Past Exhibitions
2024
Dreams Have Never Made My Bed
September 12th - October 5th
Solo Exhibition by Jonah Jacobs
OPENING RECEPTION: September 12, 6 - 9 PM
Join Us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, September 12 at 6:00 PM Artist Show & Tell on Saturday, September 21 at 7:00 PM
Kaiser Gallery is proud to announce a landmark event in the Cleveland art scene: the opening reception of Dreams Have Never Made My Bed, a solo exhibition by the acclaimed artist Jonah Jacobs. This exhibition marks Jacobs' 100th show, a monumental achievement that underscores his profound impact on contemporary art and the local creative community.
Jonah Jacobs, a cherished figure in Cleveland's art world, is celebrated for his exploration of themes that bridge beauty, complexity, and eco-consciousness. Born in Denmark and educated at Antioch College, Jacobs’ artistic journey has been shaped by a rich tapestry of experiences, including his service in South Korea and with the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. These diverse experiences imbue his work with a unique depth, offering viewers new perspectives on the world around them.
Dreams Have Never Made My Bed features large-scale works that mesmerize with their intricate details and conceptual depth. Jacobs’ creations, composed of thousands of geometric shapes, echo the complexities of natural systems like fractal patterns and bio colonies. These pieces explore the delicate balance between order and chaos, growth and decay, and the cyclical nature of life—universal forces that resonate with all of us.
A key element of Jacobs' work is his unwavering commitment to sustainability. By repurposing everyday materials such as cardboard, egg cartons, yarn, quinoa, oatmeal, and dryer sheets, he challenges conventional notions of art and waste. His work not only captivates but also inspires a reevaluation of our relationship with the environment, encouraging more sustainable artistic practices.
The exhibition will be on view at Kaiser Gallery from September 12 to October 5. Located in the vibrant Tremont neighborhood, Kaiser Gallery offers a unique fusion of contemporary art and artisan cocktails, creating an immersive and welcoming environment for art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. This innovative approach ensures that each exhibition is both accessible and engaging, expanding the reach of groundbreaking art while supporting the creative community.
Special Events:
Don’t miss this chance to be part of Cleveland’s vibrant art scene and to experience the visionary work of Jonah Jacobs.
Join us for the opening reception on July 12 from 6 - 9 PM. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: JONAH JACOBS
Jonah Jacobs is an artist who lives and works in Cleveland Ohio. He was born in Denmark but has lived in the United States for most of his life. A graduate of Antioch College, he is also an Army veteran who served in S. Korea and in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Nature presents itself in a dizzying array of organic shapes and structures. From the graceful spiral arms of galaxies to the nebulous webs created by tree roots, to the hexagonal geometry of honeycomb – the structures of nature are wondrous creations where beauty meets function, and the repetition of simple patterns give rise to an enigmatic complexity. The main emphasis of his artwork is to recreate the grandeur and complexity of natural structures. Whereas some artists paint two-dimensional representations of various flora and fauna onto canvas, his work instead, recreates the structures found in nature by distilling their essence down to an abstracted form and then creating sculptures similar to those forms. Understanding the physicality and how form and function are intertwined in nature is the philosophical foundation from which all of his sculptures are created. I want to know how things are built and not just what they look like.
Jonah's use of unconventional materials and various techniques for creating his work are groundbreaking and unique. Most of his work is breaded with oatmeal. The oatmeal along with sand and plaster gives Jonah's work a textural quality not seen in other works of sculpture.
The oatmeal also acts as a sponge that soaks up the various dyes. This gives Jonah's work a strange vibrancy and natural blending of tones. Many of his organic looking sculptures are created through a method of layering. This is similar to the way rings are formed on a tree, the difference being his sculptures grow vertically from a “genetic blueprint” as opposed to trees which grow outward from an inner ring. Fire also plays a large role in some of Jonah's work. I use fire to create spontaneous and organic shapes. This helps keep his work from becoming too formulaic or geometric in form. Jonah's work also explores how beauty and complexity emerge from the repetition of simple shapes, for many of his sculptures are created by combining thousands of individual pieces to create complex organic forms. Some of the unconventional materials I use are: cardboard, egg cartons, dryer sheets, yarn and other textiles, cardboard tubes, gravel, Styrofoam, Polyfil, sand, salt, various spices, quinoa, and oatmeal.
Jonah's work grapples with how complexity is created out of the repetition of simple shapes, showcases the structural qualities inherent in nature, is a study in the use of unconventional materials, creates conversations about waste, explores the possibilities of sustainable practices in art, and lastly, explores through the repetitive process of labor, the relationship between monotonous work, skill, and the haphazard and organic ways in which forms take shape.
September 12th - October 5th
Solo Exhibition by Jonah Jacobs
OPENING RECEPTION: September 12, 6 - 9 PM
Join Us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, September 12 at 6:00 PM Artist Show & Tell on Saturday, September 21 at 7:00 PM
Kaiser Gallery is proud to announce a landmark event in the Cleveland art scene: the opening reception of Dreams Have Never Made My Bed, a solo exhibition by the acclaimed artist Jonah Jacobs. This exhibition marks Jacobs' 100th show, a monumental achievement that underscores his profound impact on contemporary art and the local creative community.
Jonah Jacobs, a cherished figure in Cleveland's art world, is celebrated for his exploration of themes that bridge beauty, complexity, and eco-consciousness. Born in Denmark and educated at Antioch College, Jacobs’ artistic journey has been shaped by a rich tapestry of experiences, including his service in South Korea and with the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. These diverse experiences imbue his work with a unique depth, offering viewers new perspectives on the world around them.
Dreams Have Never Made My Bed features large-scale works that mesmerize with their intricate details and conceptual depth. Jacobs’ creations, composed of thousands of geometric shapes, echo the complexities of natural systems like fractal patterns and bio colonies. These pieces explore the delicate balance between order and chaos, growth and decay, and the cyclical nature of life—universal forces that resonate with all of us.
A key element of Jacobs' work is his unwavering commitment to sustainability. By repurposing everyday materials such as cardboard, egg cartons, yarn, quinoa, oatmeal, and dryer sheets, he challenges conventional notions of art and waste. His work not only captivates but also inspires a reevaluation of our relationship with the environment, encouraging more sustainable artistic practices.
The exhibition will be on view at Kaiser Gallery from September 12 to October 5. Located in the vibrant Tremont neighborhood, Kaiser Gallery offers a unique fusion of contemporary art and artisan cocktails, creating an immersive and welcoming environment for art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. This innovative approach ensures that each exhibition is both accessible and engaging, expanding the reach of groundbreaking art while supporting the creative community.
Special Events:
- Opening Reception: Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM
- Artist Show & Tell: Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 7:00 PM
- 100th Show Celebration Party: Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 8:00 PM
Don’t miss this chance to be part of Cleveland’s vibrant art scene and to experience the visionary work of Jonah Jacobs.
Join us for the opening reception on July 12 from 6 - 9 PM. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: JONAH JACOBS
Jonah Jacobs is an artist who lives and works in Cleveland Ohio. He was born in Denmark but has lived in the United States for most of his life. A graduate of Antioch College, he is also an Army veteran who served in S. Korea and in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Nature presents itself in a dizzying array of organic shapes and structures. From the graceful spiral arms of galaxies to the nebulous webs created by tree roots, to the hexagonal geometry of honeycomb – the structures of nature are wondrous creations where beauty meets function, and the repetition of simple patterns give rise to an enigmatic complexity. The main emphasis of his artwork is to recreate the grandeur and complexity of natural structures. Whereas some artists paint two-dimensional representations of various flora and fauna onto canvas, his work instead, recreates the structures found in nature by distilling their essence down to an abstracted form and then creating sculptures similar to those forms. Understanding the physicality and how form and function are intertwined in nature is the philosophical foundation from which all of his sculptures are created. I want to know how things are built and not just what they look like.
Jonah's use of unconventional materials and various techniques for creating his work are groundbreaking and unique. Most of his work is breaded with oatmeal. The oatmeal along with sand and plaster gives Jonah's work a textural quality not seen in other works of sculpture.
The oatmeal also acts as a sponge that soaks up the various dyes. This gives Jonah's work a strange vibrancy and natural blending of tones. Many of his organic looking sculptures are created through a method of layering. This is similar to the way rings are formed on a tree, the difference being his sculptures grow vertically from a “genetic blueprint” as opposed to trees which grow outward from an inner ring. Fire also plays a large role in some of Jonah's work. I use fire to create spontaneous and organic shapes. This helps keep his work from becoming too formulaic or geometric in form. Jonah's work also explores how beauty and complexity emerge from the repetition of simple shapes, for many of his sculptures are created by combining thousands of individual pieces to create complex organic forms. Some of the unconventional materials I use are: cardboard, egg cartons, dryer sheets, yarn and other textiles, cardboard tubes, gravel, Styrofoam, Polyfil, sand, salt, various spices, quinoa, and oatmeal.
Jonah's work grapples with how complexity is created out of the repetition of simple shapes, showcases the structural qualities inherent in nature, is a study in the use of unconventional materials, creates conversations about waste, explores the possibilities of sustainable practices in art, and lastly, explores through the repetitive process of labor, the relationship between monotonous work, skill, and the haphazard and organic ways in which forms take shape.
Descendants
July 11th - September 7th
Guest Curator: Connie Pieper
OPENING RECEPTION: JULY 12 from 6 - 9 PM
Kaiser Gallery proudly presents "Descendants," a group exhibition co-curated by Connie Pieper and Tanya Kaiser. This exhibition delves into the intricate heritage of our community members, showcasing artworks that reflect personal narratives, family stories, cultural roots, and more. "Descendants" celebrates the rich diversity and unique personal journeys that form the fabric of our community. Presenting the works of Asia Armour, Christopher Boring, Janoi Daley, Jaclyn Gordyan, Tanya Kaiser, Judi Krew, Eric Macalla, Connie Pieper, Gwen Putz, Jordi Rowe, Edlisa Santiago, Samantha Schneider, Jane Small, Fatima Taylor, and Mimi Zhang.
Join us for the opening reception on July 12 from 6 - 9 PM. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
July 11th - September 7th
Guest Curator: Connie Pieper
OPENING RECEPTION: JULY 12 from 6 - 9 PM
Kaiser Gallery proudly presents "Descendants," a group exhibition co-curated by Connie Pieper and Tanya Kaiser. This exhibition delves into the intricate heritage of our community members, showcasing artworks that reflect personal narratives, family stories, cultural roots, and more. "Descendants" celebrates the rich diversity and unique personal journeys that form the fabric of our community. Presenting the works of Asia Armour, Christopher Boring, Janoi Daley, Jaclyn Gordyan, Tanya Kaiser, Judi Krew, Eric Macalla, Connie Pieper, Gwen Putz, Jordi Rowe, Edlisa Santiago, Samantha Schneider, Jane Small, Fatima Taylor, and Mimi Zhang.
Join us for the opening reception on July 12 from 6 - 9 PM. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
GURUSHOTS: Cleveland Photo Exhibition
June 28th - 30th
Opening reception: June 28, 2024, 7 - 10 pm
We are so excited to be back in Cleveland, USA to showcase the diverse talent of photographers and host a double GuruShots premium exhibition edition at the incredible Kaiser Gallery! With a remarkable collection of 80 printed works (and a wealth of digital winners) submitted by photographers spanning 30+ countries, this inclusive group show is not one to be missed
GuruShots is a digital platform that gives photographers from around the world an opportunity to submit their work for a variety of thematic photo challenges every day. They seek to motivate, challenge, inspire, and empower photographers to expand their careers and exposure to a broader audience. Winning shots are chosen to be shown in GuruShots Exhibitions, held in major cities all over the world
Opening reception:
Friday 28 June 7pm-10pm
Opening hours:
Saturday 29, 4pm-10pm & Sunday 30 June, 4 - 8 pm
Where:
Kaiser Gallery, 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
We invite you to join us for drinks and celebrations during our opening reception on Friday 28 June at 7pm.
June 28th - 30th
Opening reception: June 28, 2024, 7 - 10 pm
We are so excited to be back in Cleveland, USA to showcase the diverse talent of photographers and host a double GuruShots premium exhibition edition at the incredible Kaiser Gallery! With a remarkable collection of 80 printed works (and a wealth of digital winners) submitted by photographers spanning 30+ countries, this inclusive group show is not one to be missed
GuruShots is a digital platform that gives photographers from around the world an opportunity to submit their work for a variety of thematic photo challenges every day. They seek to motivate, challenge, inspire, and empower photographers to expand their careers and exposure to a broader audience. Winning shots are chosen to be shown in GuruShots Exhibitions, held in major cities all over the world
Opening reception:
Friday 28 June 7pm-10pm
Opening hours:
Saturday 29, 4pm-10pm & Sunday 30 June, 4 - 8 pm
Where:
Kaiser Gallery, 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
We invite you to join us for drinks and celebrations during our opening reception on Friday 28 June at 7pm.
SOLO SHOW SELECTION
(5/9/24 - 6/22/24)
Kaiser Gallery is proud to announce Meryl Engler for our 2024 Solo Show Selection.
Join us for an enchanting journey through hidden landscapes and personal narratives of Meryl Engler. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Meryl's prints unveil intimate moments in vibrant woodcut layers. Inspired by the interplay between environment and human connection, her work is a testament to the beauty of our surroundings.
With a background in sculpture, printmaking, and papermaking, Meryl merges mediums to push the boundaries of traditional printmaking. Delve into her latest series, "I Had Been Young, Vol. 4" where self-portraiture, avian symbolism, and quilt motifs intertwine to tell stories of transformation and protection. Experience the physicality and intimacy of woodcut prints, alongside mixed media works and relief carvings.
Join us for the opening reception of I Had Been Young on Thursday., May 9, from 6 - 9 PM at Kaiser Gallery.
Exhibition Details: May 9 - June 22, 2024
Opening Reception: May 9, 2024 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ink & Drink: June 7, 2024 Time: 6:30 PM **Make prints with Meryl Engler at Kaiser Gallery!
Meryl Engler grew up in Huntington Beach, California and moved to Akron, Ohio in fall 2019. Meryl attended Syracuse University where she studied sculpture, printmaking, religious studies and history, while also competing on the women’s rowing team. Next she went to graduate school at University of Nebraska-Lincoln for studio art with an emphasis in printmaking. This is where she developed her love of colorful woodcut prints, often using pattern and repetition. She is inspired by hidden landscapes in our environment and the relationships we form to it and each other. In 2022 she started working at the Morgan Conservatory and learned Eastern and Western papermaking techniques and now incorporates papermaking into her print work. She has shown both nationally and internationally. Meryl seeks to push the limits of printmaking and combine different art mediums in new and exciting ways.
Artist Statement
As an artist specializing in woodcut, I create multi-layered prints that evoke intimate and magical moments within the concealed landscapes of our surroundings. Woodcut is incredibly physical and energetic, but also requires a level of intimacy and care in carving each mark. The resulting work is subtle and bold, careful and rash, reflecting my own state of being as the artist. Each one of my series chronicles a relationship, either with a person, place or specific time period of my life. I find that I remember things in landscapes. I remember playing in the ocean as a child, watching the light dance along the waves. I remember the piles of fabric surrounding my mother as she sat to sew blankets. In my mind the patterns from a quilt she makes becomes rolling fields or crashing waves. In my latest ongoing series, "I Had Been Young," I felt compelled to delve into my personal narrative spanning the past few years using self-portraiture, interactions with birds that are seen as messengers of change and transformation, quilts to convey protection and caring, and images of one very peculiar tree that captured my fascination upon moving to Akron. This iteration of “I Had Been Young” will include large scale woodcut prints, mixed media works on paper, and relief wood carvings of birds that fly around the walls.
As an artist specializing in woodcut, I create multi-layered prints that evoke intimate and magical moments within the concealed landscapes of our surroundings. Woodcut is incredibly physical and energetic, but also requires a level of intimacy and care in carving each mark. The resulting work is subtle and bold, careful and rash, reflecting my own state of being as the artist. Each one of my series chronicles a relationship, either with a person, place or specific time period of my life. I find that I remember things in landscapes. I remember playing in the ocean as a child, watching the light dance along the waves. I remember the piles of fabric surrounding my mother as she sat to sew blankets. In my mind the patterns from a quilt she makes becomes rolling fields or crashing waves. In my latest ongoing series, "I Had Been Young," I felt compelled to delve into my personal narrative spanning the past few years using self-portraiture, interactions with birds that are seen as messengers of change and transformation, quilts to convey protection and caring, and images of one very peculiar tree that captured my fascination upon moving to Akron. This iteration of “I Had Been Young” will include large scale woodcut prints, mixed media works on paper, and relief wood carvings of birds that fly around the walls.
THIN LINE: LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH AI
(3/8/24 - 5/5/24)
Curated by Patsy Coffey Kline
Featuring the works of Patsy Coffey Kline, Jason Toth, and Gina Washington.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “There is a thin line between love and hate,” meaning that the emotions of love and hatred can be closely linked. Our world often balances on a knife-edge between these two themes without even noticing. Oddly enough, love and hate activate the same part of the brain. Generative AI represents a growing field that continues to evolve, offering exciting opportunities for innovation as well as serious challenges, thus causing division between those who love it and those who hate it.
The concept that love and hate could be similar emotions is explored through the perspectives of three artists who use AI as a tool to share their unique stories. I think Generative AI art serves a distinct purpose but it can never replace a human or an artist’s ability to create. Nevertheless, it’s fair to say that AI art is beautiful because beauty is in the eye of the beholder Generative AI has many applications, including; Image Generation: Creating realistic images, such as artworks or detailed product prototypes; Text Generation: Writing coherent and contextually relevant text for various purposes, like creative writing or dialogue systems; Music Composition: Composing new pieces of music in a specific style or genre; Data Augmentation: Generating additional training data to enhance the performance of machine learning models; Drug Discovery: Creating molecular structures that can be further explored for pharmaceutical development.
As an artist that uses AI I find it pretty awesome. AI offers a new frontier for artists who use tech in different modes, providing a playful and ominous means of expression. My focus for this exhibition is to spotlight the positive aspects of Generative AI in the arts. While
being sensitive to the ethical challenges AI presents.
In conclusion, the exploration of the thin line between love and hate serves as a thought-provoking backdrop to the evolving landscape of Generative AI. As our world teeters on the edge of these contrasting emotions, it becomes evident that the same neural
pathways activated by love and hate also contribute to the complex reactions towards AI.
Generative AI emerges as a dynamic force, offering both exciting possibilities for innovation and formidable challenges that give rise to a dichotomy of opinions. The division between enthusiasts and skeptics underscores the transformative power of this technology, prompting a deeper examination of its impact on our artistic expressions and societal perceptions.
Through the lens of three artists, the concept of love and hate as analogous emotions finds a unique narrative in the realm of AI. These creators leverage AI as a tool to share their distinct stories, illustrating the symbiotic relationship between human creativity and
technological advancement.
While acknowledging the distinct purpose of Generative AI art, there remains a recognition that it can never replace the innate abilities of a human artist. The exhibition, with its focus on the positive aspects of AI in the arts, sheds light on the playful and ominous ways in which this technology becomes a new frontier for creative expression. In essence, Generative AI opens up a novel form of communication, offering artists a means to express ideas in ways previously unexplored. As we navigate the gray areas presented by AI, it becomes clear that the convergence of technology and art brings forth a realm of endless possibilities, encouraging us to embrace the transformative
potential while remaining mindful of the ethical considerations that accompany this groundbreaking journey.
(3/8/24 - 5/5/24)
Curated by Patsy Coffey Kline
Featuring the works of Patsy Coffey Kline, Jason Toth, and Gina Washington.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “There is a thin line between love and hate,” meaning that the emotions of love and hatred can be closely linked. Our world often balances on a knife-edge between these two themes without even noticing. Oddly enough, love and hate activate the same part of the brain. Generative AI represents a growing field that continues to evolve, offering exciting opportunities for innovation as well as serious challenges, thus causing division between those who love it and those who hate it.
The concept that love and hate could be similar emotions is explored through the perspectives of three artists who use AI as a tool to share their unique stories. I think Generative AI art serves a distinct purpose but it can never replace a human or an artist’s ability to create. Nevertheless, it’s fair to say that AI art is beautiful because beauty is in the eye of the beholder Generative AI has many applications, including; Image Generation: Creating realistic images, such as artworks or detailed product prototypes; Text Generation: Writing coherent and contextually relevant text for various purposes, like creative writing or dialogue systems; Music Composition: Composing new pieces of music in a specific style or genre; Data Augmentation: Generating additional training data to enhance the performance of machine learning models; Drug Discovery: Creating molecular structures that can be further explored for pharmaceutical development.
As an artist that uses AI I find it pretty awesome. AI offers a new frontier for artists who use tech in different modes, providing a playful and ominous means of expression. My focus for this exhibition is to spotlight the positive aspects of Generative AI in the arts. While
being sensitive to the ethical challenges AI presents.
In conclusion, the exploration of the thin line between love and hate serves as a thought-provoking backdrop to the evolving landscape of Generative AI. As our world teeters on the edge of these contrasting emotions, it becomes evident that the same neural
pathways activated by love and hate also contribute to the complex reactions towards AI.
Generative AI emerges as a dynamic force, offering both exciting possibilities for innovation and formidable challenges that give rise to a dichotomy of opinions. The division between enthusiasts and skeptics underscores the transformative power of this technology, prompting a deeper examination of its impact on our artistic expressions and societal perceptions.
Through the lens of three artists, the concept of love and hate as analogous emotions finds a unique narrative in the realm of AI. These creators leverage AI as a tool to share their distinct stories, illustrating the symbiotic relationship between human creativity and
technological advancement.
While acknowledging the distinct purpose of Generative AI art, there remains a recognition that it can never replace the innate abilities of a human artist. The exhibition, with its focus on the positive aspects of AI in the arts, sheds light on the playful and ominous ways in which this technology becomes a new frontier for creative expression. In essence, Generative AI opens up a novel form of communication, offering artists a means to express ideas in ways previously unexplored. As we navigate the gray areas presented by AI, it becomes clear that the convergence of technology and art brings forth a realm of endless possibilities, encouraging us to embrace the transformative
potential while remaining mindful of the ethical considerations that accompany this groundbreaking journey.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Patsy Coffey Kline
Patsy Coffey Kline was born in Manchester, Kentucky and raised in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. She received her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a major in graphic design and minor in photography, graduating in the top ten percent. Shortly after graduation Kline moved to Tremont where she began a graphic design and marketing firm that supplied gratis services to area nonprofits such as Cleveland Public Theater and Near West Theater. In 2002 she opened her first gallery, Gallery U Cleveland, in the Colonial Marketplace Arcade, downtown Cleveland.
Since 1996 she has focused on curating multi-sensory art exhibitions which include everything from live original music, DJ’s, stilt and luminous dance, to videography, juggling, and card and poetry readings. Kline has facilitated nearly 200 events spotlighting Cleveland and internationally known artists.
Kline is interested in creating a conversation about what holds important in our shared contemporary culture and experience. Trying to prompt an exchange that removes the traditional boundaries imposed by the institutional system or other accepted norms in order to question what it is that brings us together and share intimacy. At the heart of Kline’s work is the idea of establishing relationship; creating new bonds and strengthening old; of the profound difficulty in connecting, repairing, loving. Kline’s work asks one to wonder if those difficulties are not what we need to overcome in order to love, if they are what make love so meaningful. Her work investigates whether minimizing those contradictions and difficulties, is to minimize love itself. Her installations are at first therapy; then art takes over. “It’s the right method for me, turning things to my advantage in order not to suffer from them,” states Kline.
Patsy Kline, “Filters, Fronts, and Facades”, 2022
Artist Statement
This series explores the vicious cycle of our tendency to love hating on the things we love to hate, and to call it love.
Each video contains my image and belongs to a larger series titled “Filters, Fronts, & Facades,” which began in 2020. I start with one of three analog images I have taken of myself, then filter through various applications, including AI and Instagram filters, until I feel it is complete.
Patsy Coffey Kline was born in Manchester, Kentucky and raised in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. She received her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a major in graphic design and minor in photography, graduating in the top ten percent. Shortly after graduation Kline moved to Tremont where she began a graphic design and marketing firm that supplied gratis services to area nonprofits such as Cleveland Public Theater and Near West Theater. In 2002 she opened her first gallery, Gallery U Cleveland, in the Colonial Marketplace Arcade, downtown Cleveland.
Since 1996 she has focused on curating multi-sensory art exhibitions which include everything from live original music, DJ’s, stilt and luminous dance, to videography, juggling, and card and poetry readings. Kline has facilitated nearly 200 events spotlighting Cleveland and internationally known artists.
Kline is interested in creating a conversation about what holds important in our shared contemporary culture and experience. Trying to prompt an exchange that removes the traditional boundaries imposed by the institutional system or other accepted norms in order to question what it is that brings us together and share intimacy. At the heart of Kline’s work is the idea of establishing relationship; creating new bonds and strengthening old; of the profound difficulty in connecting, repairing, loving. Kline’s work asks one to wonder if those difficulties are not what we need to overcome in order to love, if they are what make love so meaningful. Her work investigates whether minimizing those contradictions and difficulties, is to minimize love itself. Her installations are at first therapy; then art takes over. “It’s the right method for me, turning things to my advantage in order not to suffer from them,” states Kline.
Patsy Kline, “Filters, Fronts, and Facades”, 2022
Artist Statement
This series explores the vicious cycle of our tendency to love hating on the things we love to hate, and to call it love.
Each video contains my image and belongs to a larger series titled “Filters, Fronts, & Facades,” which began in 2020. I start with one of three analog images I have taken of myself, then filter through various applications, including AI and Instagram filters, until I feel it is complete.
Jason Toth In this exhibition, my journey from the depths of self-hatred to the heights of self-love unfolds alongside a contemplation of our entwined destinies with artificial intelligence. This narrative delves into the precarious balance between love and hate—a theme that not only mirrors my personal transformation but also our collective engagement with technological advancement.
The artworks presented are manifestations of intense emotional landscapes, where the thin line between love and hate is both a personal and a technological frontier. They explore how quickly passion can turn to disdain, how deeply held affection can morph into animosity, and how our embrace of artificial intelligence can shift from awe to alarm. This delicate balance is a testament to the intensity of our emotions and the fragility of our convictions, highlighting the need for vigilance in our emotional and ethical engagements. Each piece is a reflection on the ease with which we can traverse from love to hate and back, often without realizing it. This journey is not linear but a spectrum of experiences and emotions, marked by moments of clarity and confusion alike. Through a blend of colors, textures, and mediums, I aim to capture the essence of this delicate balance, inviting viewers to ponder the fluidity of their own emotions and the ethical implications of our intertwined lives with AI. This collection serves as a reminder of the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in navigating the complexities of love, hate, and technology. It underscores the importance of maintaining a balance, recognizing the potential for transformation within ourselves and in our relationship with the machines we create. In sharing this journey, I hope to inspire reflection on the thin lines that define our emotional landscapes and our future with technology, urging a mindful approach to the way we love, hate, and innovate.
The artworks presented are manifestations of intense emotional landscapes, where the thin line between love and hate is both a personal and a technological frontier. They explore how quickly passion can turn to disdain, how deeply held affection can morph into animosity, and how our embrace of artificial intelligence can shift from awe to alarm. This delicate balance is a testament to the intensity of our emotions and the fragility of our convictions, highlighting the need for vigilance in our emotional and ethical engagements. Each piece is a reflection on the ease with which we can traverse from love to hate and back, often without realizing it. This journey is not linear but a spectrum of experiences and emotions, marked by moments of clarity and confusion alike. Through a blend of colors, textures, and mediums, I aim to capture the essence of this delicate balance, inviting viewers to ponder the fluidity of their own emotions and the ethical implications of our intertwined lives with AI. This collection serves as a reminder of the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in navigating the complexities of love, hate, and technology. It underscores the importance of maintaining a balance, recognizing the potential for transformation within ourselves and in our relationship with the machines we create. In sharing this journey, I hope to inspire reflection on the thin lines that define our emotional landscapes and our future with technology, urging a mindful approach to the way we love, hate, and innovate.
Gina Washington
Gina Washington was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated with an MFA in Photography from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She considers herself “a Child of the Universe” and has traveled to many places collecting images and connecting artists.
Gina has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Most recently, she was awarded a residency with Akron Soul Train Art Museum and the Cleveland Foundation Equity in the Arts Fund grant as she creates art “by any means necessary.” She is the
founder of Mateza Gallery LLC on Etsy and, as a master collaborator, co-founded The Visit Arts Collective. Ultimately her goal is to bring clarity and solutions to the chaos in the world through art and to make art accessible to all people, especially the disenfranchised and underrepresented in the global community.
Gina Washington was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated with an MFA in Photography from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She considers herself “a Child of the Universe” and has traveled to many places collecting images and connecting artists.
Gina has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Most recently, she was awarded a residency with Akron Soul Train Art Museum and the Cleveland Foundation Equity in the Arts Fund grant as she creates art “by any means necessary.” She is the
founder of Mateza Gallery LLC on Etsy and, as a master collaborator, co-founded The Visit Arts Collective. Ultimately her goal is to bring clarity and solutions to the chaos in the world through art and to make art accessible to all people, especially the disenfranchised and underrepresented in the global community.
LOOK CLOSER!
February 9 - March 2, 2024
Opening reception: February 9, 6 - 9 pm
Look Closer! is a thought-provoking solo exhibit by artist Fatima Matar, presented by Kaiser Gallery in partnership with SPACES Urgent Art Fund Projects. Focusing on the pressing issue of domestic violence and sexual harassment at work, this exhibit encourages visitors to engage intimately with the works on display.
Viewers are invited to step closer to the canvas, bending down to peer through a small keyhole. This intimate act reveals a fragmented image portraying a distressing scene of a man inflicting harm upon a woman. This interaction emphasizes the hidden nature of domestic abuse, where victims often suffer in silence due to the fear of further violence. And the victim's fear of losing their jobs and thus their livelihood in the case of reporting sexual harassment at work.
Look Closer! compels us to confront the obscured reality of domestic violence and sexual harassment at work encourages us to take a stand against this ongoing crisis. Through Matar's powerful art, we are reminded that change starts with acknowledging the problem and fostering a collective commitment to a safer and more compassionate future.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Fatima is an artist, writer and poet. She sought asylum in the United States with her daughter in 2018, after facing prosecution and persecution for he political and social activism in her country – Kuwait. She now lives in the Cleveland area.
Fatima describes herself as a narrative artist, always telling a story in her paintings, and every life experience gets funneled into her art. A self-taught artist, Fatima mostly works with oils, she values skill, bold colors, and attention to detail.
Exhibition Details: February 9 - March 2, 2024
Artist Talk: February 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Opening Reception: February 9, 2024 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
This is your opportunity to meet the artist, gain insights into his creative process, and be among the first to experience the Look Closer! exhibit.
Location: Kaiser Gallery 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland Oh 44113
February 9 - March 2, 2024
Opening reception: February 9, 6 - 9 pm
Look Closer! is a thought-provoking solo exhibit by artist Fatima Matar, presented by Kaiser Gallery in partnership with SPACES Urgent Art Fund Projects. Focusing on the pressing issue of domestic violence and sexual harassment at work, this exhibit encourages visitors to engage intimately with the works on display.
Viewers are invited to step closer to the canvas, bending down to peer through a small keyhole. This intimate act reveals a fragmented image portraying a distressing scene of a man inflicting harm upon a woman. This interaction emphasizes the hidden nature of domestic abuse, where victims often suffer in silence due to the fear of further violence. And the victim's fear of losing their jobs and thus their livelihood in the case of reporting sexual harassment at work.
Look Closer! compels us to confront the obscured reality of domestic violence and sexual harassment at work encourages us to take a stand against this ongoing crisis. Through Matar's powerful art, we are reminded that change starts with acknowledging the problem and fostering a collective commitment to a safer and more compassionate future.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Fatima is an artist, writer and poet. She sought asylum in the United States with her daughter in 2018, after facing prosecution and persecution for he political and social activism in her country – Kuwait. She now lives in the Cleveland area.
Fatima describes herself as a narrative artist, always telling a story in her paintings, and every life experience gets funneled into her art. A self-taught artist, Fatima mostly works with oils, she values skill, bold colors, and attention to detail.
Exhibition Details: February 9 - March 2, 2024
Artist Talk: February 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Opening Reception: February 9, 2024 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
This is your opportunity to meet the artist, gain insights into his creative process, and be among the first to experience the Look Closer! exhibit.
Location: Kaiser Gallery 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland Oh 44113
2023
UNSALTED
A SOLO EXHIBITION BY SAMUEL SKELTON
December 8 - February 3, 2024
Opening reception: December 8, 6 - 9 pm
Kaiser Gallery presents UNSALTED, a solo exhibition by Samuel Skelton.
Immerse your senses as we invite you into the captivating world of Samuel Skelton, filmmaker and photographer hailing from the vibrant city of Cleveland. Known for his innovative and unconventional approach to visual storytelling, Skelton specializes in capturing the mesmerizing realms of aerial and underwater imagery, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in creative expression.
Exhibition Details: December 8, 2023 - February 4, 2024
Opening Reception: December 8, 2023 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
This is your opportunity to meet the artist, gain insights into his creative process, and be among the first to experience the Unsalted exhibit.
Artist Talk: January 20,2024 Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Kaiser Gallery 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland Oh 44113
About the artist:
Sam Skelton, a filmmaker and photographer hailing from Cleveland, OH, channels his creative focus into capturing the breathtaking essence of the natural world, encompassing both its inhabitants and landscapes. His portfolio prominently features the allure of outdoor settings, spotlighting the individuals and wildlife that inhabit these spaces. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Sam is a zealous traveler, skilled snowboarder, dedicated surfer, proficient scuba and freediver, and an adept drone pilot.
His repertoire includes collaborations with esteemed entities such as PBS Nature, Discovery, A&E, and various other regional companies across the Midwest. Notably, Sam's passion project revolves around the Skelton Brothers, a concept driven by the collective efforts of brothers Sam and Caleb, which has garnered an impressive 100,000,000 views across various social media platforms. Their shared commitment lies in fostering enthusiasm throughout the Midwest while advocating for the protection and reverence of the Great Lakes and other freshwater bodies.
Samuel Skelton is one of Cleveland Magazine's Most Interesting People 2024.
IG: @_thebskeltonbrothers @_samskelton. @wired_visual
YouTube: @theskeltonbrothers
Artist Statement
This exhibition encapsulates my profound affection for the Great Lakes and the purity of freshwater. Each photograph intricately captures a storied moment from my extensive explorations spanning the Great Lakes and the remarkable Floridan Aquifer. The frames, meticulously crafted by hand, find their origin in Lake Erie's weathered driftwood, artfully charred by fire and lovingly treated with a blend of beeswax and fragrant orange oil.
A SOLO EXHIBITION BY SAMUEL SKELTON
December 8 - February 3, 2024
Opening reception: December 8, 6 - 9 pm
Kaiser Gallery presents UNSALTED, a solo exhibition by Samuel Skelton.
Immerse your senses as we invite you into the captivating world of Samuel Skelton, filmmaker and photographer hailing from the vibrant city of Cleveland. Known for his innovative and unconventional approach to visual storytelling, Skelton specializes in capturing the mesmerizing realms of aerial and underwater imagery, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in creative expression.
Exhibition Details: December 8, 2023 - February 4, 2024
Opening Reception: December 8, 2023 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
This is your opportunity to meet the artist, gain insights into his creative process, and be among the first to experience the Unsalted exhibit.
Artist Talk: January 20,2024 Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Kaiser Gallery 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland Oh 44113
About the artist:
Sam Skelton, a filmmaker and photographer hailing from Cleveland, OH, channels his creative focus into capturing the breathtaking essence of the natural world, encompassing both its inhabitants and landscapes. His portfolio prominently features the allure of outdoor settings, spotlighting the individuals and wildlife that inhabit these spaces. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Sam is a zealous traveler, skilled snowboarder, dedicated surfer, proficient scuba and freediver, and an adept drone pilot.
His repertoire includes collaborations with esteemed entities such as PBS Nature, Discovery, A&E, and various other regional companies across the Midwest. Notably, Sam's passion project revolves around the Skelton Brothers, a concept driven by the collective efforts of brothers Sam and Caleb, which has garnered an impressive 100,000,000 views across various social media platforms. Their shared commitment lies in fostering enthusiasm throughout the Midwest while advocating for the protection and reverence of the Great Lakes and other freshwater bodies.
Samuel Skelton is one of Cleveland Magazine's Most Interesting People 2024.
IG: @_thebskeltonbrothers @_samskelton. @wired_visual
YouTube: @theskeltonbrothers
Artist Statement
This exhibition encapsulates my profound affection for the Great Lakes and the purity of freshwater. Each photograph intricately captures a storied moment from my extensive explorations spanning the Great Lakes and the remarkable Floridan Aquifer. The frames, meticulously crafted by hand, find their origin in Lake Erie's weathered driftwood, artfully charred by fire and lovingly treated with a blend of beeswax and fragrant orange oil.
Arts Leadership Exhibition
November 10 - December 2, 2023
Opening reception: November 10, 6 - 9 pm
Kaiser Gallery proudly presents "Cleveland's Artistic Tapestry Unbound: The 2022-2023 Arts Leadership Residency Cohort and Emerging Voices". In this unique exhibit, each artist from the cohort has been given the opportunity to invite an emerging artist to join them in displaying their artwork alongside the cohort. This thoughtful approach seeks to create a ripple effect, amplifying the diverse artistic voices of Cleveland, while uniting the next generation of artists who will contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Cleveland's artistic community.
Featuring the works of Ari Bliss, Daniella Smith, Denise Astorino, Diane Troyer, Falon Trip, Gina Washington, Josie B. Krampitz, Nicole Hatcher, Robin Robinson, and Mary Kay Thomas.
Entwined
October 19 - November 4, 2023
Closing reception: November 4, 6 - 9 pm
Entwined explores the theme of connectivity inspired by the natural world and the way we interact with it. The exhibit will feature several artists whose work is connected by a common thread: their interest in nature and its influence on our lives.
This exhibit aims to challenge viewers to think about how they interact with their environment and how it affects them as individuals and as members of society at large. It's an opportunity for us all to consider ways that we can better understand ourselves through understanding nature; how we can improve our relationships with each other through improving our relationships with the natural world around us; how we can come together as people by coming together in appreciation for all that binds us together despite our differences; and perhaps most importantly, what makes us truly human?
Presenting the works of Khrystyna Bodnaruk, Meryl Engler, Gigi Janko, Maggie Latham, Rachel Mentzer, Luz Mary Pagan, and Grace Worley
October 19 - November 4, 2023
Closing reception: November 4, 6 - 9 pm
Entwined explores the theme of connectivity inspired by the natural world and the way we interact with it. The exhibit will feature several artists whose work is connected by a common thread: their interest in nature and its influence on our lives.
This exhibit aims to challenge viewers to think about how they interact with their environment and how it affects them as individuals and as members of society at large. It's an opportunity for us all to consider ways that we can better understand ourselves through understanding nature; how we can improve our relationships with each other through improving our relationships with the natural world around us; how we can come together as people by coming together in appreciation for all that binds us together despite our differences; and perhaps most importantly, what makes us truly human?
Presenting the works of Khrystyna Bodnaruk, Meryl Engler, Gigi Janko, Maggie Latham, Rachel Mentzer, Luz Mary Pagan, and Grace Worley
Khrystyna Bodnaruk
Khrystyna Bodnaruk is an award-winning Ukrainian artist based in Cleveland, Ohio whose paintings have been exhibited nationally and in Spain. Fusing academic principles with a distinctive and contemporary style, her figurative works convey the inner world and the characters of her subjects. In addition, Bodnaruk endeavors to reflect a "haunting feeling of melancholy and lyricism". She most often creates with oils on canvas.
Khrystyna Bodnaruk is an award-winning Ukrainian artist based in Cleveland, Ohio whose paintings have been exhibited nationally and in Spain. Fusing academic principles with a distinctive and contemporary style, her figurative works convey the inner world and the characters of her subjects. In addition, Bodnaruk endeavors to reflect a "haunting feeling of melancholy and lyricism". She most often creates with oils on canvas.
Meryl Engler
Meryl Engler grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and moved to Akron, Ohio fall of 2019. Meryl attended Syracuse University where she studied sculpture, printmaking, religious studies, and history, while also competing on the women’s rowing team. Next, she went to graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for studio art with an emphasis in printmaking. This is where she developed her love of colorful woodcut prints, often using pattern and repetition. Currently, Meryl lives and works in Akron Ohio where the city's landscape, people, and history continue to inspire her.
Artist Statement
Meryl Engler is an artist using woodcut and collage to create layered prints that evoke intimate, magical human moments, and the hidden landscapes of our environment. From watching the foliage and greenery take over the barren, urban landscape of Northeast Ohio to gathering with friends around a fire on a summer night, Meryl is always looking for the magical in the every day. For Meryl, these moments transcend the ordinary of the present day and reach the core of how people exist, like watching vines grow through chain link fences until the two entities are inseparable. There is joy and healing in these moments of connection.
Meryl Engler grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and moved to Akron, Ohio fall of 2019. Meryl attended Syracuse University where she studied sculpture, printmaking, religious studies, and history, while also competing on the women’s rowing team. Next, she went to graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for studio art with an emphasis in printmaking. This is where she developed her love of colorful woodcut prints, often using pattern and repetition. Currently, Meryl lives and works in Akron Ohio where the city's landscape, people, and history continue to inspire her.
Artist Statement
Meryl Engler is an artist using woodcut and collage to create layered prints that evoke intimate, magical human moments, and the hidden landscapes of our environment. From watching the foliage and greenery take over the barren, urban landscape of Northeast Ohio to gathering with friends around a fire on a summer night, Meryl is always looking for the magical in the every day. For Meryl, these moments transcend the ordinary of the present day and reach the core of how people exist, like watching vines grow through chain link fences until the two entities are inseparable. There is joy and healing in these moments of connection.
Gigi Janko
Gigi Janko was born in Santa Monica, California in 2002. She graduated at 17 from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, with a BA in Dance and Ceramics. She also attended the Gibney Professional Training Program for Contemporary Dance in New York City as well as Western Governors University for computer science. In 2020, she moved to Wellsville, Ohio to commence a multi-year, multi-modal conceptual work of art, taking ownership of a derelict riverfront compound in a fire sale: a former Catholic church, a rectory, and a convent. The same year, she joined the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department. As a first responder she worked many fire, accident, and medical scenes including the east palestine train derailment. Midway through 2022, Janko embarked on the harrowing journey of eating disorder recovery, trauma integration, mental health diagnosis and treatment. In 2023 she used her experiences in the completion of a 20000 sq ft installation in Wellsville. She continues to plan and execute extensive installations and other projects. Janko also teaches art, cradle to grave, at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown Ohio. Wellsville, Ohio (pop. 3,336) is a village in Appalachia on the Ohio River, hit hard by globalization, deindustrialization, and the opioid epidemic. Dominated by potteries in the 1920s, Wellsville struggles to regain relevance today. The Village suffers from a form of disappointment run rampant, turned inwards on itself. Janko notes an unexpected consequence of working in the midst of polarization: “I have brought the question of ‘what is art?’ to the ‘Ville.”
Artist Statement
I believe in an art full of integrity. Through which, I expose the most vulnerable and untouched corners of myself in the hope that openness may inspire openness in others. I make art to challenge myself and use everything I am capable of. Massive scale, materials, or technique captures attention — honesty holds it, mine is a honesty one almost wants to look away from. I juice my experiences for everything they are worth. I want to challenge the mind, complicate things, and provoke thoughts that may feel like they belong in a classroom discussion. I want to inspire a discourse about what makes these things work. I make conceptual art in the classic sense, but I believe in approach-ability. Working in an area not exposed to art, every day I am challenged to face the humanity surrounding me, the social context of my materials, and my work as seen through other eyes. My art is easy to find, simple to view, but hard to comprehend. Currently, my priority is art that contributes to mental health awareness and activism. And ultimately, I make things I find beautiful inside. As a 21 year old, I make sense of the world around me by making things.
Gigi Janko was born in Santa Monica, California in 2002. She graduated at 17 from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, with a BA in Dance and Ceramics. She also attended the Gibney Professional Training Program for Contemporary Dance in New York City as well as Western Governors University for computer science. In 2020, she moved to Wellsville, Ohio to commence a multi-year, multi-modal conceptual work of art, taking ownership of a derelict riverfront compound in a fire sale: a former Catholic church, a rectory, and a convent. The same year, she joined the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department. As a first responder she worked many fire, accident, and medical scenes including the east palestine train derailment. Midway through 2022, Janko embarked on the harrowing journey of eating disorder recovery, trauma integration, mental health diagnosis and treatment. In 2023 she used her experiences in the completion of a 20000 sq ft installation in Wellsville. She continues to plan and execute extensive installations and other projects. Janko also teaches art, cradle to grave, at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown Ohio. Wellsville, Ohio (pop. 3,336) is a village in Appalachia on the Ohio River, hit hard by globalization, deindustrialization, and the opioid epidemic. Dominated by potteries in the 1920s, Wellsville struggles to regain relevance today. The Village suffers from a form of disappointment run rampant, turned inwards on itself. Janko notes an unexpected consequence of working in the midst of polarization: “I have brought the question of ‘what is art?’ to the ‘Ville.”
Artist Statement
I believe in an art full of integrity. Through which, I expose the most vulnerable and untouched corners of myself in the hope that openness may inspire openness in others. I make art to challenge myself and use everything I am capable of. Massive scale, materials, or technique captures attention — honesty holds it, mine is a honesty one almost wants to look away from. I juice my experiences for everything they are worth. I want to challenge the mind, complicate things, and provoke thoughts that may feel like they belong in a classroom discussion. I want to inspire a discourse about what makes these things work. I make conceptual art in the classic sense, but I believe in approach-ability. Working in an area not exposed to art, every day I am challenged to face the humanity surrounding me, the social context of my materials, and my work as seen through other eyes. My art is easy to find, simple to view, but hard to comprehend. Currently, my priority is art that contributes to mental health awareness and activism. And ultimately, I make things I find beautiful inside. As a 21 year old, I make sense of the world around me by making things.
Maggie Latham
Maggie Latham is a fiber artist, natural-dyer, and art educator based in Cleveland, OH. She has a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and works in art education at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Both in her teaching and art practice, Maggie asks participants to pay close attention to the physical world and explore ways we can take part in positive collaborations with the non-human environment.
Artist Statement
My work explores the human interconnection with ecological systems through process-based art forms such as sewing and paper-making, often dyed with color derived from nonhuman sources. I’m interested in paying close attention to the physical world and exploring both the ways we can create useful designed objects from biodegradable materials as well as take part in provocative collaborations with the plants and minerals in our immediate surroundings.
Maggie Latham is a fiber artist, natural-dyer, and art educator based in Cleveland, OH. She has a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and works in art education at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Both in her teaching and art practice, Maggie asks participants to pay close attention to the physical world and explore ways we can take part in positive collaborations with the non-human environment.
Artist Statement
My work explores the human interconnection with ecological systems through process-based art forms such as sewing and paper-making, often dyed with color derived from nonhuman sources. I’m interested in paying close attention to the physical world and exploring both the ways we can create useful designed objects from biodegradable materials as well as take part in provocative collaborations with the plants and minerals in our immediate surroundings.
Rachel Mentzer
Oberlin-based artist, Rachel Mentzer, enjoys using found and recycled materials to create unique artwork. Her work often focuses on the interaction between nature and humans as it integrates recycled materials into the image. As a printmaker, she enjoys working in collagraph and intaglio. Rachel has won awards from The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.
Artist Statement
I am a printmaker who uses found and recycled materials to create collagraph plates showing the juxtaposition between nature and manufactured objects. I repurpose boxes by carving away layers of cardboard to reveal the negative of my image as a functional plate. Once sealed with polyurethane, the cavities on the box hold ink to be printed intaglio. I use chine-collé to establish a colorful mulberry paper background. Many of my collagraphs were made on iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test boxes. The pandemic was a tumultuous time, yet nature flourished, and humans reestablished the values of nature and the outdoors. Spending time outdoors offered me an escape. I use my art to share my experiences in nature and as a birdwatcher with others.
Oberlin-based artist, Rachel Mentzer, enjoys using found and recycled materials to create unique artwork. Her work often focuses on the interaction between nature and humans as it integrates recycled materials into the image. As a printmaker, she enjoys working in collagraph and intaglio. Rachel has won awards from The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.
Artist Statement
I am a printmaker who uses found and recycled materials to create collagraph plates showing the juxtaposition between nature and manufactured objects. I repurpose boxes by carving away layers of cardboard to reveal the negative of my image as a functional plate. Once sealed with polyurethane, the cavities on the box hold ink to be printed intaglio. I use chine-collé to establish a colorful mulberry paper background. Many of my collagraphs were made on iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test boxes. The pandemic was a tumultuous time, yet nature flourished, and humans reestablished the values of nature and the outdoors. Spending time outdoors offered me an escape. I use my art to share my experiences in nature and as a birdwatcher with others.
Grace Worley
I work in a hybrid painting/drawing format using liquid charcoal on stretched canvas. My work reflects on the role of art objects within conversations about memory, sentimentality, nostalgia, and specifically, how they can be used to extend dialogue beyond the self through depictions of the natural world based on my changing relationship with the world as we digitize our lives. By visually describing details of places I recall having played a role in my experiences within the natural world, my work brings forward glimpses of reconnection as an opportunity for viewers to question or become aware of their changing relationship with natural environments. The process of blending both representation and abstraction through the grayscale of charcoal is intended to give a sense of place, a sense of familiarity, tied to some sense of memory once had with a natural space that has withstood the grip of the technological age.
Solo Exhibition Statement
My work is an act of reconnection and together, in an exhibition, it performs as a dichotomy between the world and how it exists around us versus the world as we experience it through our technology. My practice as an artist aims to approach this dichotomy with sincerity, reflecting on the memories and experiences within the natural environment as remembered before the exponential growth of the technological age. I strive to create work that provides an opportunity for viewers to think critically about their own experiences, and their own memories, while also critiquing our disappearing direct relationship with the world. This work and exhibition take the form of my own memories and how I remember the world as an entry point for an audience. I was born and raised in the greater Cleveland area and have so much love for this city and the memories it holds. It plays a crucial role in the work I make as an artist.
I work in a hybrid painting/drawing format using liquid charcoal on stretched canvas. My work reflects on the role of art objects within conversations about memory, sentimentality, nostalgia, and specifically, how they can be used to extend dialogue beyond the self through depictions of the natural world based on my changing relationship with the world as we digitize our lives. By visually describing details of places I recall having played a role in my experiences within the natural world, my work brings forward glimpses of reconnection as an opportunity for viewers to question or become aware of their changing relationship with natural environments. The process of blending both representation and abstraction through the grayscale of charcoal is intended to give a sense of place, a sense of familiarity, tied to some sense of memory once had with a natural space that has withstood the grip of the technological age.
Solo Exhibition Statement
My work is an act of reconnection and together, in an exhibition, it performs as a dichotomy between the world and how it exists around us versus the world as we experience it through our technology. My practice as an artist aims to approach this dichotomy with sincerity, reflecting on the memories and experiences within the natural environment as remembered before the exponential growth of the technological age. I strive to create work that provides an opportunity for viewers to think critically about their own experiences, and their own memories, while also critiquing our disappearing direct relationship with the world. This work and exhibition take the form of my own memories and how I remember the world as an entry point for an audience. I was born and raised in the greater Cleveland area and have so much love for this city and the memories it holds. It plays a crucial role in the work I make as an artist.
GURUSHOTS: Cleveland Photo Exhibition
October 13 - October 15, 2023
Opening reception: October 13, 7 - 10 pm
GuruShots is excited to be back in the USA for the first ever GuruShots exhibition in Cleveland!
Showcasing the diverse talent of photographers spanning 30+ countries, Kaiser Gallery will be hosting the remarkable collection of 80 printed works (and a wealth of digital winners).
GuruShots is a digital platform that gives photographers from around the world an opportunity to submit their work for a variety of thematic photo challenges every day. They seek to motivate, challenge, inspire, and empower photographers to expand their careers and exposure to a broader audience. Winning shots are chosen to be shown in GuruShots Exhibitions, held in major cities all over the world
Opening reception:
Friday 13 October 7pm-10pm
Opening hours:
Saturday 14, 4pm-10pm & Sunday 15 October, 4 - 8 pm
Where:
Kaiser Gallery, 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
We invite you to join us for drinks and celebrations during our opening reception on Friday 13 October at 7pm. If you cannot make it physically, we will share photos from the exhibition after the opening night has taken place.
October 13 - October 15, 2023
Opening reception: October 13, 7 - 10 pm
GuruShots is excited to be back in the USA for the first ever GuruShots exhibition in Cleveland!
Showcasing the diverse talent of photographers spanning 30+ countries, Kaiser Gallery will be hosting the remarkable collection of 80 printed works (and a wealth of digital winners).
GuruShots is a digital platform that gives photographers from around the world an opportunity to submit their work for a variety of thematic photo challenges every day. They seek to motivate, challenge, inspire, and empower photographers to expand their careers and exposure to a broader audience. Winning shots are chosen to be shown in GuruShots Exhibitions, held in major cities all over the world
Opening reception:
Friday 13 October 7pm-10pm
Opening hours:
Saturday 14, 4pm-10pm & Sunday 15 October, 4 - 8 pm
Where:
Kaiser Gallery, 2418 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
We invite you to join us for drinks and celebrations during our opening reception on Friday 13 October at 7pm. If you cannot make it physically, we will share photos from the exhibition after the opening night has taken place.
Nowstalgia
August 11 - October 7, 2023
Opening reception: August 11, 6 - 9 pm
Kaiser Gallery presents Nowstalgia, an exhibition where artists help us escape the uncertainties of everyday life, drawing inspiration from past decades and infusing them with a futuristic style that feels unique today. Their art captures the chaos of Internet culture, reminds us of a simpler time, and inspires us to move forward.
What is Nowstalgia? It is everything and anything—combining retro-indulgent fantasy with today's instant consumerism lifestyle. Driven by our need for connectivity and escapism, the nowstalgia trend permits us to re-imagine the past, creating a collage of nostalgic references.
Featuring the works of Ewuresi Archer, Khrystyna Bodnaruk, Donald Halpern, Toby Griffiths, Patsy Coffey Kline, and Cale Ours
August 11 - October 7, 2023
Opening reception: August 11, 6 - 9 pm
Kaiser Gallery presents Nowstalgia, an exhibition where artists help us escape the uncertainties of everyday life, drawing inspiration from past decades and infusing them with a futuristic style that feels unique today. Their art captures the chaos of Internet culture, reminds us of a simpler time, and inspires us to move forward.
What is Nowstalgia? It is everything and anything—combining retro-indulgent fantasy with today's instant consumerism lifestyle. Driven by our need for connectivity and escapism, the nowstalgia trend permits us to re-imagine the past, creating a collage of nostalgic references.
Featuring the works of Ewuresi Archer, Khrystyna Bodnaruk, Donald Halpern, Toby Griffiths, Patsy Coffey Kline, and Cale Ours
Ewuresi Archer
Ewuresi Archer is a Painter and Printmaker based in Cleveland, OhioShe is a Ghanaian American artist who graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2022 with a BFA in Painting and an emphasis in PrintMaking.
Archer utilizes fluorescent colors and patterns in her work to celebrate Ghanaian culture; She puts her Ghanaian culture on a pedestal while bringing awareness to the fact that her culture and a western culture coexist. Painting with a highly saturated, glowing color palette and scrappy, energetic marks and patterns, She depicts everyday activities such as pounding fufu, getting a haircut, along with portraying images of foods that are important to Ghanaian culture. As someone living far from the culture she grew up in, Archer always finds herself thinking about and missing little parts of the culture. Her distortions recreate for a viewer the feeling of wanting something just out of reach. Archer depicts all these things as a way not only to invite a viewer into her culture, but also a way to allow herself to appreciate this culture she was very removed from growing up.
Archers' work has been shown in multiple group exhibitions such as Day Glo Show at Waterloo Arts in Cleveland, OH, Waking Dream at River House Arts in Toledo, OH, Snickers That Turn to Livable Joy at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH, I Am My Best Work, at The Painting Center in New York, NY and she co curated a two person show Cut From The Same Cloth at Kaiser Gallery in Tremont, OH. Most recently, she won 1st Place Prize at The First Annual Paul and Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize show.
Ewuresi Archer is a Painter and Printmaker based in Cleveland, OhioShe is a Ghanaian American artist who graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2022 with a BFA in Painting and an emphasis in PrintMaking.
Archer utilizes fluorescent colors and patterns in her work to celebrate Ghanaian culture; She puts her Ghanaian culture on a pedestal while bringing awareness to the fact that her culture and a western culture coexist. Painting with a highly saturated, glowing color palette and scrappy, energetic marks and patterns, She depicts everyday activities such as pounding fufu, getting a haircut, along with portraying images of foods that are important to Ghanaian culture. As someone living far from the culture she grew up in, Archer always finds herself thinking about and missing little parts of the culture. Her distortions recreate for a viewer the feeling of wanting something just out of reach. Archer depicts all these things as a way not only to invite a viewer into her culture, but also a way to allow herself to appreciate this culture she was very removed from growing up.
Archers' work has been shown in multiple group exhibitions such as Day Glo Show at Waterloo Arts in Cleveland, OH, Waking Dream at River House Arts in Toledo, OH, Snickers That Turn to Livable Joy at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH, I Am My Best Work, at The Painting Center in New York, NY and she co curated a two person show Cut From The Same Cloth at Kaiser Gallery in Tremont, OH. Most recently, she won 1st Place Prize at The First Annual Paul and Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize show.
Khrystyna Bodnaruk
Khrystyna Bodnaruk is an award-winning Ukrainian artist based in Cleveland, Ohio whose paintings have been exhibited nationally and in Spain. Fusing academic principles with a distinctive and contemporary style, her figurative works convey the inner world and the characters of her subjects. In addition, Bodnaruk endeavors to reflect a "haunting feeling of melancholy and lyricism". She most often creates with oils on canvas.
Khrystyna Bodnaruk is an award-winning Ukrainian artist based in Cleveland, Ohio whose paintings have been exhibited nationally and in Spain. Fusing academic principles with a distinctive and contemporary style, her figurative works convey the inner world and the characters of her subjects. In addition, Bodnaruk endeavors to reflect a "haunting feeling of melancholy and lyricism". She most often creates with oils on canvas.
Toby Griffiths
Toby Griffiths is a multimedia artist from Cleveland, Ohio. In 2014 he received his BFA in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Originally trained as a painter the use of a camera for gathering reference material for painting led him to additionally expressing himself via photography. His journey through painting and photography ultimately produced a profound appreciation for film making. Toby Griffiths has recently produced his first short film Deep Yang Principle, and believes motion pictures to be his artistic destiny.
The Virtual series revolves around the creation of virtual space, the simulacrum, history, and mystical traditions. It is an exploration into a simulated space that functions as a storehouse for memory and imagination. The virtual spaces created are linked together through the use of single point perspective, associating the images with the mathematical use of perspective in the development of renaissance painting. These virtual spaces operate as stages, platforms, or realms in which the physical objects that inhabit them represent eternal platonic forms and types. The series intermingles and juxtaposes the “spiritual” ideal of modern and ancient art, and in doing so contrasts ideas of the “sacred” and the “profane”. In the self awareness of its construction the Virtual series inspires the viewer to consider the mechanisms of artifice and artificiality as an analogy of the current state of the rapidly evolving digital information age.
Toby Griffiths is a multimedia artist from Cleveland, Ohio. In 2014 he received his BFA in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Originally trained as a painter the use of a camera for gathering reference material for painting led him to additionally expressing himself via photography. His journey through painting and photography ultimately produced a profound appreciation for film making. Toby Griffiths has recently produced his first short film Deep Yang Principle, and believes motion pictures to be his artistic destiny.
The Virtual series revolves around the creation of virtual space, the simulacrum, history, and mystical traditions. It is an exploration into a simulated space that functions as a storehouse for memory and imagination. The virtual spaces created are linked together through the use of single point perspective, associating the images with the mathematical use of perspective in the development of renaissance painting. These virtual spaces operate as stages, platforms, or realms in which the physical objects that inhabit them represent eternal platonic forms and types. The series intermingles and juxtaposes the “spiritual” ideal of modern and ancient art, and in doing so contrasts ideas of the “sacred” and the “profane”. In the self awareness of its construction the Virtual series inspires the viewer to consider the mechanisms of artifice and artificiality as an analogy of the current state of the rapidly evolving digital information age.
Donald Halpern
Mission: Make the world better. About: As a second-generation American from European refugee parents I come from a long history of prominent artists throughout Eastern Europe. Education: New Jersey Public School System BS Indiana University MBA The Ohio State University CSCC Culinary Arts Exhibitions: All my work is sold direct to collectors, with over 40 pieces in private collections. I do not advertise, and I am not represented by any galleries.Artist Statement
I'm Don Halpern. Friends call me DONDO. I'm an inventor, product designer, and artist. With numerous utility and design patents for functional products that I have created and launched, and a background in fine arts, my passion is integrating the aesthetic and the practical aspects of design by repurposing existing materials and items, into beautiful, environmentally-positive, one-of-a-kind functional art, furniture, and accessories.
Exploring my work you will notice that I apply advanced technologies (like 3D printing, laser cutting/engraving, and computer graphics), as well as traditional techniques, to simple everyday materials and objects in ways that typically aren't done. Even the most mundane things, when reimagined or transformed in novel ways, can be elevated to the highest levels of beauty and functionality. It is my strong belief that art should revive resources, not consume them. As such, my art is a redeployment of previously consumed materials, giving new meaning and value to the unwanted waste and banalities cast-off by an over-consuming society. My work comes with no prejudice or bias. I put everything out there with all its vulnerabilities to enhance the lives of those willing to let it in, and sometimes to my own peril at the hand of my harshest critics.
Mission: Make the world better. About: As a second-generation American from European refugee parents I come from a long history of prominent artists throughout Eastern Europe. Education: New Jersey Public School System BS Indiana University MBA The Ohio State University CSCC Culinary Arts Exhibitions: All my work is sold direct to collectors, with over 40 pieces in private collections. I do not advertise, and I am not represented by any galleries.Artist Statement
I'm Don Halpern. Friends call me DONDO. I'm an inventor, product designer, and artist. With numerous utility and design patents for functional products that I have created and launched, and a background in fine arts, my passion is integrating the aesthetic and the practical aspects of design by repurposing existing materials and items, into beautiful, environmentally-positive, one-of-a-kind functional art, furniture, and accessories.
Exploring my work you will notice that I apply advanced technologies (like 3D printing, laser cutting/engraving, and computer graphics), as well as traditional techniques, to simple everyday materials and objects in ways that typically aren't done. Even the most mundane things, when reimagined or transformed in novel ways, can be elevated to the highest levels of beauty and functionality. It is my strong belief that art should revive resources, not consume them. As such, my art is a redeployment of previously consumed materials, giving new meaning and value to the unwanted waste and banalities cast-off by an over-consuming society. My work comes with no prejudice or bias. I put everything out there with all its vulnerabilities to enhance the lives of those willing to let it in, and sometimes to my own peril at the hand of my harshest critics.
Cale Ours
Cale Ours is a Cleveland based multimedia artist who primarily generates work within a photographic medium. Utilizing vernacular images, alternative photographic processes, A.I. generated imagery, and analog color photography, Ours aims to explore ideas surrounding masculinity, subcultures, and the concept of photographic truth. Ours is currently working towards receiving a BFA in photography+video from the Cleveland Institute of Art and has had the opportunity to have work exhibited within the schools 75th and 77th annual Student Independent Exhibition.
Artist Statement
Concepts regarding sentiment, time periods, and context are integral to my work. With occasional forays into explorations of masculinity and subcultures. I am beyond fascinated with our own past and how we can use it to speak on ideas that still plague us societally. Photography as a medium is wholly based around visual context and how we as people consume media and navigate the world. There is a major shift in how an image can be read depending on if it is presented through a medium of its time or a modern ink-jet print. It can either be bathed in its original context or removed from it entirely.
My work focuses on utilizing machine learning to blend images of the current and the past. All in an attempt to create a fictional approximation of the past, and then present it through analog mediums, all to embed the work within a believable context. The ideas explored through my work typically are expressed via found photos, alternative photographic processes, A.I. generated imagery, and analog color photography. All the forms of creation I use are utilized in an attempt to invoke feelings of the past while the imagery depicted through the mediums are surreal in nature. I am attempting to use mediums such as polaroid prints to ground something artificial using the context that medium carries.
The work I create is commentating on the concept of photographic truth. We as people have grown to be distrusting of photographic images, we hesitate before we believe what we see more often than not. But when looking backwards, we tend to be more forgiving and believing of old darkroom prints, film slides, and polaroid images. We don’t doubt the imagery presented because people don’t inherently believe there were as many ways to alter ‘the truth’ of what was captured back then. I am striving to make audiences contextualize the images presented based on the works medium and what the audience themselves are bringing to the work. Hopefully to then make them question ‘the validity’ of what is being shown and how it applies to us today.
Cale Ours is a Cleveland based multimedia artist who primarily generates work within a photographic medium. Utilizing vernacular images, alternative photographic processes, A.I. generated imagery, and analog color photography, Ours aims to explore ideas surrounding masculinity, subcultures, and the concept of photographic truth. Ours is currently working towards receiving a BFA in photography+video from the Cleveland Institute of Art and has had the opportunity to have work exhibited within the schools 75th and 77th annual Student Independent Exhibition.
Artist Statement
Concepts regarding sentiment, time periods, and context are integral to my work. With occasional forays into explorations of masculinity and subcultures. I am beyond fascinated with our own past and how we can use it to speak on ideas that still plague us societally. Photography as a medium is wholly based around visual context and how we as people consume media and navigate the world. There is a major shift in how an image can be read depending on if it is presented through a medium of its time or a modern ink-jet print. It can either be bathed in its original context or removed from it entirely.
My work focuses on utilizing machine learning to blend images of the current and the past. All in an attempt to create a fictional approximation of the past, and then present it through analog mediums, all to embed the work within a believable context. The ideas explored through my work typically are expressed via found photos, alternative photographic processes, A.I. generated imagery, and analog color photography. All the forms of creation I use are utilized in an attempt to invoke feelings of the past while the imagery depicted through the mediums are surreal in nature. I am attempting to use mediums such as polaroid prints to ground something artificial using the context that medium carries.
The work I create is commentating on the concept of photographic truth. We as people have grown to be distrusting of photographic images, we hesitate before we believe what we see more often than not. But when looking backwards, we tend to be more forgiving and believing of old darkroom prints, film slides, and polaroid images. We don’t doubt the imagery presented because people don’t inherently believe there were as many ways to alter ‘the truth’ of what was captured back then. I am striving to make audiences contextualize the images presented based on the works medium and what the audience themselves are bringing to the work. Hopefully to then make them question ‘the validity’ of what is being shown and how it applies to us today.
Common Thread: Contradictions, Questions, and Lies We Live By
June 8 - August 5, 2023
Opening reception: June 9, 6 - 9 pm
Artist Demonstration: July 14, 6 - 9 pm
Jamie M. Richey's captivating solo exhibit titled "Common Thread: Contradictions, Questions, and Lies We Live By" delves into conceptual ideas, contradictions, and double standards through a collection of mixed media artworks. Combining Richey's photography with various materials such as thread, paint, and incorporating collage and text, this series offers a thought-provoking exploration. Richey's creative process involves adding a touch of rawness to her photographs, whether it be through tearing, cutting, or even incorporating soot into the works. The themes within the series are multi-layered, presenting contrasting ideas that often share a common thread, both personally for the artist and in conceptual notions that resonate with the viewer's daily struggles or stimulate existential contemplation.
Jamie M. Richey is Kaiser Gallery's Solo Show Selection recipient of 2023!
June 8 - August 5, 2023
Opening reception: June 9, 6 - 9 pm
Artist Demonstration: July 14, 6 - 9 pm
Jamie M. Richey's captivating solo exhibit titled "Common Thread: Contradictions, Questions, and Lies We Live By" delves into conceptual ideas, contradictions, and double standards through a collection of mixed media artworks. Combining Richey's photography with various materials such as thread, paint, and incorporating collage and text, this series offers a thought-provoking exploration. Richey's creative process involves adding a touch of rawness to her photographs, whether it be through tearing, cutting, or even incorporating soot into the works. The themes within the series are multi-layered, presenting contrasting ideas that often share a common thread, both personally for the artist and in conceptual notions that resonate with the viewer's daily struggles or stimulate existential contemplation.
Jamie M. Richey is Kaiser Gallery's Solo Show Selection recipient of 2023!
About Jamie M. Richey
Jamie M. Richey is a Cleveland-based fine art photographer, mixed media artist, and curator. Raised in Northeast Ohio, Jamie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in film and photography from Elon University and returned to Cleveland to pursue freelance film, photography studio work, and commercial publishing. She later accomplished a Master of Arts degree in Art History with a photography concentration at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Upon graduating she pursued a teaching career in museum education in Savannah, GA, and Dothan, AL during which time she also curated art exhibits with an educational focus. In addition, Jamie continued to exhibit her photography while also working as a production assistant on the occasional indie film.
Firmly planted back in Ohio, Jamie remains active in the curatorial community organizing public exhibits and virtually at jamier-photography.com while steadily building her portfolio with on emphasis in mixed-media as well as black and white fine art photography in various genres including street, nature, travel, and abstract.
Jamie M. Richey is a Cleveland-based fine art photographer, mixed media artist, and curator. Raised in Northeast Ohio, Jamie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in film and photography from Elon University and returned to Cleveland to pursue freelance film, photography studio work, and commercial publishing. She later accomplished a Master of Arts degree in Art History with a photography concentration at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Upon graduating she pursued a teaching career in museum education in Savannah, GA, and Dothan, AL during which time she also curated art exhibits with an educational focus. In addition, Jamie continued to exhibit her photography while also working as a production assistant on the occasional indie film.
Firmly planted back in Ohio, Jamie remains active in the curatorial community organizing public exhibits and virtually at jamier-photography.com while steadily building her portfolio with on emphasis in mixed-media as well as black and white fine art photography in various genres including street, nature, travel, and abstract.
The Animal Kind – An Art Exhibition About Our Relationships With Animals
April 14 - June 4, 2023
Opening reception: April 14, 6 - 9 pm
The Animal Kind, the latest group exhibition at Kaiser Gallery, looks at our human fascination with animals. The exhibition features work by ten contemporary artists from down the street to around the world. The wildly eclectic exhibition displays a wide range of artistic styles, mediums, and subject matter pertaining to animals. A few works that you’ll see include the wearable soft sculpture by Alex Heard, an art book made from African Cheetah fur found in an antique shop by Andrew Mancuso, and the hyperrealistic work of Betz Johnson Richards. Kaiser Gallery will host an opening reception for The Animal Kind on Friday, April 14 from 6-9 p.m. at our location at 2418 Professor Avenue during Walkabout Tremont.
The Animal Kind will be on view at Kaiser Gallery from April 14 to June 4 and features the works of Justin Brennan, Jeff Chiplis, Ross DiPenti, Jessica Glowczewski, Alex Heard, Betz Johnson Richards, Andrew Mancuso, Stéphanie Morissette, Rebecca Tanda, and Kristen Woodward.
April 14 - June 4, 2023
Opening reception: April 14, 6 - 9 pm
The Animal Kind, the latest group exhibition at Kaiser Gallery, looks at our human fascination with animals. The exhibition features work by ten contemporary artists from down the street to around the world. The wildly eclectic exhibition displays a wide range of artistic styles, mediums, and subject matter pertaining to animals. A few works that you’ll see include the wearable soft sculpture by Alex Heard, an art book made from African Cheetah fur found in an antique shop by Andrew Mancuso, and the hyperrealistic work of Betz Johnson Richards. Kaiser Gallery will host an opening reception for The Animal Kind on Friday, April 14 from 6-9 p.m. at our location at 2418 Professor Avenue during Walkabout Tremont.
The Animal Kind will be on view at Kaiser Gallery from April 14 to June 4 and features the works of Justin Brennan, Jeff Chiplis, Ross DiPenti, Jessica Glowczewski, Alex Heard, Betz Johnson Richards, Andrew Mancuso, Stéphanie Morissette, Rebecca Tanda, and Kristen Woodward.
Anna Brody (Tucson, Az) "Lown" 2022
Coveted III: Histories
February 11 - April 9, 2023
Kaiser Gallery presents Coveted III: Histories a powerful exploration of self through an innovative lens. Using new media such as interactive installations, AI technology, photography, video, and performance art, the exhibition delves into themes of gender, race, and culture in a way that is both inspiring and revolutionary. Through this bold exhibit, viewers are challenged to reflect on preconceived notions of identity while also being exposed to fresh perspectives on how members of society can be represented. Coveted III: Histories thus provides an invaluable window into the ways in which individuals may express themselves differently in our rapidly changing world.
Presenting the works of Anna Brody, Glenda Drew, Cameron Gorman, Seth LeDonne, Gina Washington, Alexa Wehrman, and Jun Zhang
Art performance by Alexa Wehrman on March 10, 2023.
February 11 - April 9, 2023
Kaiser Gallery presents Coveted III: Histories a powerful exploration of self through an innovative lens. Using new media such as interactive installations, AI technology, photography, video, and performance art, the exhibition delves into themes of gender, race, and culture in a way that is both inspiring and revolutionary. Through this bold exhibit, viewers are challenged to reflect on preconceived notions of identity while also being exposed to fresh perspectives on how members of society can be represented. Coveted III: Histories thus provides an invaluable window into the ways in which individuals may express themselves differently in our rapidly changing world.
Presenting the works of Anna Brody, Glenda Drew, Cameron Gorman, Seth LeDonne, Gina Washington, Alexa Wehrman, and Jun Zhang
Art performance by Alexa Wehrman on March 10, 2023.
Anna Brody 'Lown' (image still), voluntarily interactive live performance duration: 3 hours, 02:50min
Anna Brody
Anna Brody (she/they) is an artist and educator currently based out of Tucson, Arizona and some other places. She works with video, performance, and photography to describe and explore the non-linear, non-binary world of simultaneous connection and lateral growth. Their video installations and interactive performances express a lifetime preoccupation with the layering of romantic, familial, and platonic love relationships in our lives, and the mutual labor and trust required for them to thrive. As a queer and non-binary artist and educator, they hope only to shift decisively away from the transactional, and towards the transformational. Anna graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and received her M.F.A. in Photo, Video, & Imaging from the University of Arizona in May 2021. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Yale MFA Thesis exhibition and a screening at Librería Casa Bosques in Mexico City in 2021.
Artist Statement
My work addresses love relationships of all intersecting kinds, and the internalized values that mediate them through video installation, performance, photography, and audioscape. I seek to dissolve the barrier between knowing something and feeling it, and I’m curious as to how aligning actions with words might begin to repair the disconnect often found there, and build trust in my own queer emotional future and the resilience of our collective heart. From this perspective, I undergo embodied inquiries of endurance, risk, and trust, often engaging repetition in its capacity to create both comfort and tedium. In both performance and video I deal explicitly with the physical labor involved in communicating through mutual cooperation and negotiative compromise. Themes of interdependence, attachment, and devotion are explored alongside questions of self-determination and autonomy of identity. The actions undertaken in my performances are also simple, often referencing adolescence. What we learn as children about love in all of its iterations is usually unconsciously absorbed, and I am curious as to whether the deliberate nature of the gestures might countermand the unhelpful lessons of childhood media and social influence, and reinforce the more positive ones by creating new muscle memories in our hearts.
My creative practice centers around becoming more comfortable with the fact that everything beyond the self is a variable requiring faith and acceptance, a relinquishing of control. Behind all of my work is a fundamentally connective nature, and an understanding that the drive to try anyway–to attempt to grow and hope and thrive together in community– in the face of so many unknowns and so little control is our species’ collective insanity and communal tenderness, and the only thing lighting our way into an uncertain future.
Anna Brody (she/they) is an artist and educator currently based out of Tucson, Arizona and some other places. She works with video, performance, and photography to describe and explore the non-linear, non-binary world of simultaneous connection and lateral growth. Their video installations and interactive performances express a lifetime preoccupation with the layering of romantic, familial, and platonic love relationships in our lives, and the mutual labor and trust required for them to thrive. As a queer and non-binary artist and educator, they hope only to shift decisively away from the transactional, and towards the transformational. Anna graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and received her M.F.A. in Photo, Video, & Imaging from the University of Arizona in May 2021. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Yale MFA Thesis exhibition and a screening at Librería Casa Bosques in Mexico City in 2021.
Artist Statement
My work addresses love relationships of all intersecting kinds, and the internalized values that mediate them through video installation, performance, photography, and audioscape. I seek to dissolve the barrier between knowing something and feeling it, and I’m curious as to how aligning actions with words might begin to repair the disconnect often found there, and build trust in my own queer emotional future and the resilience of our collective heart. From this perspective, I undergo embodied inquiries of endurance, risk, and trust, often engaging repetition in its capacity to create both comfort and tedium. In both performance and video I deal explicitly with the physical labor involved in communicating through mutual cooperation and negotiative compromise. Themes of interdependence, attachment, and devotion are explored alongside questions of self-determination and autonomy of identity. The actions undertaken in my performances are also simple, often referencing adolescence. What we learn as children about love in all of its iterations is usually unconsciously absorbed, and I am curious as to whether the deliberate nature of the gestures might countermand the unhelpful lessons of childhood media and social influence, and reinforce the more positive ones by creating new muscle memories in our hearts.
My creative practice centers around becoming more comfortable with the fact that everything beyond the self is a variable requiring faith and acceptance, a relinquishing of control. Behind all of my work is a fundamentally connective nature, and an understanding that the drive to try anyway–to attempt to grow and hope and thrive together in community– in the face of so many unknowns and so little control is our species’ collective insanity and communal tenderness, and the only thing lighting our way into an uncertain future.
Glenda Drew '(Non)Linear Light' (2022), digital photography, illustration, metallic paper, image 8.8 x 4.63, framed 11 x 8.5.
Glenda Drew
My creative work is based at the intersections of visual culture and social change, with a particular emphasis on the working class. My subjects include country musicians, waitresses, feminists and precarious workers. My practice is multifaceted in form and includes film/video, motion graphics, photography, graphics, interactivity and community participation. I was an active member of Paper Tiger Television in San Francisco for several years, a defining experience that continues to anchor and shape my work, from the DIY aesthetic and approach aimed at unpacking media technologies, to creating accessible work that asks critical questions. I exhibit my work nationally and internationally. My work has been featured in Leonardo, Bitch! and The Washington Post. I am currently a Professor of Design specializing in digital media at UC Davis.
(Non)linear Light.
My daughter was born on December 19, 2003. He became my son sometime in 2022. I can’t say the exact day. But the government agreed on December 12. There was an inner war. It was not my war. But I watched it from the distance of my body. Helpless. There was an outer war. It was part my war — the cuts, the burns, the terror. There is a transformation now, inner, outer and more cuts, this time by a doctor. The throughline is his eyes. The iris scanner knows; it is free of gender bias. The use of a “linear light” blending mode between portraits of the past and present reveal a nonlinear light through an algorithm of alteration.
(Non)linear Light is printed on silver metallic paper that reflects inner light.
--> max
My daughter was born on December 19, 2003. He became my son sometime in 2022. I can’t say the exact day. But the government agreed on December 12. There was an inner war. It was not my war. But I watched it from the distance of my body. Helpless. There was an outer war. It was part my war — the cuts, the burns, the terror. There is a transformation now, inner, outer and more cuts, this time by a doctor. I strain to see through to his past. This interactive piece uses portraits, blending modes, time-based media and augmented reality (AR) to visualize a tumultuous journey.
The AR is achieved through the download and use of the free Artivive app. You can preview the video that is shown through the app on this Vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/781976697
Glenda Drew
My creative work is based at the intersections of visual culture and social change, with a particular emphasis on the working class. My subjects include country musicians, waitresses, feminists and precarious workers. My practice is multifaceted in form and includes film/video, motion graphics, photography, graphics, interactivity and community participation. I was an active member of Paper Tiger Television in San Francisco for several years, a defining experience that continues to anchor and shape my work, from the DIY aesthetic and approach aimed at unpacking media technologies, to creating accessible work that asks critical questions. I exhibit my work nationally and internationally. My work has been featured in Leonardo, Bitch! and The Washington Post. I am currently a Professor of Design specializing in digital media at UC Davis.
(Non)linear Light.
My daughter was born on December 19, 2003. He became my son sometime in 2022. I can’t say the exact day. But the government agreed on December 12. There was an inner war. It was not my war. But I watched it from the distance of my body. Helpless. There was an outer war. It was part my war — the cuts, the burns, the terror. There is a transformation now, inner, outer and more cuts, this time by a doctor. The throughline is his eyes. The iris scanner knows; it is free of gender bias. The use of a “linear light” blending mode between portraits of the past and present reveal a nonlinear light through an algorithm of alteration.
(Non)linear Light is printed on silver metallic paper that reflects inner light.
--> max
My daughter was born on December 19, 2003. He became my son sometime in 2022. I can’t say the exact day. But the government agreed on December 12. There was an inner war. It was not my war. But I watched it from the distance of my body. Helpless. There was an outer war. It was part my war — the cuts, the burns, the terror. There is a transformation now, inner, outer and more cuts, this time by a doctor. I strain to see through to his past. This interactive piece uses portraits, blending modes, time-based media and augmented reality (AR) to visualize a tumultuous journey.
The AR is achieved through the download and use of the free Artivive app. You can preview the video that is shown through the app on this Vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/781976697
Cameron Gorman'History Lesson' (image still), Video, 8min 20 secs.
Cameron Gorman
Cameron Gorman is a writer, painter, and journalist based in Ohio. Cameron holds an M.F.A. From The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Journalism from Kent State.
Artist Statement
Cameron Gorman is a nonbinary, afab artist who works in the fields of poetry, nonfiction, video art, and painting. These found footage videos challenge the norms of media ownership in order to critique ownership of the body. In ‘Generation Loss,’ the viewer is confronted with the commodification of alternative gender expressionism through 90s media, including shock talk shows. In ‘History Lesson,’ which contains poetry performances, the history of the blending of gender and sexuality is explored through a digital interface. “Have I Told You I Loved You?” Explores gendered affection in the age of robotics.
Cameron Gorman
Cameron Gorman is a writer, painter, and journalist based in Ohio. Cameron holds an M.F.A. From The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Journalism from Kent State.
Artist Statement
Cameron Gorman is a nonbinary, afab artist who works in the fields of poetry, nonfiction, video art, and painting. These found footage videos challenge the norms of media ownership in order to critique ownership of the body. In ‘Generation Loss,’ the viewer is confronted with the commodification of alternative gender expressionism through 90s media, including shock talk shows. In ‘History Lesson,’ which contains poetry performances, the history of the blending of gender and sexuality is explored through a digital interface. “Have I Told You I Loved You?” Explores gendered affection in the age of robotics.
Seth LeDonne 'Androgyny Routine,' digital composition on stretched canvas, 30" x 18" x 1.75"
Seth LeDonne
Seth LeDonne creates work that highlights the novelty and profoundness of everyday life. Their recent bodies of work examine masculinity, reliance on technology, humankind’s relationship with the natural world, apocalyptic poetry, and mental wellness. Central to LeDonne’s work is providing the viewer with a point of relatability through warmth or humor. Their work advocates for the usefulness of reflection and self-expression as self-care tools.
Seth is inspired by the urgency of water-based mediums—and the inclusion of unconventional and commonplace materials create a link between the artwork and everyday life. Defying the rules and expectations for materials liberates LeDonne’s creative process from creative rigidity. Disdain for perfectionism is a thematic and aesthetic element of their work.
Artist Statement
My work is reflective of my experience as a non-binary person and the ways presenting and existing as such in public has both affirmed and challenged me. Through hand-drawn text and original photography I commemorate thoughts and feelings in a way that broadens their application beyond my own experience and connects them to our collective queer story.
Seth LeDonne
Seth LeDonne creates work that highlights the novelty and profoundness of everyday life. Their recent bodies of work examine masculinity, reliance on technology, humankind’s relationship with the natural world, apocalyptic poetry, and mental wellness. Central to LeDonne’s work is providing the viewer with a point of relatability through warmth or humor. Their work advocates for the usefulness of reflection and self-expression as self-care tools.
Seth is inspired by the urgency of water-based mediums—and the inclusion of unconventional and commonplace materials create a link between the artwork and everyday life. Defying the rules and expectations for materials liberates LeDonne’s creative process from creative rigidity. Disdain for perfectionism is a thematic and aesthetic element of their work.
Artist Statement
My work is reflective of my experience as a non-binary person and the ways presenting and existing as such in public has both affirmed and challenged me. Through hand-drawn text and original photography I commemorate thoughts and feelings in a way that broadens their application beyond my own experience and connects them to our collective queer story.
Gina Washington 'and I,' Archival Digital Print, 20x20"
Gina Washington
Gina Washington was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated with an MFA in Photography from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She considers herself “a Child of the Universe” and has traveled to many places collecting images and connecting artists.
Gina has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Most recently, she was awarded a residency with Akron Soul Train Art Museum and the Cleveland Foundation Equity in the Arts Fund grant as she creates art “by any means necessary.” She is the
founder of Mateza Gallery LLC on Etsy and, as a master collaborator, co-founded The Visit Arts Collective. Ultimately her goal is to bring clarity and solutions to the chaos in the world through art and to make art accessible to all people, especially the disenfranchised and underrepresented in the global community.
Artist Statement
This project, Me, Myself, and I, is a creative exploration of finding my place in a complex and conflicted society. It is an uncovering of my voice through self-portraiture. All artists, at some point in their careers, explore identity. I start by examining themes connected to childhood sayings and fairytales that influenced my upbringing and others. Those childhood sayings also allowed me to position myself within the frame of what it is to be a young girl, now a woman in a culture built out of White Supremacy. At the heart of my work, identity is paramount. Where do I fit in, how do you see me, and how do I see myself contextually in this society? Trin T Minh-ha said it best when she stated: “you and I are close, we intertwine; you may stand on the other side of the hill once in a while, but you may also be me while remaining what you are and what I am not.” ― Trinh T. Minh-ha, Woman, Native, Other: Writing Postcoloniality and Feminism This intertwining, being anywhere I choose to hang my hat. Accepting yourself comes with the understanding that others outside your culture may not feel the same. The images were created using artificial intelligence in combination with the selfie. It is a fascinating approach that uses the image and language I provide to bring me to light. All of the layers further complicate an already intricate conception of self. Butterflies, an Afro, compassionate Black woman, were the prompts. Binary code is a system of ones and zeros that I use on top of images. Using this medium is problematic. Now that code is within each image. Ultimately, I am aware that the algorithms behind these programs are biased like the programmers. It is that circle of looks Minh-ha illustrates in her film Reassemblage as an outsider entering a space as the other. How do you document what is not a part of you? How will I use something artificial to explain my becoming? This project is just the beginning of the exploration.
Gina Washington
Gina Washington was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated with an MFA in Photography from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She considers herself “a Child of the Universe” and has traveled to many places collecting images and connecting artists.
Gina has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Most recently, she was awarded a residency with Akron Soul Train Art Museum and the Cleveland Foundation Equity in the Arts Fund grant as she creates art “by any means necessary.” She is the
founder of Mateza Gallery LLC on Etsy and, as a master collaborator, co-founded The Visit Arts Collective. Ultimately her goal is to bring clarity and solutions to the chaos in the world through art and to make art accessible to all people, especially the disenfranchised and underrepresented in the global community.
Artist Statement
This project, Me, Myself, and I, is a creative exploration of finding my place in a complex and conflicted society. It is an uncovering of my voice through self-portraiture. All artists, at some point in their careers, explore identity. I start by examining themes connected to childhood sayings and fairytales that influenced my upbringing and others. Those childhood sayings also allowed me to position myself within the frame of what it is to be a young girl, now a woman in a culture built out of White Supremacy. At the heart of my work, identity is paramount. Where do I fit in, how do you see me, and how do I see myself contextually in this society? Trin T Minh-ha said it best when she stated: “you and I are close, we intertwine; you may stand on the other side of the hill once in a while, but you may also be me while remaining what you are and what I am not.” ― Trinh T. Minh-ha, Woman, Native, Other: Writing Postcoloniality and Feminism This intertwining, being anywhere I choose to hang my hat. Accepting yourself comes with the understanding that others outside your culture may not feel the same. The images were created using artificial intelligence in combination with the selfie. It is a fascinating approach that uses the image and language I provide to bring me to light. All of the layers further complicate an already intricate conception of self. Butterflies, an Afro, compassionate Black woman, were the prompts. Binary code is a system of ones and zeros that I use on top of images. Using this medium is problematic. Now that code is within each image. Ultimately, I am aware that the algorithms behind these programs are biased like the programmers. It is that circle of looks Minh-ha illustrates in her film Reassemblage as an outsider entering a space as the other. How do you document what is not a part of you? How will I use something artificial to explain my becoming? This project is just the beginning of the exploration.
Alexa Wehrman "Makeup Wipe 2" (2022), oil on rawhide, 21x22"
Alexa Wehrman
Alexa Wehrman is an artist native of Cincinnati and is currently living in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work revolves around themes of searching to depict personal identity and autonomy as a young queer woman.
Her work was featured in the 2nd Annual Juried Fresno Printmakers Guild Print Exhibition in Fresno (CA) and in the Have Your Say Exhibition with the Grosse Pointe Artists Association Gallery in Grosse Pointe Farms (MI). Additionally, she has shown her work in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Cleveland. Wehrman has worked on a number of murals including working with The Contemporary Art Center of Cincinnati's UnMuseum. She was a Senior Apprentice with ArtWorks Cincinnati in 2019 and 2021
she interned at both Kaiser Gallery and Ingenuity Cleveland.
Artist Statement
I am both image and image maker.
I hope that in my search for my identity that I prove that there is more to me than the labels I am given, the luggage that comes with me and my outward appearance. My pieces are all attempts to illustrate this search, I claw and scrape and coddle and nurse
my artwork to try to imbue them with as much of myself that I possibly can. I do this all so that hopefully one day I can look at a piece I made and I'll finally get it, it'll be like a mirror looking back at me.
Each piece I produce comes with an emotionally volatile experience. The paint isn't going to bend to my will, I can't beat my substrate into submission to make the perfect image no matter how much I try. I get excited then upset then determined then
disparaging. With this I learned that my pieces can't be pristine- they're going to be messy and have fingerprints all over, sometimes crumpled and discarded and curling on the edges. My paintings are hasty, fast and desperate. There is no reason why I should make a piece about myself and my experiences and it be devoid of my hand.
Carolee Schneemann is quoted as stating that she *wanted [her] actual body to be combined with the work as an integral material" and I couldn't agree more.
Alexa Wehrman
Alexa Wehrman is an artist native of Cincinnati and is currently living in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work revolves around themes of searching to depict personal identity and autonomy as a young queer woman.
Her work was featured in the 2nd Annual Juried Fresno Printmakers Guild Print Exhibition in Fresno (CA) and in the Have Your Say Exhibition with the Grosse Pointe Artists Association Gallery in Grosse Pointe Farms (MI). Additionally, she has shown her work in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Cleveland. Wehrman has worked on a number of murals including working with The Contemporary Art Center of Cincinnati's UnMuseum. She was a Senior Apprentice with ArtWorks Cincinnati in 2019 and 2021
she interned at both Kaiser Gallery and Ingenuity Cleveland.
Artist Statement
I am both image and image maker.
I hope that in my search for my identity that I prove that there is more to me than the labels I am given, the luggage that comes with me and my outward appearance. My pieces are all attempts to illustrate this search, I claw and scrape and coddle and nurse
my artwork to try to imbue them with as much of myself that I possibly can. I do this all so that hopefully one day I can look at a piece I made and I'll finally get it, it'll be like a mirror looking back at me.
Each piece I produce comes with an emotionally volatile experience. The paint isn't going to bend to my will, I can't beat my substrate into submission to make the perfect image no matter how much I try. I get excited then upset then determined then
disparaging. With this I learned that my pieces can't be pristine- they're going to be messy and have fingerprints all over, sometimes crumpled and discarded and curling on the edges. My paintings are hasty, fast and desperate. There is no reason why I should make a piece about myself and my experiences and it be devoid of my hand.
Carolee Schneemann is quoted as stating that she *wanted [her] actual body to be combined with the work as an integral material" and I couldn't agree more.
June Zhang 'Nomadic Washerwomen' (image still), Video, 07:23min,
Jun Zhang
Jun Zhang is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher, currently based in Amsterdam. His practice focuses on topics such as identity belonging, immigrants' cultural integration, ecology future, decolonizing nature, post-Anthropocene, indigenous sciences, etc.
Jun’s artistic practice often starts from a fascination with an alien landscape or space (for example extraordinary geological heritage or abandoned industrial relics). Through field research and material experimenting, Jun searches to fathom and grasp these sites’ mysterious internal energy which he then metabolises and conveys through his artistic language – be it fiction, material object, or performance. Through his work, Jun seeks to evoke scenarios that invite critical reflection on the relation between human cultures, spiritual worlds, and natural environments. His investigations lead him from site-specific aspects (such as historical contexts, ancient technologies and crafts), over folklore and mythology to belief, witchcraft, and protoscience.
Therewith, Jun’s practice focuses both on nature/social sciences (such as climatology, geology, archeology) and occults sciences (such as astrology, alchemy, witchcraft). Through the integration of nature/social sciences and occults sciences, his works try to explore an ecological future and anti- Anthropocentrism world in which human culture is deeply entangled with geoenergy and planetary metabolism.
Artist Statement
Nomadic Washerwomen is based on the artistic research about the public washing space as well as its derived folklore.
Through video and site-specific installations, this project tries to re-create the narrative of night washerwomen legend under the post-COVID context, to correct the discrimination and stigmatization of washerwomen and Asian female. Through a supernatural being with divine powers intervening in the life-and-death transformation process of mundane life, this project attempts to challenge the negative impression of women and Asian people in the field of social hygiene, it also tries to create a cultural identity for Asian female.
Jun Zhang
Jun Zhang is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher, currently based in Amsterdam. His practice focuses on topics such as identity belonging, immigrants' cultural integration, ecology future, decolonizing nature, post-Anthropocene, indigenous sciences, etc.
Jun’s artistic practice often starts from a fascination with an alien landscape or space (for example extraordinary geological heritage or abandoned industrial relics). Through field research and material experimenting, Jun searches to fathom and grasp these sites’ mysterious internal energy which he then metabolises and conveys through his artistic language – be it fiction, material object, or performance. Through his work, Jun seeks to evoke scenarios that invite critical reflection on the relation between human cultures, spiritual worlds, and natural environments. His investigations lead him from site-specific aspects (such as historical contexts, ancient technologies and crafts), over folklore and mythology to belief, witchcraft, and protoscience.
Therewith, Jun’s practice focuses both on nature/social sciences (such as climatology, geology, archeology) and occults sciences (such as astrology, alchemy, witchcraft). Through the integration of nature/social sciences and occults sciences, his works try to explore an ecological future and anti- Anthropocentrism world in which human culture is deeply entangled with geoenergy and planetary metabolism.
Artist Statement
Nomadic Washerwomen is based on the artistic research about the public washing space as well as its derived folklore.
Through video and site-specific installations, this project tries to re-create the narrative of night washerwomen legend under the post-COVID context, to correct the discrimination and stigmatization of washerwomen and Asian female. Through a supernatural being with divine powers intervening in the life-and-death transformation process of mundane life, this project attempts to challenge the negative impression of women and Asian people in the field of social hygiene, it also tries to create a cultural identity for Asian female.
LATERAL PERSPECTIVE
A solo exhibition by Ethan Samaha
DECEMBER 9 - February 5
Kaiser Gallery presents 'Lateral perspective' a solo exhibition by Ethan Samaha. 'Lateral perspective' explores perception and perspective using wall based neon designs. The works question what’s in-front, behind, top, and bottom. Changing the viewer’s perspective as they traverse the space. Exploring the relations of color and form, these designs will range from monochrome to saturated, and will display subtle color shifts.
Check out the feature about this exhibit by Shawn Mishak in Cleveland Scene.
About Ethan Samaha
ETHAN SAMAHA is a visual artist working within light and space. Utilizing neon and sculpture to get an understanding of time, space, and perceptions in installations. He received a BFA in Sculpture and Dimensional Studies with minors in Performance Design & Technology and Dance from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2021.
Recent exhibitions/publications include The Hum and The Buzz, Neolite Gallery, St. Peters, Australia; 8th Annual Glass National Juried Exhibition, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA; Limitless, Florence Contemporary Gallery, Florence, Italy; New Glass Review, Issue 41, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
A solo exhibition by Ethan Samaha
DECEMBER 9 - February 5
Kaiser Gallery presents 'Lateral perspective' a solo exhibition by Ethan Samaha. 'Lateral perspective' explores perception and perspective using wall based neon designs. The works question what’s in-front, behind, top, and bottom. Changing the viewer’s perspective as they traverse the space. Exploring the relations of color and form, these designs will range from monochrome to saturated, and will display subtle color shifts.
Check out the feature about this exhibit by Shawn Mishak in Cleveland Scene.
About Ethan Samaha
ETHAN SAMAHA is a visual artist working within light and space. Utilizing neon and sculpture to get an understanding of time, space, and perceptions in installations. He received a BFA in Sculpture and Dimensional Studies with minors in Performance Design & Technology and Dance from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2021.
Recent exhibitions/publications include The Hum and The Buzz, Neolite Gallery, St. Peters, Australia; 8th Annual Glass National Juried Exhibition, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA; Limitless, Florence Contemporary Gallery, Florence, Italy; New Glass Review, Issue 41, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
2022
"exhibition view" by Morgan Bukovec
SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT
today’s special: misogyny with a slice of sexism
Morgan Bukovec
November 11 - December 4
"SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT, today’s special: misogyny with a slice of sexism" invites viewers on a raw and emotional journey when exploring Morgan Bukovec's special installation project, a result of her decade-long work in the service industry. Kaiser Gallery will host an opening reception of Morgan’s new exhibition on Friday, November 11 from 6-9 p.m. at our location at 2418 Professor Avenue.
This series breathes with intention. Morgan works with found objects across mediums including collage, textiles, and installation, focusing on the themes of identity, storytelling, and fleeting moments and objects across time. The guest checkbooks featured in the installation, made their way into Morgan’s life when she unconsciously brought them home, accumulating them over the years of serving and bartending. Morgan stitches the words said to her by men that cannot be erased or undone. The sharp point of the sewing needle is a metaphor for the pain of microaggressions that slowly and unconsciously reveals themselves and worsen through repeated infliction. Her needle, sewing thread, and guest checkbooks act as tools of meditative resistance while referencing the historically rooted practice of cross-stitching and needlework as “women’s work.”
The SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT has grown into one-hundred works over the past 2 years that individually and collectively question the patriarchal dominated society we live in. This series acts as a living force of personal release, healing, and ownership of Morgan’s female form.
today’s special: misogyny with a slice of sexism
Morgan Bukovec
November 11 - December 4
"SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT, today’s special: misogyny with a slice of sexism" invites viewers on a raw and emotional journey when exploring Morgan Bukovec's special installation project, a result of her decade-long work in the service industry. Kaiser Gallery will host an opening reception of Morgan’s new exhibition on Friday, November 11 from 6-9 p.m. at our location at 2418 Professor Avenue.
This series breathes with intention. Morgan works with found objects across mediums including collage, textiles, and installation, focusing on the themes of identity, storytelling, and fleeting moments and objects across time. The guest checkbooks featured in the installation, made their way into Morgan’s life when she unconsciously brought them home, accumulating them over the years of serving and bartending. Morgan stitches the words said to her by men that cannot be erased or undone. The sharp point of the sewing needle is a metaphor for the pain of microaggressions that slowly and unconsciously reveals themselves and worsen through repeated infliction. Her needle, sewing thread, and guest checkbooks act as tools of meditative resistance while referencing the historically rooted practice of cross-stitching and needlework as “women’s work.”
The SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT has grown into one-hundred works over the past 2 years that individually and collectively question the patriarchal dominated society we live in. This series acts as a living force of personal release, healing, and ownership of Morgan’s female form.
ARTIST BIO:
Morgan Bukovec (b. 1996) is a mixed media artist, educator, and collector of things from Cleveland, Ohio. In 2018, she was awarded bachelors degrees in both Fine Arts and Arts Education from the University of Dayton and since has worked with several community art spaces in Cleveland including moCa Cleveland, Spaces, Community Arts Center, Kaiser Gallery and Headspace Gallery, providing art engagement and workshops. Bukovec is interested in how art builds empathy through storytelling, which inspires her interdisciplinary art practice. Bukovec works with found objects across mediums including collage, textiles, and installation, focusing on the themes of identity, storytelling, and fleeting moments and objects across time. Recent invitational exhibitions include; solo exhibition, SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT, today’s special: misogyny with a slice of sexism at Kaiser Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio, two-person exhibition, Taking Up Space at Malone Art Gallery in Canton, Ohio, and Women’s Work: New Takes On Textile Art at Reeves House in Woodstock, Georgia.
Bukovec was recently awarded a gift grant by the Kanyer Art Collection to complete her 100 work series: SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT (@serviceindustrystitchproject). This series is the result of the past decade of her work in the service industry, aiming to highlight the power of words and personal reclamation. She recently moved back to Ohio from Prague, Czech Republic where she spent time teaching, exploring, and making art. She plans to further expand her creative endeavors, while planning for her next travel adventure.
Morgan Bukovec (b. 1996) is a mixed media artist, educator, and collector of things from Cleveland, Ohio. In 2018, she was awarded bachelors degrees in both Fine Arts and Arts Education from the University of Dayton and since has worked with several community art spaces in Cleveland including moCa Cleveland, Spaces, Community Arts Center, Kaiser Gallery and Headspace Gallery, providing art engagement and workshops. Bukovec is interested in how art builds empathy through storytelling, which inspires her interdisciplinary art practice. Bukovec works with found objects across mediums including collage, textiles, and installation, focusing on the themes of identity, storytelling, and fleeting moments and objects across time. Recent invitational exhibitions include; solo exhibition, SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT, today’s special: misogyny with a slice of sexism at Kaiser Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio, two-person exhibition, Taking Up Space at Malone Art Gallery in Canton, Ohio, and Women’s Work: New Takes On Textile Art at Reeves House in Woodstock, Georgia.
Bukovec was recently awarded a gift grant by the Kanyer Art Collection to complete her 100 work series: SERVICE INDUSTRY STITCH PROJECT (@serviceindustrystitchproject). This series is the result of the past decade of her work in the service industry, aiming to highlight the power of words and personal reclamation. She recently moved back to Ohio from Prague, Czech Republic where she spent time teaching, exploring, and making art. She plans to further expand her creative endeavors, while planning for her next travel adventure.
LEIGH BROOKLYN: ALL OF ME
A solo exhibit by Leigh Brooklyn
October 7 - November 6
A solo exhibit by Leigh Brooklyn
October 7 - November 6
ARTIST STATEMENT
Specializing in figurative painting and drawing, my practice originates from an intense drive to create compelling images and stories meant to inspire and give hope. I have studied realism my entire life, dedicating my education to learning how to recreate what I observe with accurate detail.
My earlier work was created with the intention to give a voice to the voiceless, creating compelling portraits and figurative-based narrative paintings and drawings to provide representation for underrepresented communities and people. My education as a medical Illustrator has informed much of my practice with a concern for details and observation, but my work evolved to focus on stories and people. My passion for activism led me to paint stories imbued with causes like women’s rights, LGBTQ equality and acceptance, anti-racism, homelessness, gun reform, disability awareness, and many other subjects.
Although my current body of work still focuses on stories and people, I have now narrowed my focus toward women. Inspired largely by personal experiences and partly by the military presence in my family, my new body of work is focused on building an army of women warriors, armed and ready to defend the good in the world. One soldier at a time, I am creating a female militia to unite, overcome, uplift and fight for ourselves and each other. This army of diverse women are survivors who will overcome all battles, together and alone.
I want to contribute to this world while I am here, and my art is the way that I can do that. Guided by the tumultuous times in our culture, as well as my own personal battles, my work must uplift and motivate awareness and change. Through my work, I want to capture the issues that are important to our collective community, and inspire others with my symbolic soldiers.
LEIGH BROOKLYN BIOGRAPHY
Leigh Brooklyn, was born in 1987 outside of Cleveland, Ohio. In 2006 Brooklyn enrolled into the Columbus College of Art and Design. Later she transferred to The Cleveland Institute of Art after being inspired by the work of forensic artists who helped in a missing-person’s case. She earned her degree in Biomedical Illustration in 2011. Brooklyn worked with several hospitals, museums, and research facilities including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, The Cleveland Botanical Gardens, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Case Western Reserve University, and Novelmed Therapeutics.
After 2011 Brooklyn moved throughout the country gaining artistic inspiration from various individuals she met through her pursuit of street photography. After hearing all the incredible stories of those she encountered and drawing from her own personal experiences Brooklyn decided to switch her work’s focus back to her roots of figurative drawing and oil painting, eventually narrowing her focus on women empowerment after facing a personal upheaval.
In 2019 Brooklyn understudied a nationally acclaimed figurative sculptor where she learned techniques for creating large scale sculptures out of oil-based clay to be cast in bronze. That same year Brooklyn began learning various welding and fabrication techniques eventually earning a lifetime certification for 3G MIG welding in 2021.
Brooklyn has won a variety of awards for her art since 2004. She recently was a semi-finalist for Figurtivas at the MEAM in Barcelona, Spain and was a top artist and winner in the Boynes International Emerging Artist Awards in Melbourne, Australia. Her work has been displayed in galleries and museums all over the country including the Medici Museum of Art, the Makeshift Museum, the U.S. Capitol Building and Corcoran Museum, the Diane von Furstenberg Studios, along with many national galleries and international art fairs. She currently resides in her hometown of Cleveland and is represented by D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery, Art Unified, and District Gallery. She plans to further expand her artistic and humanitarian endeavors in the local, national, and international community.
Specializing in figurative painting and drawing, my practice originates from an intense drive to create compelling images and stories meant to inspire and give hope. I have studied realism my entire life, dedicating my education to learning how to recreate what I observe with accurate detail.
My earlier work was created with the intention to give a voice to the voiceless, creating compelling portraits and figurative-based narrative paintings and drawings to provide representation for underrepresented communities and people. My education as a medical Illustrator has informed much of my practice with a concern for details and observation, but my work evolved to focus on stories and people. My passion for activism led me to paint stories imbued with causes like women’s rights, LGBTQ equality and acceptance, anti-racism, homelessness, gun reform, disability awareness, and many other subjects.
Although my current body of work still focuses on stories and people, I have now narrowed my focus toward women. Inspired largely by personal experiences and partly by the military presence in my family, my new body of work is focused on building an army of women warriors, armed and ready to defend the good in the world. One soldier at a time, I am creating a female militia to unite, overcome, uplift and fight for ourselves and each other. This army of diverse women are survivors who will overcome all battles, together and alone.
I want to contribute to this world while I am here, and my art is the way that I can do that. Guided by the tumultuous times in our culture, as well as my own personal battles, my work must uplift and motivate awareness and change. Through my work, I want to capture the issues that are important to our collective community, and inspire others with my symbolic soldiers.
LEIGH BROOKLYN BIOGRAPHY
Leigh Brooklyn, was born in 1987 outside of Cleveland, Ohio. In 2006 Brooklyn enrolled into the Columbus College of Art and Design. Later she transferred to The Cleveland Institute of Art after being inspired by the work of forensic artists who helped in a missing-person’s case. She earned her degree in Biomedical Illustration in 2011. Brooklyn worked with several hospitals, museums, and research facilities including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, The Cleveland Botanical Gardens, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Case Western Reserve University, and Novelmed Therapeutics.
After 2011 Brooklyn moved throughout the country gaining artistic inspiration from various individuals she met through her pursuit of street photography. After hearing all the incredible stories of those she encountered and drawing from her own personal experiences Brooklyn decided to switch her work’s focus back to her roots of figurative drawing and oil painting, eventually narrowing her focus on women empowerment after facing a personal upheaval.
In 2019 Brooklyn understudied a nationally acclaimed figurative sculptor where she learned techniques for creating large scale sculptures out of oil-based clay to be cast in bronze. That same year Brooklyn began learning various welding and fabrication techniques eventually earning a lifetime certification for 3G MIG welding in 2021.
Brooklyn has won a variety of awards for her art since 2004. She recently was a semi-finalist for Figurtivas at the MEAM in Barcelona, Spain and was a top artist and winner in the Boynes International Emerging Artist Awards in Melbourne, Australia. Her work has been displayed in galleries and museums all over the country including the Medici Museum of Art, the Makeshift Museum, the U.S. Capitol Building and Corcoran Museum, the Diane von Furstenberg Studios, along with many national galleries and international art fairs. She currently resides in her hometown of Cleveland and is represented by D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery, Art Unified, and District Gallery. She plans to further expand her artistic and humanitarian endeavors in the local, national, and international community.
Borderlands
September 9 - October 2, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, Sept 9, 6 PM - 9PM
Guest curator Karen Petkovic of BAYarts
Borderlands is an exhibition exploring themes of the vast unknown, asking artists to navigate the fine line between frontier and wasteland – both deal with the extremes of that which is barren and undeveloped-are these places either physically or theoretically empty or are they hopeful – on the brink of something – perhaps understanding.
Presenting the works of David Borawski, Brut Carniollus, Michael Greenwald, Scott Groeniger, Jeremy Jones, Eric Kunsman, Anne Manley, Raheleh Mohammad, Lily Rodriguez, Kritsen R. Simonsen, Kimberly Wetzel, Will Wilson, & Kristen T. Woodward.
September 9 - October 2, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, Sept 9, 6 PM - 9PM
Guest curator Karen Petkovic of BAYarts
Borderlands is an exhibition exploring themes of the vast unknown, asking artists to navigate the fine line between frontier and wasteland – both deal with the extremes of that which is barren and undeveloped-are these places either physically or theoretically empty or are they hopeful – on the brink of something – perhaps understanding.
Presenting the works of David Borawski, Brut Carniollus, Michael Greenwald, Scott Groeniger, Jeremy Jones, Eric Kunsman, Anne Manley, Raheleh Mohammad, Lily Rodriguez, Kritsen R. Simonsen, Kimberly Wetzel, Will Wilson, & Kristen T. Woodward.
Journey to Harvest
August 12 - September 4, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, AUG 12, 6 PM - 9PM
Kaiser Gallery presents Journey to Harvest a special solo exhibition by Kubra Al Hilali in partnership with Building Hope in The City, on view at Kaiser Gallery from August 12 - September 4. Kubra Al Hilali is an Iraqi immigrant and artist based in Cleveland and uses the medium of painting to express messages of hope and justice that speak to our collective human longings. Building Hope in the City selected Kubra as their artist-in-residence for the Creative Fusion program because of her work through their Hope Center for Immigrants & Refugees. They were drawn to Kubra's desire to create beautiful, Iraqi-inspired art while also elevating the civic and creative voice of youth in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood.
Artist Statement:
My journey is through circles and lines, like birds and fish; sometimes flying between endless spaces and sometimes diving through the depths of seas and oceans. I roam in the midsts of its lands, and around its people. I go round and round… ad my harvest is in your hands; in colors and pictures…
August 12 - September 4, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, AUG 12, 6 PM - 9PM
Kaiser Gallery presents Journey to Harvest a special solo exhibition by Kubra Al Hilali in partnership with Building Hope in The City, on view at Kaiser Gallery from August 12 - September 4. Kubra Al Hilali is an Iraqi immigrant and artist based in Cleveland and uses the medium of painting to express messages of hope and justice that speak to our collective human longings. Building Hope in the City selected Kubra as their artist-in-residence for the Creative Fusion program because of her work through their Hope Center for Immigrants & Refugees. They were drawn to Kubra's desire to create beautiful, Iraqi-inspired art while also elevating the civic and creative voice of youth in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood.
Artist Statement:
My journey is through circles and lines, like birds and fish; sometimes flying between endless spaces and sometimes diving through the depths of seas and oceans. I roam in the midsts of its lands, and around its people. I go round and round… ad my harvest is in your hands; in colors and pictures…
SOLO SHOW SELECTION 2022
Handful of Dream-Dust
June 10 - August 7, 2022
Kaiser Gallery presents Handful of Dream-Dust a solo exhibit by Cleveland artist Jonah Jacobs, on view at Kaiser Gallery from June 10 to August 7.
A local treasure within Cleveland’s art scene, Jonah Jacobs, explores themes of beauty, complexity, and eco-consciousness to create works that are simultaneously thought-provoking and visually stunning. Born in Denmark, and a graduate of Antioch College, he is also an Army veteran who served in S. Korea and in the 82nd Airborne Division, gaining invaluable experience and insight into different perspectives and ways of thinking.
Jacobs’ large-scale pieces combine thousands of individual geometric shapes to create mesmerizing forms that reference fractal patterns, bio colonies, and other complex systems. Jacobs merges creativity with science in an innovative way, to create artworks that explore ideas about order, chaos, growth, decay, and life cycles - the pervasive yet elusive forces that shape our world. Jacobs also treats every exhibition as an opportunity to teach and inspire others how to create artwork that is more environmentally friendly by utilizing unexpected materials for his large-scale art installations, such as cardboard, egg cartons, yarn, quinoa, oatmeal, dryer sheets, and other textiles to name a few.
Handful of Dream-Dust
June 10 - August 7, 2022
Kaiser Gallery presents Handful of Dream-Dust a solo exhibit by Cleveland artist Jonah Jacobs, on view at Kaiser Gallery from June 10 to August 7.
A local treasure within Cleveland’s art scene, Jonah Jacobs, explores themes of beauty, complexity, and eco-consciousness to create works that are simultaneously thought-provoking and visually stunning. Born in Denmark, and a graduate of Antioch College, he is also an Army veteran who served in S. Korea and in the 82nd Airborne Division, gaining invaluable experience and insight into different perspectives and ways of thinking.
Jacobs’ large-scale pieces combine thousands of individual geometric shapes to create mesmerizing forms that reference fractal patterns, bio colonies, and other complex systems. Jacobs merges creativity with science in an innovative way, to create artworks that explore ideas about order, chaos, growth, decay, and life cycles - the pervasive yet elusive forces that shape our world. Jacobs also treats every exhibition as an opportunity to teach and inspire others how to create artwork that is more environmentally friendly by utilizing unexpected materials for his large-scale art installations, such as cardboard, egg cartons, yarn, quinoa, oatmeal, dryer sheets, and other textiles to name a few.
Silent Fields
April 8 - June 5, 2022
Kaiser Gallery's Silent Fields is a thought-provoking exhibition that will make you stop and think about the consequences of human activity on bees. Pollinators are necessary for the world's food security, yet humans are directly harming these delicate insects. Silent Fields is an exhibition that raises awareness of the importance of pollinators and the need to protect them. Silent Fields exhibition raises awareness for how important it is to protect pollinators and showcases them in a new light.
Presenting the works of Melissa Harvey, Maggie Latham, Kimit Menapace, Georgio Sabino III, and David Straange.
Additional information
The honey bee is possibly the most known pollinating species. Native species of bees and different bugs are fundamental to our food supply. Without these species, 70% of flora would be unable to reproduce or furnish food. Affected crops include many of our fruits, vegetables, and nuts that we are dependent on for our meals. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, of the 100 crops that grant 90% of the world’s food, 71 are pollinated by bees.
Currently, pollinators are declining at alarming rates. The number of honey bee colonies managed in the U.S. dropped from approximately 6 million in 1947 to less than 2.5 million today.
For more information about the pollination crisis, please visit https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/304/pollinators-and-pesticides/impacts-on-the-food-supply
Presenting the works of Melissa Harvey, Maggie Latham, Kimit Menapace, Georgio Sabino III, and David Straange.
Additional information
The honey bee is possibly the most known pollinating species. Native species of bees and different bugs are fundamental to our food supply. Without these species, 70% of flora would be unable to reproduce or furnish food. Affected crops include many of our fruits, vegetables, and nuts that we are dependent on for our meals. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, of the 100 crops that grant 90% of the world’s food, 71 are pollinated by bees.
Currently, pollinators are declining at alarming rates. The number of honey bee colonies managed in the U.S. dropped from approximately 6 million in 1947 to less than 2.5 million today.
For more information about the pollination crisis, please visit https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/304/pollinators-and-pesticides/impacts-on-the-food-supply
Still from Héloïse Roueau's video installation, 'Morgane' (2018).
Coveted II
February 11 - April 3, 2022
Kaiser Gallery’s annual exhibition Coveted seeks to represent the perspectives of those that are not easily accessible in mainstream culture, while representations of the male gaze can be found in abundance. This year's theme highlights the experiences of the 'othered' within spirituality, religion, and the occult. The spiritual journey can be difficult when looking for acceptance from oneself or from communities.
There is a long history of exclusion of women and persons who identified as LGBTQ+ from religious institutions. However, with the rise of feminism, there is a movement to open these religious institutions to include women and those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community in all aspects of spiritual practice. This includes things like leading prayer services or being able to become priests, and incorporating feminine energy into religious ceremonies and rituals.
However, religion inclusion is still not universal at this time within all religious institutions, and many find themselves looking in from the outside in the role of the other. These persons can develop a tenuous relationship with religion, as they are forced to participate, knowing they are not entirely accepted.
The resurgence of the occult in modern-day times places women in positions of power within the coven structure and allows women to be healers and leaders. The occult rejects the universal 'he' and offers women and nonbinary people a feminist-friendly alternative in their search for spirituality.
The occult draws on practices that date back to the dawn of time and has been practiced by women for generations. For centuries, it was forbidden for women to hold any agency as healers or religious leaders. As a result, they were burned at the stake and declared witches. But as history tells us, those days are long gone, and now we have feminist witch covens dedicated to inclusion.
Spirituality is a personal journey for acceptance of oneself. Finding a spiritual path or community to support that can be trying. In the feminist movement, there is a place for everyone regardless of their path. Opening doors within religion that previously seemed inaccessible.
Presenting the artworks of Courtney Alnutt, Tanya Kaiser, Natalie Lambert, Vic Liu, Jess Niemeyer, & Héloïse Roueau.
February 11 - April 3, 2022
Kaiser Gallery’s annual exhibition Coveted seeks to represent the perspectives of those that are not easily accessible in mainstream culture, while representations of the male gaze can be found in abundance. This year's theme highlights the experiences of the 'othered' within spirituality, religion, and the occult. The spiritual journey can be difficult when looking for acceptance from oneself or from communities.
There is a long history of exclusion of women and persons who identified as LGBTQ+ from religious institutions. However, with the rise of feminism, there is a movement to open these religious institutions to include women and those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community in all aspects of spiritual practice. This includes things like leading prayer services or being able to become priests, and incorporating feminine energy into religious ceremonies and rituals.
However, religion inclusion is still not universal at this time within all religious institutions, and many find themselves looking in from the outside in the role of the other. These persons can develop a tenuous relationship with religion, as they are forced to participate, knowing they are not entirely accepted.
The resurgence of the occult in modern-day times places women in positions of power within the coven structure and allows women to be healers and leaders. The occult rejects the universal 'he' and offers women and nonbinary people a feminist-friendly alternative in their search for spirituality.
The occult draws on practices that date back to the dawn of time and has been practiced by women for generations. For centuries, it was forbidden for women to hold any agency as healers or religious leaders. As a result, they were burned at the stake and declared witches. But as history tells us, those days are long gone, and now we have feminist witch covens dedicated to inclusion.
Spirituality is a personal journey for acceptance of oneself. Finding a spiritual path or community to support that can be trying. In the feminist movement, there is a place for everyone regardless of their path. Opening doors within religion that previously seemed inaccessible.
Presenting the artworks of Courtney Alnutt, Tanya Kaiser, Natalie Lambert, Vic Liu, Jess Niemeyer, & Héloïse Roueau.
2021
Future Resonance
December 3, 2021 - February 6, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, December 4, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
This year's Future Resonance exhibition seeks to explore technology as an aspect of human expression - how technology can push our thoughts into new horizons while creating avenues for artistic visionaries to express themselves.
The annual art and technology exhibition returns to Kaiser Gallery. This year Future Resonance presents yet another amazing batch of artists and creators who explore the field of sound and light as a universal media. The exhibition is an invitation to explore the ways in which technology and artistic practices converge. See the synchronicity of these artists as they change the way we see the world.
It is not a coincidence that art and technology have been declared as the theme for our annual exhibition. Technology has become a significant part of our lives – it permeates all aspects of it, from entertainment to medicine. With technology quickly evolving into an essential aspect of our lives, technology is no longer considered a novelty or a luxury. Instead, it's becoming a necessity for the human race. Technology has also increased our appetite for artistry because technology feeds the imagination with its expansive capabilities and unlimited horizons - resulting in ever more ambitious creations that give us elevated perspectives on human achievement.
With technology being a necessary part of life, it has also become a source for artistic inspiration. Technology seeps through the boundaries between science and art. It is no longer something seen as separate from or even opposed to art – technology has become one of the most influential forces behind modern art because tech does not simply illustrate an idea, technology makes it happen.
The human interaction with technology is a major aspect of modern art - because technology has become a part of who we are as a people. It is a cultural force that constantly evolves and will continue to do so until there is no distinction between technology and life. Some believe this shift towards technology couldn't have happened without the emergence of digital technology - that technological jump from analog to digital brought about changes in how things were created and experienced, such as sound and light.
Sound & Light: Now more than ever we can understand music and other forms of sound by seeing them – the visual representation of the elements creates a new lens through which we can experience these phenomena.
Presenting the works of Mike Bruckman, Jeremy Davis, Jeremy Newman, Thea Reid, Ethan Samaha, Dustin Steuck, and Anna Thorne.
This year's Future Resonance exhibition seeks to explore technology as an aspect of human expression - how technology can push our thoughts into new horizons while creating avenues for artistic visionaries to express themselves.
The annual art and technology exhibition returns to Kaiser Gallery. This year Future Resonance presents yet another amazing batch of artists and creators who explore the field of sound and light as a universal media. The exhibition is an invitation to explore the ways in which technology and artistic practices converge. See the synchronicity of these artists as they change the way we see the world.
It is not a coincidence that art and technology have been declared as the theme for our annual exhibition. Technology has become a significant part of our lives – it permeates all aspects of it, from entertainment to medicine. With technology quickly evolving into an essential aspect of our lives, technology is no longer considered a novelty or a luxury. Instead, it's becoming a necessity for the human race. Technology has also increased our appetite for artistry because technology feeds the imagination with its expansive capabilities and unlimited horizons - resulting in ever more ambitious creations that give us elevated perspectives on human achievement.
With technology being a necessary part of life, it has also become a source for artistic inspiration. Technology seeps through the boundaries between science and art. It is no longer something seen as separate from or even opposed to art – technology has become one of the most influential forces behind modern art because tech does not simply illustrate an idea, technology makes it happen.
The human interaction with technology is a major aspect of modern art - because technology has become a part of who we are as a people. It is a cultural force that constantly evolves and will continue to do so until there is no distinction between technology and life. Some believe this shift towards technology couldn't have happened without the emergence of digital technology - that technological jump from analog to digital brought about changes in how things were created and experienced, such as sound and light.
Sound & Light: Now more than ever we can understand music and other forms of sound by seeing them – the visual representation of the elements creates a new lens through which we can experience these phenomena.
Presenting the works of Mike Bruckman, Jeremy Davis, Jeremy Newman, Thea Reid, Ethan Samaha, Dustin Steuck, and Anna Thorne.
Cut From the Same Cloth
October 16 - November 28, 2021
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART: CREATIVITY WORKS
ARTIST TALK SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21 AT 6 PM
Kaiser Gallery presents 'Cut From The Same Cloth' on view October 16 through November 28. This exhibit features the mixed media works of Cleveland Institute of Art students Ewuresi Archer and Crystal Miller. The vibrant artworks in this series draw directly from the artists' African American and African cultures, offering a dialect and a conversation between the two experiences.
"We come from two different backgrounds and are of the same race. There are a lot of differences and similarities between us as humans but also between our cultures. As a result, the work depicts our hopefulness and pride in our cultures. Rooted in cultural experiences, the hair salon, music, and home life, these experiences bring us together. While this may not be the lifestyle for every black person, we hope, in some way, a connection can be made.
The paintings depict physical spaces that we have been in and or are a place we call home. The textures, patterns, and gem-like motifs represent the continuous black lifestyle. The color combination is used to represent black skin but also celebrate black lives and transform these spaces and demonstrate an experience.
Overall the series invites the viewer to reflect on these spaces, and look into our lives, and appreciate our culture for what it is."
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART: CREATIVITY WORKS
ARTIST TALK SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21 AT 6 PM
Kaiser Gallery presents 'Cut From The Same Cloth' on view October 16 through November 28. This exhibit features the mixed media works of Cleveland Institute of Art students Ewuresi Archer and Crystal Miller. The vibrant artworks in this series draw directly from the artists' African American and African cultures, offering a dialect and a conversation between the two experiences.
"We come from two different backgrounds and are of the same race. There are a lot of differences and similarities between us as humans but also between our cultures. As a result, the work depicts our hopefulness and pride in our cultures. Rooted in cultural experiences, the hair salon, music, and home life, these experiences bring us together. While this may not be the lifestyle for every black person, we hope, in some way, a connection can be made.
The paintings depict physical spaces that we have been in and or are a place we call home. The textures, patterns, and gem-like motifs represent the continuous black lifestyle. The color combination is used to represent black skin but also celebrate black lives and transform these spaces and demonstrate an experience.
Overall the series invites the viewer to reflect on these spaces, and look into our lives, and appreciate our culture for what it is."
Ewuresi Archer
Ewuresi Archer is an artist currently living and working in Cleveland Ohio. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her paintings utilize fluorescent colors and distorted shapes to create unnatural environments. In using distorted shapes and colors, she creates spaces that have viewers questioning and wondering about the nature of reality, and how it is constantly slipping through our fingers.
Crystal Miller
Crystal Miller is an interdisciplinary mixed media artist currently living and working in Cleveland, Ohio. She has an Associates in Graphic Design and is on her way to get a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Painting, Sculpture and Expanded Media at The Cleveland Institute of Art. Her paintings and sculptures explore the ideas and concepts of beauty through unconventional materials such as beads, yarn, rhinestones, and foam. Her main focus is to create an individualized aesthetic that represents her blackness and personal experiences with hair.
Andrew Ellis Johnson
"Insurrection" (2020)
Ink on paper.
50 x 113 inches
The Weight of Time
August 14 - October 10, 2021
Opening reception on August 14, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
'The Weight of Time' is an exhibition that explores the surrealism of a very real global pandemic through introspective works. The novel virus COVID-19 threw the world as we knew it into a situation that we've never seen before. The global pandemic and the shutdowns that followed created disorientating challenges for various people to navigate in different ways while further exposing broken government infrastructure and community ramifications for a world that was not prepared to stop.
Presenting the works of Chad Eby, Danny Greene, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Matt Milligan, Haumed Rahmani, and Nowhere Mountain.
*Don't miss the upcoming virtual artist talk on September 30 with Chad Eby, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Matt Milligan and Nowhere Mountain.
Then join us for the closing reception on October 10 featuring local artists Danny Greene and Haumed Rahmani.
Opening reception on August 14, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
'The Weight of Time' is an exhibition that explores the surrealism of a very real global pandemic through introspective works. The novel virus COVID-19 threw the world as we knew it into a situation that we've never seen before. The global pandemic and the shutdowns that followed created disorientating challenges for various people to navigate in different ways while further exposing broken government infrastructure and community ramifications for a world that was not prepared to stop.
Presenting the works of Chad Eby, Danny Greene, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Matt Milligan, Haumed Rahmani, and Nowhere Mountain.
*Don't miss the upcoming virtual artist talk on September 30 with Chad Eby, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Matt Milligan and Nowhere Mountain.
Then join us for the closing reception on October 10 featuring local artists Danny Greene and Haumed Rahmani.
Derick Decario Ladale Whitson's Sugar (Chapter II)
SOLO SHOW SELECTION 2021
June 12 - August 8, 2021
June 12 - August 8, 2021
On June 12, Kaiser Gallery presents SUGAR (Chapter II), a solo exhibition by Derick Decario Ladale Whitson. Whitson (b. 1991 Mansfield, Ohio) is an artist currently living and working in NYC. Working primarily in photography and video, Whitson explores the history and relationships of clowning, drag queens and black/white face to explore the social constructs of race, gender, and sexuality.
Derick Decario Ladale Whitson has attended artist residencies at AICAD New York Studio Residency Program, NY; Mass MoCA, Massachusetts; The Fountainhead, Miami, FL; and The Galveston Artist Residency. His work has recently been exhibited at Art Basel, Miami, FL; The Studio Museum in Harlem; and The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, CO. Whitson is also a current recipient of the Foundation For Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, the 2019 Enfoco Photography Fellowship, & The 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellowship. Whitson received his MFA at Columbia University and BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design.
Derick Decario Ladale Whitson has attended artist residencies at AICAD New York Studio Residency Program, NY; Mass MoCA, Massachusetts; The Fountainhead, Miami, FL; and The Galveston Artist Residency. His work has recently been exhibited at Art Basel, Miami, FL; The Studio Museum in Harlem; and The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, CO. Whitson is also a current recipient of the Foundation For Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, the 2019 Enfoco Photography Fellowship, & The 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellowship. Whitson received his MFA at Columbia University and BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design.
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Derick Decario Ladale Whitson (b. 1991, Mansfield, Ohio) lives & works in New York City. Earned his MFA at Columbia University & BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design. Working within the realms of Photography, Video & Performance. Whitson’s work has been published in Miami New Times, Huffington Post, The Advocate Magazine, & Photo-Emphasis. Whitson has participated in many residencies across the U.S., including programs at Mass MoCA, The Fountainhead (Miami), and the AICAD/New York Studio Residency Program. Whitson is also a current recipient of the Foundation For Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, the 2019 Enfoco Photography Fellowship, & The 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellowship.
Artist Statement |
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This is your Ego: Words, two words, made up of two words. I’ve waited on the smell of beef stew and the taste of the burned garlic that sizzles the throat. My throat has held tension, it could be the tightness from allergies or the 3 legged dog pose that has become impossible to comfortably release. I’ve found moments of silence, maybe only two, but the background noise of television, irritates my thoughts on the search for a job that will convert me into a citizen. Theres been no quench of my thirst, theres no physical metaphor or reason to continue slurping orange juice. My belly is bloated, it’s beyond the american cheese and meat lovers pizza. The anxiety holds tight onto the gas that introduces itself to my neighbors. Maybe I waited for this? Waited to find that my true lover is longing and the potential, to make believe and form surrealist dreams that remind me of the bones in my sleeves. I have two treasure chests, one in my pores and the other in the sheets when I allow one sock to go because of a fungus thats beneath one curled toe. I had a dream of painting, navigating color relationships on a canvas. I also dreamed of riding my bicycle down a hill that was so steep I could barely break. Ellen is the name, she’s my divination tarot card reader. I’ve never seen her, I’ve never spoken to her, but she reveals a path. Sometimes I hear my own thoughts like a bell, the bell from the toaster oven that invented itself? Is it really true that I could be a combination of everything and every one else, am I made up of other peoples thoughts. There’s something to the color mint green, the green influences my sickness, almost like a tooth decaying in response to a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone. I’ve loved once before, he was kind, gentle, sweet, the production of him happened in my dreams. I’ve thought about my dreams once before, they told me theres something to the color yellow, they said it’s like a stench in the air that’s only tainted by the sun. Running doesn’t get me high, it only forces me to create a amount of sympathy, sympathy for my insecurities. I’ve seen this chevron pattern once before, it follows the stripes that mask themselves in red & white, but this time in cotton. Cotton has become a symbol, I’m not sure of what, maybe it’s the mucus that drowned itself in my skin. A rose also carries it’s own symbol, and I don’t mean a projected symbol that signifies the artificial lighting from Christmas lights. I’ve learned two things about breathing, only one represents life. Calvin, what a lovely name, is that because it’s attached to my suit case, or my white underwear that rises in my shorts. I’ve found solace in my longing, time in my heart beat, and a tremor in my waken state. Lets hope my ego has found peace also.
Exhibition Statement
Black face subsided while white face remains as the main representation of clowning. Between 1830’s-1910 across the US were performances of minstrel showings, these shows became mainstream in 1848. The minstrel shows lampooned black individuals with modern stereotypes. Othello, originated in London, by Shakespeare, is known as the most famous performance of white males performing both gendered roles and in blackface. Shakespeare also employed jesters & clowns, the first play was Lord Chamberlain’s Men. 1980’s and early 90’s we have a resurgence of the Club Kid Culture scene, that was comprised of wealthy white individuals, that then leads us to contemporary platforms like Rupaul’s Drag Race. As a spectator of such platforms and histories, levels of performance and masking are metaphoric representations of the repression of race and gender. The white clown face is blackface in disguise. Blackface which originated through clowning created new stereotypes and perpetuated mistreatment and racist behaviors years to come.
In 1865 Slavery was abolished in Texas, and Galveston had an illegal slave trade through the Gulf of Mexico starting in 1816. By becoming an active member of the community in Texas, and an outsider responding to the context and history of repression and abuse in America, Sugar (Chapter II) becomes an extension of my natural responses to the people I’ve met and the nonliving extended experiences, by being on their territory. My time in Galveston is a recent endeavor, a temporary exploration of a town that cultivated a haunting. There are pioneers, subcultures, and individuals that are transforming, and questioning the roles of identity through race in makeup, gender through costuming, and humor/entertainment through pain. The different levels of engagement and influence hold a large amount of information in standards of beauty traced from all over the world.
I use photography to create a new form of identification through methods of masking. This is a form of representation, as an explorative generation of power through image-making. There’s a need to deconstruct ideologies based on appearance through imagery. I am dissecting the levels of masking. This photographic amalgamation is political, subversive, and affirmative imagery that forms a racial & gender non-conforming empathetic utopia. During the course of the past 3 years, I have been working on a new project titled Sugar (Chapter II). Sugar (Chapter II) is a series of photographs and video that will be displayed inside a full-colored installation. Created are staged photographs that are in response to my living locations.
In 1865 Slavery was abolished in Texas, and Galveston had an illegal slave trade through the Gulf of Mexico starting in 1816. By becoming an active member of the community in Texas, and an outsider responding to the context and history of repression and abuse in America, Sugar (Chapter II) becomes an extension of my natural responses to the people I’ve met and the nonliving extended experiences, by being on their territory. My time in Galveston is a recent endeavor, a temporary exploration of a town that cultivated a haunting. There are pioneers, subcultures, and individuals that are transforming, and questioning the roles of identity through race in makeup, gender through costuming, and humor/entertainment through pain. The different levels of engagement and influence hold a large amount of information in standards of beauty traced from all over the world.
I use photography to create a new form of identification through methods of masking. This is a form of representation, as an explorative generation of power through image-making. There’s a need to deconstruct ideologies based on appearance through imagery. I am dissecting the levels of masking. This photographic amalgamation is political, subversive, and affirmative imagery that forms a racial & gender non-conforming empathetic utopia. During the course of the past 3 years, I have been working on a new project titled Sugar (Chapter II). Sugar (Chapter II) is a series of photographs and video that will be displayed inside a full-colored installation. Created are staged photographs that are in response to my living locations.
DomesticLands
April 9 - June 6, 2021
The home is a place that fosters our understanding of relationships. During the early years of childhood is when we develop socially and emotionally. Later in life, these early years will impact our ability to foster relationships, empathize, and how to interact with others. When revisiting memories of home, it is important to teeter on the edge of both joy and trauma as this duality defines us. There are nurturing memories that offer safety and warmth. However, for others, the home can represent pain where a moment of trauma is forever encased in time. Home can be a physical location, associated with the material, or defined within one's self. This cultivation of objects and relationships defines who we are.
Presenting works by Morgan Bukovec, Gary Sczerbaniewicz, and Allison M. Walters.
Presenting works by Morgan Bukovec, Gary Sczerbaniewicz, and Allison M. Walters.
Coveted.
February 13 - April 4, 2021
Laura Mulvey, Scholar, and Filmmaker introduced the term "the male gaze" in her 1975 essay. The male gaze represents the perspective of a heterosexual male viewer, along with the perspective of the heterosexual male character and the heterosexual male creator of the film. The male gaze also primarily depicts women as sexual objects for the sole pleasure of the male viewer.
While representations of the male gaze can be found in abundance when exploring themes of love, relationships, and desires, Coveted features works that offer a range of perspectives that are not easily accessible in mainstream culture. Featured works by Stefani Byrd (Fayetteville, AR), Dani Clauson (Portland, OR), Leiyana Gonzales (Cleveland, OH), Sydney Kleinrock (Long Island, NY), Megan Lubey (Cleveland, OH), Olga Nazarenko (Cleveland, OH), and Rebecca Poarch (Long Island, NY).
While representations of the male gaze can be found in abundance when exploring themes of love, relationships, and desires, Coveted features works that offer a range of perspectives that are not easily accessible in mainstream culture. Featured works by Stefani Byrd (Fayetteville, AR), Dani Clauson (Portland, OR), Leiyana Gonzales (Cleveland, OH), Sydney Kleinrock (Long Island, NY), Megan Lubey (Cleveland, OH), Olga Nazarenko (Cleveland, OH), and Rebecca Poarch (Long Island, NY).
Read DRB's review of Coveted on the CAN Blog.
| CAN Blog: DRB review of 'Coveted' |
2020
SWITCH
December 18, 2020 - February 7, 2021
Kaiser Gallery is proud to feature artists and creatives from the art and technology sectors who utilize light as their medium and source of inspiration. The evolution of art has led it to become more and more intertwined with technology and reshaping the definition of what we consider art along the way. SWITCH features a wide variety of artists and creators who challenge art in different directions through the implementation of technology. Artists and creators alike explore different expressions of light through multidimensional studies, including but not limited to, sculptural works, printmaking, projection art, and virtual reality. The blending of different types of media through innovative practices may even provide a glimpse into the future.
Presenting works by Laura Bigger, Emily Dzieweczynski, GIBSON + RECODER, Carol Anne McChrystal, Haumed Rahmani, Joseph Santarpia, and HR-Stamenov.
Kaiser Gallery is proud to feature artists and creatives from the art and technology sectors who utilize light as their medium and source of inspiration. The evolution of art has led it to become more and more intertwined with technology and reshaping the definition of what we consider art along the way. SWITCH features a wide variety of artists and creators who challenge art in different directions through the implementation of technology. Artists and creators alike explore different expressions of light through multidimensional studies, including but not limited to, sculptural works, printmaking, projection art, and virtual reality. The blending of different types of media through innovative practices may even provide a glimpse into the future.
Presenting works by Laura Bigger, Emily Dzieweczynski, GIBSON + RECODER, Carol Anne McChrystal, Haumed Rahmani, Joseph Santarpia, and HR-Stamenov.
Laura Bigger
My work explores the relationships that exist among humans, animals, and ecosystems, particularly in terms of the food chain, raw materials, and the human tendency to exert control over natural systems. It explores existential quandaries such as what it means to be a human today, how we can live in the world responsibly, and what our obligation is to do so. As a multimedia artist, I question anthropocentric viewpoints and interpret the man made environment primarily through print, drawing and installation. Celestial Bodies is a series of prints that uses symbolism to articulate the concept of a tipping point. Some works portray the point at which light approaching a black hole changes direction, having been drawn toward the black hole’s mass. Others portray light emerging carelessly from a prism with no obstacles. Components such as slices of water are either upright, indicating an expected stasis, or upside-down, hinting at an eerie world with laws of nature unfathomable to us. While this series is more abstracted than much of my recent work, it manifests an environmental concern and a visual experimentation with balance, optimism, pessimism, and escapism.
Laura Bigger 'Constellations' (2019) Monoprint: intaglio & relief with copper leaf and reflective glass beads. 10.5" x 14.5”
Laura Bigger Bio
Laura Bigger is an Assistant Professor of Art and runs the printmaking area at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. She has previously taught at the University of Nevada, Reno and Augsburg College, in Minneapolis, MN. Originally from Boulder, CO, Bigger received a BA in Studio Art and Hispanic Studies from Colorado College in 2008 and an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2013. She has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions nationally.
Laura Bigger is an Assistant Professor of Art and runs the printmaking area at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. She has previously taught at the University of Nevada, Reno and Augsburg College, in Minneapolis, MN. Originally from Boulder, CO, Bigger received a BA in Studio Art and Hispanic Studies from Colorado College in 2008 and an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2013. She has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions nationally.
Emily Dzieweczynski
I’m curious about empathy. My portfolio moves between science, art, and technology. It questions the lengths and limitations of these fields when they intersect at the concept of empathy. This interest in empathy comes from equal parts hope, stubbornness, and cynicism. I wanted to understand what could make people do good. The research began by studying Daniel Batson’s Empathy-Altruism hypothesis. This hypothesis states that the more empathic concern we feel towards an entity, the more altruistic motivation is experienced. Empathy is facilitated by both understanding or sharing emotional remembrances and one’s ability to project and experience bodily sensations in relation to another entity. My work is interdisciplinary. Psychological literature informs art making decisions, bringing something that is analyzed into something that is felt. I conduct research through data collection and documentation. Work in two-dimensional or new media functions as empathic stimuli, questioning how we connect and experience empathy. Ultimately, your reality is vastly different than mine and I want to understand that.
Emily Dzieweczynski 'An Audio Analysis of Home' (2020) 3D Rendering, Ambisonic Sound, and VR. 3:50 min
Emily Dzieweczynski is a multimedia artist, creative researcher, designer, and educator. She is interested in the intersection of science and art, particularly where they meet at the concept of empathy. Emily is a graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College, holding Bachelor’s degrees in Studio Art and Psychological Science, and studied Fine Arts Media at the Slade School of Fine Art. Her work takes the form of drawing, printmaking, writing, and new media; including code, virtual reality, 3D modeling, web-based media, sound, and video.
Emily’s work has been shown at venues such as the Target Gallery, the American Swedish Institute, Rosalux Gallery, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Gustavus Adolphus College, and the Children’s Museum of Minnesota. She has received funding through the National Science Foundation, an Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant, the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, and Gustavus Adolphus College.
Emily’s work has been shown at venues such as the Target Gallery, the American Swedish Institute, Rosalux Gallery, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Gustavus Adolphus College, and the Children’s Museum of Minnesota. She has received funding through the National Science Foundation, an Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant, the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, and Gustavus Adolphus College.
GIBSON + RECODER
Coming Attraction GIBSON + RECODER In our installation work, we use projected light to articulate space and time. Film projectors and celluloid are the material base of our constructions in light and shadow, the elemental properties of cinema. These things are deeply imbued with a history of viewership in the dark of the theater. To remove it from darkness is to flood this history and cast a certain illumination upon it. A certain exposure. Light spills in the shifting of film from its native darkness in enclosed chambers (camera obscura) to the uncanny openness and defamiliarized illumination of installation. We are exploring the shift, elaborating the displacement, recasting the light mechanics of a peculiar estrangement of the medium. The art of cinema, yes. But more timely: the becoming cinema of art. That is the coming attraction for us.
Gibson + Recoder 'Solid Light Film' (2017) 16mm film projectors, acrylic cylinder, and hardware. 14" x 41" x 13"
Collaborating artists Sandra Gibson (b. 1968, Portland, OR) and Luis Recoder (b. 1971, San Francisco, CA) have been exhibiting their expanded cinema installations and projection performances since 2000. Their works are in the permanent collections of major art museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, and Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, Germany. Artist awards and commissions include the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy, National Endowment for the Art’s U.S.-Japan Creative Artists Fellowship, and Madison Square Park Conservancy’s Mad. Sq. Art in New York. Lecturing appointments include both long and short-term teaching residencies in the media departments of the University of Colorado Boulder, Denison University in Ohio, and California Institute for the Arts. They are featured artists and research associates of RESET THE APPARATUS! A Survey of the Photographic and the Filmic in Contemporary Art, hosted by the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria. Gibson + Recoder live and work in New York.
Carol Anne McChrystal
My materially-driven sculptures work through chemical processes and labor-intensive hand-making to explore the legacies of colonialism and trade, as well as the ways in which the climate catastrophe has compounded these histories of inequity. Inhabiting a tension between Earth’s immense geological history and the absurd everyday experience of plastic and labor, I consolidate the painstakingly hand-made with mass-produced consumables to pry open a speculative space to resist the means-ends rationale of late capitalism.
Carol Anne McChrystal 'Media Archaeology I' (2020) Dual layer DVD-Rs, kernite, dye, and copper nails. 60" x 60"
Born into the dual diaspora of the Philippines and Ireland, Carol Anne McChrystal is a Los Angeles–based artist and designer. Her materially-driven sculpture and videos work through chemical processes and labor-intensive hand-making to explore the legacy of colonialism and trade, as well as the ways in which the climate catastrophe has compounded these histories of inequity. Inhabiting the tension between Earth’s immense history and the absurdly mundane everyday experience of plastic and labor, her practice consolidates painstakingly hand-made and mass-produced consumables in order to pry open a speculative space in which to resist the means-ends rationale of late capitalism.
As part of the collaborative duo Nightmare City, she has created immersive environments that have been exhibited at Alter Space in San Francisco, The Luminary in St. Louis, and Horse and Pony in Berlin, and has shown video works at Essex Flowers in New York, MASS Gallery in Austin, and ACRETV in Chicago. Her writing has been published in critical arts publications like Art Practical and Temporary, and she recently self-published a collection of poetry titled, “Entropical Latitudes.” In tandem with her art practice, she organizes within the local Filipino community in Los Angeles with GABRIELA, the anti-imperialist Filipino women’s group.
As part of the collaborative duo Nightmare City, she has created immersive environments that have been exhibited at Alter Space in San Francisco, The Luminary in St. Louis, and Horse and Pony in Berlin, and has shown video works at Essex Flowers in New York, MASS Gallery in Austin, and ACRETV in Chicago. Her writing has been published in critical arts publications like Art Practical and Temporary, and she recently self-published a collection of poetry titled, “Entropical Latitudes.” In tandem with her art practice, she organizes within the local Filipino community in Los Angeles with GABRIELA, the anti-imperialist Filipino women’s group.
Haumed Rahmani
Just as we learn who we are through the process of self reflection, so too does this projection piece form its own emotions, memories, and identity by seeing itself through itself. The camera, projector, and cross-dichroic prism act as the organs of a feedback loop of converging and diverging light, always recreating the present as a fractalized view of the past. In this way, the system hopes to achieve some internal meaning.
Every word in the dictionary
is defined by other words in the dictionary,
like every moment in time
is defined by other moments:
a language of fractals,
only ever returning to itself.
is defined by other words in the dictionary,
like every moment in time
is defined by other moments:
a language of fractals,
only ever returning to itself.
Haumed Rahmani 'Self-Reflection' (2020) digital projection and prism.
Straddling creative, scientific, and digital frameworks, Haumed Rahmani spends his time thinking about questions that lead to better questions, in hopes of finding a guiding compass through the future. His code is being used by the likes of Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Max Planck Institute, and he’s slated to present at the International Liquid Crystal Conference 2022. With work ranging from microscope imaging to generative weaving and short film, Haumed is foremost a toolbuilder and communicator. He is currently working toward his PhD in Chemical Physics at the Advanced Materials & Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University.
Joseph Santarpia
My practice captures a stark contrast of darkness and luminosity, referencing both a sense of visceral interiority and expansive space in order to address curiosities regarding embodiment and release, and autopoiesis and sympoiesis. I achieve a range of abstracted and representational imagery using pigment and fluid on paper along with monotype printing and photographic processes. Through series’ of ink and watercolor paintings, collages, cyanotypes, and some 3 and 4D pieces, my work indexes the comparability of and transitory nature between interiority, flesh, bodily mechanics, and corporeal structure, to that of the expanse of space into which bodily actions extend. My materials interact through varying ratios of fluid, light, and object. The cyanotype process is fundamentally photography and printmaking—chemical exposure to UV light and transferring objects onto paper. The creative capacity of the chemicals, light, and objects on the paper surface allow this media to be treated painterly, as my "Scope" and "Range" series are. Evoking the aesthetics of medical imagery (MRI and X-ray) and using exercise equipment as the subject of the image transfer, this work is imbued with a context of medicalization and rehabilitation.
Joseph Santarpia 'BOUND vi' (2020) Cyanotype. 45" x 33"
Joseph Santarpia's work leverages autopoiesis—the self-creative capacity of material—to explore questions of release, embodiment, and landscape. He received his MFA from Stony Brook University in 2020, and a bachelors degree in Visual Art Education from SUNY New Paltz in 2017. He's shown in galleries across the United States, including: Small Green Door, East Los Angeles, CA; Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH; LIC Arts Open, Long Island City, NY; The Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition, Brooklyn, NY; Limner Gallery, Hudson NY; The Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, Stony Brook, NY; Gallery North, Setauket, NY. He is the recipient of awards including The Goldberger Fellowship and the Dorothy L. Memorial Purchase Prize. Santarpia is also an active, New York State certified art educator currently working for the Lowville Academy & Central School District and previously for the Gallery North ArtVentures Program and Stony Brook University’s Studio Art Program.
At age 18, Santarpia had a spinal fusion of his L5, S1 vertebrae, altering his bodily reality. Because of this, he has grown to be intensely attentive to his bodily sensations. The lived experience and physical consequences of this procedure have since informed his life and art practice greatly. The two main components from which Santarpia’s practice manifest are (1) material approach and process, and (2) conceptual and biographical context. Both his material approach and the spinal fusion surgery he underwent, rely on systems of collaborative creativity (autopoiesis/sympoiesis). The fusion surgery uses bone graft, which is essentially a glue that hardens or fuses into bone over time. The procedure sets a rigid ground using rods and screws along and into the vertebrae for bodily regeneration to take its course. Similarly, Santarpia’s art practice facilitates a system of interaction: the flow of liquids and sediments; gravitational forces; evaporation; crystallization; state changes of liquids, gasses, and solids; UV light; emulsification; muscle contraction; respiration; cognition.
At age 18, Santarpia had a spinal fusion of his L5, S1 vertebrae, altering his bodily reality. Because of this, he has grown to be intensely attentive to his bodily sensations. The lived experience and physical consequences of this procedure have since informed his life and art practice greatly. The two main components from which Santarpia’s practice manifest are (1) material approach and process, and (2) conceptual and biographical context. Both his material approach and the spinal fusion surgery he underwent, rely on systems of collaborative creativity (autopoiesis/sympoiesis). The fusion surgery uses bone graft, which is essentially a glue that hardens or fuses into bone over time. The procedure sets a rigid ground using rods and screws along and into the vertebrae for bodily regeneration to take its course. Similarly, Santarpia’s art practice facilitates a system of interaction: the flow of liquids and sediments; gravitational forces; evaporation; crystallization; state changes of liquids, gasses, and solids; UV light; emulsification; muscle contraction; respiration; cognition.
HR Stamenov
HR-Stamenov was born in 1981 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In 2007 he obtained his Master’s Degree in Painting from Academia di Belle Arti di Carrara, Italy in the class of professor Omar Galliani. HR-Stamenov work combines technology, new media, video, traditional oil paintings, and site-specific light Installations.
HR-Stamenov exhibited in: Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato, Italy, (2009); Lu.C.C.A. Museum - Center Of Contemporary Art, Italy (2011); Institute of Contemporary Art Sofia, Bulgaria (2011); La Triennale di Milano (2009 ,2018); Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdansk, Poland (2012); Sofia Arsenal - Museum for Contemporary Art (2012); Sofia City Art Gallery (2009,10,11,12,13,14); Museum of Contemporary Art of Istria (2015) Structura Gallery, Sofia (2017); Galleria di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Viareggio, Italy (2018); CAMeC, La Spezia, Italy (2020) Æter Haga, The Hague, Netherlands (2020).
HR-Stamenov exhibited in: Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato, Italy, (2009); Lu.C.C.A. Museum - Center Of Contemporary Art, Italy (2011); Institute of Contemporary Art Sofia, Bulgaria (2011); La Triennale di Milano (2009 ,2018); Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdansk, Poland (2012); Sofia Arsenal - Museum for Contemporary Art (2012); Sofia City Art Gallery (2009,10,11,12,13,14); Museum of Contemporary Art of Istria (2015) Structura Gallery, Sofia (2017); Galleria di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Viareggio, Italy (2018); CAMeC, La Spezia, Italy (2020) Æter Haga, The Hague, Netherlands (2020).
HR Stamenov 'We need miracles' (2020) Video, loop, silent.