Fri 10/21 @ 5-9PM
Cleveland lost one of its most interesting artists on Christmas day 2019 when Stephen Kasner died at the age of 49.
Kasner hit the scene with a roar back in the ’90s when his dark, ominous art started to get recognition in the local underground arts/indie music scene, its heavy, gothic spirit reflected in his art. He produced work for area bands such as Keelhaul and Integrity, and northeast Ohio underground music monthly U.S. Rocker. And he showed at alternative gallery spaces such as the 1300 Gallery, a pioneering space at 78th Street Studios before everyone knew about 78thStreet.
He did his last local show there in 2003 before moving to California where he enjoyed a productive period. He continued to work with bands, design album covers, do film work and exhibit his work. He also produced a book in 2007 called Stephen Kasner Works: 1993-2006.
Unfortunately, he also developed a plethora of physical and psychological health issues and eventually moved back to Cleveland, reintroducing his work to the area scene with a show at HEDGE Gallery (also in 78th Street Studios) in August 2017, titled Capture & Release (Expanded Images Within Reach). It featured new drawings and paintings, along with some of his prints and posters. It seemed like a promising re-launch to a career that had been stalled for too long. Alas, it was not to be.
Now 1300 Gallery, at its current location on the second-floor at 78th Street Studios, is mounting MEMENTO VIVERE — A Celebration of the Life and Art of Stephen Kasner. It will include a selection of painting, drawing and mixed-media work from his 30 years of art-making, starting with his student work at the Cleveland Institute of Art, to his final flush of creativity prior to his death.
“His art exposed his dreams, loves, ideals, and fears for all who were willing to see,” says the gallery’s press release “He was an artist of severe dualities—his works were, all at once, shadowy and luminous, forlorn and transcendental, celebrating flights of spirit and the dross of the mundane world. His work and his essence alike derived their force from an unquenchable yearning to resolve and balance the extreme contradictions of the inner and outer worlds.”
The exhibit at 1300 will be on view for one weekend only: Friday October 21 @ 5-9pm, Saturday October 22 @ noon-5pm and Sunday October 23 @ 1-3pm.