community education exhibitions inspiration
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All Gallery Openings and Talks Are Free and Open to the Public. Click here for upcoming exhibits. Paying it Forward: Acts of Kindness May 1st – June 3rd Opening Reception: April 30th 6pm – 8pm
As we view the world throughout history, violence and war have been a prominent black mark on our past. Every so often though, a small star of hope brightly glistens through the dark fog we have created. This star represents love and kindness. Through love and kindness, humanity has continued to exist despite our unrelenting need to dominate and destroy. From donating an entire month’s salary to a country in need to holding the hand of a stranger while guiding them over a patch of ice, a star of kindness shimmers within us all. In Paying it Forward: Expressions of Kindness, the Valley Art Center gallery will be filled with artwork completed by artists within 25 miles of the Valley Art Center. Work must express at least one act of kindness using watercolors only. Each piece’s purpose is to provoke a positive emotion in the viewer that will hopefully translate into a positive action on someone else, essentially the artists “paying it forward.” During Friday’s opening reception, guests will be able to partake in a fun activity while helping others at the same time. Visitors can paint using watercolors by donating $1 or an item needed for the earthquake stricken victims of Haiti. The items needed include: adult and children Aspirin and Tylenol, adult and children vitamins, Neosporin, hydrocortisone cream, large bandages, sterile gloves, baby wipes (for sanitation purposes), anti-diarrhea medicine, eye drops, tooth brushes and tooth paste. Nest: A Place to Grow Opening Reception: March 5th 6pm to 8pm March 5th – April 15th The image of a nest has been used repeatedly in artwork. It is a common symbol of nature, the outdoors and birds. But the meaning of nest goes well beyond the literal. Nest can mean home, safety, protection and shelter. It implies birth, family and the raising of young. But there are also nests of vipers and terrorists. An empty nest can cause us to feel our own loss and grief. This exhibition will create a collection of “nests” represented in a variety of artistic expression: word, film, drawings, sculpture and paintings will encourage the viewer to see beyond the obvious structure and definition of nest, realizing a deeper significance. Any artist interested in submitting work for consideration should contact the Valley Art Center. Click here for photos from the exhibit. Faculty Student Show June 26 - July 29, 2009 Opening Reception June 26th 6 - 8 pm Each year the Valley Art Center gallery is filled with artwork made by its students and faculty. Teachers encourage students to submit pieces made in class and all age levels are represented in this exhibition. This is an opportunity for celebration of the art center’s expansive class offerings from ceramics, precious metal, and beading to cartooning, watercolor, drawing and oil painting. There is real value in honoring a pupil’s artistic expression. It instills confidence and allows them to view their work in a gallery setting. Parents gain pride when they see their children’s endeavors in visual expression. Instructors, who often keep their own work out of the classroom, are also given an opportunity to display their craftsmanship. Viewing one’s art alongside other’s work is important for an artist. Our creativity does not belong in a vacuum. Instead, there is a responsibility to share our view of the world with our community. The Student Faculty Show provides a safe and accessible forum in which this process can take place.
May 1 – June 4 Monet is perhaps the most well known artist to build a body of work by painting his gardens. The beautiful canvases that feature the gardens and buildings of Giverny are exhibited in major art museums all over the world. But Monet’s expertise at mixing color did not take place only on the palette, brush and canvas, but in the soil as well. He often “planted the picture” before it was painted and worked en plein air (in the open air). The Garden Gate will feature, not France, but the beauty in our own community. The gardens and architecture of Ohio have been captured by the eye of many artists and recorded through their art. This exhibit will include a variety of mediums and disciplines from painting to sculpture. In addition, the line between inside and outside will be blurred, as live plants and flowers are installed within the gallery walls. A wonderful tribute to spring, we hope this exhibit will encourage our viewers to appreciate the beauty around them.
Fine Art Prints March 6 – April 16 Under Pressure will feature the fine art of printmaking. Printmaking is an ancient art that creates an image by transferring ink from one surface to another using pressure. This process takes many forms, from intaglio etching and dry point to wood block carving and stone lithography. This exhibit will allow viewers to become familiar with many styles of print making as well as a wide variety of imagery. The show will feature print artists from Zygote Press and the Cleveland Institute of Art's Print Making Department. The art of Print Making is unfamiliar to many people. In today’s culture of digital output and multimedia expression, the long history of fine art print making is unknown to the average person This exhibition will feature a wide variety of print making forms that have been used by artist’s throughout the centuries. Masters in the field of art, such as Rembrandt, Picasso, Munch and Warhol are all print makers. This exhibition will allow viewers to distinguish between varied forms of print as they learn about the different processes of applying ink to paper. The matrix, or surface upon which the ink is applied, varies from copper and zinc, to wood and plexi glass. Objects themselves can be used as a matrix for print. The artists featured work in a variety of techniques and often combine them to create layers of imagery. An advantage of print is that it can be produced in multiples, allowing the artist to produce an abundance of work that can then be sold less expensively. Historically, printmaking allowed fine art to enter the homes of the middle class. This trend continues today and has also provided artists an opportunity to use these multiples in installations and constructions. The Valley Art Center will offer a workshop in print making that will run in conjunction with this exhibit and provides and opportunity for art programs in schools to tour the gallery and learn about print making’s important role in the history of art. Click here for photos from the exhibit.
Native American: Without Reservation January 9 - February 19, 2009 This year's Cultural Diversity Exhibition will feature the art of North America's First People. The show will include a variety of works by Native American artists, as well as Native Heart artists, from surrounding areas and states. Viewers will have an opportunity to learn more about the history of First Nation People and the work that is being created to honor their heritage and identity. This exhibition provides an opportunity for the community to become aware of the First Peoples of our nation. Although we learn about Native Americans early in our education system, few have an awareness of the rich culture and continued struggle of Native people in our society today. The artist’s presenting in this exhibition range in age, heritage, gender and experience. Some are not Native American, but have lived lives that have given them a “heart” for Native peoples. Some have Native ancestry but are not registered with a tribal council. Others are registered and well connected with their tribe. But they all share a love and knowledge of the vast imagery and spirituality of the First Nation culture that existed long before the arrival of Europeans. They all work to preserve history and share knowledge. The Valley Art Center encourages local schools to tour the gallery and learn more about the Native American culture, as it exists in today’s world. (Art pieces in this exhibition will contain background information and explanation of symbolism to facilitate the educational process) Opening Reception: January 9th 6 - 8 pm Click here for photos from the exhibit. 37th Annual Juried Art Exhibit This is Valley Art Center's annual competition for regional artists in all media. Our oldest and largest show of the year. |
The Garden Gate: Gardens and Architecture of Ohio
UNDER PRESSURE
CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY