Photography and Soundscapes:
An Homage to Man Ray at MOCAA pair of new shows highlight the summer schedule at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The first, Delicious Fields, mines the talent of nine Ohio photogs in homage to Man Ray and his 1922 book of photography, Champs Delicieux. The book was capital "S" Surrealism, a production of that mind-set's experimental skepticism of reality. At MOCA, the artists invoke small "s" surreality to reframe or reassert psychological and social issues. Mansfield photographer Marcella Hackbardt's photos, including "Ever After All" (details, below), have a quality of timelessness even when they involve motion. When human faces appear, they do not set the mood, but only contribute to a larger emotional milieu. Also featured are photos by Oberlin professor of studio art Pipo Nguyen-Duy; these pieces contrast men of violence with those touched by violence with nature scenes of seemingly invincible serenity. These are dreams, lucid yet still haunting, and suggestive of wider things. The second new exhibit is Julianne Swartz's soundscape Terrain, a canopy of wires and sound equipment emitting a moaning, sighing, multilingual-murmuring audio-ecology as winding and mysterious as dark jungles or the subconscious. Both shows open with a reception on June 3 from 7 to 10 p.m. and run through August 13 at 8501 Carnegie Ave.; call 216-421-8671 or go to mocacleveland.org. — Joseph Clark
Now On View: Openings and Exhibitions
Akron Art Museum: M.C. Escher: Impossible Realities. This crowd-pleasing show features more than 130 of Escher's works, including such instantly recognizable pieces as "Drawing Hands." Extended through June 5. Also: All-Star Jazz. Jazz history comes to life in the photography of Herman Leonard, who captured greats like Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra in moments of staged glory and private vulnerability. Through July 10 at 1 South High St.; call 330-376-9186 or go to akronartmuseum.org.
Artists Archives of the Western Reserve: May Members Show. Featuring works by 45 of AAWR's member artists, this show reflects the collective's depth of creativity and diversity of expression. Through June 17 at 1834 East 123rd St. Call 216-721-9020 or go to artistsarchives.org.
Beachwood Arts Council. Inspirations: Fiber/Paint/Glass. Works by fiber artist Jodi Kanter join paintings by Lynn Kaye and glass creations from Mark Sudduth in this new exhibition. Through June 19 at the Beachwood Community Center, 25225 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood; call 216-292-1492 or go to beachwoodarts.org.
Brownhoist Gallery at Studio St. Clair: The Form of Cleveland. What better way to launch a new gallery than by honoring the past? For Brownhoist's inaugural exhibition, woodworker and sculptor Timothy Riffle and photographer Jerry Mann display contemporary and historic tools, furniture, carvings, and photographs to narrate an "industrial archaeology" honoring the work of Cleveland's fading manufacturing sector. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. on June 3, and the show runs through July 30 at 4403 St. Clair Ave. For more information, call 216-789-2998 or go to studiostclair.com/brownhoistgallery.
Cleveland Artists Foundation: Designing History. This exhibit showcases the work of the late architect, architectural historian, and local preservationist I. T. Frary. An opening reception will be held June 3 from 6 to 8 p.m., with an entry fee of $5 for non-members. Through July 16 at the Beck Center, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. For more information, call 216-227-9507 or go to clevelandartists.org.
Cleveland Museum of Art: The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art. Designed to illuminate the intricate connections between Chinese poetry and its reinterpretation as visual art by Japanese and Korean artists, this exhibition features 80 diverse works spanning nearly seven centuries; almost all of the pieces are drawn from the museum's preeminent collection. Through August 28. Also: Indian Kalighat Paintings. Highly stylized and brightly colored, these works were originally created as souvenirs for 19th-century tourists. Today, they are highly regarded as marking the beginning of modernism in Indian art. Through September 18 at 11150 East Blvd. in University Circle; call 216-421-7340 or visit clevelandart.org.
CSU Art Gallery: Presence. This exhibition features works in a variety of media by artists Phillip Buntin, Blake Cook, Jeesun Park, Dan Tranberg, and Lizbeth Wolfe. Through June 18 at 2307 Chester Ave. Call 216-687-2103 or go to csuohio.edu/artgallery.
Kenneth Paul Lesko Gallery: Transmutations. John Nativio exhibits paintings, drawings, and sculpture, including his signature surrealistic paintings of powdery pastel furniture and everyday objects containing miniature landscapes, meant to signify (among other things) the intended and unintended consequences of urbanization and the marginalizing of the rural and unspoiled. Through July 2 at 1305 West 80th St. Call 216-631-6719 or go to kennethpaullesko.com.
Kokoon Arts: Eternal Vibrations. Three artists draw upon mystic spiritual traditions for their inspiration. Through July 9 at 1305 West 80th St. For more info, call 216-832-8212 or go to kokoonarts.com.
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage: About the Right of Being Different: The Art of Diversity and Inclusion at Progressive. On loan from the Progressive Corporation's Mayfield Village headquarters, this collection represents local and national artists, numerous mediums, and a commitment to tolerance and inclusivity shared with the Maltz Museum. Through June 26 at 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood. For more information, call 216-593-0575 or go to maltzmuseum.org.
O Gallery: On the Wall/Off the Wall: A Functional Art Show. Russian-born artist Alice Kiderman reasserts the value of art in hard times by producing a series of abstract sculptures with every-day functional applications. Through July 1 at 2101 Richmond Rd, Beachwood. Call 330-921-1234 or go to kocustoms.com.
Pop Shop Gallery: 6 Degress of Juxtaposition. The Pop Shop celebrates its sixth year with this retrospective featuring more than 20 artists, including some who were there at the beginning. Also: Connect the Dots, a "rad" exhibit at next-door's (art)ificial gallery inspired by the pop art of the '80s and '90s. Through June 4 at 17020 Madison Ave. in Lakewood; call 216-227-8440 or visit popshopgallery.com or whatisartificial.com.
Proximity: Lucid in the Land. Cleveland-based artists James Quarles and Robert Krumholz find inspiration in childhood toys, memories, and pop culture for a show that communicates both whimsy and grandeur. Through June 10 at 1667 East 40th St. For more information, call 216-262-8903 or go to proximitycleveland.com.
River Gallery: Ceramics Invitational. Local ceramic artists of every stripe showcase a diverse selection of functional yet decorative pieces at this exhibition. Through June 11 at 19046 Old Detroit Rd. in Rocky River. Call 440-331-8406 or go to rivergalleryarts.com.
SPACES: Pink Milk Mild. Rainbow Lightning, the creative duo of Chelsea Blackerby and Erica Hoosic, sew memories into a tunneled environment that is traveled and experienced rather than viewed. Also: All That Glitters. Tamar Harpaz combines sculpture and projection to create shifting patterns of line and shadow as part of a 9-week residency exploring parallels between Western and Israeli cultures. Also: Farmed: The New Agronomists. This hands-on educational exhibit seeks to de-romanticize farming via a series of workshops and lectures by international and local horticulturalists. Through July 10 at 2220 Superior Viaduct; call 216-621-2314 or go to spacesgallery.org.
William Busta Gallery: Self Storage. Aaron Koehn's paintings depict architecture, but their subject is alienation. Architectural constructs, especially ones with repetitive, linear features–rows of bricks, blinds, the slats of doors on storage modules—stand starkly with no hint of their human use, inviting a creeping loneliness. An opening reception will be held on June 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. Through July 30 at 2731 Prospect Ave. For more information, call 216-298-9071 or go to williambustagallery.com.
Zygote Press: Three Artists: One Exquisite Wall. Corrie Slawson, Melissa Daubert, and Melinda Placko were given free access to a bare wall to build off of the others' contributions with paint, wire, and sculpting materials. See the result through June 11 at 1410 East 30th St.; call 216-621-2900 or go to zygotepress.com.
