The Liyana Project (Beach Gallery)

May 25-Jun 29, 2020

Presented by ArtsAlive! and Springfield City School District

What happens when a school district embraces art, storytelling, and film?

The ​Liyana​ Project is the phrase being used by educators in the Springfield City School District to describe the infusion of art and narrative inspired by the documentary film, ​Liyana​. Educators and students at Springfield High School, Shaefer Middle School, and Kenwood Elementary School chose to work together, and independently, on projects ranging from collaborative stories, short films and masks this year. The artworks are on display at the Springfield Museum of Art until June 29, 2020, in the Beach Gallery.

Cowboys & Hatters (Halley & Klein Galleries)

Feb 1-May 31, 2020

Cowboys & Hatters seeks to expand the viewer’s understanding of the historical and sociological evolution of men’s hats through the exhibition of a vast array of authentic hats, related memorabilia, and photography. Ranging from cowboy hats, beaver fur caps, and classic top hats, among others, the show demonstrates the pivotal role hats have played throughout the centuries. Additionally, the exhibition includes insight into hat making processes. All works are from the collection of Dr. Debbie Henderson.

Dr. Debbie Henderson is the costume designer for the Wittenberg University Department of Theatre and Dance. In her work, Dr. Henderson researches clothing worn in other centuries and other countries while attempting to discover the attitudes clothing conveys and inspires. This interest prompted her interdisciplinary doctoral work on the history and manufacture of the man’s hat, undertaken through the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Henderson is the author of Cowboys and Hatters: Bond Street, Sagebrush, & the Silver Screen (Wild Goose Press, 1996), The Handmade Felt Hat (Wild Goose Press, 2001), Hat Talk (Wild Goose Press, 2002), and numerous journal articles.

Color Improvisations 2 (McGregor & Deer Galleries)

Jan 4 – Apr 5, 2020

Color Improvisations 2 is an international quilt exhibition curated by
Nancy Crow, one of the most celebrated and influential quilt artists
of the past forty years. The show features 50 large, improvisational
quilts by 43 artists from Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland,
Japan, Scotland, and the United States.

All of the quilts, made specifically for this exhibition, highlight the
artists’ ability to create abstract compositions on a large scale with
pieces measuring up to 90 x 90.” Each work was machine-pieced
and quilted, with many including hand-dyed fabrics that make this
collection of quilts truly unique. The Springfield Museum of Art is the
only U.S. destination to exhibit all 50 quilts in one venue.

Opening Reception: Saturday, Jan 4, 5:30-7pm

Exhibition Sponsor:

Packed II: Works by Nicki Crock (Chakeres Gallery)

Oct 12, 2019–Feb 23, 2020

This solo exhibition features a range of works from Columbus, Ohio artist Nicki Crock. Through installation, sculpture, and performance, she explores issues of home and community as well as the role of place and transformation. Having lived in one home for the majority of her childhood, it wasn’t until her later teen years that she embarked on a nomadic lifestyle, searching to recreate a sense of the familiar while also embracing the differences of each new domicile. Her art reflects this push and pull, evoking at once a sense of nostalgia while also suggesting the excitement of the unknown.

Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct 5, 5:30-7pm

Exhibition Sponsor:

Ohio Designer Craftsmen: Best of 2019 (McGregor Gallery)

Sep 20 – Dec 15, 2019

Ohio Designer Craftsmen: The Best of 2019, Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition showcases 88 contemporary works of fine craft by 74 artists, with sixteen pieces selected for awards of excellence. Now in its 35th year, the exhibition features a wide array of mediums, including textiles, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, fiber arts, glass, and furniture design. This year’s juror, Stefanie Kirkland, Director of Exhibitions at the Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design, states, “Craft has a rich background of production and functionality alongside a means of expression…. In this exhibition, there are masterfully designed objects that introduce non-traditional materials and use traditional techniques in unexpected ways.”

Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct 5, 5:30-7pm

Exhibition Sponsor:

 

Ten Years: A Reckoning – Paintings by Wendy Cross (Halley & Klein Galleries)

Oct 18, 2019 –Jan 12, 2020

Athens, Ohio artist Wendy Cross creates large-scale oil on canvas paintings depicting contemporary culture and its relation to our past human history. The exhibition features a diverse selection of her works, including recently completed paintings.

 

Artist’s Reception: Sunday, Dec 8, 4-5:30pm

Packed I: Works by Nicki Crock (Deer Gallery)

Sep 12-Dec 10, 2019

This solo exhibition features a range of works from Columbus, Ohio artist Nicki Crock. Through installation, sculpture, and performance, she explores issues of home and community as well as the role of place and transformation. Having lived in one home for the majority of her childhood, it wasn’t until her later teen years that she embarked on a nomadic lifestyle, searching to recreate a sense of the familiar while also embracing the differences of each new domicile. Her art reflects this push and pull, evoking at once a sense of nostalgia while also suggesting the excitement of the unknown.

Opening Reception: Saturday, Oct 5, 5:30-7pm

Exhibition Sponsor:

Lois Lenski: Storied Prints (Beach Gallery)

Jul 12-Dec 31, 2019

Springfield-born illustrator and children’s book author Lois Lenski (Oct 14, 1893- Sep 11, 1974) was a Newbery Medal award recipient, publishing more than 98 books during her lifetime. Her works, such as Strawberry Girl, Phebe Fairchild, and Indian Captive, are beloved by children and adults alike. This exhibition features prints, illustrations, and manuscripts spanning the entirety of her career curated from the collections of the Springfield Museum of Art and the Clark County Public Library.

Exhibition partners:

A Window In: Works by Michael Weisel (Deer Gallery)

May 18–Sep 1, 2019

Columbus, Ohio painter Michael Weisel creates large scale paintings based upon personal experiences, ideas, and engaging visual imagery. He received formal artistic training at the Art Student League in NYC and The Canterbury College of Art in Canterbury, England. His works reference traditional figurative composition, however his inclusion of abstracted, dream like imagery and themes allows for an open interpretation of the tableaus presented, ensuring that each viewer will have a unique experience with the work.

Opening Reception: May 18, 5:30-7pm

A Flying Adventure: Works by Claudia Retter (Chakeres Gallery)

Jun 15- Oct 6, 2019

A Flying Adventure: Works by Claudia Retter explores the original story of The Flying Adventures of Two Candy Cane Pen Friends, an enchanted tale told through photographs and hand-lettered text. Featuring two pen pals who finally meet and explore the Pacific Northwest in a little blue and yellow airplane, the book celebrates the joy of friendship and flight. In addition to the original handmade book, the exhibition showcases homemade memorabilia, framed prints, and the original working storyboard.

Exhibition sponsors: Donna and Steve Field

Opening Reception: Sunday, Jun 30, 4-5:30pm