I attended the artists talk with Catherine Opie at CIA Wednesday night and I can't wait to see her show. A serious photographer since the age of 9, Opie works in the traditional (non-digital) format. Her approach to subject matter is very architectural and indeed she said if she had not become a photographer she would have become an architect. Some of her best known and most challenging work are portraits of members of the gay and lesbian community. Community is a recurring theme in Opie's work -- its what drew her to photograph surfers (as in this portrait), ice houses, and certain cultural/ethnic groups.

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I went to the pre -pre-gallery talk at CIA yesterday (actually it was called a "brown bag lunch") so I know a little about what this painting is about. Let me preface, only Dana Schutz can really explain her work, live in-person is best I'm sure, maybe video would work, but the printed word  in the form of gallery labels or anything else would never do Dana or her paintings justice. So I encourage you to go to her pre-gallery talk at 6 pm at MOCA.

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Connect with CIA alumnus ('00) and critically acclaimed painter Dana Schutz as she presents insights on her work Thursday, Sept. 28th at 12:00 noon in Aitken Auditorium. The first comprehensive solo museum show of her work, "Dana Schutz: Paintings 2002-2006," will open Friday at MOCA Cleveland. The exhibit will be on view until December 20. Her work has been shown at the Venice Biennial and MOMA and she has earned extensive coverage in/Art Forum, The New York Times and Vogue.

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The North East Ohio Medieval & Renaissance Studies Group and

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Hypnotica, paintings by Jen Omaitz at e.gordon gallery.

I could not find out enough about Jen Omaitz online, I found some images of her work but I did'nt think that they represented what you will see in this exhibition. So I did'nt post them. The works on the postcard I received from e.gordon gallery appear to be abstract landscapes or urbans scenes, the colors are dark and rich with streaks of bright color that look like neon or blurry colored lights photographed with time lapse photography. The card says they are oil on canvas. Go to the opening and see for yourself.

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Hear artist Catherine Opie talk about her work before the opening of her show at MOCA this Friday: Catherine Opie: 1999 & In and Around the Home

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Opening Reception at The Cleveland Foundation

heterotopia
sites of culture represented, contested and inverted

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Salvador Dali (Soft Construction with Boiled Beans   Premonition of Civil War), 1936, oil on canvas 100 x 99 cm

Artists, intellectuals and anarchy – sounds like just what Cleveland needs? It worked for Barcelona!

The Cleveland Museum of Art reopens October 15th with an absolutely incredible exhibition that is not to be missed: “Barcelona & Modernity: Picasso, Gaudi, Miro, Dali.” Any one of these artists would be a huge draw for a museum exhibition -- Cleveland is lucky enough to get an exhibition with all four. This exhibition, for the first time, puts these four great artists and their contemporaries into the context of the unique city of Barcelona and the region of Catalonia. The show includes hundreds of works (painting, sculpture, prints, textiles, decorative arts; furniture, ceramics, jewelry) never before seen together by masters you should be familiar with and their contemporaries -- they will amaze you as well.

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Cleveland Plain Dealer Architecture Critic Steven Litt is really stepping up to lead the march for a better designed Cleveland, as he has been the lone mainstream voice for intelligent redevelopment of the I-90 bridge and is the lone voice at all for saving the landmark Breuer Cleveland Trust Building on East 9th, between Euclid and Prospect, which for 15 years Jacobs demolished by neglect and now Cuyahoga County Commissioners want to demolish by force, all to build a replacement building for their offices, at great cost to taxpayers... this is the Jacobs Coast Guard Station fiasco X 1000, and community leaders are letting this one slide too.

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This weekend the Toronto arts and culture scene was world-class beyond belief, featuring the final weekend of the Toronto Film Festival, the opening of the new Four Seasons Opera House (premiering Wagner's Ring Cycle), many smaller community arts festivals, and two major arts festivals – the Queen West Arts Crawl, featuring over 500 artists and galleries along mind-blowing Queen Street) and the august 11th Annual Canadian Art Gallery Hop. The Queen West Arts Crawl was way cool, but I stayed in Toronto an extra day for Software Freedom Day and the Canadian Art Gallery Hop, as that featured a free “Glocal Live Roundtable” of many of Canada's arts leaders. “The term GLOCAL fuses global with local and points to the meshing of macro and micro realms of experience in the contemporary world of Internet technologies and instant information. The speed and collapsing distances of this new reality hold challenging implications for traditional identities and communities, along with promising opportunities.” The roundtable was astounding... see below for detailed notes of interest to all concerned about arts, culture and the economy, local to anywhere in the world and global.

And I would know, I grew up there. Only the developers of Crocker Park and such -- and their supporters -- would pretend this sculpture represents real art and culture in Westlake. Promoting it as such is part of an insidious plot I see developing. See the PD article Monday September 11th. The abstract stainless steel sculpture by Balazs is definitely an anomaly in Westlake. Westlake should be very proud to have had some hand in producing a nationally acclaimed sculptor, and at $30,000, I think they got a good deal, too. See the article on the dedication in the Westlife newspaper.

In the Guren Gallery of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, an exhibition of sculpture by Barbara Stanczak... "I take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth," says Cleveland-based sculptor and CIA professor Barbara Stanczak, "and my sculptures are an expression of gratitude, a search for parallel, tangible, formal experiences that can be shared with others."

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The 17th annual chalk festival at the Cleveland Museum of Art -- its the best reason to hope for good weather this weekend. Stroll around Wade oval anytime Saturday or Sunday from 11-4 and see hundreds of artists, young and old, at work on their sandstone canvases. It is always exciting to see how much artistic talent we have here in Cleveland. If you are inspired, for $15 you can buy a large space and box of chalks or a small space for $7.50. See the CMA website for more details.

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Tremont Arts Festival -- always a lot of fun! Great art by local artists (one of my favorite local ceramists, Gina DeSantis will have her work there) live entertainment, activities for children provided by local non-profits, the APL moble adoption van filled with cats and dogs and delicious food from local churches and restaurants.

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If its at Asterisk it must be cool! Doors open at 8 pm, show begins at 9. Meet the designers immediately following the show.
Works by gallery owner Dana L. Depew will also be on view.
Admission is free

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ART FOR LUNCH

Slide/PowerPoint Lectures by
Case Art History Faculty, Case Art History Graduate Students
Guest Faculty, Cleveland Museum of Art Curators
 
Prof. Edward Olszewski

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The weekend of September 16-17 marks the fourth annual Sparx Gallery Hop, presented by National City, where the work of more than 500 artists will be accessible to the public from inside galleries, studios, major festivals, and art institutions. It's considered Ohio's largest art walk because of it's geographic size and large number of featured venues across the City Center, Tremont, Superior Corridor, University Circle and Little Italy neighborhoods. Read on to see how you can HOP TO IT!

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Closing reception of "After Katrina" at Heights Arts (next to the Cedar-Lee Theater) an exhibition curated by Tom Hinson (CWRU alumnus and CMA curator of photography) featuring the works by renowned Cleveland artists Linda Butler, Daniel Levin and Jonathan Wayne. Opening reception from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. 

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It's that time again to get excited about art and fall fashion. Pinky's Daily Planner, the "modern clothes-closet for spirited girls" will feature their hand made fineries and accessories from other emerging artists. visit http://www.pinkydailyplanner.com

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  Opening at the Artists' Archives of the Western Reserve from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. featuring the graphic art of Gary Dumm. The artist will be present as well as Harvey Pekar and other graphic and comic book artists and illustrators.

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The Cleveland Clinic Art Program Presents: A Lunchtime Artist Talk with David Levinthal
Please join the Cleveland Clinic Art Program in welcoming internationally acclaimed photographer David Levinthal to Bunts Auditorium for an informal talk about his work and career. This event coincides with an exhibition of Levinthal's works, Baseball, on view in the M lobby corridor on Main Campus. This exhibition of color photographs is part of the Cleveland Clinic Art Program. Part of the Program's mission is to exhibit the works of contemporary artists and encourage dialogue, challenging viewers to experience diverse points of view.

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Covering History: Revisiting Federal Art in Cleveland (1933-1943)

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Lynden B. Miller is part garden designer and part magician. Her results include some of New York's most famous, graceful and uplifting spaces, such as The Central Park Zoo and Bryant Park.

Prior to her remarks, Miller will receive the Delia White Vail Memorial Medal, which recognizes individuals who have made significant national contributions to the field of horticulture.

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