
Autumn in Ohio.
Those three words conjurer colorful images of country roads, woodland trails and gathering around the campfire to bid farewell to summer.
This is an inspiring time of year. The leaves grow in color with each ever-shorter day. I love the crisp fall air and the crunch and smell of the fallen leaves as we rake and bag. It sparks a desire to slow time just to savor it as long as possible.
Our senses are alive with the taste of a juicy, fresh-picked apples or the scent of an apple pie baking. Focus on each of your senses and let them lead you to create the essence of fall. Art can capture those moments, those memories.
Ah, sneaky me. I just planted the seed for a show in December that I will have the honor to jury, “Nostalgia” at Stella’s Art Gallery in Willoughby. More details coming soon.
The changing of the season inspires classic displays with cornstalks, pumpkins and mums scattered between lavish Halloween vignettes of spiders, skeletons, witches, and a plethora of creepy ghosts and ghouls. This is like the opening act for Christmas lights, I love it! Release your creativity with whatever inspires you.
It is also a harbinger of the coming holidays with families and friends. This is a gifting time of year, and I encourage everyone to choose gifts made from the heart by you or by our insanely talented local artists. Visit the galleries, art centers and museums. Consider memberships, classes or gift certificates. Plan an outing to attend together.
Let’s get to what’s new.
Stella’s Art Gallery
There is always something new at Stella’s Art Gallery, 38033 Euclid Ave. Let’s begin with the winners of the “OddBall” show.
Congratulations to Alli Gemmer, Best in Show winner, whose piece also was the first one selected for the Ekphrastic poetry contest.
The other “OddBall” winners are Tracy Parsons, first place; Isabella Graham, second place; a collaboration work by Diane Fleisch Hughs, Greg Johnson, and Randy Oldrieve, third place; and Robert Flowers, honorable mention.
The deadline for the Ekphrastic poetry contest, poetry in any form written about a specific work of art, is Oct. 25. To enter, visit the gallery, select your inspiration, register at the front desk and write. There will be cash awards and open-mic poetry readings from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 26. Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Ray McNiece will jury the contest.
Artwork for the show “Bricolage,” named for art that is from an upcycle construction made of whatever materials are at hand, will be accepted from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 2.
Two years ago, my clay group, the Pottery Heads, held our first collective show in the Annex Gallery. The group also includes Alison Barret, Wendy Chom, Lori Donnelly, Tammy O‘Neil and Debbie Powers; it’s under the mentorship of Dani Klein, Stella’s owner, and Carol Pitts.
As we continue to grow and experiment down our whimsical and nature-inspired pathways, we have amassed a larger body of work and we look forward to sharing it with you. This will be a cash-and-carry show in the Annex Gallery with gifts and ornaments for the holidays.
Come say hello during our opening, held in collaboration with the “Bricolage” awards reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 8. Learn more about this, calls for art and classes at stellaartgallery.com. Gift cards are also available.
Willoughby Arts Collaborative
Mark your calendar for a Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration from 2 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 centered at Wes Point Park in Downtown Willoughby. It is sponsored by the Willoughby Arts Collaborative and is a collaboration among Stella’s Art Gallery, the Willoughby Historical Society and the Willoughby Public Library.
Dias de los Muertos is a celebration of the lives of our deceased loved ones and a time to welcome their spirits back and release them again. The day will include movies being shown at 2 and 4 p.m.: The library will offer “Coco,” while Stella’s will show “The Book of Life” — with complimentary popcorn.
A talk by the WHS about Willoughby legend “The Girl in Blue” at the Sharpe Avenue Cemetery and grave decorating. Also expect to see a taco food truck at the park from 5 to 7 p.m., flamenco dancers in the gazebo at 5:30 and 6 p.m. and an ofrenda (Spanish for “offering”), where all are invited to bring nonreturnable photos of their loved ones for display at an altar in the park.
Euclid Art Association
The Euclid Art Association will meet at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the Fellowship Hall of East Shore United Methodist Church, 23002 Lake Shore Blvd.
National award-winning photographic artist Chris Coffey will talk about his photographs and how he approaches projects. His talk will include how to craft an artist bio and the statement.
All are welcome to attend; a guest donation of $3 is suggested. Learn more about Coffey at chriscoffey.com and about EAA at EuclidArt.com.
Ashtabula Arts Center
The Ashtabula Arts Center, 2928 W. 13th St., will present “Hope in Artistry: Suicide Awareness & Prevention” in November, which is National Suicide Prevention Month.
The show was created by the Ashtabula County Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Ashtabula LOSS Team to support survivors of suicide by offering them and the community an artistic outlet to express feelings, raise awareness and start conversations.
Find the entry form at ashtabulaartscenter.org or stop by the front desk for a hard copy. Artwork can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Oct 30 and 31. Entry is open to both adult and student artists. There is no entry fee for “Hope in Artistry.”