How to go
What: ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery
Where: The Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., Dayton
When: Through Dec.27 (closed Dec. 25)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
Beer & Peanuts Party: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17
More info: 937-224-3822 or www.daytonvisualarts.org
There’s a solution to shopping doldrums: Visit the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery, where there are a variety of presents that will delight that special person on your gift list.
Instead of a murmured, “Thanks,” you might get a, “Wow! Where did you find this?” Fifty-one area artists have filled the Dayton Visual Arts Center with unique creations that vary in price from $8 for an ornament to several hundred dollars for a large-scale painting.
Most items are in the $50-$100 range.
Christy Jennewein repurposes vintage furniture with a romantic or contemporary twist. She is presenting two side tables and a small bureau. She also collaged two large-scale mirrors; one has already been purchased. Cathy Mong, a retired Dayton Daily News reporter, is presenting pastel portraits of dogs and cats. She also accepts commissioned work to draw a likeness of your furry friend. Susan Brockman crochets and sews wonderful hats that are both beautiful and practical.
“We love these collaged works by Maxwell Myers. He’s a younger artist and new to DVAC,” said DVAC executive director Eva Buttacavoli. “We’re excited about his surrealist art; it fits in with ARTtoBUY really well.
Another new artist involved this year is Nadine Saylor, who creates delicate glassware. Her stem glasses and tumblers have contemporary distinctions like indentations exploding with color. Joshua Merritt is also presenting colorful glass sculpture: vases, bowls, and decorative items. Jim DeLange is offering his popular fluted vessels.
Buttacavoli said the jewelry selections are always popular gift ideas. She was wearing two necklaces by David Brand the day I dropped by the gallery.
Other jewelry artists include his wife Sandra Picciano-Brand, with her refined silver work, nature imprint medallions by Diane Tomlinson, and chain-maille pieces by Laura Poplin.
There are also wonderful floral paintings by Connie Hanselman, vibrant abstracts on steel by Mike Elsass, great botanical watercolors by Peggy Steinberg, Natural Earth sand paintings by Heidi Scheirer McGrew, fancy fabric bags by Beth Holyoke, and architectural sculpture by Don Williams.
“There are many opportunities to come in and buy small. You can introduce that person on your list to art,” said Buttacavoli. “A lot of longtime members come in and buy a friend’s first work of art, which is fun.”
The Beer & Peanuts Party on Wednesday will also be an occasion to celebrate Patrick Mauk’s 10-year anniversary with DVAC. In addition to the Gift Gallery, the front part of the gallery is showcasing works by Susanne Scherette King. These are elegant, abstract works inspired by American expressionism and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.
“Dayton’s visual arts scene is rich and diverse. And through DVAC’s ARTtoBUY Gift Gallery, it is also very accessible,” Buttacavoli said.
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