Cleveland Artists Foundation:
Members Only
Opening this Friday at the Cleveland Artists Foundation, Cleveland Creates: An Exhibition of Work Created by Member Artists showcases the works of some 60 local creatives. In the process, it demonstrates the healthy diversity of Cleveland's artistic culture. Among the many highlights, Lithuanian-born Audra Skuodas, winner of a recent Cleveland Arts Prize Lifetime Achievement Award, uses austere colors and shapes to express amazement at the highs and lows of the human experience. In pieces like "Union Dues" (left), painter Matt Dibble toils in abstract expressionism, while his figurative works use strong lines and a command of human anatomy to produce twisted shapes that feel more mysterious than even his abstractions. Mary Lou Ferbert's watercolor paintings animate daily life, bringing greater light and poignancy to images of everyday items. And Augusto Bordelois' large-scale, surrealist oils are pregnant with history and social consciousness. "We created the members' show as a means of raising our profile in the community and giving back to our artist members," says CAF's Christine Radomski. With so much talent on display, it should do that and more. An opening reception is set for November 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.; general admission is $5. The exhibit continues through December 3 in the Beck Center's Virginia Foley Gallery, 17801 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. For more information, call 216-227-9507 or go to clevelandartists.org. — Joseph Clark
Akron Art Museum: Landscapes From the Age of Impressionism. More than 50 French and American impressionists provide an overview of the style and its interpretations. Through Feb. 5. Also: SuperNatural: Ohio photographers Bruce Checefsky and Bruce Underwood use technology to push the boundaries of the landscape art genre. Through March 4. Landslide Between a Rock and a Place: Kent artist Michelle Droll transforms a gallery into a vibrant sculptural installation. Through Feb. 19 at One South High St. Call 330-376-9185 or go to akronartmusuem.org.
Arts Collinwood Gallery: That's All Folks! An exhibit of paintings by Cleveland artist Harris Johnson, these works draw upon caricature, portraiture, and still-life techniques to investigate and satirize the world of the artist. An opening reception will be held Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.; the show continues through Dec. 3 at 15605 Waterloo Rd. Call 216-692-9500 or go to artscollinwood.org.
Cleveland Institute of Art Reinberger Galleries: Masters of Abstraction. Julian Stanczak, Ed Mieczkowski, and Robert Mangold, three of the most preeminent modern painters, display the depth and variety of form and expression represented in contemporary abstract painting. Through Dec. 17 at 11141 East Blvd. Call 216-421-7407 go to cia.edu/reinberger.
Cleveland Museum of Art: Chinese Art in an Age of Revolution. Works from the modern Chinese master Fu Baoshi (1920 to 1965) trace a turbulent time in that nation's history, as placid landscape paintings give way to politicized pieces commissioned to express Maoist ideology. Ticketed exhibition. Through Jan. 8 at 11150 East Blvd. Call 216-421-7350 or go to clevelandart.org.
CSU Gallery: The Last Exhibition. The final show in CSU's Chester Avenue gallery is a decades-spanning retrospective on the students and faculty who have defined the university's art program since 1975. Through Dec. 10 at 2307 Chester Ave.; learn more at csuohio.edu/artgallery.
Fawick Art Gallery at Baldwin- Wallace: NEO Print Invitational. More than two dozen emerging print artists from Northeast Ohio exhibit works utilizing traditional to cutting-edge printing technology. An opening reception will be held Nov. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. The show runs Nov. 14 to Dec. 9 at 95 E. Bagley Rd.; call 440-826-2152 or go to bw.edu/academics/art/gallery.
The Gallery at Old Stone Church: Junkyard Essays. International multimedia artist Stacy Gibboni uses items from New Jersey salvage yards to tell stories about the art of the working man. An artist reception is set for 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 17. Through Jan. 3 at 1380 Ontario St.; call 216-241-6145 or go to oldstonechurch.org.
Howson Gallery at Judson Park: Layers of Memory. Sheila N. Markowitz's sojourn to Cuba is the starting point for a montage of altered digital photographs exploring memory and psyche. Through Dec. 5 at 1801 Chestnut Hills Dr. Call 216-791-2885 or visit judsonsmartliving.org.
Kokoon Arts: Regional Visions. Regional painters and photographers interpret the local landscape in ways both traditional and abstract. Through Dec. 30 at 1305 West 80th St. For more info, call 216-832-8212 or go to wgsproductions.com.
Legation, a gallery: The Coast Is Never Clear. Sculptor and installation artist Annie Stimson expresses our collective dread of the future with materials like neon tubing and laboratory equipment that spell out warnings for 2012 and beyond. Through Nov. 20 at 1300 D. West 78th St.; call 216-334-7080 or go to legationagallery.com.
Lois S. Becker Studio: Holiday Show. Jewelry artist Lois S. Becker opens her studio for this three-day sale Nov. 11 through 13. On display, a large selection of one-of-a-kind earrings, bracelets, pins, necklaces, and hand-decorated vests. From 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2951 Drummond Rd., Shaker Heights. Call 216-921-3083 or loisbeckerjewelry.com.
Mastroianni Photography and Arts: How Did I Get Here? Sculptor Ron Knight renders patriotic imagery, military hardware, and staple creature comforts in found materials to comment on the decline of our collective livelihoods. Through Dec. 9 at 2688 West 14th St. Call 216-235-6936 or go to mastroianniarts.com.
MOCA: Sculpture. Nationally recognized artist Ursula von Rydingsvard exhibits monumental-scale wooden sculptures emulating organic forms. Through March 31. Also: The Cuba Project. Hanging art, sculpture, and found-art installations by four Cuban artists speak to a proud heritage. Through Dec. 21 at 8501 Carnegie Ave. Call 216-421-8671 or go to mocacleveland.org.
Myers School of Art Gallery: Idiosyncrasy. Works by 13 graphic design students from the University of Akron explore idiosyncrasy, self-awareness, and their impact on creativity. An opening reception will be held Nov.17. Exhibition dates are Nov. 14 to 23 at Folk Hall, 150 East Exchange St., Akron. Call 330-972-6030 or visit idiosyncrasy.co.
Peninsula Art Academy: Plein Aire. Local artists celebrate the beauty of the Cuyahoga Valley. Through Nov. 19. An artist reception is set for 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 at 1600 W. Mill St., Peninsula. For more information, call 330-657-2248 or visit peninsulaartacademy.com.
Proximity: Home. Cleveland artists Jen and James Young investigate notions of place, connection, and history through a series of collaborative prints and paintings. An opening reception will be held Nov. 11 from 6 to 10 p.m. The exhibit continues through Dec. 16 at 1667 East 40th St., Suite 1A. Visit proximitycleveland.com.
River Gallery: Lynn O'Brien & Tina Elkins. Painters Elkins and O'Brien layer images and materials, challenging viewers to look deeper into their works and discover the hidden imagery and intent. Through Dec. 4 at 19046 Old Detroit Rd., Rocky River. For more information, call 440-331-8406 or go to rivergalleryarts.com.
Shaheen Gallery: Bill Radawec: A Retrospective. The art of Bill Radawec, visual and three-dimensional artist, is celebrated in this retrospective. An opening reception will be held Nov. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m.; the show continues through Jan. 20 at 740 West Superior Ave., Suite 101. Call 216-830-8888 or visit shaheengallery.com.
Sculpture Center: Gentlemen of Oddity/Look! See!/Marvel of Marvels. Sculptor Steven Jones and photographer Barry Underwood take advantage of a sideshow vibe to experiment with the presentation and content of their work. The result is a thoughtful exhibition presented in a lighthearted way. Through December 17. Call 216-229-6527 or go to sculpturecenter.org for more information.
William Rupnik Gallery: Private Eyes. The gallery opens its new, permanent display space in rooms formerly occupied by legendary local jewelers H.W. Beattie & Sons. For the first show, WRG embraces international street artists and pop artists in an exhibit consigned by a private collector. Through Nov. 12 at 1117 Euclid Ave. Learn more by calling 216-533-5575 or go to wrgcleveland.com.
Willoughby Hills Art Gallery: Take Two. Works of two locally based, nationally recognized artists: painter John Davis and photographer Bill Pappas. An opening reception is scheduled for Nov. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. Through Jan. 1 at 35400 Chardon Rd. Call 440-918-8730 or visit willoughbyhillsgallery.org for more information.
