Tue 3/10 @ 5-9PM
The work of Cleveland-based artist Claudio Orso is communal, sometimes celebratory and sometimes grappling with darker issues facing the community. His huge woodblock relief prints on handmade paper are tours de force that are both spectacular and intimate at once. As a teacher and youth mentor with a passion for collaborative work, his personal work reflects the issues challenged communities confront.
On the other hand, his sculptural constructions, masks and costumes made from discarded packaging and other recycled materials, are purely celebratory, created for festivals such as Parade the Circle and Oberlin’s Big Parade.
Both sides of the artist are currently on view in the expansive gallery space at Bostwick Design/Art initiative (formerly the William Busta Gallery). In addition, the small back rooms feature the engaging and intricate paper art of Orso’s son Paolo. In both darkened room, the cut paper figures are animated by silhouettes thrown on the wall.
The show closes with a reception Tue 3/10 & 5-9pm. Don’t miss it!