Friday, February 06, 2004
Beyond candy hearts and flowers
By Allyson Jacob
Looking for a non-traditional Valentine's Day activity? Take your significant other to An Affair of the Heart, the latest installation at the ArtWorks Time Warner Cable Gallery downtown. The show officially opens Friday, February 13, and normally the gallery is closed on weekends. To help celebrate Cupid's day and the Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend, however, ArtWorks is opening the gallery the weekend following the launch.
Laura Hollis curates the collection, which features mixed-media work from at least 15 different artists, most of whom call Cincinnati home. Hollis calls the show "unique" and the artists "emerging," and believes that heading to the gallery will win hearts and minds more than chocolate and flowers on V day.
"The show is more than simple valentines," Hollis explains. "There are works about relationship, abstract sculptures, anatomical paintings, large photographs and interesting conceptual pieces."
One artist, Ken Henson, is a favorite of Hollis', although she is reluctant to show any favor at all. Hollis asked Henson to create a piece specifically for the installation and is anxiously awaiting his painting. "I know his work really well," Hollis states. "He's a figurative painter. He has a whimsical, fun, pop-art style. It's very loud and bright, and very charismatic."
Michael Hammonds is a graphic designer who also creates fine art. Hollis included him in the show because she was aiming for breadth. Hammonds created the postcards advertising the installation (seen at right), and has created a second piece for the show itself. "It's a female nude," Hollis explains. "It's somber and reflective."
Hollis takes a moment and reflects herself. "It's interesting to take a graphic designer, a fine artist, a sculptor, a digital photographer…." She trails off. "Well, the theme is cohesive. The media is diverse."
The 25 pieces that make up An Affair of the Heart should appeal to many different kinds of art lovers.
"People will be happily surprised," Hollis reflects again. "I think the show is much deeper than valentines. It's very thought-provoking."
Allyson Jacob is a freelance writer and playwright living just outside of Cincinnati.
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