The six artists featured in the new show at Summit Artspace Gallery have one thing in common – they believe making art is a spiritual act. “No two of us work the same way, even when working in the same medium,” said artist Carole Pollard, who brought the group together. “But I like combining disparate things and discovering whether they have connections with one another.”
From August 14 through September 18, Summit Artspace Gallery will present My Spirit Rises, an exhibition of paintings, glass, ceramics and textiles. Featured are Cuyahoga Falls fiber artist Ted Maringer, Cuyahoga Falls painter Judith Salamon, Medina quilt maker Jean Evans, Kent glass artist John Herring, Akron ceramist Bob Yost and Mantua fabric artist Pollard. The public is invited to a free meet-the-artists reception on Friday, August 13 from 5 to 7 pm.
According to Pollard, the exhibit does not necessarily illustrate spiritual or religious subjects. “We’re all very, very different,” she said. “But what we share is a profound urge to create and a sense of flat dullness if we don’t work for a while.”
For example, Salamon says her passion for painting is in the process and she enjoys thoroughly exploring an idea by doing multiple versions. Her contribution to the exhibit is a series called Spirit Dresses inspired by a Northwestern American Indian legend and depicting the phases of a young girl’s life. Through his 27 years working in stained glass and studying the psychological concepts of Carl Jung, Herring seeks the universal symbols that bring humans together across cultures and time. Maringer finds inspiration in everyday objects using various fibers and colors to recreate their form and texture. Evans finds joy in creating original art quilts from her paintings and drawings. Yost says his art is simply about the process of working in clay, discovering the patterns and rhythms in each piece.
“None of us has ever been in a group like this before, but something absolutely wonderful happened as we met to plan the exhibition” Pollard said. “Chemistry, magic, who knows what it was? But our spirits rose as we created the pieces for the exhibit, and we hope that the viewers' spirits will rise too.”
Three of the artists will be sharing their enthusiasm for the creative process by presenting free Saturday workshops from 1 to 3 pm. Designed for beginners and experienced participants, these hands-on events give adults and older teens a chance to explore their personal creativity. To register, email psargent@neo.rr.com.
August 14 – From Simple Beginnings: Curved two patch piecing basic approach to pattern
with Carole Pollard
August 28 – Large Scale Personal Symbols with John Herring
September 18 – Working with alternative fibers with Ted Maringer
Summit Artspace is a growing art center project of the Akron Area Arts Alliance in cooperation with Summit County government. It is located at 140 E. Market Street, one block east of the Akron Art Museum. Regular gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday noon to 5 pm. My Spirit Rises will also be open until 9 pm on Saturday, September 4 for the Downtown Art Walk and September 5 from 11 am to 5 pm for Sunday Sampler, an art walk with the Akron Art Museum and Akron-Summit Public Library. Admission and parking are free.
The Arts Alliance is a non-profit advocacy group that promotes the value of a strong, diverse and vibrant arts and culture community for Greater Akron. Its membership includes 49 organizations plus 70 artists and arts supporters. It is supported by the Akron Community Foundation, Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, Knight Foundation, Welty Family Foundation, Corbin Foundation and Ohio Arts Council.
