In the light of gratitude
My Bio, by Patricia Zinsmeister Parker 
Sleep It Off, by Joe Ostrowske 
Connections of Belonging, by Mary Crane Nutter 
Untitled, by Susan Wilkof 
Crying in the Light/Illuminated Distress, by Jo Westfall 
Embers, by Heather Bullach 
Eclipse, by Emily Orsich
By Tom Wachunas
“The substance of painting is light.” – Andre Derain
“In nature, light creates the color. In the picture,
color creates the light.” – Hans Hofmann
“To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.” - Robert Schumann
EXHIBIT: Exploring Light and Darkness – group show featuring
work by Emily Orsich, Heather Bullach, Jo Westfall, Joe Ostrowske,Mary Crane
Nutter, Patricia Zinsmeister Parker, and Susan Wilkof / at Strauss Studios,
236 Walnut Ave. NE, downtown Canton, Ohio/ Viewing hours: Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm,
Sat 12 – 5pm – Closing reception on Friday June 7, 6-9pm
https://www.facebook.com/jsfurnituredesign/
Let me cut to the
chase. As of this writing, the closing reception for this provocative exhibit
is just a few hours away - FRIDAY JUNE 7, 6 – 9p.m. (though I’ve been informed
that unsold works will remain on view through June 14).
With this way-too-late
(and short) blog post, beyond commending the remarkable works by all seven
artists in this exhibit (most of whom I’ve written about in the past, and some
quite extensively), I simply want to go on record as thanking and praising
Strauss Studios for the ever-consistent excellence of the contemporary art presented
in all its exhibits.
This venue is an inspiring
and impactful resource, indeed a treasure, as it continues to provide vital formal
and conceptual depth to Canton’s cultural profile. What resonates most
personally for me is its ongoing affirmation of what I like to call the ethos
of life enrichment through art. It’s an active continuum of call and response. Art
calls us all – makers and viewers alike - to be engaged with the light of being
alive. If Strauss Studios isn’t currently on your list of local must-see art destinations,
cut to the chase and make it so.
