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.

Cincinnati's Fabulous Future

(above: "The Money Spender and His Wife" by Tim Parsley)

Narrative Figuration

Opening Reception Friday, March 27th, 5:30-9 pm

Showing March 27- May 1

Henry James called Frank Duveneck "the unsuspected genius." Perhaps a man hailing from nineteenth century Covington, Ky was was not suspected to be either an artist or a genius. Duveneck was both. He attracted a huge following, known as the "Duveneck Boys," which included Twatchman and Herman Wessel (among others). One of his most famous works, The Whistling Boy (1872) is permanently on display at the CAM.

In Covington, Sandra Small's gallery is exhibiting artists who they believe comprise a new Cincinnati School of Painting. Some of them champion Classical Realism, a style that celebrates the beauty of the past and exhibits a realism inspired by photography while others are more "painterly and expressive." This "golden age" is inspired by Vermeer, VanDyck, Rembrandt, Giacometti, Freud, Bacon, Kitaj and, appropriately, Duveneck. Many of these artists are also recent graduates of UC's MFA program, which almost ensures that works will be both fresh and accomplished.

It is also certainly worth noting that exhibiting artist Emil Robinson will have a personal show at the Keystone Gallery at the Taft Museum on August 30.

Matrimony As a Rite of Disaster

(above: Mother-In-Law by Brad Smith)

Not In My Wedding Album

March 20-May 9, 2009

Opening Reception March 20, 5-9 pm

Prairie Gallery

The beauty of art is that it is sometimes unsightly. Photographs especially sometimes have a way of capturing the moments in life we'd rather forget. At one time or another we've all been victims of the "please don't post that on your Webshots/Facebook profile/ frame it on your mantle" photograph.

A wedding is a perfect opportunity for any photographer to capture such images. Although the bride and groom typically assemble an album of flawless wedding day pictures, most weddings do not go off "without a hitch." That is what makes this show at Prairie so entertaining.

I think the premise of this show is both light-hearted and brilliant. It shows that even the most sacred and beautiful of human institutions can be chaotic and and imperfect. The overall message of the show is, perhaps, that we should stop taking ourselves so darn seriously.

Speaking Primarily About Installation

(above: Robert Iriwn's Primaries and Secondaries at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego)

Contemporary Conversations
Thursday, March 19, 6-8 pm
Contemporary Arts Center
Free for members, $7.50 adults, $5.50 students




It seems antithetical to the 1960s contemporary ideal that an artist exploring light and space could be avant-guarde. L.A.-based artist Robert Irwin proved, however, that not everything had to be so dour. Through his now-iconic installations, Irwin expertly explored light and space as the basis of human perception.

In his book "Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees," Lawrence Weschler recorded the conversations he had with Irwin and described the transient and awe-inspiring nature of his works. Because Irwin's works were transitory installations, this book is one of the few ways that contemporaries can view them.

This Thursday, local art personality Matt Morris will lead a discussion of Irwin's work as seen in Weschler's book. Although it my be too late to read the entire manuscript, I would suggest picking it up and scanning over key elements if you intend on attending the lecture. It is certainly well-written and full of insight and vivid description.

March's Hip Picks

(above: image from Prairie's Happy Valley or Helltown show)

All of my favs....

Best New Discovery: Prairie Gallery

Best International Exploration: MANIFEST's Selections From India

For the Art Collector: Carl Solway's Joan Miro: Master Lithographies From 1948

For the Art Collector on a Budget: Miller Gallery's Artist Stimulus 2009

Alternative Exhibition: Semantics's my tiger, my heart: paintings and improvisations by Eric Ruschman

It's Simply SUREAL

(Album 13, Plate IV, 1948 by Joan Miro)

Joan Miro: Master Lithographs From 1948
January 9-April 18
Carl Solway Gallery

Its a great time to be a Surrealist art-lover in Cincinnati. In addition to the fabulous exhibit at the CAM, Carl Soloway has a show of Joan Miro lithographs at his Findlay Street gallery. The exact same year that he painted the famous mural for the Terrace Plaza Hotel, which is currently outside the Cincinnati Art Museum's Terrace Cafe, he created 13 celestial prints. With imaginative forms and a very spirited nature, they are the epitome of all things Miro.

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.