Thu 11/2 @ 5:30-8PM
As it opens a new show called Tangents: Abstract & Geometric Art in Northeast Ohio, Artists Archives of the Western Reserve is touting a long history of exhibitions focusing a spotlight on geometric abstraction being done by artists in northeast Ohio.
“In 1988 Ursula Korneitchouk curated Geometric Abstraction: A Cleveland Tradition,” they share. “The exhibition was installed at the Lausche State Office building in downtown Cleveland, and included the works of 17 artists — Cleveland Institute of Art faculty and alumni from all over the USA. Later in 2001 the Cleveland Artists Foundation presented Harmonic Forms on the Edge, Geometric Abstraction in Cleveland at the Beck Center. Artists like John Clague, David Davis, Samuel Butnik, John Pearson, Ed Mieczkowski and Julian Stanczak were all a part of this last exhibition.”
AAWR invited local artist Jenniffer Omaitz to curate a new look at geomtric abstraction in the area. The show includes work by Gianna Commito, David Louis Cintron, Mark Howard, Mark Keffer, Catherine Lentini, Natalie Lanese, Ed Raffel, Andrew Reach and Susan Squires.”
“In the wake of the COVID 19 Pandemic most regional artworks appeared to explore literal pictorial space in painting and sculpture,” Omaitz writes. “Questions circulated about who in the area is making design dominant, non-representational work? Why is making abstract work still important? And how can the process of being an abstract artist lead to greater manifestations of perception?”
She says her hope is that the exhibition will re-stimulate interest in geometric art and abstraction, and inspire more artists to explore it.
The show opens with a reception on Thursday November. Omaitz will do a gallery “Walk & Talk” on Saturday December 2 @ 1-2pm. Both are free and open to the public.
At the same time, AAWR will be opening a sister show called A Hard Line: Geometric Abstraction from the AAWR Permanent Collection, curated by AAWR executive director Mindy Tousley.
Get more information here.
Cleveland, OH 44106