How to Go:
What: “Art Ed 2014” An Art Educators’ Exhibition
Where: Rosewood Gallery, 2655 Olson Dr., Kettering
When: Continues through Dec. 12
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Artists’ Reception: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6
More Info: 937-296-0294 and www.ketteringoh.org
Time to see what Dayton-area art educators are up to, creatively speaking. The 4th annual “Art Ed” show at Rosewood Gallery includes a curious family portrait, a lament for disappearing monarch butterflies, and a tribute to the late Robin Williams. Thirty-eight artists/art educators representing 18 Dayton-area educational institutions are presenting works.
“It’s a remarkable variety of media. Because the artists are free to submit any work they like, it’s fascinating to see what pieces they choose to show,” said Tracy Flagg, gallery coordinator.
Meghan Dillon is presenting “Family Portrait Circa ’95,” an acrylic painting that looks like a formal portrait with one caveat…there are no faces.
“Recently I’ve been experimenting with combining portraiture and the abstract to see what kinds of messages can still be conveyed, even with the absence of the full face,” said Dillon, who has taught visual arts at Fairmont High School for the past five years, and is on the Kettering Arts Council and Ohio Art Education Association Board. “It’s a ghost image of what constitutes a family.”
Art teacher Leesa Haapapuro was alerted to the plight of the butterfly earlier this year, when she heard a “Nova” radio show, read the book “Flight Behavior, and received free milkweed seeds in the mail from the Cincinnati Conservatory. She created a large-scale installation that emphasizes missing butterflies, and offers viewers milkweed seeds.
“I started the project last May for Urban Nights that premiered at SideShow. I passed out about 350 seed packets, which you can plant through November here,” said Haapapuro, who teaches at K12/TEJAS and Rosewood. “The monarch butterfly caterpillar only eats milkweed, which is disappearing due to environmental loss and the use of pesticides.”
Another loss is lamented in this show, this time a human one. Matthew Burgy, who teaches at University of Dayton and K12 Gallery for Young People created a mobile, “Thank You, Robin.” It’s a tribute to the late Robin Williams; stainless steel and aluminum construction reveals the names of the movies, TV series, and comedy shows for which the actor is famous.
Other works that stood out were: “The Hubris of the Pirate,” a large-scale acrylic abstract on canvas by C. Pat McCelland, who teaches drawing at Sinclair Community College; “The Sun and the Sidewalk,” a silverpoint and gold leaf on panel by John Hankiewicz, who teaches at Miami University; and “Slot Canyon” a vibrant acrylic abstract by Regina Emery, who teaches K-8 art at Mother Brunner Catholic School in Dayton.
Other participating artists from Sinclair: Cynthia Bornhorst-Wislow, Bob Coates, Mark Echtner, Shirley Harbaugh, Kevin Harris, Rosie Huart, Kelly Joslin, Richard Jurus, Tess Little, Kathy A. Moore, Barb Stork, and Leigh A. Waltz.
Teachers at Rosewood include Leonard Williams. Besides Haapapuro, there are other art teachers who teach both at Rosewood and other venues: Andrew Dailey is also teaching at Miami University-Middletown; and Tom Kinarney also teaches at Fairborn Art Center and Vandalia Senior Center.
Other art teachers at multiple locations include: Colleen Kelsey, Sinclair, Wright State; Sally Struthers, Sinclair, Wright State; and Paula Willmot Kraus, Stivers, Wright State. Artists/art instructors from the University of Dayton are represented: Diane M. Mitchel,and Francis Schanberger. Terry L. Chamberlain and Aaron Gosser are from Cedarville University.
Rounding out the list: Lisa Becker, St. Albert the Great School; Edward Charney, Wittenberg University; Lindsay Gustafson, Kettering Middle School; Shannon Grecula, Stivers School for the Arts; Sam Grillmeier, Renaissance Glass Studio; Rusty Harden, Studio 14; Annie Lee-Zimerle, Cedarville University; Jeremy Long, Wright State; and Katrina Pierce, Decoy Art Studio.
Viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite works during the Artists’ Reception from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. This reception is being held in conjunction with “A Rosewood Holiday Open House.” Three $100 People’s Choice winners will be announced the following week.
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