Thu 5/30 @ 8pm
This Thursday RAW:Cleveland presents Expressions, a group exhibition of nearly 40 artists from diverse creative fields including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, make-up, hair and fashion. The show is the first for RAW:Cleveland, a division of RAW Artists, which showcases artists in nearly 80 cities in the US, Australia and soon Canada.
While there may be some immediate sticker sho ck to art lovers who are used to free gallery openings, RAW offers visitors a unique opportunity to see different forms of creativity that don’t typically cross-pollinate. Also, the organizers boast that RAW is “For artists, by artists.” This passion for art, especially local art, is exemplified by RAW:Cleveland’s new organizer, Jacqueline DelBrocco.
“I love Cleveland, and one of the few things I love more than Cleveland is art,” DelBrocco says. She is a local artist who became involved when the initial organizer quit in February. She has been working diligently for months preparing for this relaunch, and will be organizing showcases every other month.
The event allows each artist to network within and outside their own field. In addition to the showcase, participating artists receive online exposure through RAW’s website and social media. Also, the organizers help prepare a press kit for each artist.
Visitors will be exposed to more culture in a night than a lot of people get in a month. Further, you will have the opportunity to see cutting edge trends and meet the young artists and designers that may some day be the backbone of Cleveland’s creative community.
One such young artist is my friend and former classmate Ryan Upp. Upp won “Best of Show” at this year’s Student Show at the Galleries at Cleveland State University for his photo “Memoirs of a Panda.” His work has been featured around CSU’s campus and in the New York Times. Ryan is the “Renaissance Man” of the art department. Last year, he won best of sculpture at CSU’s Student Show. He will have drawings from a series created this past year in RAW’s Expressions showcase.
“I will be one of the visual artists showcasing my recent mixed media drawings.” Upp says. “The series was done with spray paint, pastel, colored pencil and gold leafing, and depicts women from the Bible and various world mythologies. A majority of my inspiration for this work came from a mix of illuminated manuscripts and children’s fairy tale books. When people view my art I hope they enter a world that is not this one.”
This event is 21+ and cocktail attire is required.
[Pictured: (Top): Mixed Media drawing Jezebel by Ryan Upp; (Middle): Make-Up by Monica Henkel; (Bottom): Fashion Design by Wil Curtis]
RAW:Cleveland presents Expressions on Thu 5/30 at 8pm @ Avenue Tap House, 18206 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. http://rawartists.org.
Josh Usmani is a 27 year old local artist, curator and writer. Since 2008, his work has been featured in over 50 local and regional exhibitions.