Miller Gallery is BEAUTIFUL

(above: Pink Still Life by Pang Jen)

B E A U T Y

Miller Gallery
Opening Reception Friday April 10, 6-8 pm
Show continues through April 24

Forget deep, symbolic and melancholy art and celebrate all things superficially beautiful this Friday at Miller Gallery. Times are tough and perhaps we could all spend a Friday night with some colorful, uplifting and unabashedly beautiful art. Artists include "Don Hatfield, renowned for his timeless, classic impressionist paintings of mothers and children, frolicking on beaches, sharing loving moments in the loveliness of blooming gardens; Colin Berry, whose contemplative, measured and meticulous paintings often combine landscape and still life, are serenely classical and quietly poetic; Ellen Diamond, whose eye for pattern and color are reflected in her vibrant and vivid depictions of the French and Italian countryside, seascapes and village scenes; Pang Jen, for many years a gallery favorite, whose loose impressionist figurative and landscape paintings are exercises in soft, harmonious color; and popular local artist Ron Johnson, well-known for his paintings of Cincinnati scenes and landmarks as well as captured memories of European travel. "

Red Tree Turns Over a New Leaf

RedTree Art Opening

Friday, April 10, 6-10 pm

Red Tree Gallery (3210 Madison Rd.)

As if Red Tree could be even more fabulous... this weekend marks the debut of their first show at their new Madison Road location. As per usual, there will be wine and live music. Featured local artists include Teressa Barnhill, Scott Dannenfelser, Diane Debevec, Maureen Holub and Dick Macke. I have yet to check out their new spot, but the street front location should definitely put them in the spotlight.

Lobsters Are Surreal

("Lobster Dress" by Elsa Schiaparelli with images by Salvador Dali)

Surrealism and Fashion

Wednesday, March 31, 7 pm

Cincinnati Art Museum

$10 non-members, $5 members

"Because fashion design can be outrageous and Surrealism is a flamboyant art style, it is not surprising that Surrealist artists and trend-setting fashion designers often share a similar love of extravagance" (New York Times, 1988). It is, indeed, only natural that two artistic cliques renown for their intentional outrageousness would collaborate. The most infamous of all surrealist fashionistas was Elsa Shiaparelli, whose work is still studied by art historians and design design majors alike. The Chief Curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Valerie Steele will be on hand to provide more insight into all things surreal and fashionable.

A Twist of Taft

(Helena Bonham Carter's dress from A Room with a View is currently on display at the Taft's Fashion in Film exhibit)

Taft with a Twist: Movie Magic

Thursday March 12, 6-9 pm

Taft Museum

$10 non-members, free for members

In conjunction with their Fashion in Film exhibit, Taft will host a film trivia contest aimed to entertain local young professionals. As always, there will be a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres and a chance to mingle with other young art aficionados. Think of this as a much better alternative to dollar pitcher night at the local watering hole.

Camp Out at CAC

(above: Discarded Spider (Installation View), Carlo Amorales, Courtesy of the artist and Contemporary Arts Center. Photo: Tony Walsh)

The World Below: an All-Night Horror Movie Marathon

Friday, February 27, 6:27 pm - 7:12 am (dusk to dawn)

Contemporary Arts Center

$10 members, $20 members

The CAC is inviting you to bring your sleeping bags (and your courage) for an all-night horror movie marathon. They have not released a list of the specific films, but they promise there will be "both classic and obscure horror films plus many surprises!"

CAC Contemporary Fridays

Friday, February 27, gallery levels until 9 pm, Kaplan Hall until 1 am

Contemporary Arts Center

General Admission, Cash Bar

CAC is re-joining the Friday Friday circuit with open galleries and a late night party. All galleries will be open until 9 pm and a party featuring drinks and the spins of DJ Pillo will continue until 1 am.

Its that time again...

(above: "eggs on glass table" by Mayumi Terada at BASE GALLERY)

Final Friday

Friday, February 27, 6-10 pm

Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton and North Main St.

I can't ever say enough fabulous things about Final Friday. Much like New Year's Eve, it is the celebration of what has been and exudes the hope of what is to come. So whether February was the most productive and successful month of the year or whether you can't wait until March, Final Friday is a perfect event. Visit http://www.irhine.com/index.jsp?page=finalfriday for a walking map and list of participating businesses.

Talk Fashion at the Taft

(above: Two-Piece Evening Dress worn by Kate Beckinsale as Maggie Verver in the film The Golden Bowl, 2000. Set early 1900s. Costumes designed by John Bright; directed by James Ivory. Silk satin with lace.)

Lecture Series: Petticoats, Pantaloons, and Painters: Three Centuries of Costume in Art

Thursday, February 26, 7 pm

The Taft Museum

As part of its Fashion in Film exhibit, the Taft will host a lecture about how fashion is always a reflection of a particular society's culture, politics, history and art. Curator of Education Nancy Huth will speak on the basic fashions for men and women of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is recommended that all who wish to attend make reservations and buy tickets in advance.

SawFistTree

SawFistTree and friends Quartex

Opening: Feb 21, 9 PM–12 AM
Dates: Feb 21–Feb 22
Various Artists

FeralMade

Since FeralMade has not released any information about this exhibit, one can assume that it is simply a compilation of it's artists works. FeralMade seems to pride itself on being both enigmatic and playful, so this show and opening reception should be very entertaining.

Ally with Clay

(above: clay piece by Steve Howell)

The Clay Alliance 10th Anniversary Show

Opening: Saturday, February 21

Show: February 21 - March 14

Kennedy Heights Art Center

Regrettably, I have not written anything about the Kennedy Heights Arts Center in a while. This weekend, however, is the opening of the Clay Alliance's 10th Anniversary Exhibition. The Clay Alliance is a group of liked-minded artists who use clay to make functional, decorative, and sculptural objects. It will feature brand new works as well as those of past talents.

Enjoy A Magic Show

(above: artist Tara Donovan)

This weekend is Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend. The Contemporary Arts Center plays an integral part in this city's art scene and, thus, there are many notable events. Admission to all events, moreover, will be free. I regret that I am not going to include all of them on my blog, as that would take up more time and space available to me. Please check out their website, however, to get more information.

The Buzz: A Night of Magic

Friday, February 20, 7 pm

Contemporary Arts Center

$15 in advance, $20 at the door

The aforementioned event is Fine Arts Fund's way of kicking off their 2009 season. Aimed at the under 40 set, read "Y.P.'s" or "young professionals," there will be food, music, drinks, and prizes all consistent with the magic theme.

Also at the CAC this weekend

Gallery Talk: Tara Donovan

Led by CAC Director Raphaela Platow

Saturday, February 21, 3-4 pm

This gallery talk will shed some light onto the esoteric works of Tara Donovan.

44: Ethan Philbrick and Isaac Hand

Saturday, February 21, 4-7 pm

Through the dialogue of sound, Ethan Philbrick and Isaac Hand will interpret the minimalistic and transcendent works of Tara Donovan.

for more about 44 weekend at CAC, visit http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/.

More of 44

(above: the Flux Capicators)

44: the Flux Capicators

Sunday, February 22, 12:30-3:20 pm

The Contemporary Arts Center

As part of the 44 series, which features a different performing artist on the first Saturday/ Sunday of every month, the Cincinnati surf rock innovators Flux Capacitors will perform. They are a self-proclaimed, Cincinnati-based "surf rock" group, whose tunes are melodious and quite gleeful. What is surf music you ask? Well, as defined by the ever cursory Wikipedia, its "a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly Orange County and other areas of Southern California." Basically, its the Beach Boys meets contemporary pop and rock music. Why are they performing at the CAC? Well, contemporary art has a long history of bridging the gap between traditional, formal and representational works and the performing arts.

Pecha Kucha Night?

Pecha Kucha Night

Friday, February 13, 6:30-11:30 pm

Contemporary Arts Center

$15, $10 members

6:30-8- Gallery tour, cocktails

8-10- Pecha Kucha Presentations

10- Party! with drinks and DJ

I was confused by the name at first as well. Pecha Kucha (pronounced peh-chak-cha) is Japanese for the sound of conversation. Apparently, the idea was conceived by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham (Klein Dytham architecture) as a forum for young artists to exhibit, discuss and share their accomplishments. This global phenomenon includes creative people of any discipline or experience level and Cincinnati's version will feature architects, designers, artists, writers, students, professors, scientists, and many others. The stage is open to anyone with a creative idea and everyone is invited to watch to learn.

EVOKE II

Evoke II

Saturday, Friday 7, 6-9 pm

Red Tree Gallery

evoke [i-voke] (verb): to create anew, especially by means of interpretation

This Friday will be the second annual local juried exhibition of works inspired by the word "evoke." Local artists were free to interpret and create works that reflected, recognized or celebrated this word. Join the jury in exploring these works at the fabulous Red Tree Cafe.

Celebrate Winter @ CAC

Opening Celebration of the Winter Season

Friday, February 6

• 6 pm: cocktails with artists Tara Donovan and Donald Sultan, CAC members only
  
• 6:30 pm: gallery talk and book signing with Donald Sultan and exhibition preview, members only
  
• 8-11 pm, opening party with DJ and cash bar, open to public
  
• exhibition open February 4- May 3
  

Contemporary Arts Center

Join the CAC in the celebration of its winter season, featuring artists Donald Sultan and Tara Donovan, along with music by DJ Iceberg and a cash bar. On the lower 2 level, conceptual and figurative artist Donald Sultan's works creates icons out of everyday silhouettes and reinvent the traditional landscape through the exploration of media and surface texture. This is the first exhibition in the US of Sultan's early linoleum paintings.

On levels 4 & 5 artist Tara Donovan uses mass produced, commercial items to create sculptural masterpieces. Think styrofoam cups, straws, buttons, and tape transformed into overpowering works of volume and depth. As the CAC website says, "Her body of work fuses object, architecture and lighting into elegant compositions that defy the expectation of light and spaces."

Winter's Meat with Pete

44: Pete Fosco with A Winter's Meat Petal

Saturday, February 7, 4-5:30 pm

Contemporary Arts Center

FREE

The CAC's 44 program is an innovative and exciting downtown Cincinnati phenomenon that is not to be missed. On the first Saturday of every month they will host a performing artist who will open up dialogue to bring Cincinnati art enthusiasts together and to integrate local art into both a national and international context. This Saturday Pete Fosco "combines his haunting guitar tapestries with the freak-folk deconstruction of A Winter's Meat Petal" and poet and performer Mike Freeman "interjects his art of word into the mix also."

Artist Group @ Essex Studios

Essex Art Opening

Friday, February 6 & Saturday February 7, 6-11 pm

Essex Studios Artist Group

Essex Studio Artist Group (ESAG) is comprised of the 100+ tenants of the 100+ individual art studios at Essex Studios. Its a non-profit group who rent out what was once a warehouse host openings/ gallery walks every few months. This is a diverse and interesting non-profit group of talented visual and preforming artists existing in a cool urban setting. They don't get a lot of press but are certainly worth examining more closely.

ONE and BLUE

(above: Abstraction by Fred Lewy, 1948.)

ONE: Azure

Wednesday, February 4, 5:30-9 pm

Cincinnati Art Museum

The CAM has somewhat revamped their traditional One World Wednesdays. Although they are now called "One," they still promise music, food, gallery tours, wine tastings, and art activities. This particular installment is focused on all things pertaining to the color blue. This is a great opportunity to spice up a boring February week.

Take a Walk at Final Friday

Final Friday

Friday, January 30, 6-10 pm

North Main and Pendelton

Free

As per usual, the last Friday of every month there is a Final Friday gallery walk downtown in historic Pendelton and north Main Street. Soak in art, vintage and modern furniture, and design displays while enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at all of these fabulous urban establishments. Check out http://www.irhine.com/index.jsp?page=finalfriday for a printable map and more information.

CAM's Seperate Sphere

(above: a dress designed by Charles Frederick Worth for Elizabeth of Austria, Franz Xavier Winterhalter, 1865)

Disrobing the Victorian Lady

12:00-1:00 pm, lecture in the Great Hall

1:00-2:00 pm, lunch at the Terrace Cafe

$20 for lecture and lunch ($18 for Women's Committee members)

$10 for lecture

Cincinnati Art Museum

If you were dismayed that you missed the CAM's "A Separate Sphere" exhibit in 2005/2006, you will be excited to learn that they are hosting a lecture about Victorian fashion this afternoon. Fashion Arts and Textiles Curator Cynthia Amneus will speak about the elaborate and fussy fashions of this era. As this was time of great sexual repression, dresses at this time also had to follow strict cultural conventions. If you have the day off it would be an excellent opportunity to learn about the unique fashions of this era (haute couture was started by Charles Frederick Worth at this time) and enjoy a fabulous lunch at the Terrace Cafe.

Simply Speaking About Live Music

Red Tree Art Gallery & Coffee Shop

Live Music- Singer/ Songwriter Scott Metcalf

Friday, January 23, 7:30-9:30 pm

Simply Speaking

January 5- February 7

Unfortunately the opening reception for the Simply Speaking show, featuring works by Joel Blazer, Camille Cier, Jessica Wolf, Jessica Roller, and Arynn Blazer, has already come and gone. The show is still on display though and I would highly recommend checking it out. Since they have live music this evening, it would be the perfect time to do so. As always, there is no cover charge and so it would be easy to pop in and enjoy some music while enjoying some coffee/tea and basking in the wonderfully chill ambiance.

If you can't make it tonight, I highly recommend venturing to Red Tree on a boring Saturday/ Sunday afternoon. It's free, there is always incredible work displayed and it is important to support cool local coffee shops. Visit http://www.redtreegallery.net/.