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Front Street

Saturday Open Studios

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Experience the Heart of Dayton’s Art Scene

Explore 150+ artists, studios, vintage vendors, food trucks, and more at Front Street’s First Friday Hart Hop and Saturday open studios

First Friday Art Hop

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Experience the Heart of Dayton’s Art Scene

Explore 150+ artists, studios, vintage vendors, food trucks, and more at Front Street’s First Friday Hart Hop and Saturday open studios

Christkindl Market at Front Street

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Holiday Shopping in Downtown Dayton at the Christkindl Market

Shop small and local this holiday season! On Small Business Saturday, bring your friends and family to Front Street’s 6th Annual Christkindl Market! Dress up for FREE selfies with Santa! Check in on the Ohio State vs Michigan game in the game tent! The Christkindl Market has it all… A hot lunch and sweet treats from the food trucks, activities for all ages, and indoor shopping from more than 250 artists and artisans! Explore studios, galleries, shops, and boutiques right in the heart of Dayton’s Arts District, but keep an eye out for the Grinch!!

This is a rain or shine event. We are a family and pet friendly community! The Christkindl Market is free to attend. Our campus offers free parking. Visit frontstreet.art for more information.

First Friday Art Hop

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Experience the Heart of Dayton’s Art Scene

Explore 150+ artists, studios, vintage vendors, food trucks, and more at Front Street’s First Friday Hart Hop and Saturday open studios

Dayton at Work and Play: Matthew R. Burgy Artworks

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Conversation with Matthew Burgy of Matthew R. Burgy Artworks (Front Street, Building 100, BC door, 3rd floor). Are you a full time artist now, Matthew?
“Well I was a part-time artist until recently. I was working full time at the Dayton Art Institute as a museum educator until they were forced to make some staff cuts. I am still teaching in some workshops at the Dayton Society of Artists but I’m primarily a working artist now.”
Are you selling here at Front Street? “I am. I’m working in this space and selling here too. I’m open for First Friday of course, but also every Saturday 11-4.”
Your booth has a lot of different types of art. “Yes, I do drawing, painting, print making, mixed media in addition to my kinetic work. It may seem to cover a broad range but I feel like it’s all related to nature.”
When I’m at Front Street I often stop by to look at your kinetic sculptures. How long have you been doing making mobiles?
“It goes back to my student days at Wright State. I was doing print making and I made a mistake and ruined a big sheet of aluminum. Rather than throw it away I cut it into parts and tried to make a mobile. A friend explained some of the physics of it, which helped, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I used to graph everything out, but now I have just a general idea and then see what happens. In fact rather than referring back to some drawing I’ve made I often just watch nature and see how things are balanced there.”
“In addition to mobiles that hang I’ve been making staybiles. They sit on a stationary pedestal and they have some moving parts . As I make them I’m trying to get motion without having the components hit the base. That gets a little tricky. Those with the red bead are part of a series – a seed series – based on the shape of helicopter seeds.”
As he talked with me Matthew was bending a piece of wire. Before I left he had made one of his face figures. “I need to get a name for these guys, because people seem to like them and I love making them.”
Matthew R. Burgy Artworks
Front Street, Building 100,
BC door, 3rd floor  Studio #3345
Dayton, OH, 45402

ARTeBRATION at Front Street

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ARTeBRATION is going to be our biggest event yet!
FRIDAY MAY 2ND 5PM – 9PM
* Brick City Mural Festival – live mural painting by local and visiting artists from Ohio, Kentucky, California and more!
* Food Trucks – Food trucks & Kool Beanz Cafe in the courtyard
* Open house Art Studios & Galleries – explore 3 buildings!
* Live Music throughout campus
* Scavenger Hunt – a chance to win a $150 Front St gift card!
SATURDAY MAY 3RD 11AM _4PM
LIVE ART DEMONSTRATIONS
* Brick City Mural Festival – day 2
* Raku Firing with Mudman
* Glass blowing
* Nearly 100 art studios and galleries OPEN across the complex!
BRUNCH! Dayton Food Truck Rally
* Claybourne Grill
* MamaBear’s Mac
* El Diablo Grill
* Order Up Food Truck
* Suga and Slices
* Cece’s Kitchen
* FirstBite Catering LLP
* Queen’s Table
* Cate’s Steakhouse
* More Than A Apron
* El Beuno Taco
* Monster Baby Donuts
* Spin City Cotton Candy
* Life’s Lemons
***Please note: Food truck lineup is subject to change
BEER GARDEN
Fifth Street BrewPub
LIVE MUSIC – Levitt Pavilion, Dayton Music tent features live music Sat 12-4PM, The Back Dock – live DJ’s
OUTDOOR MARKET
local art, handmade goodies, antiques, vintageware, and more!
FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES
* Boonshoft Museum of Discovery invites kiddos to become an archaeologist!! Dig up ancient ceramics, piece them together, and discover clues about the past!
* FREE Spin Art T-shirts
* Kids Korner
* Free Arts & Crafts at select studios & booths
* Scavenger Hunt! – your chance to win a $150 Front Street Gift Card!

Dayton at Work and Play: Richard Lundin

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Conversation with Richard Lundin at Front Street (1001 East 2nd).
I know you came here from Chicago about 10 years ago. What brought you?
“One of the owners was getting ready to retire and I said I’d take a look at the place and give them my thoughts. I thought it would take me a few months, but 10 years later I’m still here. I became a part owner in 2020.”
“The three buildings here were built in the late 1800’s. There was a paper mill here once, with equipment powered by a canal that ran right by the place. Then it was the home of an envelope company. When they moved in 1965 the current ownership group bought the buildings and started renting space to entrepreneurs of all kinds.”
“There were a few artists who rented space back in 1965 – artists are always looking for inexpensive studio space – but it was mostly businesses. Over time the number of artists has grown. Now about 150 artists rent about 75% of the space. I think they see a benefit to being part of the community of artists here
I’ve always loved photographing here because I love taking pictures of people at work. At Front Street I’ve photographed boat builders, jewelry makers, glass blowers, painters, and many other kinds of workers. “I enjoy that too. I love to see people who are really good at the thing they do, and we have a lot of really talented people here.”

I’ve never seen a landlord get so involved in the success of his tenants. “We do what we can to support the artists here. We run a monthly party where everyone opens their studios and lots of people come. It’s the first Friday of the month and the following Saturday. And lots of people visit at other times, too. Our doors are open from 7am to 7pm and if you walk around the buildings during those hours you’ll always find some studios open and some artists who are happy to talk to you.”
“We’re doing something special here May 2 and May 3. It’s called ARTebration. We’ll have street artists from all over the country painting new murals on the walls at Front Street; plus there’s music and food and all of our art studios will be open.”

The ARTery Gallery Artist of the Month: David Zawisa

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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.

Rustic” ARTery Members Exhibition Opens Friday

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The ARTery Gallery at Front Street invites you to come see our New ”RUSTIC” Members Exhibition on display starting this First Friday through October.  Meet the Gallery’s NEW Visiting Artist for September, Leah Mendenhall, a very talented local acrylic and oil painter.

 

The Gallery’s Highlighted artist this Month is Sarah Maxwell. Maxwell is a perfectionist when it comes to her art as she is meticulous in her various techniques and in her attention to detail.  The artist shared she is also an introvert, so it is difficult for her to meet new people and make friends, but she is anxious to share her work and passions with the world, and also to empower and encourage others through it. 

Maxwell is passionate about saving endangered animals and features them in many of her artworks in order to call attention to our responsibility to protect and try to ensure their survival.  This artist also features animals in her current series of paintings to help enlighten and educate the public regarding a disorder that is close to her heart, Dyslexia.   Sarah didn’t know what it was until high school when she herself was diagnosed with it.  This series means a lot to her because through her work, she shares various challenges people with dyslexia may struggle with, and shares strengths that might have been overlooked. Maxwell said, “For example, Did you know that people with dyslexia have a heightened sense of hearing, and they have very strong skills for 3D thinking?”

SONY DSC

This 24”x 30” acrylic painting is entitled “Dyslexia: Speech”,  The giraffes represent how dyslexia can make it difficult to say things properly.  You may stutter, or not know what to say and find yourself tongue tied so to speak.  The giraffes are trying to be silly and have fun with it so they feel less anxious, but sometimes in real life, it can be quite annoying and embarrassing. The struggle is real.  Although Dyslexia has a host of challenges, Sarah also hopes her dyslexia paintings will not only bring awareness and understanding of the condition, but also to encourage and offer hope to those who struggle with the disorder that may also have heightened gifts and abilities in other areas.

Maxwell earned a BFA from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) in 2016, and re-located to Dayton after graduation.  Her work has been featured in several juried shows including the Evendale Fine Art Exhibit (Cincinnati) for the past 4 years, the Rosewood Art Center (Kettering), and the Studio Door (San Diego) where she won Best in Show for her “Tower” drawing.  She was also Runner Up for her design on the Fat Head Brewery Headhunter Commemorative Glass competition in 2018.   Come meet Sarah Maxwell and see her fantastic work in September at the ARTery Gallery at Front Street in September.

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 1st Friday from 5-9pm,  and also 3rd Sunday from 11am-4pm.

Dayton Steel Exhibit Debuts

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The work of Mike Elsass, one of Dayton’s most prominent and prolific artists, will debut this Friday at a first-of-its-kind art opening this Friday at the Dana L. Wiley Gallery, at 1001 East Second Street (B/C Entrance-Second Floor) in Dayton.

Experience Mike Elsass’ work in ways it has never been seen before in the special curation “Dayton Steel” debuting Friday, August 13 through October 17, 2021.

The exhibit will open to the public with a special event from 7-9 p.m. this Friday, during which new pieces will debut and be displayed in interesting and exciting ways that have never been seen before, putting new twists on the “brush before brain” philosophy that earned Elsass his reputation. The event is open to the public and will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres from acclaimed Chef Joseph Fish.

Elsass paints–and lives–by the philosophy that there are no mistakes, pushing people to embrace action before thought, and inspiring them to open their minds and engage with the unexpected. People get stuck in their own heads. Elsass forces them out. He never knows what he is painting until it’s done, and it’s usually more about the journey than the result.

Elsass has been one of the most generous and prolific artists in the history of Dayton, having invested $2.5 million into beautifying spaces, donating artwork and partnering with nonprofits to create meaningful experiences through art. Throughout the pandemic, he donated even more artwork to local businesses to be auctioned off, and exchanged artwork for donations to area nonprofits in an effort to keep the energy up in the region.

Mike’s art celebrates imperfection, bringing together what’s typically abandoned and forgotten into breathtaking statement pieces that capture emotion through composition. Often using materials discarded as garbage, Mike uses things like tar, oil, grit, silicate sand, spent whiskey mash–and this year, even some cicadas–to intentionally deteriorate his pieces before blanketing them with layer upon layer of paint in various colors.

Elsass’ enchanting and eclectic studio space now occupies 9,000 square feet of studio space at Front Street Galleries, which is also home to Dana L. Wiley Gallery, where Dayton Steel will debut on Friday.

The show will continue through Oct. 17, with a special artist talk:

IN THE GALLERY WITH MIKE ELSASS

SEPTEMBER 23RD, 7PM

Join Mike Elsass for a discussion on his artwork, process and how his artwork has impacted the Dayton community.

Please register for the Art Talk on Eventbrite. Limited seating available.

Local Artist Spreading Love Through Art

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Prolific Local Artist Mike Elsass is working overtime to give back to the local community by launching a new charity project to benefit Dayton-area nonprofits.

Elsass announced the project this week, when he told his followers on social media if they could provide proof of a donation to a local nonprofit, he would reward the contribution with a gift of art. The idea picked up momentum quickly, and Elsass has since implemented a structure to best support the collaborative project.

Patrons can email ​[email protected]​ with proof of a donation to a local charity. Contributions more than $50 in value will receive an email notification to be printed and taken to Elsass’ studio at Front Street, where they can be exchanged for an original piece of art valued at $150-$300.

Elsass said the project was an effort to keep up momentum for local nonprofits in the wake of the global pandemic, which continues to have a devastating effect on small businesses, as well as local charities. The project is designed to keep people enthusiastic about the art community in Dayton and also show the commitment of the arts to continue working collaboratively throughout the community.

The project will continue until March 21. Proof of donations will only be accepted at the Mike Elsass Charity Project email address, and contributors must present the email response, as well as valid ID to pick out their art at Front Street, which they can do from 9 am to 3 pm daily or during First Friday or Third Sunday events.

Artist of the Week: Tricia Calvert

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Looking around Tricia’s studio you might think it was a space shared by several artists. There is a table top obviously used to make jewelry. There are charcoal drawings and oil paintings. There are abstracts painted on both glass and metal hung alongside portraits. But all of this art was created by one talented artist.

Tricia Calvert working in her studio at The Front Street Building Co..

 

As I talked with Tricia I learned that her MA is in Integrated Art Studies. I guess that means she’s been interested in a broad range of types of art for quite a while. Tricia also has a degree in creative writing, but I didn’t notice any drafts of short stories as I looked around her studio.

I asked Tricia how she sold her art and she said a lot of it is done on commission. She likes to get to know a person and then develop a unique and appropriate piece of art for that person.

When I visited, Tricia was painting a portrait of one of The Rubi Girls. Her Rubi Girls paintings will be shown at Square One Salon (506 East Third Street). The show opens Friday, September 7 from 5-8 pm.

If you go to the opening, ask Tricia how she managed to be a contestant on both Let’s Make a Deal and Price is Right.

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Shelly Massey

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Shelly Massey Art in her Front Street studio.

Dayton at Work and Play:

Before moving to Dayton, Shelly taught at large art retreats around the country including Art is You in California and Connecticut, Artfest in Washington, Art Unraveled in Arizona and Art & Soul in Nevada. She said she was a little surprised by the popularity of her teaching but also a little worn out from the travel. For now she’s not teaching anywhere, only painting in her new Front Street studio (door BC, 2nd floor).

A great side effect of Shelly’s teaching has been the connections she’s made with people all over the country who love art. She recently visited one of those friends in Milwaukee and took a lot of art with her. Shelly’s friend arranged an exhibition where people could see and buy Shelly’s art.

As I visited Shelly she painted several pieces at once, sometimes with a brush but mostly with her fingers. Her hands got more and more colorful as time passed. I’ve got to return to her studio late in the day sometime to photograph her hands with all of the day’s colors.

You can see Shelly’s work at May’s First Friday celebration, or message her on her facebook page and arrange another time to visit her studio.

Nigerian Artist Showcases his Jazz Series

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Ben Ibebe is an internationally known African artist based in Nigeria. His works are held in major museums and private collections around the world.

Ben focuses on images of West Africa using vibrant, captivating and very tactile paintings in oil and mixed media. Featuring everyday scenes of Nigerian life, Ben’s unique impasto technique give each art work an almost three-dimensional surface, adding character to bright colors and geocentric composition.

Ben has returned to Dayton for the third straight year with 18 new works, including the first six pieces from his powerful “Jazz” series. You can catch a preview of the exhibit tonight, Thurs, July 6th from 5-8pm at The Front Street Building