Visual Arts

Free eats, pop-up arts performances, tech demos at new Launch Dayton Startup Week closing party

September 12, 2022 By Dayton937

Free eats, pop-up arts performances, tech demos at new Launch Dayton Startup Week closing party

Free festival celebrating Dayton artists, food business owners, and innovators happening this week!

Pop-up arts performances in the beautiful, historic Dayton Arcade Rotunda. Small plates from up-and-coming food businesses. Interactive tech demos from local startup companies.

And it’s FREE!

Join in the fun frrom 5-7pm on Thursday, September 15th for the art. food. tech. fest!, a new closing party for Launch Dayton Startup Week, made possible through generous support from Culture Works.

Aerialists will spin through the air as you groove to a live jam band and find your new favorite small business to support. Eats are free until we run out! Continue your evening in Dayton by popping over to the free concert at the Levitt after the party, then make your way back to the Tank for Culture Works’ After the Levitt.

See + hear:

Live jam band lead by Isicle featuring Jared Bruns on drums, Matt Goodloe on guitar, Kainan Shank on bass, and Serin Oh on the mic.
Spoken word poetry from Leroy Bean
Live painting by Boy Blue
Aerial artists from Femme Fatale Dayton
Dance performances from Dayton Dance Initiative’s Quentin ApolloVaughn Sledge

Enjoy delicious small plates, including:

A bbq spread from Rich Taste Catering
Melt-in-your mouth rum cakes from The Scrumptious Dessert
Handheld cheesecakes from Cheezcake Lab
Pecan chicken + sweet potato waffles from Home Cooked Vibes
Smoked mushroom spinach dip bruschetta with mint pico from VeganItIz Eats
Mini French Quarter Seafood loaded potatoes from Simply Savory by Rachel

+ tech demos from:

Gem City Laser
Frame Push
Urban Mathoholics

Plus

The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) will open 5p.m. – 7p.m. for a sneak peak at their new exhibition featuring new solo exhibitions from the work of Teju Cole, photographer, curator, Gore Vidal Professor of the Practice of Creative Writing at Harvard, and former photography critic of The New York Times Magazine; Amy Powell, nationally published Dayton-based photographer; and James “Jamie” Nares, British and New York City-based filmmaker. The exhibitions will open the evening of Friday, September 16, 2022, with an Artist Talk by Teju Cole.

Small business owner yourself? Don’t forget to check out the conference itself, as well as the closing party! Launch Dayton Startup Week presented by Fifth Third Bank brings together nearly 1K entrepreneurs, small business owners, startup founders, and business resource providers. Be inspired by the stories of failure and success, and build your own business through hands-on workshops and classes. All for FREE! Check out the full lineup: https://launchdayton.com/events/dayton-startup-week/

About Launch Dayton Startup Week:
Launch Dayton Startup Week is the Dayton, Ohio entrepreneur community’s largest event, drawing roughly 1K attendees each September to celebrate, inspire and equip the Dayton region’s startup founders & business owners. This free conference brings together the region’s thinkers, dreamers, doers, makers, entrepreneurs and small business owners. All experiences are welcome — whether a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the community, there is space to jump in.

Dayton at Work and Play: Sharon Stolzenberger

August 29, 2022 By Bill Franz

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Sharon Stolzenberger invited me into her spacious Front Street studio this week. It’s on the second floor of the Annex Building at Front Street.

“I’ve been here for years” she told me. “I love the light and the space. I use this area for watercolors, and another area across the room for acrylics. The only problem with having all of this space is that there’s never a reason to get rid of anything. A visitor can poke around and see how my work has changed over the years.”

“The piece I’m working on here features a crow. I’ve been using crows in quite a few of my work for a few years now, and recently I’ve been doing a series related to prairies.”

Like a number of successful local artists (e.g. Jon Barlow Hudson and John Emery) Sharon is a graduate of the School of the Dayton Art Institute. After school she was an illustrator and then Art Director for Gibson Greeting Cards before opening her own studio.

Sharon works primarily in watercolors but uses stenciling, patterning and collage to create densely textured works. As I photographed she added layers to a small piece. After each one of her steps I found myself thinking about whether there was a way for me to do something similar in my own digital wok. I think I need to hang around the studio some more and let Sharon teach me some new things.

Sharon’s studio will be open this week during First Friday. If you want, use her special entrance – the green staircase (fire escape) on the back of the Annex building.

Dayton at Work and Play: Anthony Murrill

August 18, 2022 By Bill Franz

Anthony Murrill of ASMurrill Art describes himself as an artist and a carpenter. I asked him to explain:

“I was an art major, but when I left college I went to work as a carpenter. I was good at it and eventually had my own successful remodeling company.”

“About seven years ago my wife encouraged me to try painting again, even though I’d been away from art for 16 years. After a short time painting I came to realize that was what I was meant to do. Now I spend almost all of my time painting at my studio in Springboro. I may sneak off to the wood shop to make a custom frame or to build a piece of furniture, but I am primarily a painter.”

Here he was getting ready for Kettering’s Art on the Commons:

He also does custom pet portraits, “I love to paint your pets! Dogs, cats, horses, cows, iguanas, birds… I love painting them all! I enjoy all of the color and texture variation in animals. I love to capture their joy and energy. Using photos that you provide, I will create a custom painting of your beloved animal. I typically paint these portraits on canvas.”

His work can be viewed-

• in the gallery and studio at 140 S. Main St, unit E, Springboro, Ohio 45065 during normal business hours and by appointment.

•Pendleton Art Center, Cincinnati Ohio studio 313, on the final Friday of the month and by appointment.

Anthony is currently accepting commissioned orders and usually has several original pieces for sale.

The Contemporary Dayton Receives Prestigious Grant

July 13, 2022 By Dayton937

The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) announced that it is a first-time recipient of the prestigious Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Spring 2022 grant. The Co was selected as one of 50 organizations—and as one of only 19 of those being first-time recipients—that was awarded a part of the $3.9 million grant that was dispersed. The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts seeks out creative risk-takers that are continually supporting the needs of artists in their communities in resourceful ways and will provide The Co with $80,00 in funding spread over the next two years to support their rotating exhibitions and expanded educational programs.

Michael Goodson

“We are honored to be recognized by this august and noble organization,” says Michael Goodson, Curator and Director of Programs at The Co. “The entire staff at The Contemporary Dayton started, in earnest, a shift in exhibitions, programming, philosophy, and mission in the summer of 2020. Amid the tumult of that time, our vision was clear that one of our first goals was to garner an Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts grant.” Goodson recalls that “at the time the idea seemed so far ahead of us; a year later much closer. And now, it has been announced. While this funding is crucial to our vision and mission, the trust and belief that the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has in The Contemporary Dayton is equally important.”

“The Contemporary Dayton is an important point of connection and exchange for artists and audiences in the region,” said Rachel Bers, Program Director, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. “We are pleased to support its exhibitions and public programs that situate local artistic practices within global contemporary art discourse and create space for critical engagement with issues relevant to its immediate community.”

The Co’s three distinct galleries plus the CoSHOP at the Dayton Arcade are always free and open to the public. Exhibitions and educational programs feature artists living and working today, both nationally and in Ohio, with an emphasis on those whose work focuses on the ideas, concepts, and issues of contemporary life.

THE CONTEMPORARY DAYTON

25 W 4th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

937.224.3822

GALLERY HOURS:

Wed- Sat: 11am – 6pm
Sun 11am – 4pm

First Fridays ’til 8pm

Dayton At Work and Play: Sugarcreek Photography Gallery

June 17, 2022 By Bill Franz

I was so impressed by the work I saw at Sugarcreek Photography Gallery

that I thought I’d ask a few of their photographers to share some of their favorites. Judd Plattenburg sent me this wonderful photo of the fountains at RiverScape and told me a bit about it.

May be an image of 1 person and nature

“I own Oregon Printing and have worked in downtown Dayton for more than 35 years. I like this shot because it shows one of the things that is special about our city. To get this perspective I needed to be on the water, so making this image combined two of my hobbies – photography and paddling.”

You can see more of Judd’s photography at Sugarcreek Photography Gallery or on his website https://www.juddplattenburg.com/

Fast Track Call for Art: ArtWraps

June 16, 2022 By DowntownPartnership

The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) and The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) are teaming together to enliven downtown streetscapes with ArtWraps, a new project to “wrap” utility boxes with original designs by area artists. Selected designs will be commercially printed and installed by project partner, Digital Fringe. The goals of the project are to employ the utility boxes as bold, colorful, surprise works of art throughout the area and contribute to the appeal of a friendly, welcoming downtown; and to give local artists an opportunity to compete for commission and display of their work. Up to 15 designs will be chosen for this round of ArtWraps. Each selected design will be awarded $500.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: June 19, 2022

Design Guidelines:

Designs may be representational or abstract; and/or be an allover pattern like wallpaper or wrapping paper; and/or include words or phrases.
If designs are primarily representational (for example: a landscape, city-scene, figures in action), designs are encouraged to include multiple areas of interest so final display can be seen on all sides.
Overall, designs should be positive, original, and colorful and may (but are not required to) reflect the following: Downtown points of interest, scenes from community history, images of favorite activities (for example: canoeing on Dayton’s rivers, listening to a live band at Levitt Pavilion, watching a Dayton Dragons Game or a Broadway show at the Schuster) or scenes from pure imagination.
Utility boxes will vary in size. Selected artists acknowledge that printer may adjust designs to fit boxes properly including the possibility that some areas of artwork will need to be removed to allow for utility box function.

Artists shall retain intellectual property rights of design. Artists name should not be incorporated into the design; but will be reflected on recognition plaque, and print and digital marketing materials.
Full credit will be given to artist in print or digital marketing; in turn, if utilizing the proposal for future submissions, the artist shall give credit to the project.
Proposed artwork must be original and unique to the project.
Designs shall not contain any kind of advertisements.
Project organizers will match designs/box locations.Submission Requirements:

Any resident of Ohio within a 50-mile radius of downtown Dayton is eligible to submit.
All ages are welcome to apply. If artist is under 18 years of age, name and contact information of parent/guardian is required.
Designs may be hand-drawn or digitally-rendered, but must be submitted via email as a digital file, preferably a vector file or high-resolution jpeg (at least 300 dpi).*
Designs should be depicted in a horizontal rectangular format and color(s)/design should extend to all edges. See provided examples below.
Artists may submit up to 3 designs.
Email the following to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at cking@codayton.org; Subject Line:ArtWraps Submission
1. Artist name, home address, preferred phone number (If under 18 years of age, please include name and contact information of parent/guardian
2. Title(s) and brief description of the design(s) artist is submitting
3. Up to 3 designs attached to the email: please save each jpeg as artistr last name andtitle (for example: King-Sunrise Over Riverscape)
*if artist does not have means to upload and submit design(s) via email, please contact Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at cking@codayton.org or 937/224.3822 Wed-Sat, 10am-4pm to arrange for assistance. Please note: if artists need assistance, they must request it before Friday, June 17, 2022, at 12noon.

DAI Offers Free Museum Admission April 22nd

April 19, 2022 By Dayton937

‘Free Friday’ includes access to Van Gogh & European Landscapes and Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, as well as a panel discussion and presentations by African American Visual Artists Guild

The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) will welcome the community to the museum with a special Free Friday, this Friday, April 22, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The museum will offer free admission to its collection galleries and the exhibitions Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, Van Gogh & European Landscapes, Fired Imagination: Ancient Chinese Ceramics from the Nancy and Ed Rosenthal Family Collection and The Flower Prints of Katsuhira Tokushi.

In addition, the African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) will present the program Harlem Renaissance to Now: Relevance of African American Art in the museum’s Mimi and Stuart Rose Auditorium from 1 to 4 p.m. It includes presentations by Siera Leone, award-winning writer and poet, Karen D. Brame, the founder of BlackListed Culture, and Andrew Scott, artist and professor, as well as a panel discussion and live painting demonstration by Erin Smith-Glenn, Associate Professor of Art at Central State University. AAVAG collaborated with the DAI to present the exhibition Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms.

“We greatly appreciate the community’s support through these past two years, especially as we begin to finally emerge from the pandemic and return to regular operations,” said DAI Director & CEO Michael R. Roediger. “As a way of saying thank you, we’re offering the opportunity to experience the museum and its current exhibitions, as well as an uplifting presentation by the African American Visual Artists Guild, for free.”

Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, on view through May 22, is a juried exhibition featuring more than 80 works by 44 nationally recognized and emerging African American artists from across the United States. The exhibition reflects the diverse backgrounds and different interests of the artists and includes art in a variety of styles and media.

Van Gogh & European Landscapes, on view through September 4, offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a remarkable pair of Van Gogh paintings, on loan to the museum from Switzerland, made during the final month of Van Gogh’s life. This intimate Focus Exhibition also includes works byCharles-François Daubigny, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Constable and others.

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

The Flower Prints of Katsuhira Tokushi, on view through September 18, introduces the work of Japanese artist Katsuhira Tokushi through a complete set of his series Twelve Works on Flower Selling Customs (1959–1961).

For more information about planning a visit, including current museum hours, updates and COVID-19 safety protocols, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278).

“Clouds and Rain” on Display at Alematic

April 6, 2022 By Dayton937

Drawing on his background in the cultures of both graffiti writing and graphic design, David is currently focused on murals and fine art canvas commissions designed to elicit strong emotions in viewers. He’s created many murals around our community, including these walls at Alematic Brewery in Huber Heights.

“Alematic Artisan Ales” Craft Culture Community Mural 2019

His pieces experiment with expressive, unconventional forms and feature strong, vibrant color schemes, crisp line work, and vivid combinations of layers and texture.

David is currently showing new work at Alematic Brewery during the month of April.

Alematic Artisan Ales

6182 Chambersburg
Huber Heights, OH 45424

(937) 813-8901

Wed & Thurs 3 – 10pm

Fri 2- 10pm

Sat noon – 11pm

Sun noon – 7pm

David Jonathan Creative
Custom Murals and artwork on canvas.
Follow him on Facebook.

Dayton at Work and Play: Cayman K

April 1, 2022 By Bill Franz

Met a new artist recently at Front Street. He’s Ahmad Kane, better known as Cayman K. He refers to himself as an outsider folk artist.

I understand that he used to paint on canvas, but now does most of his work on scrap wood and other found objects. Since making that switch his work has become more popular and he is now widely collected. Most of his selling is done online, but you can see his work tonight during First Friday. He’s in the Annex Building on the 2nd floor

“Colors of Spring” at the ARTery

March 27, 2022 By Dayton937

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

Vincent Van Gogh’s Birthday Means Discounted Admission at DAI

March 23, 2022 By Dayton937

The Dayton Art Institute’s (DAI) latest Focus Exhibition, Van Gogh & European Landscapes, offers the Dayton region a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a remarkable pair of Van Gogh paintings, on loan to the museum from Switzerland. The DAI-exclusive exhibition opened earlier this month and continues through September 4.

Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, and the DAI will celebrate the artist’s birthday with a special museum admission discount on March 30 & 31. Mention Van Gogh’s birthday at the museum’s Guest Services Desk on either day and get $5 off one regular adult admission. The museum is open 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on March 30 and 11 a.m.–8 p.m. on March 31.

Regular museum general admission is $15 adults; $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more); $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17); and free for children (ages 6 & younger). Admission includes access to the exhibitions Van Gogh & European Landscapes, Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms and Fired Imagination: Ancient Chinese Ceramics from the Nancy and Ed Rosenthal Family Collection, as well as the museum collection galleries.

“It is a true joy to experience real paintings by Vincent van Gogh in person and to see why he is considered the world’s most famous artist,” said Jerry N. Smith, Chief Curator and Director of Education. “You can see the vibrancy, the rich color and thick brush strokes that highlight his late paintings. In addition, you get to see his paintings alongside the works of several of the artists Van Gogh personally admired.”

The paintings of Vincent van Gogh are beloved and instantly recognized the world over for their brilliant color and bold brushwork. Despite his untimely death at the age of thirty-seven, Van Gogh worked intensely until the very end. The pair of landscape paintings in this exhibition were made in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, in July 1890, the final month of Van Gogh’s life. They are vibrant images that feature his signature style of thick dashes of color and quickly applied swirls made with a loaded brush.

This intimate Focus Exhibition also includes works by Charles Francois Daubigny, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Joseph Mallord William Turner, John Constable and others.

“This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view two Van Gogh paintings that are rarely seen outside Europe, and we are honored to be able to host them here in Dayton for the next few months,” said DAI Director & CEO, Michael R. Roediger. “Don’t miss the chance to see works in person, as well as the outstanding Special Exhibition Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, another DAI exclusive, which is on view through May 22.”

For more information about current and upcoming exhibitions at the DAI, visitwww.daytonartinstitute.org/exhibitions.

Dayton at Work and Play: Brian Mathus

March 18, 2022 By Bill Franz

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.

Visual Arts

THE CONTEMPORARY DAYTON

GALLERY HOURS:

David Jonathan Creative Custom Murals and artwork on canvas. Follow him on Facebook.

Mon 26

Tue 27

Wed 28

Thu 29

Fri 30

Sat 1

Sun 2

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

“Fantasy Animals & People” at Village Artisans

Monday Dance Classes with Brittany Moves & Innergize at The Brightside

Boot Camp with The Unit-Community Fitness

LIVE Trivia

Monday Pinball Tournamet

Food and Whine Frenzy presented by Mayhem & Mystery

Music Bingo!

Sports Legends Tour

PINTS & PUPS

4 course Cigar Dinner

Live Bar Trivia

Tuesday Trivia!

Fairborn Farmers Market

Widows Home of Dayton 150th Anniversary Luncheon

Trotwood Community Farmers Market

Trotwood Community Farmers Market

Taste The Chardon-Nay-Nay

Fat Head’s Brewery Beer Tasting

Trivia Night at Alematic

The Down and Dead Tour

REstoring Hope Benefit Breakfast

Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?

David Jonathan Creative
Custom Murals and artwork on canvas.
Follow him on Facebook.