The Battle We Didn’t Choose

I had the opportunity to view this powerful work last weekend at 78th Street Studios.  I recommend seeing it before it’s gone.  Be sure to watch the video on News Net 5 and visit photographer Angelo Meredino’s project website.

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CLEVELAND – Cancer has touched countless lives in Northeast Ohio, and one man is using photography to show his wife’s battle with the illness in a way rarely seen.

The photographs are stunning, painful and deeply personal. The 50 black and white prints were viewed by hundreds at an emotional opening this past weekend at Cleveland’s West 78th Street Studios.

“There’s not a lot of images like this being publicly put together in an exhibit,” said local photographer and printer Matthew Fehrmann.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/local-man-documents-his-wife’s-battle-with-cancer-through-photography#ixzz1eeDBm0uJ

Josh Usmani’s Controversy

One night only: December 10, 2011, 5-11pm 

Zaller Gallery
16008 Waterloo Road
Cleveland, OH  44115

CSU art student Josh Usmani is curating a one-night only extravaganza for Zaller Gallery‘s last show. The show features dozens of local artists (+ one from Sweden) including several CSU students, alumni and faculty.  Current students in the exhibition include Andrew Elaban, Omid Tavakoli, Ryan Upp, Matt Wolosz, James Dellinger, Daiquiri Herrman, Al Stockdale, and Josh Usmani.

The theme? Controversy. “The exhibition is intended to offer a spectrum of perspectives on the subject from the eyes of artists from different backgrounds in an attempt to examine what is provocative in the second decade of the 21st century.” Should be interesting. Don’t miss it.

Have You Arrived at an Artistic Crossroad?

Click the Card Above for Your Own Oblique Strategy

In the early ’70’s, musicians Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt collaborated on Oblique Strategies: Over One Hundred Worthwhile Delimas, a set of cards used to break creative deadlock.  Next time you’re not sure what direction to take, click the link above.  The protocol is pretty loosy-goosy. If the advice isn’t relevant, click again.  I do recommend using the very first one that works.  I tried it out today on a few students during critique today, and the results were surprisingly relevant.  For more on Oblique Strategies click here.  If you fetishize physicality, you can order the cards from Brian Eno’s website here (I have a set).

Google Honors Daguerre

1787 - 1851

Happy Birthday Louie.  Thanks.

Photorama Camera Show

Don’t forget your student ID. For more information, visit photorama.com.

Fifty Dolla Holla-Day Show

This is a good local (free) art opportunity for students:

Breakneck Gallery (Lakewood)  looking for artists to participate in our upcoming Fifty Dolla Holla-Day Show. If you are interested please contact Sean@Breakneckgallery.com. The only requirements are that the work is priced at $50 on the wall and that it is ready to hang (i.e. framed if necessary, wire on back, etc.). The drop off date is Saturday Dec. 10th from 2pm till 9pm. If this time is impossible for you let them know and they’ll make arrangements for you. Please let them know the general size and quantity of the work you plan on bringing in.

I might also take this opportunity to remind Photo III folks that you need 4 exhibition requirements.  The end of the semester will soon be upon us.

To learn more visit breakneckgallery.com
Email: Sean@Breakneckgallery.com

Visiting Artist: Jerry Birchfield

Wednesday, Nov 16 @ 1:30pm in AB7 (during Photo II & III)

Jerry Birchfield will visit Photo II & III this Wednesday.  He will present his work for the first half of class, then he’ll meet individually with those students are interested in getting outside feedback (highly recommended).  Please have your work prepared to show him.  Though Jerry’s target audience is Photo II & III, his presentation is open for any and all CSU students.

Jerry got his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2009.  He’s been included in numerous exhibitions dating back to 2007, including shows at the Cleveland Clinic, ROY G BIV (Columbus), the Print Center (Philly), SPACES, Zygote Press, Arts Collinwood, and the Toledo Museum of Art.  Jerry was awarded an Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Award for 2011.  You might also recognize him from Dodd Camera where he worked the floor from 2008 – 2010.  To learn more about Jerry and his work visit his website.

Call for Artists: Innerbelt Bridge Murals

Cleveland Public Art and the Ohio Department of Transportation are pleased to announce an OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS living in the United States to create a series of site-specific murals at three underpass locations.  These murals will complement the reconstruction of the Innerbelt Bridge, which is the largest infrastructure project in Ohio’s history.

Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply, as the final murals will be digitally produced.

The full details of this Request for Qualifications can be found on Cleveland Public Art’s website.

The deadline is November 21, 2011 at 5pm.

Saturday: Private Eyes / SPACES

International Street Artists
at the new William Rupnik Gallery
Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov 5, 7 – 10pm
1117 Euclid Avenue (our future neighbors)

Banksy (UK), Invader (France), Vhils (Portugal), Blyu (Argentina), and Shepard Fairey (USA)

“These artists are part of a changing tide for visual art in the modern age, where “street art” is being embraced and accepted as a viable blue-chip commodity, evident by record sales at such prestigious auction houses Sotheby’s and Bonhams. As such, modern expressionists Banksy and Shepard Fairey are becoming household names, now recognized as pop masters along the likes of such legendary artists Jasper Johns, Roy Lichenstein, Jean-Michael Basquiat, and Andy Warhol. Invader, Blu and Vhils are fast advancing to the same stature, as the interest in “street art” expands well beyond the mediums of paint and canvas…”  Read more about the exhibition on William Rupnik Gallery’s website.

If you’re not familiar with street art, the controversial film Exit Through the Gift Shop is a great place to start.  It’s available instantly on Netflix.

SPACES Annual Benefit and Art Auction
Saturday, starting @ 7pm
Prices and starting times staggered (more)

I’m looking forward to seeing the William Rupnik Gallery show, but it won’t be this Saturday for me.  I’ll be at Pop Royalty, SPACES annual benefit  on Saturday evening.  I have a piece in the benefit auction.  And I’m not the only one.  Over 150 artists donated work to raise money to support SPACES mission of “featuring fantastic projects, brilliant artists and neck-craning programming” to northeastern Ohio.  Many of those works are part of the 12×12 sale: work that is 12″ square and available for a flat $75.  CSU photo guy Andrew Elaban is one such donating artist.  Did I mention the theme of the event is Pop?  Pop art, soda pop, pop music, popcorn…I bought the worst ever shirt just for the event – a grid of Warholian Batman signs.  God awful.  I can’t wait. Tell them you’re coming on their Facebook Page.  See you there?

Buyer’s Remorse Young Professionals Event

Friday, Nov 18, 2011, 7 – 10pm in the
Cleveland Museum of Art’s cafe and photography galleries.

Come to the Cleveland Museum of Art for a reception to celebrate Brian Ulrich: Copia—Retail, Thrift, and Dark Stores, 2001–11, a three-part exhibition by photographer Brian Ulrich that examines American consumer culture. Talk to the artist and enjoy some high-energy rock and roll, spun by DJ Reena Samaan. Dress in something you bought on a whim and which hasn’t left your closet since, or wear an entirely vintage or thrifted outfit! Tickets $8; members and students $6. Cash bar. For more information on the event visit the event page @clevelandart.org.