Rave Re-view

Jennifer Omaitz can trace her inspiration to paint to the '90s, when she was in high school and worked rave parties as a laser-light operator. For tonight's opening reception of her exhibit, Noise, she'll explain how the strobe lights spiked her adrenaline level and their images managed to creep onto the canvas. "Even though the scene is dead, I wanted to keep up with it," says the 28-year-old Omaitz. "I wanted to bring it to high art in my own way." The collection of paintings and drawings examines music and light in art through a vibrantly colored replication of the rave scene. And if her work looks like a snapshot taken from a moving car, it's because Omaitz works from time-lapse photography to start each piece, trying to duplicate the pictures at her easel. "It's similar to how a DJ layers the music while having two decks or four decks. They're sequencing sounds or repeating beats," she says. "It's something that has to do with working with photography, in taking something that is a simulation and repeating and augmenting it." The exhibit's opening reception is from 7 to 10 tonight at 1point618 Gallery, 6421 Detroit Avenue. The collection will be on display by appointment through Sunday, June 1. Admission is free. Call 216-281-1618 or visit www.1point618gallery.com.
Fri., April 18, 7-10 p.m., 2008