Thanksgiving is just days away. So let me take this opportunity to thank each of you for reading Gallery Glances today. I truly appreciate your support, as do the artists whose stories I share. Your purchases of local handmade artworks in whatever media interests you, from jewelry to paintings to fabrics to woodworking and beyond, speaks to the artists.
It not only provides the means to secure more tools of the trade, paints, clay, wood, gemstones, fabrics, framing and so on, but it also tells them their work has value and to continue to create.
As Small Business Saturday rolls around, I hope you will choose to shop as close to home as possible. Keeping our community strong requires us to participate. That begins with kindness to our neighbors and fellow shoppers, awareness of how those we elect handle their responsibilities and includes supporting the family businesses we depend on as much as they do us. Please open their doors for more than sponsoring the bowling league or school fundraisers.
Tis the season. Yup, it has arrived. Holiday lighting displays are up, with thanks to this beautiful fall weather for making that chore quite pleasant. Lighting ceremonies are scheduled with visits from Santa and evening art walks to make shopping part of the celebration.
Stella’s Art Gallery
“Bricolage,” the November show at Stella’s Art Gallery, 38033 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, is as special as the artists and components used to create the works in it.
What exactly is a bricolage, you ask?
It is a construction made of whatever materials are at hand — something created from a variety of available things. In art, it refers to makeshift handiwork. At Stella’s, it is a collection of clever and thought-provoking artworks.
“This a very cool show with an upcycle vibe,” gallery owner Dani Klein said.
Artist and instructor Sandy Shelenberger juried the show and was on hand at a recent event for some opening remarks before the awards were presented, complimenting the artists for making her job so difficult.
Congratulations to Luanne Bole-Becker, Best in Show winner.
The winner in Mosaic is MB Matthews.
The winners in Collage are Randall Oldrieve, first place; Monica DiSiena, second place; Dennis Mastrangelo, third place; and Lisa Valksnora, honorable mention.
The winners in Assemblage are Bob Tubbesing, first place; Gayle Pinkler-Astrup, second place; and Kathyrn Akucewich, third place.
The winners in Mixed Media are Tracy Parsons, first place; Jonah Jacobs, second place; Monica DiSiena, third place; and Tracy Parsons, honorable mention.
Next up is the Makers’ Market, featuring works by Stella’s resident artists — more gift and holiday-focused offerings. It opens on Dec. 8 with a meet-the-artists event from 6 to 9 p.m. By shopping opening day, you are helping the gallery help the artists. They have waived commissions for the day, giving the artists an extra boost, plus you get to meet them. Need a custom piece created? Check them out!
Stella’s next Secret Society Comedy Night will be on Dec. 2 with Kelly Collette. Tickets and info: bit.ly/stellas-scn-12-2-23.
For more information, call 440-266-9111 or visit Stellasartgallery.com.
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Gallery at Lakeland
The Gallery at Lakeland, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, is presenting the “Lakeland Community College Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition,” through Jan 15. This is a great way to see the work done by your instructors. Better still, attend the artists’ reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 30 and meet them.
Gallery Coordinator Mary Urbas describes the show as an “eclectic collection including acrylic painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, jewelry/metals, mixed media, weaving and graphic design created by the talented and skilled visual arts faculty of Lakeland Community College.”
The show includes Carol Adams, enamel on copper; Christopher Berry, acrylic painting on canvas; Paula Blackman, ceramic sculpture; Yijun Chen, photography — archival pigment print; Mark Del Balso, digital art and mixed media sculpture; Wade Gagich, photography — archival pigment print; Amy D. Copeland, chair of graphic design/photography department, graphic design and weavings; Michael Kinkopf, photography — digital print; J. Derek O’Brien, ceramic sculpture; David L. Samiec, digital photography; Grace Summanen, mixed media; and Jane Wiemer, jewelry/ metals.
For more information, contact Urbas at 440-525-7029 or [email protected].
78th Street Studios
Just like clockwork, as the third Friday rolls around, here comes another ArtWalk at 78th Street Studios, 1300 W. 78th. St., Cleveland. This is the largest fine arts complex in Northeast Ohio, home to more than 60 galleries, studios and creative businesses.
The Third Friday ArtWalk will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 17 with a plethora of things to see and do, open studios, music, food and shopping. Visit 78thstreetstudios.com and see for yourself.
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Art walks
As promised, here are some of the holiday shopping events, starting with Downtown Willoughby. Erie Road will be closed to traffic as the city is illuminated in a ceremony from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30. The DTW Holiday Stroll will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1. Details at willoughbyohio.com.
Little Italy’s Holiday ArtWalk is a weekend event. It takes place 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 1, noon to 9 p.m. on Dec. 2 and noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 3. ArtWalk maps will be available at galleries, merchants,] and restaurants in the Cleveland neighborhood during the event. Learn more at littleitalycle.com.
Walkabout Tremont is held from 5 to 10 p.m. on every second Friday throughout the year. The Dec. 8 event with be especially festive thanks to all the holiday lighting and displays. The event centers around Professor Avenue and the surrounding streets in one of Cleveland’s oldest neighborhoods. Learn more at experiencetremont.com.