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Visual Arts

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Erin Holscher Almazan

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Erin Holscher Almazan in one of her home work spaces.

“In the summer I take over the garage and do oil painting” she told me. “When the weather gets cooler I move to a basement space and do linocuts. I don’t want to fill the house with paint fumes. I do the actual printmaking from my linocuts at the University of Dayton, where I am an associate professor of Printmaking and Drawing.”

I looked at the paintings in the garage and said I hadn’t seen anything quite like them on Erin’s website (http://erinholscheralmazan.schmolio.com/).

“These are new this summer” she said. “For the last few years I have been focused on women’s relationships, the dynamics of groups of women. This year my friend Anna who is a fashion designer visited and brought these amazing floral hats. We took lots of photos of a group of women wearing her hats to use as the beginning point of these paintings. I took some of the smaller ones to a solo show I just had at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts in Grand Junction.”

“I have been painting some portraits of women with the hats, and some pairs of women. The one I’m working on today shows Anna with her head on my shoulder. I haven’t painted larger groups of women yet. I will probably do linocuts of those more complex images.”

Erin will be one of the artists participating in the “Behind the Scenes” exhibition at K12 Gallery and TEJAS which runs from October 24 through November 14. Maybe she’ll bring the piece she was painting when I visited her at work.

Music and Art Go Hand in Hand on Fine Art Final Friday!

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Music fans are in for a treat on Friday June 28th when Marbin, the up-and-coming progressive jazz-rock band based in Chicago, comes back to town! This exciting act is taking the stage at Dayton’s hottest new music spot: The Brightside Music & Event Venue. Special guest Ben Delaurentis kicking off the night at 9pm!

Added bonus to this show! The Brightside is serving up food and amazing tunes on Friday night. The lovely ladies who run Drunkin’ Waffle / Twisted Taco will be on site as soon as doors open, to serve up some tasty food!

If you’re really looking to round out this cultural date night – I’d suggest getting out early and checking out some visual art around town. Fine Art Final Fridays is a new trend downtown, spurred by gallery owner Edward Dixon. This month he features three of Ben Ibebe‘s amazing pieces from his 6 painting “Jazz Series” which has never been shown outside of Dayton, Ohio! Meters are free after 6pm. So get your fine art on, and then get your groove on at The Brightside!

How To Go?

Friday June 28, 2019

Gallery Show: 5-9pm at Edward Dixon Gallery – 12 S Ludlow St Dayton, Ohio. No entry fee!

Marbin Concert: 

The Brightside Music & Event Venue – 905 E 3rd St Dayton, Ohio

Doors 8pm. Show 9-11pm.

$10 at the door

All ages

Food: Twisted Taco food truck

Presented by Venus Child Productions

More about the Music

Marbin has a unique story that stands out in today’s music world. With a do-it-yourself approach, they started started touring extensively in 2011, bringing their original instrumental music to every part of the United States. Through word of mouth, Marbin has gained the attention of thousands of devoted fans all over the world. This is your chance to see them right here in Dayton!

Ben is a singer-songwriter from Lynchburg, Virginia whose warm tones and heartfelt lyricism create an authentic, intimate experience for the listener.

Call For Entry HWD Juried Sculpture Exhibition

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Rosewood Gallery 13th Annual HWD Juried Sculpture Exhibition


HWD, or Height x Width x Depth, is a juried exhibition celebrating three-dimensional artwork by artists from Ohio and surrounding states.  Established in 2007, HWD is the region’s only gallery exhibition focused exclusively on sculpture. If you are interested, Please submit your HWD entry and the $20 entry fee through The deadline is Thursday, July 18, 2019!

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • All types of three-dimensional media are accepted including wood, fiber, stone, metal, glass and mixed media
  • Artwork must be able to fit through the 79 x 34-inch gallery entryway
  • Artwork must be less than four years old.
  • Artists must be residents of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania or West Virginia

 

ENTRY PROCEDURE
Jury is done from digital files. A non-refundable entry fee of $20 for up to three artworks must accompany each entry. Multiple entries are permitted.  Accepted artworks must be ready to hang/install upon arrival at Rosewood Gallery, and must be labeled with artist’s name and artwork title on the piece or its packaging.

OPENING RECEPTION
A reception will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2 – 4pm at Rosewood Gallery. All artists and the general public are invited to attend. Artist awards will be announced at 3pm.

AWARDS AND SALES 
Awards totaling $1,750 including the The Virginia Krause Hess Award for Excellence in Sculptural Art and The The Joan W. McCoy Memorial Peoples’ Choice Award will be distributed at the discretion of the juror and will be announced at the Sunday, September 8 reception at 3 pm. Rosewood Gallery encourages sales, for which the City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department retains a 30% commission. The Peoples’ Choice award will be announced at the close of the exhibition.

For more info click here.

Artist Of The Week: Kimberly Ceccarelli 

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Kimberly Ceccarelli painting in her home studio.

This is the second time I have photographed Kim while she painted. The first was in a sunflower field near Yellow Springs. Kim was set up in the middle of the field with a table a chair and an easel.

“I do a lot of painting outdoors” she told me “and I’m constantly surprised by the people I meet. Folks watch me paint for a while and then they start telling me their life story. I almost feel like a therapist sometimes.”

I asked Kim how long she has been painting. “Well I’ve loved art for a long time but I’ve only been painting seriously for about ten years. I remember my high school art teacher saying she was disappointed I studied nursing in college instead of art. But now I’m retired from nursing and spend lots of time making art. I’ve also taken quite a few painting classes since I retired. Recently I’ve been working with Susan Porges in Cleveland.”

“I like to work on several pieces at the same time, so I have three separate painting places here in this studio. I do quite a few portraits on a commission basis, and I also enjoy still lifes and landscapes. I even do some abstract pieces, like the one I’m painting here. Ten of my pieces are currently on display at Basil’s On Market – Dayton, OH.”

Enjoy the first Songwriter Showcase at The Brightside!

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Dayton’s newest music venue, The Brightside, is presenting its first Songwriter Showcase this Wednesday May 8th, 2019. The venue has two spaces for music, a large ballroom for larger concerts and events, and a smaller listening room, that is ideal for intimate evenings such as this special showcase.

The evening starts off at 8pm with Jack Ballengee Morris performing his all original songs, accompanied by Peter Fox on cello. Morris, a 4th-generation Appalachian singer-songwriter, originally from Clay County, West Virginia. His music is planted firmly by his roots but allows for the influences of Ramblin’ Jack, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Daniel Johnston.

At 9pm, Dayton’s own Amber Hargett takes the stage. Amber received raved reviews from her recent album release performance, and has been in the Top 5 Best Sellers at Dayton’s Omega Music record store. Amber Hargett blends folk, rock, pop, roots and soul sounds into her unique storytelling style. Her writing attempts to balance honesty with empathy and reflect truths about faith, life, and relationships.

The evening closes with a 10pm set from Closest Relative, coming to Dayton for the first time from Columbus. After a 2015 motorcycle accident took two fingers from his left hand, longtime guitarist Jack O’Connell adopted a new playing style and started performing solo as Closest Relative. His music is characterized by intricate two-fingered guitar work, and earnest lyrics. His latest EP “This Tree is Base” expands on his previous EP “Messes” and unfurls his songwriting in unexpected directions.

Making this show extra special is the live art happening on site. Artists Etch and Tiffany Clark will be creating the Dayton skyline outside the venue as a permanent art piece! Very cool. This promises to be a Wednesday evening out that you won’t want to miss!

How to Go?

The Brightside Music & Event Venue

Wednesday May 8, 2019

Doors 7pm. Show 8-11pm.

$7 admission.

All ages welcome

Artist of the Week: Brian Mathus

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Brian Mathus working in his studio in Dayton’s McCook Field neighborhood.

“I have been drawing as long as I can remember” Brian told me. “Then at age 16 I started to paint. I remember that one of my earliest painting projects caused some problems. I did a large painting on the wall of our family’s apartment and then had to raise $500 to return the wall to its original condition.”

“When I lived in Oregon I got some excellent art training. I eventually joined with several friends who were painters and we started our own gallery. It gradually grew to be successful. We even had some shows in Los Angeles and in China.”

“In 2008, when the economy tanked, our gallery went out of business. I went into the National Guard then and was posted several different places. I fell away from painting and didn’t think I would ever be an artist again”

“After my wife (also a painter) and I moved to Dayton we spent some time getting jobs and working on our home in Dayton’s Five Oaks neighborhood. Then one day we visited some studios at The Front Street Building Co. and it made us remember how much we had enjoyed painting. We rented a studio at Front Street and later moved to our current studio at 901 North Keowee. We are here painting most weekends, and we’re always open on First Fridays.”

The best place to follow Brian’s work is on Instagram at @mathusb.

Get cultured at Fine Art Final Fridays at new downtown gallery

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We hear a lot about First Fridays downtown, but less so about Final Fridays. Edward Dixon who owns a new independent gallery downtown is celebrating Fine Art Final Fridays and I am here for it!

The Edward A. Dixon Gallery is a hidden gem on Ludlow, just show of 3rd St and Courthouse Square. On Final Fridays you’ll find lots of local and international art for your viewing pleasure, along with light appetizers and beverages and live music. Bringing music and visual art together, is absolutely one of my favorite things!

Senior Art Majors from Central State University will also be at the gallery with Professor Erin Smith-Glenn. Students will be gaining experience at a commercial art gallery, interacting with the public as emerging artists and being interviewed by the gallery owner.

Artwork from several local and international artists will be on display and available for purchase. The special exhibit this month features glass mosaic art from Philip Payne and abstract photography from Bill Franz. Entertainment provided by pianist & keyboardist, Denzel Hollis.

Also, look for other great events on Ludlow Street during Final Friday including Something’s Afoot at The Arts Collaboratory (2nd & Ludlow), Latin Dance at Hannah’s and music and spirits at Third Perk Coffee House.

How To Go?

Fine Art Final Fridays at Edward A. Dixon Gallery

The gallery is located at 12 South Ludlow Street – Dayton, OH 45402 near the corner of  Third and Ludlow.

Occurs final Friday of each month from 5-9pm (April 26 – June 28)

NOTE: Free parking after 6pm at meters!

The gallery is available by appointment most days including weekends by calling 937-985-2115 or emailing info@eadgallery.com.

ARTIST OF THE WEEK:  Walter Murch

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Walter Murch next to a self portrait and a Winnie the Pooh soap bar at his exhibition at K12 Gallery and TEJAS (314 S. Jefferson).

For 36 years Murch was Director of Product Design at Hewitt Soap (333 Linden) in Dayton’s Historic Inner East neighborhood. That plant was the country’s largest manufacturer of specialty soap bars, and Murch designed over 2,000 different soaps. 

The exhibition includes examples of soap bars made for such diverse customers as Avon, Disney and the Sultan of Brunei. For each product Murch would do design sketches and then carve one bar by hand. His carving was used to make molds that made thousands of soap bars.

Murch has retired from soap carving but he is still a working artist, and some of his abstract paintings are part of his exhibition at K12. These paintings show some of the same skill and precision evident in the carvings. Interestingly, the soaps and the abstract paintings also share similar color palettes.

The exhibition continues through April 27. It’s well worth a visit to see the art and to learn a bit of Dayton history.

Dorothy Height’s Hats- An Iconic Activists Collection

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The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) will present the first of the museum’s centennial Focus Exhibitions, Dorothy Height’s Hats, on view from March 23 through June 23. The DAI is proud to present this exhibition, with all hats on loan from the Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation.

 

Dorothy Height’s Hats features hats worn by Dr. Dorothy Irene Height (1912–2010), an author and icon of civil rights who was known for her leadership, courage, determination, and hats! This exhibition will explore the life of Dr. Height by bringing together 43 of her favorite and most iconic hats.

 

“It is an honor to present these beautiful hats that belonged to Dr. Height, someone who was such an important figure in the fight for equal rights for all,” states Jerry N. Smith, DAI Chief Curator. “The hats, many made by top designers, are like sculptures in fabric and can be enjoyed as such. However, knowing who wore them makes each that much more significant.”

 

Dr. Height was an activist in the struggles for equality and was given the name “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement” by President Barack Obama. Hats, often called “crowns” by the African-American community, became a symbol of Dr. Height’s personality. She helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. Height also served as the president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years and had notable involvement with national organizations such as the YWCA and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

 

She has been recognized by many groups and world leaders, and received 36 honorary doctorate degrees, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2004). She was memorialized on the 40th U.S. Forever Postage Stamp in the Black Heritage series, in 2017.

 

Admission to Dorothy Height’s Hats is included in the museum’s suggested general admission.

 

An Afternoon with Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole
President, National Council of Negro Women
Sunday, March 31, 2019, 3 – 5 p.m.
$25 members, $35 non-members

In celebration of the Focus Exhibition Dorothy Height’s Hats and Women’s History Month, join us for a special presentation by Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole in the Mimi & Stuart Rose Auditorium, followed by a dessert and champagne reception in the Shaw Gothic Cloister. Watch for a separate Facebook event for this talk!

To learn more about Dr. Dorothy Height, join Dr. Jerry N. Smith, Chief Curator, on Saturday, May 18 at noon, for the museum’s Language of Art program. The topic of the May 18 session will be Dr. Height’s autobiography Open Wide the Freedom Gates: A Memoir (2003).  Conversation follows in Leo Bistro, where food and drink are available for purchase. The Language of Art is FREE for members and included with suggested general admission for non-members. Space is limited and advance reservations are encouraged.

 

For more information about the Dayton Art Institute and its centennial celebrations, please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Tickets for most Dayton Art Institute events, exhibitions and programs may also be purchased online atwww.etix.com.

 

Artist of the Week: Josh Merritt

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Josh Merritt of JLM Glass Studio. I asked Josh how he became a glass blower.

“I started out as an apprentice to one of Ohio’s great glass artists – John Michael Kahle. I lived close enough to walk to his studio. I did all kinds of work for him and in return he taught me about his art. Then I went to Ohio State. They have a good glass blowing program that really expanded my horizons. A few months ago I moved back to Dayton and set up this studio where I give lessons and teach some classes.”

“Although I’m giving classes, I still feel like a student myself. There’s so much to learn. Last summer I was able to visit Murano, Italy – a place where people have been blowing glass for 700 years. Murano is an island near Venice that people call the Glass Island. The story I heard was that the glass blowers of Venice were sent to the Island of Murano in the 13th century because glass factories sometimes caught fire.”

To learn more about Josh and the classes he’s giving, go tohttps://jlmglass.studio/

Artist of the Week: Heather Jones

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Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio working in her Front Street Studio. Front Street is in Dayton’s Springfield neighborhood.

As she worked, Heather told me how her current body of work came about. “I wrote a book called Quilt Local. I really like how the book turned out, but by late 2014 when the book was finished, I was burned out on quilting. I had to do something else for a while.”

“I tried painting, but didn’t find it satisfying. So I started doing these sewn works which are hung on the wall like a painting. They’ve been well received, both in the galleries that show my work and in various exhibitions.”

“I start with strips of cloth that I stick on the flannel wall. When I’m happy with how two of the pieces look side by side I iron them and sew them together. Then I place them back on the flannel wall and try to decide which piece of cloth should be added next. When I’m done sewing I put the finished cloth piece onto a structure so it can be hung. As I stretch the cloth some of lines that had looked straight become slightly curved.”

This is a busy month for Heather. She’s in three exhibitions. One is in Cincinnati and has an opening Thursday night from 6 to 9 pm at 1628 LTD (11 Garfield Place). It’s called “Just to be alive – an exhibition of the contemporary female artist.” Twenty artists are included in the show, including Mychaelyn Michalec, Artist.

It was obvious that Heather didn’t mind being photographed as she worked. When I mentioned that she explained that she’s done quite a few workshops and interviews on TV. So I googled her and found a great interview on Youtube on The Quilt Show. The interview referred to Heather as a modern quilter, teacher, author, and Martha Stewart American Made finalist. Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KMXUkseqkI

Artist of the Week: Erin Smith-Glenn

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Erin Smith-Glenn working in the studio where she teaches at Central State University.

“I was once a college student working in this same studio,” she told me. “When I graduated from Central State l went to the University of Cincinnati to get a Masters in Fine Arts. I also studied in Italy, which was a wonderful experience. Now I am back in the same place but the roles are reversed. I’m doing the teaching and this summer I will be taking students to Italy.”

“I’m working in pastel chalk here, which I love. I often do portraits, but lately I have been obsessed with flowers. Maybe it has to do with the weather.”

I met Erin last November when she was in Art Off, the K12 Gallery and TEJAS fundraiser. After meeting her I started to see her work everywhere. You can do the same. You can see her work four times over the next four days.

Tonight Erin has a reception of her show at the Fifth Third Center from 5 to 7 pm. A jazz saxophone player will add some atmosphere to that event.

Tomorrow night, First Friday, she is showing her work at the studio of Mikee Michelle Huber (903 North Keowee).

Saturday you could see one of Erin’s pieces at the Dayton Society of Artists – DSA. She has a piece in their show about historic African American churches of Southwest Ohio.

Sunday Erin will be one of the panelists at the Dayton International Peace Museum “Women Strong Artists Panel” from 3 to 4:30 pm

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Brother John Lemker

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Brother John Lemker 

with one of his photos currently being exhibited at Gallery St. John (4400 Shakertown Road in Beavercreek).

I have been a fan of Brother Lemker’s work for years. He taught a photography course for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute a few years ago.
I tried to take that course but it was closed out by the time I applied. I am similarly late in telling you about Brother Lemker’s exhibition.
The last time it’s open to the public is Sunday from noon to 3 pm. If the weather isn’t too bad that day you should check it out.
If that doesn’t work just wait a year and he’ll have another show at that gallery.

I asked Brother Lemker to pose with a photo I love called “Reeds and Reflections.” It looks more like an abstract painting than a photograph.

“That photo sort of put me on the map,” he told me. “I submitted it to the Sierra Club and they included it in their calendar. I must have gotten
100 letters about that photo, and a lot of requests to use it in other publications. I took the photo at a small lake where I was camping. That’s what
I used to do when I was younger. I would camp at a spot and wait until the conditions were perfect for a photo. Now that I’m 88 I don’t camp like I did,
but this show includes a lot of nature photography I’ve done right here in Dayton.”

“Five artists, each a Marianist Brother, share this gallery. We each have one exhibition here every year.
So as soon as this show closes I will start work on next year’s exhibition.”

Marmaduke Collection Donated to Ohio State’s Cartoon Library & Museum

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The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is delighted to announce the Brad Anderson Collection! This amazing new acquisition features over 16,000 original Marmaduke cartoons from 1954 to 2010, in addition to other original art, business correspondence, fan mail, books, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, merchandise and more.

Brad Anderson (1924-2015) is a cartoonist best known for the long-running family-favorite, Marmaduke, featuring a lovable Great Dane. The comprehensive body of work found in this collection allows scholars and fans alike to trace the evolution of the well- known character as Marmaduke’s scowl turned into a smile, and as he continued to wreak havoc while remaining completely lovable. “Marmaduke is one of the most beloved comic strip characters of all time. We’re grateful to the Anderson family for this generous donation. As we’ve begun cataloging the collection, it’s been wonderful to see how much the characters have evolved over the years and the breadth of Anderson’s body of work. The accompanying correspondence and archival materials will provide interesting primary source materials for future researchers,” said Curator Jenny Robb.

Brad Anderson grew up drawing cartoons in Jamestown, New York and sold his first cartoon at age 15 to the aviation magazine, Flying Aces. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Anderson graduated from Syracuse University in 1951 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree. While working in advertising, Anderson sold cartoons to major publications such as Collier’s magazine and Saturday Evening Post. We are fortunate enough to have over 3,000 examples of Anderson’s magazine cartoons.

The Anderson family had said this about the donation, “Brad Anderson’s wish was that his life work would find a home at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum where the collection would be in a safe environment and enjoyed by kids of all ages. Our family feels privileged to fulfil his wish and donate the works of his 75 year labor of love. Some of our special memories include his earliest published airplane drawings when he was a teenager, the water color paintings from his undergraduate years at Syracuse University, the magazine cartoons from the 1940’s through the 1970’s and, of course, the Marmadukedailies and Sundays over the decades. ”

Besides the wonderful artwork displaying a wide range of his artistic styles, the collection contains lots of fan mail demonstrating the enormous popularity of the strips. For everyone who wondered if their favorite cartoonist kept the fan letter they wrote so long ago – if it’s Anderson, he did!

For such a prolific cartoonist, organizing decades of artwork is no small task. The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum will be very busy in the coming year as we work to make this treasure trove available to all to study and enjoy.

The Ohio State University
110 Sullivant Hall
1813 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43210

t 614.292.0538 | f 614.292.9101
email: [email protected]
website: cartoons.osu.edu
blog: http://library.osu.edu/blogs/cartoons/

About the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum: The BICLM is one of The Ohio State University Libraries’ special collections. Its primary mission is to develop a comprehensive research collection of materials documenting American printed cartoon art (editorial cartoons, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels, sports cartoons, and magazine cartoons) and to provide access to these collections. The BICLM recently moved into its newly-renovated 30,000 sq. ft. facility that includes a museum with three exhibition galleries, a reading room for researchers and a state-of-the-art collections storage space. The library reading room is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm/ The Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1 – 5 pm. See http://cartoons.osu.edu/ for further information.

Art on the Commons Call For Artists

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Art on the Commons is now accepting artist submissions for its 31st annual festival. Organized by Rosewood Arts Centre, Art on the Commons will take place on Sunday, August 11, 2019 from 11 am until 5 pm at Kettering’s Lincoln Park Civic Commons. Free to the public, Art on the Commons is one of the region’s most popular summer fine arts festivals, drawing a regional audience of over 10,000 in one day.  Fine arts and crafts by 100 talented artists from around the country will be on display. Works include jewelry, ceramics, paintings, photography, metals, watercolor, sculpture, glass, fibers and wood creations.

Artists may submit their fine arts and fine crafts for jurying into the festival through March 31, 2019. All submissions must be made online at www.zapplication.org. A $20 entry fee is due at the time of submission.

The jury for Art on the Commons consists of three arts professionals with a wide range of artistic knowledge. Jurors are selected for their experience and expertise in a specific media and serve on panels in their area. A diversity of backgrounds and skills is sought, including artists, educators, fine art and craft gallery owners and museum directors/curators. A new panel of jurors is selected each year to allow for fresh perspective.The jurying process is done by category and is anonymous. Factors included are presentation, quality, originality, technical
ability and booth display.

Artists will be notified of jurying results by May 3, 2019. More information can be found at www.playkettering.org/aotc.

Dayton’s 2018 Top Ten Visual Arts

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Dayton’s visual arts scene is abundant with compelling exhibitions and activities; selecting ten was a challenge.  Enjoy this review of my top ten favorite visual art exhibitions in 2018!

Connie Campbell, Archetypes
Rosewood Gallery
November 26 – December 28, 2018

Connie Campbell’s sculptures are created through mathematical references to the golden ratio, with intricate formulas to create each shape, curve, and line. Made with aluminum, copper, and wood, the sculptures echo animal skeletons and snares. Learn more about the exhibition and the artist here.

Kei Ito and Migiwa Orimo, Nuclear Fallout: The Bomb in Three Archives
Herndon Gallery, Antioch College
September 20, 2018 – December 7, 2018

Detail from Migiwa Orimo’s Souvenirs installation

This incredibly moving exhibition featured the work of Migiwa Orimo and Kei Ito, both reflecting on the 1945 atomic bombings of Japan. Orimo’s body of work, Proofs of Burden, is a reflection of the elements of destruction, censorship, constructed narratives, and reflections on popular culture through her research. Artist Kei Ito explores the 1945 bombings through personal narrative. Kei’s grandfather survived the destruction of Hiroshima, witnessing the horrors of radiation effects on his loved ones.  Learn more about the exhibitions here.

Drawing from Perception
Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries, Wright State University
January 16 – February 25, 2018

Abel Dolby, “L & G,” Graphite on paper

Drawing from Perception featured sixty artists with a focus on the tradition of observational renderings. Sometimes there is nothing better than admiring a beautifully rendered drawing! Stand outs included Bradley Mulligan’s still life; Abel Dolby’s studies of quiet domestic moments; Mark Lewis’ collaged cut paper scenes of Americana; and Amy MacLennan’s richly textured streetscape.  See more about the exhibition here.

Kim Rae Taylor, Rendered Complete Equals
Virginia Kistler, Fungal Impressions
Rosewood Gallery
April 16 – May 18, 2018

Rosewood Gallery was host to two excellent solo exhibitions featuring work by Kim Rae Taylor (Cincinnati) and Virginia Kistler (Gahanna, Ohio). Kim Rae Taylor’s exhibition Rendered Complete Equals explored materiality, process, relationships in mixed media paintings. Virginia Kistler’s Fungal Impressions documented the natural world through photographic processes. Learn more about these exhibitions here.

Muse: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and tête-à-tête
Dayton Art Institute
October 20 2018 – January 13 2019
Mickalene Thomas: I Can’t See You Without Me
Wexner Center for the Arts
September 14, 2018 – December 30, 2018

Mickalene Thomas, la leçon d’amour, 2008, c-print

Ohio lucked out with two important Mickalene Thomas exhibitions this fall – large scale painting and collage works at the Wexner Center for the Art’s, and photographs at the Dayton Art Institute. Thomas’ work is monumental in scale and examines representations of the female body in contemporary subject matter to art history. Both exhibitions reflect on the dual influence of photographs with her paintings and collage that initially brought her acclaim in the contemporary art world. Learn more about the Dayton Art Institute exhibition here.

Edmund Merricle, Recent Paintings
Dutoit Gallery
May 2018

Martyr, 2018, oil on linen

It was great to see the quirky color palettes, focused nautical content and joyful painting of Edmund Merricle at Dutoit Gallery. Learn more about the exhibition here.

Julia Oldham, Dogs of Future Earth
Blue House Gallery
October 13 – 31, 2018

Oldham is a prolific artist, with fascinating artwork and travels on her resume. Oldham’s recent series was part of an artist residency in Chernobyl, where she documented the feral dogs that roam the seemingly empty town, descendants of those that survived the nuclear disaster.  Blue House featured her large-scale fantastical collages, as well as videos, allowing a glimpse into a reality blended with science fiction.  Learn more from the Blue House website.

Akram Zaatari, The Fold – Space, time and the image
October 05, 2018 – February 10, 2019
Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center

The photo-based work of Akram Zaatari represents sometimes haunting narratives, but his work extends beyond his own studio – Zaatari is also the co-founder of the Arab Image Foundation, which preserves a history of photographic images from the Middle East. This exhibition impressively balances his artistic vision and preservation work. Learn more here.

Juan-Sí González, Displacement: Collective Practice to Recover Memory
Rosewood Gallery
October 15 – November 16

In Displacement, Juan-Sí González digs deep into his own personal archive, from his youth in Cuba, to his political asylum which eventually led him to Dayton, Ohio.  This exhibition was a dense, emotional, and significant telling of an artist’s story, as well as his connections to his present-day community. Learn about González exhibition’s here.

Ashley Jude Jonas, it’s likely in front of you
Dutoit Gallery
November 2018

Jonas’ thoughtful artwork can be highly conceptual, but always is deeply intentional and sensitive to various aspects of material, dimensionality and balance. Her work is most successful when viewers the time to understand the relationships each piece puts forward, both formally and theoretical.  A truly beautiful exhibition.  Learn more here.

BONUS PICKS

Joel Whitaker, When Things Go Missing
Dayton Visual Arts Center
September 7, 2018 – November 3, 2018
Whitaker’s beautiful, quiet photographs documented of sites of trauma, including locations of tornado touch-downs in the American South and “photographs that explore the idea of losing things—the transitory nature of all things.” An incredibly poetic exhibition. Learn more here.

Ann Kim, Time Cycles, but Never Back to Now
Dutoit Gallery
July 2018
Featuring work made from the artist’s experience living in two locations at opposite points on the globe, Kim’s intimate mixed media paintings echo the movement of the tides and a feeling of standing simultaneously between night and day.  The exhibition includes photographs documenting the locations, and sand samples carefully labeled with the latitude, longitude and date of each collected unit. Learn more here.

Stratum: New Work by Amy Kollar Anderson & Kate Huser Santucci
February 22 – March 24, 2018
Dayton Visual Arts Center
In this unexpected and fun exhibition, the artists documented their collaborative process of creating new works, with the result a richly layered, textured, and sometimes colorful play on each other’s aesthetic tendencies and techniques.  The creative process was documented with notes and photos displayed alongside the finished work. Learn more here.

The Woods in Color: Works by Jean Koeller
Springfield Museum of Art
July 28, 2018 -January 6, 2019
Koeller’s incredible use of color and her perception of what some would call the mundane – like piles of wood – transcend to masterful compositions of abstraction, tonality, surface tension and quiet moments of reprieve.  A must see exhibition; learn more here.