Fri 3/21 @ 5-9PM
There’s always something new at 78th Street Studios’ Thirds Friday, and this month there’s some big news from one of the long-established galleries — e11even2, which offers affordable art with a pop culture lean. Recently, one of the three original partners, photographer Christina Sadowski, left to pursue other interests, and now the other two, R!ch Cihlar and Bilkly Naininger have been joined by two new partners whose names and artwork will be familiar to locals: veteran artist George Kocar, known for his vivid, cartoon-like often satirical images crowded with activity (and cats), and younger artist Jared Gepperth who crafts small, playful sculptural pieces, among other things. Both have sensibilities that fit perfectly with El1even2’s.This month, the gallery will be opening a show by Sean Jason Kelly called A Brush with Chaos and the Unpredictable Canvas, with paintings that juxtaposed controlled patterns with tumultuous images. It’ll be on view through April 21.
HEDGE Gallery is opening a new show this month as well, featuring two artists whose work interacts in oblique ways, one a long-time denizen of the local arts scene, the other a more recent transplant. Longtime Clevelander Rita Montlack’s photo-based collage-like work starts with a photographic image to which she adds other elements that add new layers of means. For this show, she explores her recent fascination with artificial intelligence in a show called AI: Artificial Insanity. Her work will be paired with that of a recent arrival to northeast Ohio, printmaker Meryl Engler, who moved to Akron in 2019. Her oversized reduction woodcuts that reflect the interaction of people with the environment, form the basis of her half of the show, titled The Constant Urge to Walk All Night.
Continuing at Understory is one of three sections of curator Mary Urbas’ annual From Women … by women, of women about women show. Waterstory will have its final month in the Suite 215 Gallery. And much more!
As usual, Northcoast Promotions will have guest vendors in the event spaces. Singer/Songwriter Michael Sean McDonald, blues/swing/pop guitarist/singer John Lucic and classical guitarist Scott Schlegel will be performing around the building. And Girl Scouts will be on hand selling cookies so if all your friends’ daughters have aged out of scouts, you’ll in luck.
As always, Third Friday is free and open to all.