Artists revisit Cleveland’s oldest and largest alternative art space to celebrate 30 years of creative innovation

SPACES celebrates 30 years in 2008, distinguishing the organization as one of the longest-lived alternative art spaces in the United States. William Busta, Cleveland gallerist and cultural historian, curates the anniversary exhibition, titled Living in Your Imagination. The exhibition will address a persistent theme in contemporary art—how artists mix personal and public identity as they respond to the spaces in which they exist. An opening reception for Living in Your Imagination will be held on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 6pm. The exhibition runs through July 6, 2008.

 

The artists featured in Living in Your Imagination exhibited in SPACES’ group and curated exhibitions before moving on to show their work across the region and the nation. They are joined by a new SPACES World Artist, Jiří Černický (Prague, Czech Republic, multi-media) who is currently completing his six-week residency in Cleveland. Thisanniversary exhibition features new work by each artist, many of whom have created pieces for Living in Your Imagination. Through a diverse range of media, including painting, photography, animation, film, and installation, the artists will transform the gallery into a space of boundless discovery.

 

Artists include Jake Beckman (New York, NY, multi-media), Amy Casey (Cleveland, OH, painting), Jiří Černický (Prague, Czech Republic, multi-media), Todd DeVriese (Lubbock, TX, mixed media), Claudia Esslinger (Gambier, OH, multi-media), Kevin Everson (Charlottesville, VA, film), Colette Gaiter (Newark, DE, photography), Billie Grace Lynn (Coral Gables, FL, installation), Pipo Nguyen-duy (Oberlin, OH, photography), Patrick Robideau (Buffalo, NY, installation), and Karen Yasinsky (Baltimore, MD, drawing and animation).

 

The exhibition will be accompanied by a color catalogue covering SPACES’ history over the past decade, including an essay by the curator, William Busta and an introduction by Board President John C. Williams. It will be available at the opening reception.

 

A nationally recognized institution based in Cleveland, Ohio, SPACES advances the artist’s vision. Since 1978, SPACES has provided freedom, resources, and an audience to enable artists to engage the public in a vital dialogue about contemporary art. SPACES presents high-quality, challenging work by emerging and mid-career artists that is not always commercially viable. However, the nonprofit venue empowers artists to confront social and political issues and highlight the role art plays in public discourse and action.

 

Related events

Friday, April 18, 6pm

Opening Reception and Performance

Join SPACES for an evening out with Cleveland’s artists and arts professionals as we celebrate 30 years of innovation and experimentation. Artist Billie Grace Lynn provides an interactive performance incorporating her massive installation,White Elephants, 2007 (7–8:30pm).

 

Check www.SPACESgallery.org for updates on more events related to the exhibition.

 

Special thanks to Toby Devan Lewis for her generous support of SPACES’ 30th Anniversary catalogue.

 

Living in Your Imagination is presented in part by The Cleveland Institute of Art. Major support for SPACES comes from The Cleveland Foundation; Cuyahoga Arts and Culture; The George Gund Foundation; Kulas Foundation; John P. Murphy Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Nimoy Foundation; Ohio Arts Council; and Process Creative Studios. SPACES gratefully acknowledges the citizens of Cuyahoga County for their support through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.