JOE AYALA: MMIV-MMX
Joe Ayala doesn't mess around when it comes to subject matter: Rather than split intellectual hairs, he goes for the big and time-honored themes: history, beauty, humor, and death. Without a solo show here in five years, Ayala has been busy lately as one of the organizers of Wall Eye Gallery. This show is Wall Eye's first spotlighting one of its members. With no particular theme in mind, Ayala has sampled paintings, prints, and drawing he made since 2004. Joe Ayala: MMIV-MMX (translation: 2004-2010) opens with a reception from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, continues from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and by appointment through August 8 at Wall Eye Gallery (5304 Detroit Ave, 216-640-7769, walleyegallery.blogspot.com). It's free. — Michael GillOn view now at area galleries and museums:
Akron Art Museum: Andrew Moore-Detroit Disassembled: Moore has put together a collection of photos that capture the decline of this once-great industrial giant, showing the vast empty space that once used to be populated areas. Moore's exhibit debuts in Akron before moving on to tour nationally. Through October 10 at the Akron Art Museum, One South High Street in Akron. Call 330-376-9185. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. Thursday.
Artists Archives of the Western Reserve: Seeing Green: Creating Art in an Era of Sustainability: Cleveland artists use environmentally friendly and recycled materials to create art. Through July 16 at 1834 E. 123rd Street. Open Wed.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday noon-4 p.m. Call 216-721-9020 or visit artistsarchives.org.
Artseen Gallery: Lunar Paraphrase: The Terrain of Intimacy: For more than two decades, painter Douglas Max Utter's work has been pulled in several directions. This career retrospective includes 18 mostly large paintings. Through September 19 at 5591 Liberty Ave., Vermilion. Open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call 440-963-0611 or visit theartseengallery.com.
Asterisk Gallery:19 Invitational: As usual, Asterisk owner Dana Depew has gathered a crew of 19 artists about as diverse as a shotgun blast, from veterans Patricia Zinsmeister Parker and Mindy Tousley to up-and-comers Natalie Capannelli and Brandon Juhasz. Through August 7 at 2393 Professor St. in Tremont. Hours are 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment. Admission is free. Call 330-304-8528 or visit asteriskgallery.com.
Brandt Gallery: Edward Shahala: Shalala creates temporary installations featuring canvas thread, which he uses to draw abstract lines in landscapes.The work exists for only a couple of hours, during which Shalala documents the process, then cleans up after himself. What viewers actually see are photographs, which include the abstractions he made. Through August 7 at 1028 Kenilworth Ave. in Tremont. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment. Admission is free. Call 216-621-1610 or visit brandtgallery.org.
Cleveland Artists Foundation: The Kokoon Arts Club: Cleveland Revels! The Kokoon Art Club was founded in Cleveland in 1911, and to fund their activities, the group would throw an annual bal masque that brought out thousands of Clevelanders. In this exhibit are costumes, photos, and poster sketches from those events. Through July 31 at Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood. Call 216-227-9507 or visit clevelandartists.org.
Cleveland Museum of Art: Midwest Modern: The Color Woodcuts of Mabel Hewitt: Cleveland artist Mabel Hewitt uses her woodcuts to show scenes of remote areas of the United States, such as views of Provincetown as well as Sagatuck, Mich. Through October 24. Also: Andrew Borowiec: Cleveland Photographs: The Akron native documents the Flats through black-and-white photography. Through October 17 at 11150 East Boulevard. Open Tuesday-Sunday at 10 a.m. Closes at 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday, and at 5 p.m. all other days. Call 216-421-7350 or visit clevelandart.org.
Heights Arts: Lake Effects: A tribute to Lake Erie, this exhibit shows a collection of work from regional photographers. Through July 24 at 2163 Lee Road. Open Thursday-Saturday from 1:30-9:30 p.m. Call 216-371-3457 or visit heightsarts.org.
Kokoon Arts Gallery: Spring Salon: A collection of works from Frank Wilcox, Andrea LeBlond, Keri Gortz, and Paul Jacklitch. Through July 16 at 1305 W. 80th St. Gallery open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Call 216-832-8212 or visit kokoonarts.com.
Local Girl Gallery: Unheard Of: Photos by Lakewood artist Tate Davidson. Opens with a reception from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, July 17. Through August 14 at 16101 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Gallery is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from noon-5 p.m., and till 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 216-228-1802 or go to localgirlgallery.com.
Museum of Contemporary Art: Aïda Ruilova: The Singles 1999-Now: New York artist Ruilova has created single channel videos characterized by screams and whimpers mixed with images of darkness and confined spaces. Through August 15. Also: Marilyn Minter: Super close-ups of turgid lips, licking tongues, sultry eyes — Minter's 2009 video Green Pink Caviar is made up of eight minutes of models' mouths sucking and licking Jell-O and candy. But that video, as well as Minter's photos and large enamel-on-aluminum paintings, also have grotesque qualities that seem to be more criticism than celebration of the decadent glamour we typically associate with fashion mags. Through August 15 at 8501 Carnegie Ave. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wednesdays until 8 p.m. Call 216-421-8671 or visit mocacleveland.org.
1point618 Gallery: Was It a Dream? Was I In It? Amber Kempthorn's love of music inspires these "scenes from daydreams," interwoven with fragments of songs by Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, and Blur. This is the first solo show for the 2000 graduate of Hiram College. Through July 23 at 6421 Detroit Ave. Call 216-281-1618 or visit 1point618gallery.com.
The Pop Shop: A Day in the Life: Local artist Billy Nainiger shows a collection of artwork dedicated zto the Beatles. Through paintings, collages, and media, Nainiger captures the essence of one of the most prolific, most beloved bands in history. At 17020 Madison Ave. in Lakewood. Call 216-227-8440 for more info or go to popshopgallery.com.
Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art: Charles Kanwischer: Recent Drawings: Kanwischer's old-school attention to detail is the exact opposite of his subjects' carelessness. He mocks the cleared land and hastily built houses on the cutting edge of sprawl with his meticulous graphite-pencil technique. Through July 30 at 740 W. Superior Ave.. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Call 216-830-8888 or visit shaheengallery.com.
SPACES: Detour: Five artists met to discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and by the end, each was given an obstacle — such as being required to work with a partner when they would rather work alone — to deal with as they created their art. Also: Sometimes an Entrance Is Actually an Exit: Josh Parker's multimedia experience challenges observers to question their concepts of time and space as they walk through a labyrinth. Through July 16 at 2220 Superior Viaduct. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., till 7 p.m. on Fridays. Open 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Call 216-621-2314 or visit spacesgallery.org.
William Busta Gallery: Brinsley Tyrrell-Ohio Lands Forever: When he moved to Portage County in 1975, Tyrrell began drawing the vast landscape around him in pastel. Years later, he has picked up his habit of drawing the landscape he knows again — this time using glass enamels. Ohio farmland comes to life with scenes of all four seasons from Tyrrell's memories. Through July 31 at 2731 Prospect Avenue. Open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call 216-298-9071 or visit williambustagallery.com.
Zygote Press Gallery: The Art Quarter Exhibition: A juried show of works by artists in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood. Open Wednesday noon-3 p.m. and Saturday noon-4 p.m. Through July 30 at 1410 E. 30th Street. Call 216-621-2900 or visit zygotepress.com.
DOTT SCHNEIDER: THE BURROWS: Dott Schneider made a sensation three years ago with her Nervous Bird show at 1300 Gallery, then she headed west to Sin City. Though she’s back in Ohio, what happened to her in Vegas is not staying in Vegas: Schneider says The Burrows is an expression of her “connection to and observation of the desert, in which I made my residence and so genuinely love.” It’s a series of mixed-media paintings and a large-scale installation that represent the impact desert life left on her as an artist. It opens with a reception starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday and continues through September 17 at Legation, A Gallery, 1300 D, West 78th St. The Sights, a psychedelic garage band from Detroit, will perform at 10 p.m. Friday. It’s all free. Call 216-650-4201 or visit legationagallery.com. — Gill
