Akron Society of Artists Turns 80:
Welcome to the Club
Shirley Blake, president of the Akron Society of Artists, describes her organization's space — in a county-owned arts complex just down the street from the Akron Art Museum — as a "safe zone" for representational painters. The society, an inclusive club of around 100 artists mostly involved in figurative and landscape painting, meets for classes and brainstorming sessions, and organizes exhibitions of each other's work. This week the group celebrates its 80th year with an Anniversary Member Show. As far as its members know, the society is the only one of its kind that survives in Northeast Ohio — and certainly the only one so deeply concerned with presenting objects more or less as they are. But this does not preclude experimentation and projective imagination in the dozens of works selected for the anniversary. A reception will be held Friday, September 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.; the show runs through November 6 at 140 East Market St. In addition, artist Judy Takács — whose oil on canvas "Paul Is the Best Man" is pictured above — will hold a workshop on portrait drawing October 2 from 1 to 5 p.m.; visit akronsocietyofartists.com. — Joseph ClarkBonfoey Gallery: Consumer Landscapes. Nationally acclaimed Cleveland painter Michelle Muldrow renders both the attraction and repugnance of American economic life. Through Oct. 7 at 1710 Euclid Ave. Call 216-621-0178 or go to www.bonfoey.com.
Cleveland Artists Foundation: The Way of All Flesh. Painter Shirley Aley Campbell captures momentary emotions and abiding personalities in her examinations of the human form. Through Oct. 29 at 17801 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. Call 216-227-9507 or go to clevelandartists.org.
Cleveland Museum of Art: Copia: Retail, Thrift, and Dark Stores, 2001-11. Photographer Brian Ulrich hauntingly explores the psyche of the American consumer in a three-part exhibition. Through Jan. 16 at 11150 East Blvd. in University Circle; call 216-421-7350 or visit clevelandart.org.
Cleveland Institute of Art: Annual Faculty Show. The instructors at Northeast Ohio's foremost institution of higher artistic learning exhibit their personal works in Reinberger Gallery. Through Oct. 8 at 11141 East Blvd. Call 216-421-7000 or go to cia.edu/facultyshow.
Cleveland State University Art Gallery: Spirit of Spontanaiety. New works by painter Hector Castellanos-Lara inspired by the artist's homeland of Guatemala. Through Oct. 15 at 2307 Chester Ave. For more info, call 216-687-2103 or go to csuohio.edu/artgallery.
Shaheen Gallery: Works on Paper. In the first exhibition dedicated entirely to his drawings, multimedia artist William J. O'Brien uses intense attention to detail to create dense images. Through Nov. 4 at 740 W. Superior Ave., Suite 101. Call 216-830-8888 or go to shaheengallery.com.
SPACES: Portability & Network. An international array of artists exhibit works dealing with the concept of formal reduction. Also: Steve Lambert's interactive installation "Capitalism Works for Me!" allows visitors to vote on whether or not the titular statement applies to them. Also: Royden Watson's "Usnews" is a map of the United States whose colors will evolve over the course of the exhibition. Through Oct. 21 at 2220 Superior Viaduct. Call 216-621-2314 or go to spacesgallery.org.
Survival Kit Gallery: Mimesis. Rebecca Cross and Jonah Jacobs create postmodern fairylands in surreal sculptures drawing on organic forms. Through Nov. 18 at 1305 W. 80th St.; visit survivalkitgallery.com.
William Busta Gallery: Interruptions. Amy Krusinski Sinbondit's geometrically informed ceramics translate line compositions into three dimensions of striking colors. Also: Heart Land. Douglas Max Utter's paintings and monoprints combine symbolic representation and abstract swaths of color to create dreamlike environs. Through Oct. 8 at 2731 Prospect Ave. Call 216-298-9071 or go to williambustagallery.com.
Zygote Press: Give Us a Fence and Some Room to Run. Painter Dana Oldfather explores printmaking and silkscreening as part of her artist-in-residence role at Zygote. Through Oct. 23 at 1410 East 30th St. Call 216-621-2900 or go to zygotepress.com.
Solon Center for the Arts: La Bella Vita, the Beautiful Life. Painter Diane Arthurs exhibits works inspired by the Mediterranean. Through July 29 at 6315 SOM Center Rd. in Solon. Call 440-337-1400.
