words + pictures from the studio of Joan Colbert
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What a fine night for an artwalk! Summit Artspace was bustling during the September Downtown Akron Artwalk. The first floor gallery featured Akron Art Prize artwork while Paranormal Paranoia opened at the BOX gallery on the third floor. Adding to the fun on the third floor were four pop-up artists, a tattoo artist and the usual open studios. Yes, we were definitely open!
Nearly two years after Miller Horns’ death students at Akron’s North High School will be able to learn about one of their alumni. Thanks to fellow artist and friend, Terry Klausman, two display cases have been dedicated to Miller’s life and work. Terry gathered the artwork, clippings and objects and we spent two afternoons installing the pieces. Miller would be pleased.
Above: display case detail including some of Miller’s favorite projects
Below: Otis Beecher and Terry Klausman at North High School in Akron, Ohio.
Akron’s antiquarian and used book store, The Bookseller, is always a pleasant destination and, being less than ten minutes away, it’s easy to drop in at any time. On a recent visit, during their summer sale, I stopped in to browse the reduced price fiction offerings and left with several novels and a fun little compendium of games based on Edward Gorey‘s artwork. Gorey Games, published by Troubador Press in 1979, contains puzzles, mazes, mysteries and more, all designed by Larry Evans using Gorey’s familiar black and white illustrations.
It would be easy to lose yourself in some of the visual trickery. No pencils allowed, though – all deciphering must be done on a photocopy!
The Bookseller, located at 39 Westgate Circle in Akron, Ohio, is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m.
Two new exhibits, just in time for mid-summer viewing, opened at Summit Artspace on Friday, July 11, 2014.
Streetscapes: Akron in Plein Air was on display in time for last week’s Downtown Akron Artwalk, but awards were kept secret until last night’s opening reception. Once again, Brian Shellito organized both the downtown painting event and the exhibit itself. Images of artists and artwork are available on his Streetscapes: Akron in Plein Air page.
On the third floor, Artists of Rubber City opened the 24th Annual Juried Show in the BOX gallery. Selected artwork can be seen online at the BOX gallery page.
Although the annual juried show is now exhibited in the BOX gallery, owned and managed by Artists of Rubber City, for many years it was displayed in outside venues. The following images are from previous juried shows held at Charles Mayer Studios and Gallery and later at the Mocha Maiden Gallery.
Streetscapes: Akron in Plein Air
Summit Artspace Gallery
July 11 – August 16, 2014
Hours: Thursday, noon – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, noon – 5 p.m.
Artists of Rubber City 24th Annual Juried Show
the BOX gallery (3rd floor)
July 11 – August 23, 2014
Hours: Friday and Saturday, noon – 5 p.m.
Summit Artspace
140 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
update – July 25, 2014 – read the Akron Beacon Journal review of Streetscapes and learn about plein air painting in Dottie Shinn’s article, Artists get out of their studios to paint downtown akron.
For the third year the Barberton Community Foundation and the Barberton Historical Society presented Art at the Farm, featuring the work of both student and professional artists, in the O. C. Barber pig barn. The Barberton Community Foundation has a collection of photos, including some spectacular exterior views of this impressive building, on flickr – take a look!
above: Middle school students created a delightful creature feature of tiny ceramic monsters.
below: Rob Lehr and I making difficult decisions during the judging. (photo courtesy of Barberton Community Foundation)
Following a three week hiatus, the galleries at Summit Artspace are open! With new exhibits in four spaces the building was positively humming during the Friday evening receptions.
Adorned Spaces – photography by Andrew Thomas Lopez and Marissa McClellan
Summit Artspace Gallery
Maggie Duff – Parade Bomb
Bernadette Houk – Interior and Exterior
the BOX gallery
Bravura photo-illustration exhibition
Kent State University students
Summit Artspace 3rd floor
The Nevin Family: Three Generations of Art
Akron Society of Artists Gallery
May 9 through June 21, 2014
Summit Artspace
140 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Hours: exhibits are open Fridays and Saturdays, noon – 5 p.m.
Summit Artspace Gallery has additional hours on Thursdays, noon – 9 p.m.
Le Ballet by Jerry Domokur
digital media
It is always hard to find the words to express the feeling of loss when the bad news arrives – and much too easy to become melancholy. This year’s deaths of two fellow artists have been terribly sad. I had known Jerry Domokur for nearly twenty-five years. His focus on digital media began when desktop computers became readily available, expanding as technology and software changed. His work was consistently present in northeast Ohio juried shows. It would likely have been in both of the current gallery exhibits at Summit Artspace, but instead was displayed at his memorial service on the third floor.
P.J. Rogers readily embraced digital art after spending many years creating etchings and aquatints. I was privileged to meet her during the 2012 exhibit, Why Art’s Alive. She was a fascinating and inspiring woman – I wish our paths had crossed sooner.
Landscape Transfiguration by P.J. Rogers
P.J. Rogers standing at far right with (left to right) Barbara Gillette, me, Mark Soppeland and Meg Harris during the 2012 exhibit, Why Art’s Alive, at Summit Artspace
Yoga + Art . . . what better way to spend an afternoon?!
The final Saturday workshop in conjunction with the Upstairs Downstairs exhibit at Summit Artspace was a combined effort in two parts: Ron White, studio artist, art teacher, yoga instructor (and more) offered Yoga in the Gallery, accompanied by musician, Zach Freidhof; following this was my Chakra Art Workshop.
examples and demo art
I used two of my favorite sources, Wheels of Life – A User’s Guide to the Chakra System by Anodea Judith and Art & Yoga – Kundalini Awakening in Everyday Life by Hari Kirin Kaur Khalsa, for background information.
After a brief introduction to both Chakra symbolism and mandalas, participants created small, circular, meditative pieces while Ron illustrated his life size Chakra chart.
Even though it was only a two hour workshop, Ron and I, with Zach’s presence, put a vibrant interlude of movement, music and art into many busy Saturday schedules. Namaste.
As part of Upstairs Downstairs – works of art from the penthouse, a series of demos and workshops was scheduled to invite visitors to meet the artists, learn more about their processes, techniques and media, and try their hands at creating their own artwork. The first scheduled event, three art talks by Carolyn E. Lewis, Connie Bloom and Bradley Hart was nearly snowed out. A couple weeks later, in anticipation of Valentine’s Day, Cari Miller, Terry Klausman and I presented a Be My Valentine Make & Take on a less snowy Saturday afternoon. Cari uses a lot of recycled materials in her colorful creations, so it was no surprise that she came prepared with an assortment of papers suitable for collage.
I supplied linoleum blocks, ink (red and white, of course) and supplies for monotypes. The monotype process was kept simple: apply ink to the block, embellish with a design and pull a print.
Once dry the little print could be affixed to card stock for a one of a kind Valentine.
It didn’t take long before everyone was combining materials into some fabulous heartfelt creations!
Cari caught a lot of the fun in her photos below. Check out Cari Miller’s art at Sunthing Special on Facebook.
workshop participant images above courtesy of Cari Miller, all rights reserved
“All works in the exhibit deserve a good look, but some seem to lure the eye – Joan Colbert’s linoleum block prints which bring out her interest in a kind of esoteric iconography (her “Monk[s]hood” and “The Night Wolf” in particular).” Roger Durbin, KnightArts
Two more reviews of Upstairs Downstairs are in. Both are authored by Roger Durbin, writing for the KnightArts blog and the West Side Leader. In Upstairs Downstairs at Summit Artspace, he covers the exhibit for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Akron, Ohio, one of several KnightArts communities, receives generous arts funding from the foundation and enjoys coverage of arts and culture on their blog.
Writing in Summit Artspace exhibiting gallery’s artists for the West Side Leader, Mr. Durbin provides a bit of background of Summit Artspace before focusing on Upstairs Downstairs: “It’s interesting to note that in Upstairs, Downstairs, the resident artists represent such a wide range of the visual arts. The current exhibit shows them off at their best, while viewers can venture to the third floor and wander through their studio spaces to see more of their art.”
His mention of my relief prints was particularly gratifying: “In the adjoining room are three smaller linoleum block print works by Colbert. Done in black and white, the works call for consideration about the artist’s knowledge of esoteric ideas and concepts. Visit her studio on the third floor and see continuations of her subjects and technique. Her works are thoughtful and superbly rendered.” Many have followed his advice by stopping into the studio for a visit and to view more artwork.
