Clarence Carter: The Unknown Snapshot Studies -- Carter's oil and watercolor paintings are almost all close reproductions of photographs he took. The snapshots, most taken in the 1930s and '40s, were discovered among the late artist's belongings; here, 148 such pictures are paired with 21 works they inspired, lending a documentary air to the display. "The Good Crop," a 1942 painting featuring a man driving his potato crop to the market, is nearly identical to an undated Carter photo; only the perspective is different. Carter never mentioned these pictures, so seeing the evidence is like being let in on a secret. Through September 18 at Beck Center, 17801 Detroit Ave., 216-227-9507. -- Nadia Michel
Contemporary Cloth Artists -- More than a dozen intricate quilts decorate the brick walls of Art on Wheels, Inc. (the former White Sewing Company) on the West Bank of the Flats. Created by members of Contemporary Cloth Artists (CoCA), a Northeast Ohio quilting group, the quilts were made with traditional techniques as well as appliqué, beading, art cloth, and collage. Themes vary widely. Ruta Butkus Marino's hilarious "Ripe 'N Ready" is reminiscent of kitschy black-velvet paintings. One pinup girl and two musclemen, all nude, coyly hide within suggestive mounds of fruits and flowers, electrically colored and bursting from their jet-black background. Judith Kessler Smith's quilt "Orange Alert" is the artist's personal response to a serious issue. In the quilt, a young girl holds a magic wand as her small kitten sits by her feet and the head of a bright orange tiger floats above her. The artist informs us on the corresponding label that the quilt is her way of addressing the growing climate of fear in the U.S. today. Through August 29 at Art on Wheels, Inc., 1284 Riverbed St., 216-702-4808. -- Miller
Daring Decade: Women in the 1920s -- After WWI, American girls wanted to be more independent, and simply constructed, loose-fitting, low-waisted evening dresses made it easy to fox-trot late into the night. One of several examples of the genre is a Lanvin purple chiffon dress, circa 1929; the blouson shape of the top and the ruffles on the skirt have made several reappearances over the decades. Jantzen tested the waters of modesty with a wine-colored, knitted beach garment that might today be called a tankini. But it's the stories behind the clothes that make this a relevant show. Women of the 1920s planted the seeds of fashion as we know it today, when women can wear anything they want. Through October 24 at Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Blvd., 216-721-5722. -- Michel
Emotions of Life -- The works on display at this renovated 19th-century carriage house share a certain poetic, optimistic feel. Venezuelan-born Maria Bertrán explores beauty in aspects of everyday life in large oil compositions such as "Summer Afternoon," a boldly contoured yet classic nude portrait, and "The Blue Door," featuring a Mediterranean-style doorway and potted flowers. Lisa Hannaford's acrylic work is strongly reminiscent of Matisse's fauve style, with the seductive appeal of a fragrant summer garden: "A Night for Wine II" tantalizes the viewer with its richly hued table adorned with wine, flowers, fruit, and cheese. Walter Sauermann's "Fish Plate" fits in perfectly with this cheerful effect, and his landscapes, such as "Maison Blanche," recall the expressionists' masterful use of light and texture. Through August 20 at La Cachette Gallery (behind Cuffs Clothing), 18 E. Orange St., Chagrin Falls, 440-247-2828. -- Michel
Guitar Mania -- This show features the work of four artists who participated in the city's GuitarMania project, which placed brightly painted guitars displayed throughout Cleveland. Artist Irene Sukle's expressionistic acrylics feature mystical figures with ethereal titles, such as "Flowing Into Light" and "Passions Glow." George Czyrba's electric landscape paintings appear to be painted directly from the tube. This technique works well in his paintings of waterlines along rocky coasts. In contrast, emerging artists Katelyn Diemand-Yauman and Kirsten Eichenauer are more experimental. Diemand-Yauman uses a variety of materials to enliven her paintings; pieces of glass and beads are mixed into motifs ranging from cubist to figurative. Eichenauer paints portraits inspired by themes from the Renaissance to the present. Collectively, the artwork is accessible and familiar. Paintings will be on view through August 22 at Atmosphere Gallery, 2335 W. 11th St., 216-685-9527 -- Miller
Impressions in Pastel and Watercolor: Paintings by Kim Moore -- Landscapes such as "Fall Approaches," a pastel illustration featuring grass and trees swaying in the wind, impart a sense of quiet change. "Spring Orchard" is equally serene: tracks in the grass lead the eye to a peaceful, tree-lined scene. The natural tones and simplicity exude emptiness and silence; chirping crickets would lend the perfect soundtrack. Moore's whimsical side shows in a series of circus-themed images. "Tent Rising," the largest work here, shows two elephants walking, single file, under a tent. "Red" features a portrait of a lobster that would suit a children's book perfectly. The location for this show, a small glass room in the school's library, makes this a unique experience. Through August 31 at Clara Fritzsche Library Gallery, Notre-Dame College, 4545 College Rd., 216-373-5267. -- Michel
Jenny Zito -- Jenny Zito applies paint liberally -- a few 16ths of an inch thick -- and the effect is made even more dramatic by the small scale, which blurs the distinction between painting and sculpture. In addition, viewer must get close to be aware of the diminutive, easily overlooked subjects. Conceptually, her paintings comment on the meaning of family; her use of family photos makes the paintings private and, to a degree, inaccessible. Still, the brilliant colors and intricate detail lend the works an appearance of precious jewelry. The presence of these diminutive pieces on a bare and empty wall could be an expression of the artist's attitude toward the subjects, but it reads equally well as an acknowledgment of their beauty. Through September 10 at Shaheen Gallery, 740 W. Superior Ave., 216-830-8888. -- Chris Kelley
Kelly McLane: My Blue-Green Algae -- Nature's raw power is beautifully rendered in McLane's large-scale graphite-and-acrylic paintings. "Soon on Me," placed at the entrance to a small room dedicated to her work, is the catalyst in a narrative that develops through four images. A tsunami soars over a city, tearing down a bridge in its furor. "Survivor" depicts a lone house drifting, attached to the mainland by cables and afloat thanks to numerous rubber tires strewn about its structure. McLane's watered-down aquas and transparent oranges give the devastation a lightness, perhaps indicating admiration for the planet's ability to transform. As the show's title suggests, the artist is interested in blue-green algae (aka cyanobacteria), believed to have been among the world's first living organisms. Six small figurative graphite drawings show another facet of McLane's original and finely executed vision. "You Pissed Your Pants" and "Hunting Season," for example, showcase emotionally defining moments in children's lives. Through August 22 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7340. -- Michel
Metro II -- M% gallery's annual show features regional artists. Kathy Lynn's nebulous forms and murky backgrounds on canvas seem personal and contemplative. Recent CIA grad Anne Kibbe furthers Lynn's mood in a series of intaglio prints that lack intense color or definable form, lending an introspective nature that's minimal from afar, but shows more vigorous movement up close. In contrast, Rita Montlack's hand-painted and vibrantly inked photographs of Cleveland provide a cool-edged release. By juxtaposing and rotating an image four times, Montlack creates an entertaining visual puzzle. Through September 2 at M% gallery, 12812 Larchmere Blvd. -- Miller
Modern Melt -- The work of two contemporary German artists composes this international show of conceptual jewelry brought to the United States for the first time by T.A.P. Studios and Gallery M. Crude in shape and whimsical in nature, Karl Fritsch's modern rings and pins are made of a variety of materials, including oxidized silver, gold, diamonds, rubies, and jade. His irregular rings, which feature dog bones, ducks, trees, and flowers, are intended to create an alternative aesthetic within fine jewelry. Andrea Wipperman's necklaces, earrings, rings, and kaleidescope, made from gemstones including sapphire and opal, are more serious. With titles including "Insect" and "Subject," Wipperman's geometric pieces are precisely constructed, reflecting a delicate, scientific quality. The jewelry will be on view through August 20 at Gallery M, 1667 E. 40th St., Suite 3B, 216-773-8277 -- Miller
Off the Wall -- Yumiko Goto's ceramics are the highlight of this group show. An avocado-colored bowl contains cactus-shaped structures and a crystallized turquoise finish on the bottom. At the other end of the spectrum are small, brown, potato-shaped objects with odd protrusions; their purpose and appeal are obscure. In 9-by-7-foot canvases by Jeffery Paul Gadbois (a.k.a. Meat), two figures examine their inner conflicts: "Dawn" features a younger man with heavy frown and laugh lines and bags under his eyes, while "Dusk" shows an older man with a beard. Kristina Good's acrylic paintings are unremarkable swirls of color, creating different "illusions." The standout here is a piece with streams of color coming down its entire length; bulbous shapes at the top of the lines subtly recall long-stemmed flowers. Through September 15 at Kelly-Randal Gallery, 2678 W. 14th St., 216-771-7724. -- Michel
Practicing What We Teach -- This eclectic exhibit challenges 10 artists to contest the old saying, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." Some of the works complement each other, attesting to teaching backgrounds, but little binds the collection. Titles of colorful, nonrepresentational oil-paint compositions by Thompson Lehnert, such as "Adagio for Strings," clue the viewer into the parallels with music. John Smolko's drawings deal cynically with indentity; the model in "Freshman Attitude" wears a label stating "Punk is not a crime." Ron White's small, figurative clay piece, "Newton's Third Law -- Newton's Cradle Conservation of Movement," humorously comments on groupthink: The heads of this close group are also the balls that knock back and forth in kinetic sculptures. Despite the movement, there is no actual change. Through September 4 at Summit Art Space, 140 E. Market St., Akron, 330-376-8480, www.summitartspace.org. -- Kelley
The Quilts of Gee's Bend -- Stitched together from old dress tails, work pants, and other scraps, the quilts of Gee's Bend were made out of necessity. They are the product of four generations of women in Arkansas who, through quilting, created a community. Against the stark white walls of the museum, the quilts hold their own as radiant artistic objects. Irregular shapes are intricately mixed with varying patterns of color, fabric, and stitching. The resulting richness and cohesion of abstract forms and hues make it difficult to imagine the quilts anywhere but in a museum. Though never so intended, the quilts challenge notions of beauty, wealth, tradition, and knowledge. Through September 12 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7340. -- Miller
Senenkunya: Many Voices, One Family -- Everyday objects displayed in their cultural context create an intimate portrait of life in West Africa. Photographs by Peggy Turbett (photo editor for The Plain Dealer) document her visit to Mali in 2002: Colorful rituals and the daily tasks of women are pictured in vibrant, large-scale images, revealing an alternative West African reality that has nothing to do with war or poverty. On the main floor, artifacts are displayed alongside life-sized reproductions of village homes and other structures. Among the highlights: the Toga, a decision-making area with a low ceiling that forces village men to sit down, thus eliminating height inequalities that might upset the balance of power. Another realistic scene is a market cart, strewn with hanging fruit and resting alongside the facade of a 13th-century mud mosque. In this way, utilitarian objects take on resounding new life as art. It's an engaging, hugely enlightening experience. Through August 29 at the Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., 216-231-4600. -- Michel
Summer Exhibition 2004 -- The Cleveland School, as some artists working from around 1920 to 1970 were collectively known, is credited with bringing avant-garde art to the area. Contemporaries of Picasso and Van Gogh, these painters were inspired by the European art of the early 20th century; the influences of the impressionists, cubists, surrealists, and the fauvists are sometimes mixed together in a single painting. But by applying these new ideas to ceramics and watercolor, the Cleveland School distinguished itself from the Europeans. Viewers will probably be most familiar with the work of Viktor Schreckengost, a ceramicist who made the Johnny Appleseed sculpture built into the facade of Lakewood High. Historically significant, this exhibit brings together a wide variety of mediums and styles. Through September 5 at Corcoran Fine Arts, 13210 Shaker Square, 216-767-0770. -- Kelley
Summer Show: HOT -- Every week through the summer, sold pieces will be replaced. That and the variety of art on display make this a show worth visiting more than once. Brent Kee Young's glass vessels are intricate networks of Pyrex glass tubing. Each has subtle variations in color only visible under the right light. A.D. Peters uses old postcards and unconventional materials with his oil paints to create images like Pristine, a white rose framed in slate. And Susan J. Stoczen makes her art practical: 10 brooches, made of semiprecious metals and embellished with various shells and beads, are framed in pine boxes. The brooches can be either hung on a wall or taken out of their frames and worn. Brent Marshall's colored-glass "walls" are reminiscent of stained-glass church windows, making them part furniture, part art. Through September 18 at Thrive -- An Artspace, at The Galleria, 1301 E. 9th St., 2nd floor, 216-479-0303. -- Michel
Trophies of the Hunt: Capturing Nature as Art -- Beautifully rendered photographs from the Cleveland Museum of Art's permanent collection celebrate the macabre ethos of the hunt. Intended to capture nature, several of the images instead relay death. The most disturbing image is Joel-Pete Witkin's 1990 photograph "Feast of Fools." Arranged as a still life, the photo includes decaying fruit and vegetables amid severed hands, feet, and even an infant corpse. Drawing on a long tradition of imagery in still-life painting, this picture is reminiscent of the work of the French painter Géricault. Other, less haunting items are snapshots of individuals who display such prizes as a fish, a swan, and a pig's head. One charming photograph, by Cleveland native Barbara Bosworth, shows fireflies in a jar. Comparing hunters and photographers, the show effectively relays how grim subject matter can become a visual feast. Trophies of the Hunt will be on view through November 3 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., University Circle, 216-421-7340 -- Miller
Wet Oxygen -- Illinois artist Leo Grucza raises a universal theme in his large acrylic and oil interpretations of aquatic life and water. In "Traffic," fish-like figures are suspended, vertically aligned, in fluid color. The wet oxygen is sometimes blue, as in "Surface Tension," but usually abstract and richly hued. Our own origins, both in the womb and as water-dwelling creautures in the early stages of evolution, are symbolized in most of his work; each painting's meaning seems to stem, sometimes loosely, from that thought. In "Echoes," channels of liquid seem to be circulating, creating a current that might be interpreted as a life force or as the metaphorical currents that guide us. His color palette runs the gamut from dark reds to soft lavenders, and his handling of the medium is as controlled as it is expansive. Also on view is "Becoming," a site-specific drawing by David Pohl, created especially for this summer's city-wide Buddha Project. Through September 10 at Gallery Ü, in the Colonial Marketplace ARTCade, 530 Euclid Ave., Suite 30, 216-323-0085. -- Michel
