Opening Fri 6/14 @ 6 – 10pm
The term “Mixed Media” immediately drums up both thoughts of cross-disciplinary masterpieces and amateurish combinations of various elementary school crafts. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re getting with this type of show.
However, THe MIX (opening Fri 6/14 from 6-10pm at Doubting Thomas in Tremont) boasts an all-star roster of local talent and one special guest — the caliber of which is worth the visit alone. The range of the group creates a diverse, dynamic exhibition. These are some of the hardest working artists in Cleveland. I’m familiar with the work of nearly every artist in the show and each of them has done something significant in Cleveland recently.
Dante Rodriguez had a solo show at The Galleries at Cleveland State; Dave Desimone curated (and participated in) group shows at Arts Collinwood and Survival Kit; Loren Naji organized an artistic group critique of the Gap Inc’s wasteful policies, has public work displayed at an RTA station and helped organize Brite Winter; John Saile curated “Luminescence,” a group show sponsored by local paint company Day Glo at Doubting Thomas; Chelsie Barile has curated shows at Doubting Thomas and Loren Naji’s gallery; Joe Ayala is the Gallery Director for CWAL (Cleveland West Art League) and is preparing to participate in an exhibition at the Rock Hall; Eric Ortiz recently had work at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and was commissioned to create TWO guitars for last summer’s Guitar Mania downtown… I could go on, but you get the point. These are hard-working, local art PROFESSIONALS.
The show is curated by local artist/curator/writer/photographer Natalia Dale. “THe MIX show was conceived because I wanted a way to bring Sandra Duran Wilson to town. I have known her for 3 years while traveling to Santa Fe,” says Dale. “With her in mind, I built a group of local artists who already work in mixed media, such as Justin Brennan and Billy Nainiger, and those who I wanted to push creatively with a new assignment, like Joe Ayala.”.
She continues, “Mixed media is a broad art technique and one thing that attracts me to it in general is the idea that each piece is completely different. With endless options for amazing results, this group of artists will really deliver various ways to express their artistic visions in new, and most importantly, one-of-a-kind ways.”
Sandra Duran Wilson is a third generation artist from Santa Fe, NM, with a background in science and art. She has written three books on painting techniques with a fourth on the way. She teaches artist workshops (which is how Dale met her) and her work is in public and private collections around the world. According to Dale, she is the first non-Ohio artist to be featured at Doubting Thomas.
Doubting Thomas’ exhibition space is a perfect setting for this show. The space balances raw and formal aesthetics. The keys to mixed media are taking advantage of each media’s unique qualities and balance. These are also key elements in curating a group exhibition and it appears Doubting Thomas and Natalia Dale have done just that. This is sure to be the highest quality show in this month’s Tremont Art Walk. Don’t miss it!
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Artists include Joe Ayala, Chelsie Barile, Justin Brennan, Natalia Dale, Dave Desimone, Joan of Art, Shawn Mishak, Billy Nainiger, Loren Naji, Eric Ortiz, Scott Pickering, John Saile, Dante Rodriguez, Rafael Valdivieso, Sheperd Weita, Meg Wilson and Sandra Duran Wilson.
This event is FREE and open to the public. The Touch Suppertruck will be parked outside the gallery for the opening.
[Pictured, from top: Artwork by Natalia Dale, Eric Ortiz, and Justin Brennan]
THe MIX opens @ Doubting Thomas Gallery this Fri 6/14 from 5 – 7pm and is on view through 7/6/13. Additional viewing hours: 6/16 from Noon-4 (During Show Your Stuff Tremont); 6/21 – 6/22 and 6/28 – 6/29 from 5-8pm or by appointment. Located at 856 Jefferson St. in Tremont. For Additional Information: Natalia Dale, curator Nataliascamera@gmail.com. http://tremontartwalk.com
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.