Dance, I strongly encourage you to do so! At South Park United Methodist Church, listen to some beautiful voices as the University of Dayton Chorale performs. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out the Dayton Auto Show, remember that Sunday is the last day for it! And if you need some techniques to help you relax before heading into another busy work week, head to Practice Yoga on Fifth for their Intro to Mindfulness Meditation.
And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…
Two kangaroo moms were talking to each other and one said, “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” The other one replied, “Yeah, I just hate it when the children play inside.”
These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!
Have a great week Dayton!
Jane’s Best Bets (9/29 – 10/3)
- Photo Credit: Alli Shillito
It was great seeing so many of you at Oktoberfest at the Dayton Art Institute this weekend! Although Dayton’s Oktoberfest is officially over for the year, October is just beginning this week. You’re probably thinking, “How in the world could this happen?” I did too. However, when I asked my buddy Jeeves, he told me that in another part of the world, Munich, Oktoberfest actually starts in September and ends in October. Having this mystery solved, hopefully we can all sleep well tonight. But before hitting the hay, let’s check out our options as Oktober…I mean October…begins.
On Wednesday, head on over to the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet for the SO Percussion: Workshop & Jam Session. There are opportunities for audience participation, so if you have always dreamed of playing the triangle, here is your opportunity. Are you a high school student? If so, I’m surprised you’re reading this. If not, do you know a high school student? If you answered yes, encourage him/her to check out the College Prep Night presented by Fifth Third Bank at Fifth-Third Field. Plus, there is an opportunity for those who RSVP in advance to win a $1,000 scholarship! If you love flowers, consider going to Going Green in Dayton at Gallery
St. John, where you will have the opportunity to look at photos, sketches, and paintings by local artists of over 120 wild flowers in Dayton environments. And finally on Wednesday, if you’re looking for something that is unique and fun, check out the Blue Man Group as they perform at the Schuster Center. Although they describe themselves as blue, I have heard they are actually mauve…“mauvelous” that is!
On Thursday, Give the Best Pint in Town at the Community Blood Center! if you didn’t have the opportunity to do so last week. While you’re there, get your very own, super cool Octoberfest t-shirt! If you are looking for pointers on how to write grants (i.e. how to get free money!), check out the Southwest Ohio American Association of Grant Professionals Regional Conference at Atrium Medical Center. If you grew up always wanting to be a princess, head on over to the Nutter Center for Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics. Also, Tinker Bell (a.k.a. the “hottest fairy of them all”, according to a five-year old boy I know) will make an appearance.
On Friday, if fashion is your thing, check out the BRAVO! Fashion Show and Champagne Brunchat the Sinclair Ponitz Center to benefit the Dayton Opera. If you’re feeling like a Friday after-work happy hour is in order, consider heading to Arrow Wine’s Centerville location for their 13th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration…which betcha by golly wow is 
actually in October! On Friday night, downtown is definitely the place to be. Head over to The Neon for a sneak preview of the award-winning documentary, The Elephant in the Living Room. Or, before the weather gets too cold, get that bike out and join the Courteous Mass October Ride. If you enjoy the outdoors, then you will definitely want to check out GearFest at Eastwood MetroPark. This outdoor festival will feature athlete demonstrations, competitions, camping, the latest products/gear, and music! Also, while downtown, check out First Friday, which will feature a variety of entertainment options, from live music to art galleries to bonfires! (For more info on First Friday, click here.) Or, head on over to the Firefly Building’s amazing rooftop for Pecha Kucha Dayton Vol. 5, which will involve snacks, drinks, social networking, and idea sharing with eight creative presenters. And if you don’t mind the drive and would like to experience Oktoberfest again, head up to Minster for their version. Although I’ve never been, I’ve heard that Minster’s Oktoberfest is famous for serving beer in half-gallon plastic jugs!
On Saturday, get off that couch and check out the 33rd Annual Spring Valley Potato Festival. If you enjoy learning about other cultures, head over to Middletown for Middfest International 2010 Celebration of Botswana. All you music fans will want to experience the Dayton Music Fest, which will feature numerous bands playing at several different Dayton venues. If you want to be one of the first ones to get a pumpkin, head to Young’s Dairy for the 34th Annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival.
Also on Saturday…All you motorcycle lovers better rev up your engines and speed over to Thomas Cloud Park for the Pink And Chrome – Ride for the Cure for Susan G. Komen for the Cure! And in the evening, even though the “official” fish fry season hasn’t yet started, check out the Fenwick High School Fish Fry, Monte Carlo, & Silent Auction night…where all proceeds raised will support student athletes at my alma mater! Also, Minster Oktoberfest, The Elephant in the Living Room – Movie, and GearFest will all still be strong options!
On Sunday, check out the 2010 Harvest Fest at Garden Station Community Garden and Art Park. Or, head to one of the many events you may have missed this week/weekend: the 33rd Annual Spring Valley Potato Festival, the 34th Annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival, Minster Oktoberfest, Blue Man Group, The Elephant in the Living Room – Movie, or Midfest International Celebrates Botswana. It’s truly going to be a “mauvelous” week in Dayton!
And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…
What would you get if you crossed two fish with two elephants?
A pair of swimming trunks.
These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!
Have a great week Dayton!
NYFA to Offer Free Presentations for Artists
Miami Valley native Rory Golden, Program Officer for External Affairs, Fiscal Sponsor Programs at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), will be returning to Dayton to present on the extensive professional development programs available to artists nationwide through NYFA.
The presentation, geared to individual artists across disciplines and small/emerging arts organizations, will focus on NYFA’s extensive fundraising and support programs available to artists nationwide. Visual, performing, literary artists and filmmakers are all encouraged to attend.
Golden will present at the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet on Friday February 12th from 3:30 – 5:30PM. ArtStreet is located at the intersection of Lawnview Avenue and Kiefaber Street on the University of Dayton campus. For directions or parking information, call 937-229-5101 or visit http://artstreet.udayton.edu.
On Saturday, February 13th from 1 – 3PM Golden will present at Dayton Visual Arts Center. Contact Patrick Mauk, DVAC Gallery Manager, for more information: 937-224-3822.
Both presentations are free and open to the public. The talk will allow additional time for Q&A and follow up with participants.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Golden’s presentation will include information on two of NYFA’s main fundraising and support programs:
NYFA Source is the most extensive national online directory of awards, services, and programs for artists. Listings include over 4,200 arts organizations, 2900 award programs, 4,200 service programs, and 900 publications for individual artists across the country.
Fiscal Sponsorship is a critical way for individual artists, artists’ collaborative projects, and emerging arts organizations in all disciplines to apply for funding usually available only to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
ABOUT NYFA
The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) was founded in 1971 with the mission to empower artists at critical stages in their creative lives. Each year NYFA awards close to $1 million to individual artists and small organizations. NYFA Learning programs serve thousands of artists through workshops, panel discussions, and individual mentoring on topics ranging from grant writing and budgeting to creating an artist portfolio and audience development. The NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship program is one of the largest and most established in the country and helps artists and organizations raise and manage over $3 million annually. The NYFA website, NYFA.org, received over 4.4 million unique visits last year and contains in-depth information about more that 8,000 opportunities and resources for artists in all disciplines.
For more information about the New York Foundation for the Arts, visit http://www.nyfa.org.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Miami Valley native Rory Golden brings strong experience in supporting artists and an active artist’s professional practice to his position at NYFA. As Executive Director at the Center for Book Arts (2000 – 2004) in New York, Rory established various new programs to support artists. These include a new exhibition series, a letterpress broadsides poetry reading series, a workspace artist-in-residence program for emerging artists, and a tuition-free class for emerging writers. He left the position in 2004 to pursue his own challenging creative projects.
Rory has exhibited his artwork widely in both solo and group shows at venues such as the Spruill Gallery in Atlanta, the Denver International Airport and both the San Francisco and New York Public Libraries. His work has been recognized with fellowships from Yaddo, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the Blue Mountain Center and the National Academy of Fine Arts. Recent grants include an Idea Capital Grant, a Puffin Foundation Grant and a recent research grant from Duke University Libraries Special Collections. A 1984 graduate of Tecumseh High School, Golden holds an MFA from the University of Alabama, a Master of Humanities from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University.
