William Rupnik Gallery:
One Big Box of FunThe William Rupnik Gallery's second exhibition in its new permanent home brings back a familiar face: Czech-born Ales BASK Hostomsky in the show Box of Fun. In keeping with Rupnik's attention to street art, BASK commands traditional print and painting methodologies to address up-to-the-minute popular concerns and pop obsessions. The works currently on display are making their world premiere. While still lighthearted, they are somewhat more abstract than those he has previously displayed in Cleveland. For instance, "Beast from the East" situates Godzilla in a visual din of snowy whorls of white paint, sugar-high scribbles, and characters from Japanese script. And "Duck Thug" (pictured above) consists of churning, parallel seas of gold and blood, only faintly recognizable as Daffy. In fact, the work is a recognition test, asking a bigger, open-ended question: What does it mean that we can recognize a trademarked cartoon character through distortion and abstraction? Who knows? BASK doesn't seem to take it too seriously, and probably neither should we. An opening reception will be held Saturday, November 19, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the gallery, 1117 Euclid Ave. An after-party follows at Tremont's Lava Lounge, 1307 Auburn Ave. For more information, call 216-533-5575 or go to wrgcleveland.com. — Joseph Clark
Artists Archives of the Western Reserve: Annual Members Holiday Show & Sale. Featuring works by more than 30 artists, the show kicks off with an opening reception Nov. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. Through Dec. 16 at 1834 East 123rd St. Call 216-721-9020 or visit artistsarchives.org.
Arts Collinwood Gallery: That's All Folks! An exhibit of paintings by Cleveland artist Harris Johnson draws upon caricature, portraiture, and still-life techniques to investigate and satirize the world of the artist. Through Dec. 3 at 15605 Waterloo Rd. Call 216-692-9500 or go to artscollinwood.org.
Bonfoey Gallery: Return. Clevelander Frank Oriti uses oil and acrylic to bring to life moments of character usually not depicted in traditional figure paintings: boredom, distraction, and even hostility. An opening reception will be held Nov. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. Through Jan. 6 at 1710 Euclid Ave. Call 216-621-0178 or go to bonfoey.com.
Cleveland Artists Foundation: Cleveland Creates: An Exhibition of Work Created by Member Artists. This exhibit is a showcase for more than 60 local creatives, demonstrating the healthy diversity of Cleveland's artistic culture. Through Dec. 3 in the Beck Center's Virginia Foley Gallery, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Call 216-227-9507 or go to clevelandartists.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. For more information, call 216-421-7407 or 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.
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 through 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.
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.
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 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17. Through Nov. 23 at Folk Hall, 150 East Exchange St., Akron. Call 330-972-6030 or visit idiosyncrasy.co.
Opus Gallery: New Museum Collection 2011-2012. Russian-born Yuri Gorbachev, whose pieces have been collected by the Louvre, Kremlin Museum, and White House, will exhibit his signature works rendered in precious metals, gems, lacquers, and oil. An opening reception will be held Nov. 19 from 5 to 9 p.m. Through Jan. 1 at 27629 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood. For more information, call 216-595-1376 or go to opus-gallery.com.
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 West 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. 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 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.
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. Through Dec.17. Call 216-229-6527 or go to sculpturecenter.org for more information.
Shaheen Gallery: Bill Radawec: A Retrospective. The art of Bill Radawec, visual and three-dimensional artist, is celebrated in this retrospective. Through Jan. 20 at 740 West Superior Ave., Suite 101. Call 216-830-8888 or visit shaheengallery.com.
Spaces: Boundaries. Experimental composer Christopher Auerbach-Brown creates an installation using the gallery's windows as amplifiers and speakers. Make CATopia Real. Ben Kinsley and Jessica Langley consult cats, through their owners, on the idea of utopia. Comfort Women Wanted. Chang Jin-Lee uses posters, photographs, and video installations to recount the horrors endured by Japanese women pressed into sex slavery in WWII. An opening reception will be held Nov. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. Exhibits continue through Jan. 20 at 2220 Superior Viaduct. Call 216-621-2314 or go to spacesgallery.org.
William Busta Gallery: Ohio Lands Forever. Brinsley Tyrrell uses novel materials to render statewide landscapes in colors and moods tuned to enchant the urban-dweller disconnected from nature. Works by Cecelia Philips and Stephen Yusko will also be unveiled. An opening reception is set for Nov. 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. Through Dec. 31 at 2731 Prospect Avenue. To learn more, call 216-298-9071 or go to williambustagallery.com.
