Tag: art exhibit

March 30, 2024

Art Exhibit to Celebrate the Solar Eclipse

In 1990, Mary Chapin Carpenter released a song that, in my mind, was one of the most masterful examples of storytelling ever composed or performed. “Halley Came To Jackson” was a heartfelt folk melody inspired by the literary works of Eudora Welty. Welty’s writings recounted the arrival of Halley’s Comet in 1910, through her recollections of growing up in Jackson, Mississippi. The song begins with the lyrics:

Late one night when the wind was still
Daddy brought the baby to the window sill
To see a bit of heaven shoot across the sky
The one and only time daddy saw it fly

Later, the song narrates:

Now daddy told the baby sleeping in his arms
To dream a little dream of a comet’s charms
And he made a little wish as she slept so sound
In 1986 that wish came ’round

“Rare December Moon” – Collage Artwork by Clare Murray Adams

Halley’s Comet graces Earth’s skies only once every 75 or 76 years, meaning a child witnessing its celestial journey in her father’s arms in 1910 would not see it again until she reached the age of 75 or 76 in 1986. This is an indisputable scientific fact.

Mary Chapin Carpenter’s eloquent portrayal of this scientific truth, however, touches our hearts in its poignancy and personal meaningfulness. Art moves us to experience nature and scientific phenomena with emotional depth in a way that reaches beyond its scientific narrative. Through art, we are moved to engage with nature and scientific phenomena on a level that transcends mere facts, reaching into the realms of heartfelt connection and emotional resonance.

“We Are Stardust” Painting by Sally Lytle

From ancient primitive art to the Renaissance and beyond, artists have expressed their fascination with the sky and universe in diverse ways. As anticipation for the 2024 total solar eclipse grew in my community, I sought to join fellow local artists in continuing this tradition. The “Celestial – Exploring Cosmic Curiosities in Art” art exhibit was born, aiming to evoke a similar impact as Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song did for me in 1990. An eclipse or a comet – both are celestial events that leave a lasting impact upon us as we experience them, recognizing the awe inspiring majesty of the sky.

My artist friends did not disappoint in creating a varied and inspired body of work. Every artwork offers a unique perspective, inviting viewers to contemplate the wonders of the sun, moon, stars, planets, galaxies, and more. As Stark County, Ohio finds itself within the “Path of Totality” during the remarkable solar eclipse event on April 8, visitors will enjoy this thought-provoking and visually stunning celebration of human inquiry and creativity. Artists featured in the show include: Clare Murray Adams, Emily Vigil, Scott Simler, Brenda Case, Iszy Rucker, Tom Wachunas, Chris Wurst, Sarah Shumaker, Tom Delamater, Keeli Serri, Sally Priscilla Lytle and BZTAT.

There will be an opening reception for the art exhibit on Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 5:30PM – 8:30PM. The exhibit will be on display until May 24, 2024. The first 20 attendees will receive a free pair of ISO certified eclipse glasses. Additionally, there will be a “Celestial Independent Film Festival” presented by The Cut Cinema on April 6, 2024, from 6 PM to 9 PM, which will be an exploration of the mysteries of the sky and universe through the lens of independent filmmakers.

Will you be inspired to create and articulate your own fascination with the heavens above? The sky is the limit…

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

BZTAT Studios, located in the new Canton Creator Space at 730 Market Ave S. in Canton, exhibits artwork by local artists, including wall art, sculpture, jewelry, wearable art and other unique art gifts. Canton Creator Space is a brand-new collaborative workplace and gallery for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Open to the public, Canton Creator Space allows visitors to experience a behind the scenes view of the dynamic world of local artists and enjoy a more personalized arts encounter beyond typical galleries and museums. The gallery is open 11am-5pm on Mondays through Fridays and 12-5pm on Saturdays.

January 5, 2024

“Out of the Back Room” Art Exhibit

Have you ever wondered what lurks behind the door to an artist’s back room? If the “Out of the Back Room” art exhibit is any indication, there is tremendous depth and diversity of work hiding behind the scenes in local artists’ studios. For this unique exhibit, several local artists have dusted off and shared their favorite pieces of art that they have been keeping out of public view for one reason or another. The exhibit is filled with artworks that are both old and new, representing the best that Stark County has to offer.

“Out of the Back Room” opens January 5, 2023 in the BZTAT Studios gallery at Canton Creator Space during First Friday. The exhibit will remain showing through February 25, 2024. Filled with a variety of creative expressions, experiments, and treasured artworks not seen for a while, this show offers a unique opportunity for viewers to explore beyond what artists typically showcase in local galleries. Artists represented include: Christopher Triner, David Dingwell, Erika Katherine, Priscilla Roggenkamp, Sally Priscilla Lytle, Sarah Shumaker, Dave King, Tom Delamater, Iszy Rucker, Chris Wurst, and BZTAT.

BZTAT Studios, located in the new Canton Creator Space (720 Market Ave. S, Canton, OH), exhibits artwork by local artists, including wall art, sculpture, jewelry, wearable art and painted art gifts. Canton Creator Space is a brand new collaborative workplace and gallery for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Open to the public, Canton Creator Space allows visitors to experience a behind the scenes view of the dynamic world of local artists and enjoy a more personalized arts encounter beyond galleries and museums. The gallery will be open 10am-5pm on Mondays and 12-6pm Tuesday through Saturday through the duration of the exhibit.

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

October 31, 2019

Urban Wildlife Painting Exhibit now on display at Malone University

For several months now, I have been working on a series of paintings for an exhibit at Malone University in Canton, OH. The paintings are of animals who share the Canton, OH community with an urban and suburban population of human beings. I call the series “Urban Wildlife”, as their habitat has increasingly become a concrete jungle of urban sprawl.

I wrote about three of these paintings and the animals that inspired them in previous posts (deer, skunk, goose). I will likely write about more of the animals, in fact, I am hoping to make a book about the paintings with reflections on their inspirations. All in due time.

For now, though, I thought I would share the Artist Statement that accompanies the Malone Exhibit here. It is below. The exhibit will be in the Fountain Gallery until December 7, 2019 in the Johnson Center at 2600 Cleveland Ave NW. I hope you get a chance to see it!

Urban Wildlife of Stark County
Painting Series by Artist BZTAT

There is something beautiful about driving around late at night when there is no one else awake but the night creatures that inhabit the city. The approach of my car startles them. They take notice of me, and they ponder whether they should flee or stand their ground. They regard me as my headlights capture their visage. I regard them too, with a mix of fascination and wonder. It is just them and me, and I see them – really SEE them – words fail to describe the encounter.

For about a year and half, this was my nightly adventure. To earn extra money to supplement my art business, I took on a paper route for a time that required that I make my deliveries in the early morning hours. Every night, I crept around three local neighborhoods, delivering the Canton Respository to subscribers, and observing the nightly goings on of the urban wildlife that make Canton, OH and Stark County their home.

Ordinary creatures, perhaps. These are not exotic creatures from Africa or the outback. All too often they are what we call “road kill” as we pass their lifeless carcasses on the highway. We share our community with them, and yet, we often dismiss them as pests or annoyances. The sad irony is that we have encroached on their habitat. It is they who have suffered the consequences of our urban sprawl.

Great beauty can be found in the ordinary, and great beauty can be found in the brief interaction between woman and beast. Since words fail to describe that beauty, I have endeavored to recreate my urban wildlife encounters with images. In each painting in this series of 12 acrylic paintings on wood, I have tried to share a moment of regard between myself and a wild animal in my community.

Not all of the creatures rendered in this series are night dwellers. As I immersed myself in this painting project, I decided to paint animals that I have encountered during the daylight hours as well. Although the initial inspiration came from my nightly travels, I extended my creative exploration to day creatures, too. All of the animals rendered are native to Stark County, OH. They are named as “Night Stalkers” and “Day Stalkers” and numbered according to the order in which I painted them.

Each painting represents an encounter, a moment of regard, or an observation of an extraordinarily ordinary creature that shares a habitat with me.

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT