1- Norman Mallard | a_bugs_life | $150
Digital collage mounted on upcycled box frame
7.5 x 10″
Artist Statement: Directly influenced by a lifetime of pop culture, graphic design, and the playful joy of modern art, Norman avidly collects paper and 3D objects to incorporate directly into his own work. The resulting art is characterized by whimsy and a none-too-subtle dose of nostalgia. While most of his pieces are overwhelmingly fun, some tap into the discombobulation of childhood/life. His storytelling allows the viewer to fully immerse in the subject.
Artist Bio: Norman is a mixed-media artist living & working in Akron, Ohio. He was raised in the mid-1900s in Norfolk, Virginia, and spent his working career as an Art Director and Graphic Designer. He received an advertising degree from Portfolio Center in Atlanta. His 20+ years in the “big city” (Washington, DC) has influenced his collage work which is often crowded and slightly dystopic. His tin collages and assemblages are decidedly less so. He works from his basement studio, where his hoarding can be somewhat contained.

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2- Josh Chefitz | Night Rider | NFS
Gel pen, oil pastels, and acrylic paint on black abaca
24″ x 18″
Artist Statement: Rolling a white gel pen along the Morgan Conservatory Biker Jacket Black abaca is an exhilarating, sometimes heart-pounding experience. This piece marks my first attempt (out of two), and I can’t wait to do it again. The paper is razor-thin yet accommodates pastels and even acrylics. Night Rider reflects the way I remember the doodles I did as a child. I spent many of my classes creating these grids, but I never found an opportunity to do more than that. They have come back to me, opening the door to pieces like this. I’m so grateful they did.
Artist Bio: Josh Chefitz is a self-taught, multimedia artist based in Cleveland, Ohio, who aims to create pieces where the closer you get, the more you discover. Chefitz cites these “grid doodles” from his childhood as his primary inspiration. Using handmade paper, ink, gel, paint pens, acrylics, oil pastels, and spray paint, Chefitz reframes these doodles as a commentary on memories, exploring the dissonance between those that are authentic and those constructed to help us move forward. Chefitz is also the driving force and creator of ActLoCLE, a web-based art hub that provides community and visibility for makers in Northeast Ohio. His work has been shown across the region.

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3- Gwen Waight | i’ve got baggage | $500
Found object assemblage
18” x 24” x 8”
Artist Statement: This piece uses found objects to express the concerns and fears I have with my country. It has utilitarian properties such as a mirror, a suitcase, and many, many bag tags to explore ideas of shared experiences of carrying ‘baggage’ during an election year.
Artist Bio: My studio is in Peninsula, Ohio in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I have resided and worked in Ohio for 21years. I received my degree from the University of Iowa in sculpture and worked in my dad’s ceramic studio for ten years. It was in my father’s studio that I learned my appreciation of three-dimensional space. It was also my dad’s non-sentimental nature of tossing/ burning all things deemed unnecessary clutter that rooted my deep need to covet and collect almost everything. With found objects and assemblage I truly discovered my voice. The objects I lean towards always seem to have lived and have a story to tell….some objects are complete memories for me and just as a writer will string words together to create a work I assemble objects to create my art. I love the fact that like words, smells and colors; objects hold meaning and memories. The wonderful thing is that sometimes the viewer has similar or completely different ones than my own. I feel that found object assemblage is just like painting in 3D or perhaps, collaging. For me, it is a better process because I don’t start with a blank canvas.Often in my studio I will have three or four different pieces going at the same time. I start sometimes with an idea first and search for the objects that are going to express that idea or I start with an object or several objects that shout so loudly that they need to be together.

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4- Bridgett Crocker Emerson | Death Becomes Her: Tulip | $190
Photography
11″ x 14″ framed to 12 1/2″ x 13 1/2″
Artist Statement: “Death Becomes Her” is a series very close to my heart, drawn directly from life events leading to a period of depression. The passing of both my parents in quick succession, the realization I was a victim and survivor of domestic abuse, deaths of friends, and a further isolating global pandemic were the initial catalysts. Suddenly, I was an orphan and very much alone. As I watched these flowers decline and then die, I saw and connected to a deep and poignant beauty in them…even in their decay.
Artist Bio: Bridgett Crocker Emerson is no stranger to the arts as a professionally trained flutist with two Master’s degrees in flute performance and music theory. A completely self-taught visual artist, Emerson pulls the threads of her expertise within the ephemerality of music into manifestations of concrete physicality. Her work focuses on the abstract, natural themes and subjects, dreams, visions, and even nightmares. Her most recent photography series examine the juxtaposition of beauty and loss, life and death, love and betrayal. Her work has been shown in juried exhibitions both in and outside of Ohio and she was selected to feature her photography in a three-day takeover on the Womens’ Photo Alliance of New York City Instagram account.

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5- Bradley Hart | Mid-life Chrysalis | NFS
Photography
16 x 20″ framed
Artist Statement: Please ask me at the opening
Artist Bio: Please see social media.

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6- Beth Prindle | Picture Brides: Salina, Kansas | $800
Mixed media assemblage
30 x 20.5″
Artist Statement: The found photos are of two different couples, posed at the same photography studio in Salina, Kansas, and a story about them took shape in my mind and guided the development of this piece. Because of a lack of women in the expanding American West, men would run ads in Eastern newspapers looking for potential brides. After exchanging pictures and letters, the women would travel westward to their new life of scrubbing floors, chopping wood, plowing fields, and having many children.
Artist Bio: My assemblage art explores birth and death, rites of passage, social issues, and the personal histories of myself and others. I primarily create in wood and metal materials collected from estate sales and flea markets. Often the components guide me as the piece evolves. Textures, colors, rhythms, shapes and found photographs make suggestions, while themes emerge
through the juxtaposition of objects. My hope is that the observer will feel mystified, pulled in, and inexplicably intrigued as they free-associate with these collections of objects and attach personally meaningful stories to them, based on the collective unconscious, personal unconscious, and their own – and their family’s – history.

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7- Susan Yingling | Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral | $200
Laser engraved photo on painted glass with collage
10″ x 7″ image, 14″ x 11″ framed
Artist Statement: We have a favorite hotel we stay in while visiting Columbus and frequently our room looks out on this church. One morning, the sun hit the walls of the church and literally glowed. I took this photo with the intent of playing with the color, differentiating the light hitting the different walls and impacting the changes of the same color. Using paint chip samples instead of mixing paint colors forced me to look closely at color and analyze the undertones of the golden walls. I use the laser engraver as a means to develop photographic images. This is a combination of photography and collage, engraving the photos onto painted glass and enhancing the image through strong contrast and generally flat applications of color behind the glass.
Artist Bio: Susan Yingling holds a BFA from Kent State University and taught visual art in the Akron Public Schools 35 years, the majority of that time serving the students of Margaret Park Elementary School and the George C. Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts. She has served as co-chair of the NECO Scholastic Art Committee, chair of the Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education, docent at the Akron Art Museum and the Canton Museum of Art, Summit Artspace Board and the Akron Art Museum Education Committee. She has judged and/or adjudicated the Akron Arts Expo, Summit Artspace Fresh exhibit with Arnold Tunstall, the 11th Congressional District Art Exhibit, the Medina Art League student show, the Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education art competition, NECO Scholastic Art competition, Medina Art in the Park, and the Norton High School Art Department Fashion Show and Competition. She holds memberships in the Artists of Rubber City, the Ohio Collage Society, the Akron Art Museum, and is a resident artist in Summit Artspace utilizing the Akron-Summit County Library’s Tech Zone on Main in her photography and collage work.

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8- Susan Yingling | Rio Piano Steps | $200
Laser engraved photo on painted glass with collage
10″ x 7″ image, 14″ x 11″ framed
Artist Statement: Hidden on a back street of Rio, tucked in between two buildings, I discovered these charming steps. A closer look revealed their intentional transformation . . . mosaic tiles placed as piano keys with color simulating the excitement of the streets. I wanted to recreate that feeling in the collage work under the engraved image and included text, old stamps, and other bits of ephemera, in addition to my usual paint chip samples. I use the laser engraver as a means to develop photographic images. This is a combination of photography and collage, engraving the photos onto painted glass and enhancing the image through strong contrast and generally flat applications of color behind the glass.
Artist Bio: Susan Yingling holds a BFA from Kent State University and taught visual art in the Akron Public Schools 35 years, the majority of that time serving the students of Margaret Park Elementary School and the George C. Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts. She has served as co-chair of the NECO Scholastic Art Committee, chair of the Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education, docent at the Akron Art Museum and the Canton Museum of Art, Summit Artspace Board and the Akron Art Museum Education Committee. She has judged and/or adjudicated the Akron Arts Expo, Summit Artspace Fresh exhibit with Arnold Tunstall, the 11th Congressional District Art Exhibit, the Medina Art League student show, the Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education art competition, NECO Scholastic Art competition, Medina Art in the Park, and the Norton High School Art Department Fashion Show and Competition. She holds memberships in the Artists of Rubber City, the Ohio Collage Society, the Akron Art Museum, and is a resident artist in Summit Artspace utilizing the Akron-Summit County Library’s Tech Zone on Main in her photography and collage work.

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9- Katie Clark | In the Belly of the Beast | $260
Watercolor, alcohol-based marker, cut paper, found metal
8 x 8″
Artist Statement: Inspired by medieval marginalia and papercutting, this multimedia piece speaks to the neverending cycle of life and death, in which death for one organism means life for another. The use of cut paper and found objects creates texture, while miniature paintings within the larger composition encourage viewers to look closely at the details. Following the conventions of the artistic movements that inspired it, this piece is didactic, imparting a specific message of mortality to viewers.
Artist Bio: Katie Clark is a self-taught emerging watercolor artist based out of Cleveland, Ohio. With an emphasis on highly-detailed paintings that challenge traditional conventions of the medium, her watercolors are crisp, small, precise, and tactile. She channels her lifelong interest in nature with the signature botanical insect paintings for which she is most known. When she’s not painting, Katie enjoys gathering inspiration from foraging and tending to her many houseplants.

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10- Katie Clark | Reliquary | $285
Watercolor, gouache, painted glass, pen, gold paint, spider (found deceased)
9 x 12″
Artist Statement: Serving as a reliquary to a spider who once guarded my bathroom against mosquitos, the centerpiece of this multimedia work is a regal watercolor and gouache spider. Beneath this painting are the actual remains of the spider from my home. Bloodsucking insects (mosquito, flea, tick, and bedbug) surround the central figure; in this case, the message “look and despair is meant for them. This piece is inspired by medieval reliquaries and their frequent theme of triumph over evil, turning the trope of arachnophobia on its head. Almost the entirety of the glass is painted, with small openings for the watercolors to peek through, creating an interesting textural contrast.
Artist Bio: Katie Clark is a self-taught emerging watercolor artist based out of Cleveland, Ohio. With an emphasis on highly-detailed paintings that challenge traditional conventions of the medium, her watercolors are crisp, small, precise, and tactile. She channels her lifelong interest in nature with the signature botanical insect paintings for which she is most known. When she’s not painting, Katie enjoys gathering inspiration from foraging and tending to her many houseplants.

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11- Sharon Wagner | Mood Swings | $245
Found object assemblage with terracotta
15” x 14”
Artist Statement: A nostalgic piece reminding me of a time when even a brief spin on a carnival ride could elevate one’s mood. Even if temporarily.
Artist Bio: Clay has been my medium of choice for nearly 35 years. This included throwing on a wheel, slab work and hand building along with multiple methods of firing. Within recent years I have begun including clay with my collection of rusty metal and weathered wooden items. This has allowed me to stretch out in a whole new direction.

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12- Shirley Ende-Saxe | An Ephemeral Eden | $350
Acrylic paint and collage
8 x 12″
Artist Statement: A cabinet card meant for family becomes a complicated meditation on the ephemeral.
Artist Bio: Shirley Ende-Saxe is a retired art teacher and is involved in community arts. She is the president of the Ohio Collage Society and shows her work regionally.

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13- Georgio Sabino III | Reciprocity priviledge: Spiritual Reform | $3,000
Satin Print
10 x 16″
Artist Statement: In my quest to push the boundaries of artistic expression, I harness the power of technology to augment the reality of my creations, blurring the lines between the physical and the digital worlds. By embracing augmented reality, I offer viewers a truly immersive experience, allowing them to engage with my art in ways that transcend the limitations of traditional mediums.
Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create works that inspire, provoke thought, and spark conversation. Through my intricately layered approach to the art-making process, I aim to redefine the boundaries of artistic expression and invite viewers on a journey of discovery and self-discovery.
As I continue to explore the intersection of art, technology, and nature, I am excited to see where this journey takes me and the new horizons it will reveal. Join me as we embark on this artistic adventure together, where imagination knows no bounds, and creativity knows no limits.
Artist Bio: Sabino’s distinguished career includes photographing at the White House by President Obama’s invitation, showcasing his work internationally, and designing textiles for his fashion brand, GS3. He has mentored young artists and photographers, leading to their works being displayed at Christie’s New York for three consecutive years. As a dedicated educator, Sabino brings real-world experiences to his students, whether photographing Cleveland Cavaliers games or developing their creativity. His designs have graced Paris Fashion Week, reflecting his lifelong passion for the arts and commitment to fostering creativity across various mediums.

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14- Georgio Sabino III | Navigating a Spirtual Journey | $3,000
Satin Print
10 x 16″
Artist Statement: In my quest to push the boundaries of artistic expression, I harness the power of technology to augment the reality of my creations, blurring the lines between the physical and the digital worlds. By embracing augmented reality, I offer viewers a truly immersive experience, allowing them to engage with my art in ways that transcend the limitations of traditional mediums.
Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create works that inspire, provoke thought, and spark conversation. Through my intricately layered approach to the art-making process, I aim to redefine the boundaries of artistic expression and invite viewers on a journey of discovery and self-discovery.
As I continue to explore the intersection of art, technology, and nature, I am excited to see where this journey takes me and the new horizons it will reveal. Join me as we embark on this artistic adventure together, where imagination knows no bounds, and creativity knows no limits.
Artist Bio: Sabino’s distinguished career includes photographing at the White House by President Obama’s invitation, showcasing his work internationally, and designing textiles for his fashion brand, GS3. He has mentored young artists and photographers, leading to their works being displayed at Christie’s New York for three consecutive years. As a dedicated educator, Sabino brings real-world experiences to his students, whether photographing Cleveland Cavaliers games or developing their creativity. His designs have graced Paris Fashion Week, reflecting his lifelong passion for the arts and commitment to fostering creativity across various mediums.

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15- Lou Camerato | Lady Liberty’s Emnacipation | $450
Assemblage
Artist Statement: “Lady Liberty’s Emancipation” is an assemblage art piece embodying the timeless struggle for freedom and sanctuary. Centered around an antique organ pipe crowned with a glowing light bulb, it incorporates a ceiling medallion for added depth. This composition serves as a visual representation of resilience and pays tribute to the enduring legacy of liberty. A torch symbolizes enlightenment against a backdrop of a honeycomb pattern formed by six-sided bolts, some embedded with bullet shells, illustrating challenges to sanctuary. Together, these elements create a narrative of defiance, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of liberty and the pursuit of emancipation in a changing world.
Artist Bio: Lou Camerato, who resides in West Akron, is an artist known for his unique found object assemblage art. His creative process involves gathering items from various sources, intuitively selecting those that resonate with him, often feeling as though they carry a hidden message urging him to “take me home.” Lou describes his creations as a form of visual journaling, each piece rich in metaphoric imagery that reflects his inner conflicts and personal triumphs.
In addition to found object assemblage art, Lou works with other mediums such as acrylic and collage. Occasionally, he combines these different mediums into his assemblages, adding depth and complexity to his artistic expression.
Through his art, Lou Camerato not only showcases his creativity but also invites viewers to explore the narratives and emotions embedded within each carefully crafted piece.

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16- James Buckey | Weights and Flowers | $120
Digital print
18 x 12″
Artist Statement: If you’re from Akron, you may recognize the architecture. A fun moment when EJ Thomas Hal had the weights down and the shel puled from the stage — variously blended with sunflowers planted right out front along with geometry, string lights, gradient maps, frosted glass and mono-halftone. This piece uses al of my favorite colors, and (to me) feels like squeezing your eyes tightly… In a comforting way if that makes sense.
Artist Bio: Buckey is an artist and graphic designer from Akron, OH. He has taught and has had work featured in exhibits across northeast and central Ohio, and has over a decade of design and print shop experience. His study is in blending geometric themes with different print/digital mediums and distortions, such as pixelation and halftone printing.

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17- Norman Mallard | Poseur | $225
Digital collage in upcycled frame
19 x 23″
Artist Statement: Directly influenced by a lifetime of pop culture, graphic design, and the playful joy of modern art, Norman avidly collects paper and 3D objects to incorporate directly into his own work. The resulting art is characterized by whimsy and a none-too-subtle dose of nostalgia. While most of his pieces are overwhelmingly fun, some tap into the discombobulation of childhood/life. His storytelling allows the viewer to fully immerse in the subject.
Artist Bio: Norman is a mixed-media artist living & working in Akron, Ohio. He was raised in the mid-1900s in Norfolk, Virginia, and spent his working career as an Art Director and Graphic Designer. He received an advertising degree from Portfolio Center in Atlanta. His 20+ years in the “big city” (Washington, DC) has influenced his collage work which is often crowded and slightly dystopic. His tin collages and assemblages are decidedly less so. He works from his basement studio, where his hoarding can be somewhat contained.

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18- Juniper Mainelis | Pieces of Herself | $2,000
Acrylic paint
37″ x 25″
Artist Statement: My name is Juniper Mainelis, and I create imagery inspired by spiritual and mystical themes. I like to describe my work as a sacred journey to open the portals of the imagination and self-healing. I call it Visionary Painting. Using a process called Intentional Creativity, I set an Intention by holding the paintbrush while visualizing it as a sort of magic wand. Every stroke and mark become permeated with my thoughts, prayers, and visions. My process stirs up emotions and even old wounds that are ready to be healed. Sometimes my paint is infused with tears and laughter. Also referred to as medicine painting, this technique opens the door to my imaginary world. There is a lot more going on in the underlayers than what you see, but often, segments of the layers still show through giving depth.
Mostly working in acrylic medium, I often include textural elements to my multi- layered landscapes. I love sharing my unique view, and believe the world needs more imagery of empowered women! I have won numerous awards at juried art shows, and I am a Grammy nominated singer.
Often my paintings persuade me to write songs and poetry about them. My latest album “My Compass Journey” is a vision quest which inspired a series of paintings and 12 songs. http://smarturl.it/MyCompassJourneyJBM
Artist Bio: Juniper Mainelis is an artist, singer-songwriter and poet who creates imagery inspired by mystical & imaginative themes. She describes her work as a sacred journey to open the portals of the imagination and self-healing. Using a process called Intentional Creativity, she creates sacred space in her studio to enhance her ability to tune into inspiration. Setting an intention, she holds her paintbrush while visualizing it as a sort of magic wand. Every stroke and mark become permeated with thoughts, prayers, and visions. The process stirs up emotion and even old wounds that are ready to be healed. She calls herself a Visionary painter, but also refers to it as Medicine painting. Many describe her imagery as a visual elixir. This technique combined with intention opens the door to the imaginary world, and it helps to understand there is a lot more going on in the underlayers than what you see…
Juniper love’s sharing her unique view, and believes the world needs more imagery of and created by empowered women. She has won numerous awards at juried art shows and is a Grammy nominated vocalist. Often her paintings inspire her to write songs and poetry about them. Check out the website to see more of her offerings: www.heartsongzstudio.com

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19- Lou Camerato | Bullseye: The Arms Race | $350
Assemblage
18″ x 18″ x 10″
Artist Statement: “Bullseye: The Arms Race” stands as a testament to the fragile state of our world—a narrative woven through found objects and meticulously choreographed elements. This assemblage piece portrays humanity’s dangerous dance with self-annihilation while the world’s nuclear powers recklessly flirt with the fate of our planet. Within this artwork lie fragments that echo the story of our collective existence—the calculated yet perilous pursuit of dominance and power. A bullseye dart board, miniature globe, flags, and shuttlecocks symbolizing nuclear missiles entwine, emblematic symbols of technological prowess juxtaposed against the stark reality of potential devastation. As the artist, my intention is to compel introspection and evoke a visceral response to the harrowing reality we confront. There is no longer a cold-war between two superpowers, but rather a vast minefield where all the nuclear capable countries run chaotically to and from, all with the hopes of domination without making the Ultimate Mistake. This artwork also acts as a poignant call to action, urging us to reassess our priorities and collectively strive for a future free from the specter of nuclear devastation. It beckons us to seek a path of cooperation, understanding, and responsible stewardship of our planet and its inhabitants.
“Bullseye: The Arms Race” speaks of the urgency to step away from the brink of catastrophe, to choose dialogue over discord, and cooperation over conflict. It challenges us to forge a future where the looming threat of destruction dissipates into a harmonious symphony of global solidarity and peace.
Artist Bio: Lou Camerato, who resides in West Akron, is an artist known for his unique found object assemblage art. His creative process involves gathering items from various sources, intuitively selecting those that resonate with him, often feeling as though they carry a hidden message urging him to “take me home.” Lou describes his creations as a form of visual journaling, each piece rich in metaphoric imagery that reflects his inner conflicts and personal triumphs.
In addition to found object assemblage art, Lou works with other mediums such as acrylic and collage. Occasionally, he combines these different mediums into his assemblages, adding depth and complexity to his artistic expression.
Through his art, Lou Camerato not only showcases his creativity but also invites viewers to explore the narratives and emotions embedded within each carefully crafted piece.

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20- Megan Dardis | Polar POP | $250
Acrylic paint and confetti on canvas
16 x 16″
Artist Statement: When creating Polar POP my aim was to explore color relationships, as well as the tension created by different methods of paint applications and varying textures. I wanted the painting to visually “POP” causing the viewer to be drawn in and explore the surface of the painting. At the same time, Polar POP is fun, vibrant, and nostalgic, conjuring memories of childhood summers and an ice cold beverage from a foam cup on a hot summer day
Artist Bio: Megan Dardis is an abstract painter in Cleveland, Ohio. Dardis received a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts from The Cleveland Institute of Art in 2018 with a focus on painting. Dardis held a career as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer before pursuing painting as a full time artist. Since graduating from The Cleveland Institute of Art Dardis has participated in multiple group and solo shows across Ohio and Michigan. In the Fall of 2023, Dardis was included in a group show, “Blurred Lines” that highlighted the work of local female abstract painters across generations at The Forum Gallery at Summit ArtSpace in Akron, Ohio. She was awarded first prize in the Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition in 2022. Dardis has also painted a large-scale outdoor mural as part of a community centered project that she organized, funded by a grant from The Fenn Foundation in 2017. Dardis’ work has been featured in The CAN Journal, Mimi Magazine, as well as cleveland.com.

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21- James Buckey | Poster 23 | NFS
Digital print
17 x 11″
Artist Statement: This piece is the last work in a series created by having people leave music inspirations over the summer. Over a span of a month I created 23 posters, the final one breaking out of the template and allowing different proportions and frame breaks. Different shades of color halftones overlayed in a diagonal across the musicians face literally represent the song, while colors leaking out along the frame, and quotes breaking speak to something more inspirational.
Artist Bio: Buckey is an artist and graphic designer from Akron, OH. He has taught and has had work featured in exhibits across northeast and central Ohio, and has over a decade of design and print shop experience. His study is in blending geometric themes with different print/digital mediums and distortions, such as pixelation and halftone printing.

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22- Carol Klingel | When Did This Start? | $375
Photocopy collage on oil on canvas
12″ x 12″
Artist Statement: Hurtling through space (inner? outer? real or imaginary?) she finds and loses herself with questions.
Artist Bio: 1969 BS Art Ed -Kent State University; 1991 MS Education- University of Akron; 1970-2004 Art Teacher; Member AoRC, ASA, Artists of Group Ten, CVAC, Medina County Art League, PerSisters; many group and solo shows, including awards at the Butler Midyear Show, Kaleidoscope People’s Choice Award, Fresh Art, and Medina Aquarius Show.

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23- Shirley Ende-Saxe | Request Denied | $200
Collage
8 x 10″
Artist Statement: A work by Gainsborough has been tweaked to become exactly what was not intended in the original.
Artist Bio: Shirley Ende-Saxe is a retired art teacher and is involved in community arts. She is the president of the Ohio Collage Society and shows her work regionally.

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24- Luanne Bole-Becker | Greetings from Atlantis | $195
Found object assemblage and acrylic paint
29″h x 19″w x 6″d
Artist Statement: I have always seen the sea as magical. As a child, I collected sea shells in person and by saving up my Bazooka Joe comics. The sea horse included in this piece is one I have enjoyed for more than fifty years. As I grew older, I followed the exploits of treasure hunters like Mel Fisher. So much is typically hidden from sight underwater–entire worlds of plants and animals, as well as the remnants of human exploration and treasure. The worn pieces we collect along the beach speak from times and places often beyond our reach. And, yes, there is always the possibility of finding a message in a bottle.
Artist Bio: Magic from the Mundane My artwork is a lot like me: quirky, whimsical, a bit disjointed, and full of vintage pieces and parts! I love storytelling through photography and assemblage, building magical worlds to explore. My work often includes:
– Surprises in terms of unexpected angles, perspectives, and eclectic details
– Vintage items that I’ve accumulated for the past 40 years
– Whimsical creations that entertain
– Glimpses of behind-the-scene stories that intrigue
– Immersive spaces that invite EXHIBITION GALLERIES, VENUES, AWARDS
Artists Archives of the Western Reserve Ashtabula Arts Center Bryn Du Mansion Carrington Arts Center for Artful Living Creative Space Avon Cuyahoga Valley Art Center Fusion Art Grey Cube Gallery The Jenks Lakeland Community College Light Space Time Gallery Photocentric/Waterloo Juried Arts Piqua Arts Council Public Square Huntington Building
Seven Brothers Distilling Co. Stella’s Art Gallery Summit Artspace Tricky Tortoise Brewing Co. Valley Art Center Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Art Festival Willoughby Artsfest Best of Show
Stella’s Art Gallery Nov 2023 July 2021 People’s Choice
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center Jan. 2024 1st place
Stella’s Art Gallery Feb. 2024 (3-D) Nov 2022 (assemblage) Apr 2022 (3-D) Nov 2021 Summit Artspace May 2020 2nd place
Stella’s Art Gallery Feb. 2024 (photography) Sept. 2022 (abstract) Aug 2022 (wildlife) April 2022 (2-D) Feb 2022 (photography) Apr 2021 (literature) Jan 2021 (3-D) 3rd place
Stella’s Art Gallery Sept 2024 (architecture) Oct 2021 (3-D) Feb 2021 (3-D) Nov 2020 (assemblage)
Fusion Art Feb 2021 (3-D)
Summit Artspace Aug 2020 Sept 2019

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25- Tom Baldwin | The Lookout, male, American Kestrel | $900
Woodcarving
6 x 10 x 15″
Artist Statement: The American Kestrel is by far the smallest falcon in the United States. A familiar Ohio bird, this artwork depicts the rural raptor posing momentarily looking for his next meal. Always alert and ready for just about anything. To see a live specie, you would have to visit the township areas around the city of Akron but a carved bird is represented in every detail and he won’t fly away when you get too close.
Artist Bio: Tom Baldwin is an internationally award winning wildfowl carving artist. He recieved 2nd Best in the World at the 2017 Ward World Wildfowl Carving Championship, M & T Printing purchase award at the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship, and has won back-to-back Best in Shows at the Wings and Water Festival, award of excellence at the 2014 Kaleidoscope Holiday show, 1st place at the 2015 Kaleidoscope Holiday show, top 5 runner up for the Akron Art Prize 5 years in a row and Best of Show at the 29th Annual Regional Juried Art Show at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. Tom also received the best sculpture award at the 70th Annual Ohio Exhibition at the Zanesville Museum of Art. Tom lives In Akron with his wife, Barbara, and their dog, Beanie.. You can see more of Tom’s work on his website: songofwood.com

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26- Jennifer Vincik | Mystical Reflection | $700
Acrylic paint on Canvas
30 x 30″
Artist Statement: I used a variety of colors to create this Textured and layered abstract composition.
Artist Bio: Hello! I am an abstract artist here in NorthEast Ohio. I have been creating and expanding my art knowledge over the past 10 years.
I enjoy working with acrylic on canvas, creating colorful compositions.

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27- John Sharp | Flowers #5 | $350
Acrylic paint
24 x 24″
Artist Statement: These were purple flowers from our Garden, as the painting began to develop I found I loved the contrast between the flowers and the background, and I found the flowers became more interesting white and the background purple !
Artist Bio: Retired Owner of River Valley Paper Company, a paper recycling Company headquartered in Akron Ohio. A graduate of The University of Akron with a Degree in Graphic Design……a long time ago….haha

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28- Care Hanson | I’ll Meet You There | $400
Acrylic paint on canvas
24″ x 36″
Artist Statement: This abstract landscape was initially developed as two ‘sister’ paintings. Each canvas shared a similar palette as they were intuitively painted on separate easels. It was only during a painting break and photo shoot that I realized their compositions were also lining up. Final layers brought the canvases energetically together. The end result feels greater than the sum of the two parts.
Artist Bio: Care Hanson is a visual artist with an eclectic practice that includes acrylic on canvas, altered book journals, mixed media on recycled cardboard, nature mandalas, and hand stitching. Her BFA from BGSU dates back to 1980. Family life and office work took priority over art until 2013, when she joined her husband in retirement. Since then, art has been a daily practice & way of life. Care’s paintings begin with random scribbles on the canvas. She paints without a set destination or plan, relying heavily on intuition and a spirit of ‘just try’. The canvas is layered and rotated until it rings true and feels ready for a title (the important final step) She values the creative process as a means of exploration, meditation and connection. Care prefers artwork that’s abstracted and a bit open ended, leaving room for conversation with the viewer. She enjoys the diverse artistic styles and personalities in the AORC group and is always honored to be a part of an exhibition at Summit Artspace.

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29- Beth Prindle | Yellow | $300
Mixed media assemblage
17 x 16″
Artist Statement: This piece is a diversion from my usual style. It is more experimental and wholly visual, using objects found at the roadside and supplemented with two vintage items (the pencil sharpener and the whetstone.)
Artist Bio: My assemblage art explores birth and death, rites of passage, social issues, and the personal histories of myself and others. I primarily create in wood and metal materials collected from estate sales and flea markets. Often the components guide me as the piece evolves. Textures, colors, rhythms, shapes and found photographs make suggestions, while themes emerge
through the juxtaposition of objects. My hope is that the observer will feel mystified, pulled in, and inexplicably intrigued as they free-associate with these collections of objects and attach personally meaningful stories to them, based on the collective unconscious, personal unconscious, and their own – and their family’s – history.

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30- Thomas Reiderman | Big Leaves | $300
Digital photography
18 x 18″
Artist Statement: Big Leaves is a photograph of a large plant in the gardens of Zoar, Ohio. The sun was illuminating them nicely to accentuate the veins and shadows of the leaves, which I why I chose to photograph them.
Artist Bio: Thomas Reiderman has been an active participant in the Akron art scene since 2003, when he first showed his work in an AoRC exhibit. He has shown his art and photography in Akron at Summit Artspace, Kaleidoscope, and Akron Art Prize exhibits. He has had two solo shows at the Artists of Rubber City BOX gallery. He has exhibited at the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He has also been juried in to the Butler Institute of American Art Mid Year show in Youngstown Ohio, twice, and was given an honorable mention in 2018.

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31- Bridgett Crocker Emerson | Maiden, Mother, Crone | $225
Photography
10″ x 20″ image framed to 11 1/4″ x 21 1/4″
Artist Statement: As a midlife woman, I’m deeply conscious of the societal messaging around aging women. The reality of life is that all bodies age, weaken, and eventually die. Some cultures celebrate the maiden, the mother, and the crone. They recognize that each stage of life brings new gifts and wisdom. In the face of cultures that glorify youth above everything, I see and affirm that beauty and value are inherent at all stages.
Artist Bio: Bridgett Crocker Emerson is no stranger to the arts as a professionally trained flutist with two Master’s degrees in flute performance and music theory. A completely self-taught visual artist, Emerson pulls the threads of her expertise within the ephemerality of music into manifestations of concrete physicality. Her work focuses on the abstract, natural themes and subjects, dreams, visions, and even nightmares. Her most recent photography series examine the juxtaposition of beauty and loss, life and death, love and betrayal. Her work has been shown in juried exhibitions both in and outside of Ohio and she was selected to feature her photography in a three-day takeover on the Womens’ Photo Alliance of New York City Instagram account.

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32- Jennifer Vincik | Summer Sky | $400
Acrylic paint on canvas
20 x 20″
Artist Statement: This painting depicts a calming summer evening along the lake.
I used acrylic on canvas in this art piece.
Artist Bio: Hello! I am an abstract artist here in NorthEast Ohio. I have been creating and expanding my art knowledge over the past 10 years.
I enjoy working with acrylic on canvas, creating colorful compositions.

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33- Care Hanson | You’ve Got This | $400
Acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas
30″ x 24″
Artist Statement: Both the title and this intuitive painting are multi-layered… ‘You’ve GOT this’…words of self affirmation that I whispered when first approaching the blank canvas after having been away from my easels for weeks. ‘You’ve got THIS’ ….words of peace and gratitude that I whisper in the presence of Mother Nature’s striking beauty. And words that echoed in the completion of this painting (following twists, turns & palette changes) when I realized she was meant to be an invented landscape.
Artist Bio: Care Hanson is a visual artist with an eclectic practice that includes acrylic on canvas, altered book journals, mixed media on recycled cardboard, nature mandalas, and hand stitching. Her BFA from BGSU dates back to 1980. Family life and office work took priority over art until 2013, when she joined her husband in retirement. Since then, art has been a daily practice & way of life. Care’s paintings begin with random scribbles on the canvas. She paints without a set destination or plan, relying heavily on intuition and a spirit of ‘just try’. The canvas is layered and rotated until it rings true and feels ready for a title (the important final step) She values the creative process as a means of exploration, meditation and connection. Care prefers artwork that’s abstracted and a bit open ended, leaving room for conversation with the viewer. She enjoys the diverse artistic styles and personalities in the AORC group and is always honored to be a part of an exhibition at Summit Artspace.

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34- Gwen Waight | navigating paradise | $600
Found object assemblage
24” x 24” x 24”
Artist Statement: Duality is ever present in my work… the recognizable object, but not in its normal use or place. I am that object; a woman, a wife, a mom , a friend but also an artist. Ever seen as one thing but working as something else. Often one presumptive role is at the forefront out of necessity. I have spent time in many roles but always as an artist. An ice pick may be a utilitarian object but when I use it it becomes more. It becomes an asthetic, an object to convey pain, a story piece holding memories, a volatile object expressing rage, but also it is an ice pick. I am a women, wife, mom, friend but also I m an artist.
Artist Bio: My studio is in Peninsula, Ohio in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I have resided and worked in Ohio for 21years. I received my degree from the University of Iowa in sculpture and worked in my dad’s ceramic studio for ten years. It was in my father’s studio that I learned my appreciation of three-dimensional space. It was also my dad’s non-sentimental nature of tossing/ burning all things deemed unnecessary clutter that rooted my deep need to covet and collect almost everything. With found objects and assemblage I truly discovered my voice. The objects I lean towards always seem to have lived and have a story to tell….some objects are complete memories for me and just as a writer will string words together to create a work I assemble objects to create my art. I love the fact that like words, smells and colors; objects hold meaning and memories. The wonderful thing is that sometimes the viewer has similar or completely different ones than my own. I feel that found object assemblage is just like painting in 3D or perhaps, collaging. For me, it is a better process because I don’t start with a blank canvas.Often in my studio I will have three or four different pieces going at the same time. I start sometimes with an idea first and search for the objects that are going to express that idea or I start with an object or several objects that shout so loudly that they need to be together.

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35- Gary Nolan | Shadow of the Mountain | $150
Editioned giclee archival print on bayarta
8 “x 8” (12 “x 12” with frame)
Artist Statement: Attempt to write a computer program that creates a generative landscape (foreground, background, sky) evocative of a litho or woodcut, but still retains a distinctive digital look.
Artist Bio: Gary Nolan is a semi-retired employee of the U.S. space program. He is also an avid programmer, graphic artist, photographer, organic gardener and beekeeper.

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36- Gary Nolan | Ripples #4 | $150
Editioned giclee archival print on bayarta
8 “x 8” (12 “x 12” with frame)
Artist Statement: An attempt to write a computer program that uses a wave generation algorithm to create grid distortions in response to user input.
Artist Bio: Gary Nolan is a semi-retired employee of the U.S. space program. He is also an avid programmer, graphic artist, photographer, organic gardener and beekeeper.

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37- John Sharp | Sienna | NFS
Acrylic paint
18 x 14″
Artist Statement: This is a painting of my oldest Granddaughter. The look describes her personality wonderfully.
Artist Bio: Retired Owner of River Valley Paper Company, a paper recycling Company headquartered in Akron Ohio. A graduate of The University of Akron with a Degree in Graphic Design……a long time ago….haha

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38- Megan Dardis | She Was and Then She Wasn’t | $100
Acrylic paint on canvas
12 x 12″
Artist Statement: She Was and Then She Wasn’t was painted at a time when I was processing a new diagnosis of a chronic disorder. The poured layers of thinned paint seep into the fibers of the raw canvas soaking in the weight of the pigment. Like the weight of the new reality I was facing. Layer upon layer was poured as this new thing layered itself over every part of my life, erasing and covering up parts of me and parts of the painting as each layer was poured over. This process of painting stands as a metaphor to my feelings of a loss of self and discovery of a new reality.
Artist Bio: Megan Dardis is an abstract painter in Cleveland, Ohio. Dardis received a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts from The Cleveland Institute of Art in 2018 with a focus on painting. Dardis held a career as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer before pursuing painting as a full time artist. Since graduating from The Cleveland Institute of Art Dardis has participated in multiple group and solo shows across Ohio and Michigan. In the Fall of 2023, Dardis was included in a group show, “Blurred Lines” that highlighted the work of local female abstract painters across generations at The Forum Gallery at Summit ArtSpace in Akron, Ohio. She was awarded first prize in the Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition in 2022. Dardis has also painted a large-scale outdoor mural as part of a community centered project that she organized, funded by a grant from The Fenn Foundation in 2017. Dardis’ work has been featured in The CAN Journal, Mimi Magazine, as well as cleveland.com.

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39- Carol Klingel | Seeds | $375
Found objects, photo collage, watercolor prints
11″ x 14″
Artist Statement: A seed begins an idea, a plan, a design, a thought, a journey, a life. How the seed is nurtured and shaped is in our hands.
Artist Bio: 1969 BS Art Ed -Kent State University; 1991 MS Education- University of Akron; 1970-2004 Art Teacher; Member AoRC, ASA, Artists of Group Ten, CVAC, Medina County Art League, PerSisters; many group and solo shows, including awards at the Butler Midyear Show, Kaleidoscope People’s Choice Award, Fresh Art, and Medina Aquarius Show.

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40- Theodore Maringer | Pieces | $390
Fiber
24″ x 18″
Artist Statement: This piece was created by using scraps of fiberglass screen from other works I had already created. I chose to quilt this piece in a larger grid pattern mimicking the grid pattern of the fiberglass screen.
Artist Bio: I create contemporary art quilts using unconventional materials. Choosing to work with unconventional materials challenges me to work much differently throughout the design and construction process then with traditional fibers.

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41- Theodore Maringer | More Pieces | $390
Fiber
24″ x 18″
Artist Statement: This piece is second in a series of using scraps from other work I have done in the past.
Artist Bio: I create contemporary art quilts using unconventional materials. Choosing to work with unconventional materials challenges me to work much differently throughout the design and construction process then with traditional fibers.

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42- Josh Chefitz | Cynosure | NFS
Ink, gel, paint pens, acrylic paint on glued abaca on cotton paper
24″ x 18″
Artist Statement: Astronomy buffs might know that “Cynosure” is the northern constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the North Star which is used as a guide by navigators. This piece also borrows from its secondary definition: “a person or thing that is the center of attention, attraction or admiration.” Here, the soul has left their body. The only remnant from its previous state is the stake through their head. They float to their end as they begin to transform into an angel, passing the satellites and space debris.
Artist Bio: Josh Chefitz is a self-taught, multimedia artist based in Cleveland, Ohio, who aims to create pieces where the closer you get, the more you discover. Chefitz cites these “grid doodles” from his childhood as his primary inspiration. Using handmade paper, ink, gel, paint pens, acrylics, oil pastels, and spray paint, Chefitz reframes these doodles as a commentary on memories, exploring the dissonance between those that are authentic and those constructed to help us move forward. Chefitz is also the driving force and creator of ActLoCLE, a web-based art hub that provides community and visibility for makers in Northeast Ohio. His work has been shown across the region.

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43- Bradley Hart | Pantheon | $295
Photography
24″ x 24″
Artist Statement: Please see me at the Opening
Artist Bio: Please see social media.

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44- Luanne Bole-Becker | Scraping Away Layers | $250
Photo assemblage
24″h x 23″ w x 5″d
Artist Statement: This piece started with the photograph I took of the exterior of the Paper House in Rockport, MA, constructed of layers and layers of newspapers. I was intrigued by the words that peeked through, hinting of the full story that remained hidden beneath the layers. It struck me that lives are the same. Just portions peek through to be seen by others. But so much lies beneath. In this found object assemblage, I incorporated copies of family photos, diary pages, greeting cards, and mementoes to reflect some of my own challenges as a child of an alcoholic, as well as a journey to independence and personal growth.
Artist Bio: Cuyahoga Valley Art Center Jan. 2024 1st place
Stella’s Art Gallery Feb. 2024 (3-D) Nov 2022 (assemblage) Apr 2022 (3-D) Nov 2021 Summit Artspace May 2020 2nd place
Stella’s Art Gallery Feb. 2024 (photography) Sept. 2022 (abstract) Aug 2022 (wildlife) April 2022 (2-D) Feb 2022 (photography) Apr 2021 (literature) Jan 2021 (3-D) 3rd place
Stella’s Art Gallery Sept 2024 (architecture) Oct 2021 (3-D) Feb 2021 (3-D) Nov 2020 (assemblage)
Fusion Art Feb 2021 (3-D)
Summit Artspace Aug 2020 Sept 2019

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45- Sharon Wagner | Alpharabbit | $295
Found object assemblage with terracotta
16” x 11” x 15”
Artist Statement: A child’s book for learning the ABC’s is something that is relatable to many. It is how we learned and how our children will learn. Selecting just the right components from my “stash” of random items is half the fun. The rabbit is made of terracotta and alphabet letters were created using low fire white clay.
Artist Bio: Clay has been my medium of choice for nearly 35 years. This included throwing on a wheel, slab work and hand building along with multiple methods of firing. Within recent years I have begun including clay with my collection of rusty metal and weathered wooden items. This has allowed me to stretch out in a whole new direction.

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