Visual Arts

The ARTery Gallery has a new Exhibit on display for April and May, “Colors of Spring”.  Please join us in welcoming a new Member Artist to our Co-Op Gallery, Charlene Fox, a truly lovely watercolorist who often incorporates cold wax and encaustic techniques into her work.  Our Visiting Artist this Month is Joanne Janetta, a local Photographer who loves to capture the beauty of Nature with the lens of her camera. 

They are introducing their Highlighted Artist of the Month, Samantha Farkas who is a very talented watercolor and ink artist whose work is not only creative and fun, but it is sure to make you smile.

“Primarily“ is one of Farkas’ newest paintings and a perfect example of one of her colorful, whimsical, and adorable bird paintings.  The birds are painted in a variety of shapes, colors, and orientations, and each one seems to have it’s own unique personality. We hope you will take time this month to come meet the artist in person and see her wonderful wall of work at the ARTery Gallery this First Friday in April from 5-9pm.

Samantha Farkas was encouraged from a very young age to follow her passion in the arts, with her late grandfather advising her to “travel the world, capture the perfect photo, and then paint it.” Samantha has indeed taken this wisdom to heart, travelling across North America, Japan, and Central Europe in pursuit of adventure and the perfect photo. Observing local flora and fauna, especially birds, provides her predominant artistic inspiration and satisfaction during her travel experiences. The birds and other wildlife of her Midwestern home are a perennial muse for her work as well. The artist captures the individuality and unique characteristics of each plant and animal, and incorporates the natural movement of wind, water, and wings into each line drawing and splash of color to call attention to the oft-overlooked details of the majestic creatures just in front of each of us, and of those awe-inspiring creatures hidden throughout the world. 

Farkas developed and refined her artistic focus during her undergraduate studies at Kentucky’s Morehead State University. She has displayed her work in a variety of mediums within galleries across Ohio and Northern Kentucky with regular appearances in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton. She presently shares her abilities and insight as an art instructor at Raise Your Brush in Centerville, Ohio.  The artist is an Ohio native who has resided in Yellow Springs for the past decade.

(*Please note this month we will NOT be open 3^rd Sunday on Easter, but will open Sunday April 24^th).

The ARTery Gallery currently has Artists and Artisans with work on display including Watercolor, Acrylic, and Oil Painting, Digital art, Photography, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Ceramics, Jewelry, Fiber Art and Sculpture.

Open Each Month 1st Friday 5-9 & 3rd Sunday, 11-4.
1001 E. Second Street, Bldg. 100, Door B/C, 3rd Floor Dayton, OH 45402

Brian Mathus has a solo exhibition at Kettering’s Rosewood Gallery (2655 Olson Drive) March 14 through April 22. The show is called “The expectation of being seen.” An artist’s reception Saturday from 1-3 pm is open to the public.

To read more about Brian, check out this interview from Dayton Artists United:

DAU: OK, Brian Mathus, tell me about yourself.

BM—Well, let’s see. Fun fact. I’ve lived on both sides of the country. I lived in Virginia from the time I was 2 until I was 17, then I moved to Portland.

DAU–Portland Oregon?

BM: Yep. And it’s just like you imagine it. It’s where I found my peeps, people like me. It’s so creative there, and everybody is doing their own thing. They have this guy out there that rides a unicycle in a Darth Vader mask.

DAU—I’ve seen the video!

BM-I lived in Portland until I was 30, and then moved to Dayton.

DAU: Where you became an artist?

BM–I think I was always an artist. I just didn’t know how to be one. I made my first work when I was 17. It was a large-scale work called “crabs in a barrel.” I didn’t know how to stretch a canvas, so I just stapled it to the wall. I gessoed it and got gesso all over the floor. When it came time to take it down it was gessoed to the wall. It actually came off with pieces of the wall on the back. 

Years later I worked a frame shop and this woman who worked there help me stretch it into a frame. She complained the whole time about how “this wasn’t how you were supposed to do this.”

DAU—where is it now?

BM—I think it might be at my parents.

DAU—And you’ve been painting ever since? How many works do you think you’ve created?

BM—I don’t know. Over a 1000? I’ve started taking pictures of my work. I’ve sold some, maybe 70 pieces, that I never made a record of.

More of the interview here.

The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) has partnered with Dayton’s own African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) to present the juried exhibitionBlack Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, on view at the DAI from February 26 through May 22.

This marks the seventh annual showcase of Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythmsorganized by the African American Visual Artists Guild and the first time the exhibition will be hosted at the Dayton Art Institute.

This national, juried exhibition highlights exceptional contemporary art–including paintings, sculpture, multi-media art, printmaking and photography–by nationally recognized and emerging African American artists from across the United States. Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms features more than 80 works of art by 44 American artists of African descent working today.

“This exhibition has been several years in the making,” said DAI Chief Curator and Director of Education, Jerry N. Smith. “Initially planned for 2020, it is exciting to see it finally come to fruition. We now have the opportunity to present these vibrant works of individual expression by more than 40 artists to our guests. It will prove a memorable experience for those who visit.”

“African American art is so deeply intertwined with the history of race in the United States—from colonial enslavement, to the civil rights movement, to today,” said AAVAG President, B. Cato Mayberry. “The works presented at the Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythmsexhibition are far more than a group of personal statements about identity or recorded moments in history. They have power, beauty and meaning that extend beyond categorization to achieve timeless, universal appeal.”

The mix of local and national artists in the exhibition represents 11 different states. Responding to a call-for-entry, the final works were selected by internationally recognized artists Dean Mitchell (Florida) and Andrew Scott (Texas), with additions by AAVAG Exhibition Committee members.

As this exhibition demonstrates, there is no over-arching African American style or singular Black American aesthetic. The exhibition reflects the diverse backgrounds and different interests of the artists and includes art in in a variety of styles and media. Through personal expressions, the artists engage with and respond to different aspects of world history, African American culture and the shared legacy of African diaspora, the displacement from an ancestral land. There are also visual responses to present-day experiences, which are expressed through thought-provoking social commentaries.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a full-color catalog, available for purchase at the DAI’s Museum Store, and the exhibition’s Best in Show winner will be presented the opportunity to be featured in a 2023 Focus Exhibition at the Dayton Art Institute.

“It is exciting to bring this unique exhibition to the Dayton Art Institute and highlight both established and emerging African American artists,” said DAI Director & CEO, Michael R. Roediger. “This exhibition is a DAI exclusive, so it’s the only opportunity to see this amazingly diverse body of work. We encourage the entire community to support the exhibition and these artists!”

Several related programs and educational resources will be offered in conjunction withBlack Heritage Through Visual Rhythms. These include:

• Curatorial Conversations talk on Zoom: March 24
• Curatorial Conversations talk in person at the museum: May 7
• Interactive Virtual Community Tours on Zoom:
  • March 5, 19 & 31
  • April 16 & 28
  • May 14, 19 & 21
  • Additional sessions available upon request; contact schooltours@daytonart.orgfor more information
• Panel Discussion with members of the African American Visual Artists Guild: April 22
• ARTventures at Home: Families can download an interactive art-making guide to create a work of art inspired by the exhibition.
• At-Home Portrait Collage: Downloadable instructions to design a portrait collage inspired by the exhibition.

For more information about Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms and its related programs, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/blackheritage.

A life-sized, up-close, never-before-seen perspective!

Well 2021 is in the rearview mirror and 2022 is on our horizon!  The ARTery will be presenting “New Year, New Art”, a New Gallery show containing NEW art created by our artists and artisans that has never been on display in our Gallery before.  This New Year, New Art exhibit will be on display for the month of January so drop in during our monthly open gallery times, 1^st Fridays from 5 – 9pm, and 3^rd Sundays from 11am – 4pm.

The ARTery would also like to introduce our highlighted Artist of the Month for January, Fabienne Bee. Bee is a colorful, and imaginative painter whose dynamic work appears to be glowing with light and adorned with rich, luscious colors.  Part of her secret is in her unique use of complementary colors and layering techniques.   We do hope you will take time to come check out her amazing body of paintings currently on display at the ARTery in January, and meet this very personable artist.

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“Spring Morning“ Acrylic Painting by Fabienne Bee

Fabienne Bee is an Ohio based artist who has been honing her artistic talents off and on for most of her life.  As a military spouse, she and her family have traveled and seen and lived in many places around the world.  Her French heritage coupled with being exposed to many different styles of art through her years of living abroad bring a unique approach to her paintings.  Bee said her work is greatly inspired and influenced by the great Impressionist painters of old like Monet, for his use of color, Pissarro for his landscapes and Cezanne’s early work in particular in regard to his use of color and his landscape paintings.

Fabienne’s art begins with a classical approach in landscapes, but she doesn’t stop there.  She finds inspiration in playing with the mood of a scene and exaggerating colors to achieve a heightened sense of her awe for nature and its many hidden beauties.  Her hope is that her paintings will transport the viewer to another place and time, filling them with a sense of peace and calm, giving them an opportunity to escape the fast pace and hecticness of our world today.  “Spring Morning” is a 15”x18” Acrylic Painting of Bee’s capturing the quite stillness and serene beauty of a forest at daybreak.  This piece and many more are currently on display at the ARTery Gallery.

The ARTery Gallery currently has Artists and Artisans with work on display including Watercolor, Acrylic, and Oil Painting, Digital art, Photography, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Ceramics, Jewelry, Fiber Art and Sculpture. Open Each Month 1st Friday 5-9 & 3rd Sunday, 11-4.

Current ARTery Artists include:  Fabienne Bee, Alison Bour, Rosalie Campbell, Samantha Farkas, Bob Farley, Carol Farley, Jim Hayes, Kelly Ingerson, Bonnie Kuntz, Sarah Maxwell, Melanie Morrett, Ashley Simons, Ryan Taylor, Jo Anne Vincent, Leonard Williams, and David Zawisa.

Article submitted by Melanie Morrett, the ARTery Gallery Marketing  Coordinator

As the new year approaches, the Dayton Art Institute (DAI) is excited to announce a diverse lineup of exhibitions for 2022, highlighted by the Special Exhibition Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms and the Focus Exhibition Van Gogh and European Landscapes, as well as several other DAI-exclusive exhibitions.

“The exhibitions for 2022 will be memorable and enjoyable,” said DAI Chief Curator & Director of Education, Jerry N. Smith. “We will introduce works by living artists from across the country, celebrate how conservation helps us preserve the many treasures within our outstanding collection and will feature one of the most intriguing photographers working today. We will also bring a pair of remarkable paintings by Vincent van Gogh to Dayton, along with a host of diverse offerings.”

2022 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS

The DAI will return to presenting three large Special Exhibitions in 2022.

The Special Exhibition season kicks off in February, with the DAI exclusive Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, on view February 26–May 22. Presented in collaboration with Dayton’s own African American Visual Artists Guild, this juried exhibition will feature exceptional contemporary art by African American artists from across the United States. This will mark the seventh annual presentation of Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms and its first time being hosted at DAI. The exhibition’s Best in Show winner will be featured in a 2023 Focus Exhibition at the DAI.

A close look at how conservation protects artworks for future generations will be the subject of DAI’s summer exhibition, Art for the Ages: Conservation at DAI, on view June 25–September 11. Organized by the Dayton Art Institute, the museum will be the exclusive venue for this exhibition. Presenting rarely displayed works, as well as favorites seen in a new light, it includes examples from a variety of time periods, cultures and materials.

The 2022 Special Exhibition season concludes in the fall with American Myth and Memory: David Levinthal Photographs, on view October 15, 2022–January 15, 2023. This touring exhibition, organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, brings together highlights from Levinthal’s fascinating photographs of toys as a way to examine American stories.

2022 FOCUS EXHIBITIONS

The DAI’s Focus Exhibition lineup presents a series of smaller, intimate exhibitions, based around a variety of themes.

The 2022 Focus Exhibition season will be highlighted by the work of the world’s most famous artist, Vincent van Gogh. In Van Gogh and European Landscapes, on view March 5–September 4, a remarkable pair of Van Gogh paintings, on loan to the DAI, will be at the center of this look at European landscape painting.

Other planned Focus Exhibitions include:

Fired Imagination: Ancient Chinese Ceramics from the Nancy and Ed Rosenthal Family Collection, on view February 5–July 24, presents a private collection of ceramics, ranging from figures to vessels and spanning more than 3,000 years of Chinese history.

Mysteries abound in Something Unknown, on view March 12–June 5, a display of photographs and works on paper in which details about the work, such as the identity of the artist, the subject matter, the location, etc., are unknown to the museum. Maybe you can help the DAI solve a mystery!

Netsuke and the Art of Little Wonders, on view August 27, 2022–February 12, 2023, features netsuke, which are delicately carved personal accessories that depict subjects from popular culture–such as heroes, monsters and folk tales–in Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868).

Additional Focus Exhibitions will be announced in the new year. For more information and updates about both Special and Focus Exhibitions at the DAI, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/exhibitions.

“Our curatorial team has put together an outstanding selection of exhibitions for 2022,” said DAI Director & CEO Michael R. Roediger. “You won’t want to miss any of these, especially the rare opportunity to see the work of Vincent van Gogh here in Dayton. I encourage you to consider becoming a museum member, which gives you unlimited free admission to the museum, as well as many other benefits.”

Through the end of this year, the DAI is offering a special holiday membership discount–get 15% off the cost of select new and gift memberships through December 31, 2021. To take advantage of this offer, visit the DAI Guest Services Desk or call 937-223-4278 during regular museum hours, or purchase online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/membership using the discount code HOLIDAY2021 at checkout.

Be sure to also include a visit to the DAI in your holiday plans. Current exhibitions at the museum include Ralston Crawford: Air + Space + War, on view through January 23, Norman Rockwell: Stories of Emotion, on view through February 13, Formless Form V: The Calligraphy of Ronald Y. Nakasone andSpotlight on Africa: Gifts from Dianne Komminsk, both on view through January 2, Within Reach of All: Early Dayton Photography, on view through February 6, and Beyond the Woodblock, on view through March 6.

ARTIST OF THE WEEK Samantha Farkas of Art by Samantha Farkas making one of her delightful bird paintings. When I visited her work space recently I watched her create some work and then I became the proud owner of one of her bird paintings. When my wife saw the piece she quickly put it up in her office, but she says I have visitation privileges.

After art school, Samantha told me she worked in preschool for fifteen years before deciding to do something new. She says she enjoyed doing art projects with the kids, but found she wasn’t doing much of her own art. Now she’s making a lot of work and also teaching at Raise Your Brush in Centerville.

You can see Samantha’s bird paintings and more at https://www.samanthafarkasart.com/