Thursday, August 29, 2013

Gallery News

Kussmaul Gallery Exhibit!

The Kussmaul Gallery is currently having a show for artist James Young. The show is entitled "An Essential Landscape" and features landscape work from all over Ohio. The show opens Saturday September 14, from noon-4pm. 
"Summer at the Clockworks"
oil on wood panel



























Mount Union ArtFest! 

ArtFest Scheduled for September 7 at Mount UnionFor Immediate Release: 8/28/2013ALLIANCE, Ohio ‹ The University of Mount Union will host the 49th annual
ArtFest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 7 on the lawn of Chapman Hall.


Sponsored by Mount Union and the Alliance Chamber of Commerce, ArtFest
will feature original works by area artists in various media including
watercolor, oil, collage, graphics, ceramics, drawings, fine crafts,
photography, jewelry, fiber, woodworking, stained glass, batik, enameling
and printmaking.


In addition, ³A Taste of Alliance,² coordinated by the Alliance Chamber
of Commerce, will take place simultaneously, featuring food and beverages
for sale by area restaurants and caterers. Entertainment will be provided
by Mount Union and Alliance area musicians.


This year¹s judge is artist Wayne Gruver, manager/preparator at the
Butler Institute of American Art-Salem Branch. Over the years, he has
worked for Lens 14 Inc., Hoechstetter Printing Company and Professor
Alfred Bright.


Cash awards and ribbons will be presented to the top artists in each
category, as well as a Best of Show.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Reminders

School is Back in Session!

Most of us at the AICUO are back into the swing of the school year. With that being said, remember that if you would like to be nominated for our program let your advisor now and show them our website www.aicuoartaward.com for more information.

We also are beginning the search for support for our program this year. If you or someone you know would like to donate to our program check out the website above and hit the donation button displayed on the page. 

Keep Up With Art!

Just because summer is over doesn't mean we don't want to see your art. Be sure to keep sending us your work to our Tumblr page (http://aicuo-artaward.tumblr.com/

Also keep up with us here to continue hearing about art happenings around Columbus, and if you have something going on at your AICUO affiliated school, let us know! We will be sure to post about it. 

Friday, August 23, 2013

Interview with 2013 Winner Matthew Gallagher


We had a chance to get in touch with our winner from the most recent EVAs, Oberlin graduate Matthew Gallagher, and ask him a few questions about his experience in our competition and as an artist, check it out! 

Be sure to also check out his Tumblr and Facebook page if you like his work.

AICUO: Your backstory into art is very interesting as well as your specific style. How did you come into the arts?

Matthew: First of all--thanks so much to AICUO for giving me this opportunity to talk about my work, It’s a privilege to have a chance to express myself in casual writing. I have a lot to say

I took my first painting class in 2011 which was completely new for me--I’d never painted in any capacity before then and only taken a handful of Visual Art classes before that in 2010. Before, I’d been a serious musician for about 15 years. Music has always been my #1 which made me feel a little strange when I started getting attention for the visual art stuff. In fact, I felt that I was undeserving of the nomination for AICUO 2013 because there were lots of people in my class who have been visual artists all their lives. Luckily my professors were really gentle and eloquent about making me realize that I should be a little more confident.

AICUO: And from there how did you determine your style?

Matthew: Well--music has always been a huge deal for me. After spending a couple months with the brush and paints I realized that painterly tradition wasn’t working out super well for me. I did a lot of thinking about the nature of painting and realized that paint represented potential energy to me. The brush in the case, being the catalyst to convert potential energy into kinetic energy so that the artists mind could move onto the canvas. I thought using the kineticism of an oscillating string or elastic would be a good replacement for the brush and I’ve been painting with sound-making objects such as nylon ropes, elastic bands and speakers ever since. Its of the utmost importance that I treat myself as a facilitator for reactions rather than some grand artist creator god-head thing.

fig 1 (my 1st painting 3x4” acrylic on paper 2011)


fig 2 (my first rubber band painting acrylic on paper 2011)


AICUO: Did going to a smaller liberal independent school help you in finding yourself as an artist?

Matthew: Definitely. The cool thing about Oberlin is that you have a ton of creative freedom to think. Assignments are given in class, but theres always room to experiment and interpret things for yourself. The facilities at Oberlin are limited, but I actually think that that forces students to be more creative and resourceful with the materials they are given. We have a grand slam group of art professors here, but I’ve also learned as much from classmates as the faculty. Oberlin is blessed with a community of profound thinkers and passionate artists who support each other wholeheartedly. I’m so lucky to have made it my home.

AICUO: What did participating/winning the EVAs do for you as an artist?

Matthew: The EVAs were a next level boon to my career. I honestly didn’t have any idea of the impact receiving the award would mean to my career. The value of my paintings rose immediately by around 500% and I was met with a deluge of commissions and gallery propositions. I’m so lucky to have met Tim Friar from Grid Furnishings in Columbus. I was so hyped on the fact that he liked my work and was willing to host my solo show on the short north for three months. Huge shoutout to Tim. He’s any artists best ally. The EVAs also let people from my past in Boston into my new life as a visual artist in Ohio. I was a difficult kid in highschool so I think it was cool for my mom to show people who knew me then that I’m having success and having fun as a young adult.

AICUO: What advice do you have for students wanting to pursue the arts as a profession?

Matthew:

Hm.

1. Make lots of work and develop a system for easy duplication of work. Its super important to not get attached to your work or its intended value. Its great to spend years on an oil and canvas masterpiece but chances are 99.9% of interested art buyers won’t be willing to spend the money to justify its worth. Because my process happens so quickly, I can charge clients on a sliding scale. A lot of students like my work, but most of them don’t have $500 to drop on a painting. The most important thing is that the work has a home and isn’t collecting dust in my portfolio, so if someone needs financial aid, I’m happy to work with them.

2. Use a wide variety of social media outlets to let people know what’s going on in your studio. I’m on tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, Vine, soundcloud etc. People genuinely want to know about artists accomplishments and goings on in the studio. Now its easier than ever to clue people into what’s going on in YOUR life. I have an awesome following on facebook. It feels great to have positive reinforcement and encouragement from friends as I work.

3. Get a DSLR Camera and learn how to use it. This relates to my second point, too. Having high quality and frequent documentation of artworks is paramount. This is especially important for gallery portfolio reviews and grad school apps etc.  It was also a great thing for me to have a portfolio ready so that I could apply to the EVAs with low stress levels.

4. Please don’t move to New York City to “make it.” Its where artists go to die. I’m a strong believer in being a big fish in a small pond. Your local community/following is your greatest asset.

5. Don’t think too much. I’d always rather make a 1000 images from one idea than one image containing a thousand ideas. Too much thought and not enough action can paralyze the flow of art making and meaningful experimentation.

AICUO: What are your plans for the future?

Matthew: Well… Immediately after I graduated from Oberlin, I moved into a local studio called 3 Door Studios as their new artist in residence. We have a stellar crew working here and it gives me a good outlet to book house shows (another passion of mine). I’ve been in here a lot making as much art as I can. I just started working for a pair of local artists Audra Skuodas and her husband John Pearson as their photographer and studio assistant. John has actually been a huge influence on my work:

fig 3 (john pearson from the mondrian series)















fig 4 (Untitled Gallagher, 24x49” acrylic on MDF, 2013)


 Its a huge privilege to work for such talented and venerable pillars of the Cleveland art scene. I’ll probably try to stay with them for as long as they need me. Photography has been a big part of my new work and I’ve been experimenting with a new technique I call “Broken Time-lapse Panorama.” It involves taking panoramic shots of objects in motion instead of traditional panoramic subjects such as mountains and beaches and stuff. It always seems to yield something interesting.

fig 5 (broken time-lapse panorama)

I’ve also been taking lots of photos of my iPhone. It has this beautiful double resolution screen and with the help of some magnifying lenses and water droplets I’ve gotten some pretty good photos of what’s going on under the hood. Its beautiful.

fig 6 (iphone “screenshot”)


School Beginning Tumblr Post!

Have any art work that you think describes how you feel about going back to school? Send it to us on our Tumblr page (http://aicuo-artaward.tumblr.com/) and we will post it! 


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

School Starting, Arts not Slowing

COLUMBUS ART!

As some of you are aware, school is starting up for some of our institutions this week. But that doesn't mean that you all should stop looking for art related activities in the city! Especially any students new to the area! Check out this great website with loads of upcoming art events in Columbus. http://columbusarts.com/search/events/visual-arts/

PROMOTE US!

As aways LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and TUMBLR!! The more people to like our pages, the more interest we will get in our competition.

ASK YOUR ADVISOR

Senior art students, start thinking about what you may want to enter in the competition, and ask your department chair to nominate you through our website! www.aicuoartaward.com



Work by George Bellows

Monday, August 19, 2013

New Art Exhibit at The College of Wooster


The College of Wooster Art Museum will present “RACE: Are We So Different?” as its opening exhibition of the upcoming academic year. Organized by the Science Museum of Minnesota, “RACE” is a project of the American Anthropological Association. The exhibition, which runs from Aug. 27 through Nov. 24, encourages museum visitors to explore the science, history, and everyday experience of race in order to determine what race is and what it is not.  The exhibition is presented in association with the College’s 2013 Wooster Forum, titled “Facing Race.”
  
 “We are pleased to once again partner with The Wooster Forum, whose speaker series this year focuses on issues surrounding race,” says Kitty McManus Zurko, director and curator of The College of Wooster Art Museum. “The themes in the exhibition are also those of the Forum speakers.” 

“RACE: Are We So Different?” explores three primary topics: (1) the history of the idea of race; (2) the science of human variation; and (3) the contemporary experience of race and racism in the United States. Although the social and cultural differences of race are a source of community and personal identity, they are also a point of discrimination and inequality. Additionally, a scientific understanding of human variation may challenge the ways in which people think about race and racism.

Ultimately, these three interwoven themes present a more holistic story by exploring the same topic through different perspectives. The science section investigates what current science and scholarship tell us about human variation, human migration, gene flow, and the distribution of human traits across the globe. In the history section, race as a 17th and 18th century creation and the 19th and 20th century “race science” theories that sought to legitimize racial and ethnic inequalities are explored. In the third section, housing, land, wealth, health, and education in contemporary life provide a contemporary lens through which to view this important subject. 

“RACE’ is an exhibition more commonly found at science and natural history museums that may charge admission,” says McManus Zurko. “The College is pleased to offer this unique educational opportunity more frequently found in a larger, urban area, to our community free of charge.”

 Funded by the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation, “RACE” includes a website and online teaching resources that can be found at: http://www.understandingrace.org/home.html.

The College of Wooster Art Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. All exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. Group and class tours are also available. For more information, or to arrange a tour, call 330-263-2388 or visitWooster.edu/CWAM

Friday, August 16, 2013

Reception Space 2014! (and other stuff)

Ohio Dominican University for EVAs Reception

This year ODU has generously offered the AICUO their gallery space and facilities for our reception on APRIL 8th in 2014. There will be a student panel as usual along with the awards reception and all the artists work hung in the beautiful gallery space offered by the ODU art department. Be sure to keep checking in for more details

Urban Scrawl 2013


If you are interested in getting in one more arts festival before summer's over go check out the 2013 Urban Scrawl! This is a newer event in Columbus in the Franklinton Arts District, and it takes place on Saturday August 17 from noon to 10pm and Sunday August 18 from noon to 6pm. Utilizing an old warehouse, that is now full of art studios, the event will have food, live local music, and some very talented artists all given several large canvas' to work their magic on. And you get to watch their work come to life! Check it out at 400 W. Rich St. 

Social Media

You all are most likely sick of hearing this but here it is again, check out the rest of our social media to help us get more attention out there! Share with friends and what not.

SCHOOOOOOOL!!

That's right, it's about that time. Whether you're pumped to go back and see friends or bummed you have to go and live off ramen and do your own laundry again we can't deny that school is starting back up. That being said, if you are a senior at student and interested in our program, ask your art chair about being nominated! Then check out our website at www.aicuoartaward.com. If you want to be a part of the competition but are not yet a senior or an art student, have no fear! Check out the sculpture design part of this very blog to get info on how you could design the awards that will be handed out this year while working alongside a professional Columbus artist.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Otterbein Releases Art Calendar!


Otterbein University has several venues for student, local, and international artists to display their work! Here is the calendar for the galleries on campus and around Westerville.

2013-2014 OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY ART EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Leslie H. and Ethyl Rose Miller Gallery
Art and Communication Building, 33 Collegeview Rd., Westerville, OH 43081
Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Closed on holidays. For information call (614) 823-1792.

Aug. 26-Oct. 11, 2013
Reception: Thursday, Sept. 19, 4-6 p.m.
Color Is
Artist: Elena Osterwalder
Color is, was and always will be.

Oct. 21-Dec. 6, 2013
Reception: Thursday, Oct. 24, 4-6 p.m.
Presence
Artist: Daniel McInnis
A portfolio of environmental portraiture from New York City, Chicago, Ohio, Atlanta, Seattle, Philadelphia and Michigan by Daniel McInnis.

Jan. 6-Feb. 23, 2014
Reception: Thursday, Feb. 6, 4-6 p.m.
Otterbein University Art Faculty Exhibition
An exhibition curated by Mary Gray, Director of the Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery.

March 3-13, 2013
Reception and award ceremony: Thursday, March 7, 3 p.m.
16th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition

March 24-May 16, 2014
Senior Art Exhibitions
Weekly exhibitions by graduating art majors.
Special gallery hours: 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, closed holidays.


Fisher Gallery
Roush Hall, 27 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081
Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Closed on holidays. For information call (614) 823-1792.

Aug. 26-Dec. 6, 2013
By Implication: works on paper by Donald Furst
Using visual elements such as hidden light sources, Donald Furst hints at content beyond the images.

Jan. 6-May 18, 2013
Walker Evans: Documenting America
Iconic images of 1930s America by a master of photography.


The Frank Museum of Art
39 S. Vine Street, Westerville, OH 43081
Museum hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday during the University’s academic year. Closed on holidays and University breaks. For information call (614) 818-9716.

Aug. 26-Dec. 6, 2013
Global Perspectives
A selection of objects from the Otterbein University global art collection.

Jan. 8-May 9, 2014
Seeds
Internationally-recognized Indian artist, Kavita Nayar, presents works on paper that embody the ancient truths of Mother Nature—of life, dependence and freedom.


Historic Costume Collection
Fisher Gallery, 2nd floor
Roush Hall, 27 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081
Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Closed on holidays.

The rotating Historic Costume Collection exhibit on the in Fisher Gallery on the second floor of Roush Hall features garments donated by alumni and friends representing different eras from history.


The Presidents’ Gallery
Towers Hall, 2nd floor
1 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081
Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Closed on holidays.

Permanent display of Otterbein College’s presidents starting with first President Griffith in 1847 and ends with 19th President DeVore in a contemporary design that retains the traditional arched windows and doorways of Towers Hall, which was built in 1872. Each president has a 6-feet tall window-shaped plaque featuring his photograph and biography. The 19 plaques lead down a curved hallway and are flanked with two restored 12-feet tall stained glass windows from Towers Hall.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Short North Still "Arts" District?

While the EVAs have always had a special place in our hearts for the Short North District because of all the help they have given our competition throughout the years, a recent article on the website Columbus Alive! brought up an interesting thought, is the neighborhood of Franklinton becoming the new arts district? While the Gallery Hop is still one of Columbus' highlighted activities, there is now competition with the annual Franklinton "Urban Scrawl" where artists and musicians get together for several days of creating art, music, and having a good time. 

Personally, I like to think that this is a good problem to have! If there are two places that could be labeled as "the arts district" it just means we have a lot of talent spread out in our city. Why not celebrate it all!

For the full article and information on both districts here are some links:



Sculptor Chosen for 2014!

As many of you know, each year there is a side competition to the EVAs in which any student from any field of study from any of our institutions may submit a design. A design for what, you may ask? A design for the awards that will be handed out to the finalists at the reception this year. The best part is you will see your design come to life as it is fabricated by a professional local artist. This year the artist is Eric Rausch! Check out some of his work on his website ericrausch.com/  and get those creative juices flowing if you have a design you would like to see be the awards handed to the finalists this year. 


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

AICUO Professor to Participate in ArtPrize Competition

Professor involved with ArtPrize

Malone University's visual arts professor, Claire Murray Adams, will be displaying her work in the international 2013 ArtPrize competition, which is open to any artist and is decided by a public voting process. 

Her show, entitled Her Closet: Clothing as Metaphor, is an installation of dresses created by Adams and will be on display in the John Hartman Photography Studio, Grand Rapids, Mich. from September 18 - October 6.

The show includes 12 sheer organza dresses. The choice of fabric is a conscious effort to address the transparency of one's identity. The sheer fabric allows the viewer to see the way in which the garment has been constructed which demonstrates the process in sewing a swell as the process of living. The characteristics of each dress are universal...emotions anyone may have experienced from time to time.

Social Media Update

Our blog has been getting more and more hits each day! We really appreciate you all following us as much as you do. As usual, if you get a chance please also like, follow, and read about us on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr