St. Patrick's Day Prep at the Miller Gallery

James O'Neil & Hugh O'Neil

Opening Reception Friday, March 14. 7-9 pm
(show runs through March 29)

Wine, Guinness, & Hors d' Oeuvres

Certainly the scenic countryside of New England and Ireland lend themselves to landscape painting. These two artists capture the beauty of these territories in their own styles. Both of them emanate artists of the past, yet provide their own innovative techniques for the future.

This is for those of you who love beautiful New England and Irish landscapes and a great artsy reception on a Friday night. James O'Neil's depicts the landscape of Maine and Cape Cod with a focus on light as the subject matter. He was trained as a modern Impressionist and certainly the beauty and emotion conveyed through his work is consistent with traditional Impressionist paintings. He, however, simultaneously uses a sort of blurred pointillism within these luminous landscapes that recalls Seurat or Signac. The mixing of these two traditional styles is what makes his work interesting and somewhat atypical.

Hugh O'Neil is an Irish artist who is considered to be one of Ireland's finest living landscape artists. He is strictly figurative in style and, therefore, the beauty of his paintings is not masked by any special self-proclaimed style or technique. These are the perfect works to view to get you in the mood for St. Patrick's day.

http://www.millergallery.com

Learn About Louise Nevelson

Louise Nevelson, Luminous Zag: Night, 1971.

Artist File: Louise Nevelson

Cincinnati Art Museum

Wednesday, March 11. 7 pm

FREE

The CAM is offering yet another free lecture this Wednesday. If my diatribe about religious are earlier did not interest you (I know it was long and involved) you should check this out. In brief, she is one of the most important artists of the 20th century whose abstract expressionist "boxes" of found objects are generally classified as assemblages. Like other major artists at her time she worked with found objects and was part of the Art Students League and the WPA Federal Art Project. She created what could be called "environments" of various sizes that were intended to transport the viewer into a new world or situation.

http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org

Art and Faith Through the Ages

The Rothko Chapel, Mark Rothko, founded by John and Dominique de Menil 1964-67.
Hand painted Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child.

The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 691 A.D.


Artistic Expressions of Faith in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Sacred Spaces Through the Ages

The Cincinnati Art Museum

Wednesday, March 12. 6-7:45 pm

FREE

A lot of lectures at the CAM cost money, so this would be an excellent opportunity to attend one of their amazing lectures for free. James Buchannan, the director of the Edward B. Bruggeman Center for Dialogue, Xavier University, will "discuss the role sacred space has played in religion from archaic times to the present - from the simplest cave or totem to the most elaborate synagogue, mosque or cathedral." I think this lecture is unique because it traces the relationship between art and religion from the beginning of time until now. Art and religion are very much interconnected, even in the most contemporary pieces.

It has been pointed out, moreover, that just because a work of art draws upon certain religious themes, images, or traditions does not mean that its purpose is religious instruction or inspiration. It is impossible to study art history in its entirety without examining and having some knowledge of, at least, the basic religious principles of major religions and religious movements. A lot of contemporary work, moreover, is influenced by the imagery of the past which was, in large part, based upon religious beliefs. Above I have included some of my favorite examples of both the traditional and the radical.

The first picture, The Rothko Chapel, is one of my favorite works of all time. It was founded in Houston, Texas as a sanctuary for people of all beliefs and was inspired by the works of the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. It currently hosts the religious ceremonies of many different faiths and is meeting place for those who rally for and support human rights. Like churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship throughout the world, it is free and open to the public as a sanctuary. It reminds us of the major artists of the past who were commissioned to paint for major churches (i.e. Leonardo da Vinci, etc).

The second, the Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child, reminds us of the plethora of mother and child images throughout the history of art. From the beginnings of Christianity, to Mary Cassatt (1902), to Damien Hirst (see Mother and Child Divided, 1993) this image has been repeated ad nosiam.

The Dome of the Rock is easily one of the most significant examples of the way in which art and religion are greatly intertwined. It is extremely important and unique because it is a sacred place to Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. It is the oldest Islamic shrine and is believed to be built over the sacred stone from which the Prophet Mohammad ascended into heaven. For Jews, it is the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. In the middle ages, moreover, Christians and Muslims alike believed that the dome was the biblical Temple of Solomon. It represents, perhaps, the way in which people of all religions are forced to coexist in the same territory (although not necessarily in a peaceful manner).

http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org

Drawings and Projections

Projections: A Survey of Wall Based Sculpture and Selections from the iNDA 2007

Opening Reception: Friday March 7, 6-9
(show runs March 7-April 4)

2727 Woodburn Ave, East Walnut Hills

I recently stumbled upon Manifest. It's a self-described "Creative Research Gallery and Learning Center." The art there is so cool and fresh that you won't notice how much you are actually learning. They challenge traditional boundaries and preconceived notions and inspire innovation.

Let's talk about this! by Shane Harris

The show Projections, opening this Friday (March 7), challenged artists to create 3-D sculptures that are in no way attached to the floor. It refutes the assumption that all sculpture is earth-bound and it forces us to redefine sculpture. All of the work is either projected from the wall or the ceiling. According to their web site, 130 artists from 33 states and 8 countries submitted 260 works and only 11 works by 9 artists were chosen. In other words, they got the best of the best.

Also opening on Friday is Selections from iNDA 2007. The International Drawing Annual is a part of Manifest's Drawing Center. The center's mission is to recognize and support drawing as an important and valuable form of expression. This show is important because drawing is oftentimes seen as the basis for other art forms but is not recognized as a necessary form of expression in and of itself.

http://www.manifestgallery.org/index.html

Off the Beaten Path

ETA Hosts Mayan Mien: Light Language - An exhibition of digital photography featuring Leah Saunders

Enjoy the Arts 1338 Main Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

February 21- March 21

This show is deep. Think digital photography meets conceptual art meets the ancient Mayan healing technique of Light Language. I won't do the show any injustice by trying to explain it any better. Definitely check this one out.

http://www.etastart.com/eta/home/index.php

One World Wednesday

ONE WORLD WEDNESDAY, CAM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 5. 5:30-9:00 PM

• $8 (free for members)
  


• limited food and beverage (get there early if you're looking to get your drink on)



• Israeli dance, art, music etc.

For those of you who don't know, the CAM does these on a monthly basis and they are usually a fun way to get out mid-week.

http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/

Major American Art Movements at the Taft

Edward Hopper, Nighthawks, 1942

John Singer Sarget, Man in a Pool, Florida, 1917

Winslow Homer, In the Jungle, Florida, 1904

The Taft has been a staple for old, great art since 1932. It is no surprise, therefore, that they are currently displaying works which represent all of the major American art movements from the late 18th century to 1945. The collection is on loan from the Brooklyn Museum, which is easily one of greatest museums in the country. It reads, in essence, like the first semester of a college western art history survey course. Except this time everything is in watercolor. It features some big names too so even if you don't care for the art, you should go just to say you saw a Homer, a Sargent, or a Hopper.

Hopper, who is a so-called "realist," is an expert at placing covert symbolism in his work without seeming kitschy. His pictures convey the notion that the american landscape is vast but also very lonely. His famous Nighthawks embodies all of the aforementioned principles.

John Singer Sargent is another great. He is most known for his traditional academy-like portraits which sometimes seem impressionistic. He, however, can not be classified as an impressionist or a member of the academy.

Winslow Homer, however, is perhaps my most favorite artist in the show. Homer once said, "You will see, in the future I will live by my watercolors." His legacy within this medium has certainly been influential to artists today. They art loose, free, and spontaneous in appearance. His watercolors lack a clear narrative and present an excellent opportunity for speculation and discussion.

If anything, this show is worth seeing because it a.) encompases artists who represent every major movement of art before modernism and b.) it avoids the typical, tradition oil on canvas. By viewing so many works in a medium that is often overlooked and underestimated, it allows one to cultivate both a greater appreciation for works in watercolor and a more complete understanding of the artists themselves.

http://www.taftmuseum.org/