DaytonDailyNews.com

By Pamela Dillon

Contributing Writer

It was supposed to be an art show to take peoples' minds away from the close primary dual and upcoming election. The title says it all — "No Hanging Chads (Art to Take Your Mind Off Politics)." And the approximately 200 works in the latest Dayton Visual Arts Center show do just that.

For about 10 percent of the DVAC members, the title of the show during a presidential election year was too hard to ignore.

Political statement or not, no one can debate the wide-ranging expertise of DVAC's artists.

"When I first walked in the door, I knew that I would have one tremendous challenge ahead of me," said juror Mary Gray, a 15-year member of the Ohio Arts Council and director of the Riffe Gallery in Columbus. "There's such a breadth of talent in this area, and narrowing down took twice as long as I thought it might."

In the end it was an artist's work that interpreted the first part of this year's title quite literally. It won Best of Show.

"A good number of works captured my attention, but the piece that really grabbed me by the lapels was 'Who Counts?' by John Emery," stated Gray. "John's concept, execution and presentation were flawless in my eyes and the piece will, undoubtedly, evoke a similar response in others."

Fifty candidates' tiny photos are lined up over square perforations on an oversized ballot, some of which are partially broken. Emery's elegant signature, ballot instructions and White House 'stamp' embellish the piece.

Other political works worth a mention include Jane Dunwoody's wood and wire construction, "Shazam!," Christina Pereyma's "I Live in a Yellow State" and "Running Mate" by Gregg Smith. Tiny blue and red clothes pins add a whimsical touch to DVAC director's Jane Black's mixed media work, "Undecided."

Those who received the Juror's Awards of Merit are: Daryl Woody's black-and-white photo, Aaron Ardell's colorful woodcut, Patrick Mauk's charcoal abstract, Evelyn J. Mahrt's oil landscape, Edy Martin's oil landscape, Alice B. Tavani's bronze sculpture, Tess Little's bronze sculpture, Don Williams' ceramic houseboat and Susanne Scherette King's abstract.

"One of the things that is fun about this show is that it had an open theme. Most chose to ignore the title, but the people that responded to the title really submitted interesting work," said Black.

Among the majority of those who submitted beautifully crafted, totally unpolitical works, were "Hanging Shad" by Guuspie Alvarado; "Sparks" by Kevin Messer, and an untitled burnt orange abstract by Robert Slack.

Contact contributing writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.

How to go

What: "No Hanging Chads" DVAC Members Show

Where: 118 N. Jefferson St., Dayton

When: Continues through Aug. 21

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, open until 9 p.m. Thursdays

More info: (937) 224-3822 or www.daytonvisualarts.org