The downtown Vern Riffe Center for Government and Arts is displaying work made by Ohio artists until July 11.
The Ohio Arts Council exhibit, “I of the Text,” contains artwork using various text-based media. Most pieces carry socially conscious themes.
“It is about the anxiety that is swirling around in the air, whether it is about the economy or health care or war,” curator Liz Maugans said. “These artists all have a central contemplation in how they see this tumultuous activity surrounding them and this show is a record of that reaction.”
The council sponsors a program for Ohio artists to submit their work and apply for a grant. Members of the organization then review the applications and often find trends in the work, organizer Mary Gray said.
Members of the organization then review the applications and often find trends in the work, organizer Mary Gray said.
“Some years we see people using the theme of family, or homes, or bunnies believe it or not,” she said. “These last couple of years, we saw text. So we wanted to explore an exhibition based on that.”
The media range from paper collages to textiles and exit signs. This is the result of each artist choosing a specific communication method for a particular topic.
“All these artists are professional working artists who gravitate to materials that best represent their ideas — neon signs, embroidery, whatever the concept needs for them to promote that subject and emotion in their work,” Maugans said.
Jeffrey Chiplis of Cleveland uses neon signs in a method dubbed “neon repoetry.” His work, “real RAP, know RISK,” expresses his feelings toward unethical payday lending practices.
“There are some people that think it should be wiped out completely because these lenders are charging 300 percent interest. And these are people who can’t afford to pay their bills anyway,” Gray said. “It was maybe somewhat bold to hang it in this space where you’ve got politicians who are making decisions whether or not we should have these lending practices.”
Kristen Cliffel’s work “The Dirty Dozen” is a sculpture of a dozen cupcakes. Cliffel scrawled phrases such as “do I look fat?” and “you drink too much” on the cupcakes.
It addresses “the seemingly perfect domestic relationships that no one has,” Maugans said.
Although the range of issues covered in the “I of the Text” exhibit reaches beyond a simple look at present day politics, it is important to keep an open mind.
“That’s art,” Gray said. “It stirs up conversation and challenges people to think twice about such issues.”
