Melissa Daubert is a visual artist and teacher. She is also a strong supporter of cultural and artistic exchange in Cleveland. Melissa offers space and a creative environment to local and international artist through her non-formal residency program she began in 2010. Her residency program provides artists with a live/work space attached to her home and studio. When Art House’s international artist, Alka Mathur, came to Cleveland Melissa offered this space to her as her other international artist, Grainne Bird, was leaving after 6 months. Melissa gets as much as she gives in her exchange.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how the people we meet influence our lives and our work. Only a few months ago, we were saving human hair for artist Grainne Bird – from Kildare Ireland to use in her art. Now, we are saving tea bags for Alka Mathur – from New Dehli, India to use in her art! I have to say, my hair is finally growing back now, and we are all drinking more tea than ever.

Saving tea bags has become an art here at our house. Each day I slip a package of used tea bags that are signed and dated with comments, under the door for ALKA. She in turn has been piecing together the writings and the tea bags into panels that have begun to create an intricate journal of random thoughts. Sometimes I consciously think I better sensor this, but mostly I don’t take it too seriously and just have fun.

“Tea Measures Time” a qoute included in the used bags donated by John Ranally inspired Alka to try doing bronze while she is here. Last weekend we made our wax pieces together outside at the picnic table in the sunshine. Monday we will take our pieces to get casted in bronze at the STUDIO FOUNDRY on Perkins Ave. Since Alka has been staying with us, I have been drinking tea every day! I still like that LIPTON.

Learn more about Melissa’s residency program

http://www.arthouseinc.org/about-us/resident-artists/

Learn more about Alka http://www.arthouseinc.org/creative-fusion/

Starting this month, Art House is introducing guest writers to our blog site Art House News. Each blogger is a professional working and teaching artist who will share their views, expertise and opinions on a variety of topics. This monthly feature offers Art House the opportunity to highlight the work and talent of our teaching artist as they share their perspective about the art community in Cleveland, and offer tips and advice about their art making process.

‘the princess called art house’

Once upon a time, an artist from Saudi Arabia found herself on extended stay in Cleveland, Ohio. This artist, and Princess of the Royal House of Saud, had left her studio at home. She wanted to continue her work while abroad, and study drawing in a ‘comic style.’ So, the princess called Art House. I went to her high class hotel, my case full of books and drawing supplies. Her entourage took up the entire eleventh floor. Valet service, two coffees, and forty five minutes later a woman with long dark hair and deep eyes walked in. We sat at an extra large wooden table and made line drawings with ink. Books were laid out- basic comics, elaborate graphic novels, and volumes full of facial expressions and body language. That morning she made a drawing of a woman screaming her head off. In the next chair, I practiced my ABC’s with ink. And so it started, drawing with the princess, five days a week. We only worked together for a month and a half, but I didn’t realize it would seriously influence my own studio practice.
Years before this gig, I was proud to be a ‘resourceful’ artist (scrapper, really). Favored found, discarded, and real junky art materials. Made paintings with ash, chalk, and fruit juice. Worked on tar paper, discarded scraps, and walls. The material itself didn’t make a piece great- it was how you used them, right? I come from a family of farmers and workaholics. I was raised to make something out of nothing, through sheer force of will and stubborn dexterity. I knew this approach to art making probably wouldn’t fly with the princess. We worked on a fine wooden table, seated beside bowls full of Asian pears, Persian pistachio and hazelnut, drinking fine Turkish coffee. So I brought a beautiful ceramic palette and freshly ground sumi ink. For a water well, I brought a glass vase that had held a candle at my wedding. Same story with dress. Normally, my studio clothes just happen- stained, torn, anything goes. But for our daily drawing sessions, I wore my finest. Velvet, embroidered skirts, polished shoes- the works. When in Rome, treat yourself like a princess. Art House has sent me on all kinds of gigs, and this one was one of the most memorable. I now find myself saying to kids that ‘if you treat your supplies well, you will make a jewel of a painting.’ I still like to draw on walls, but I treat those materials like gold.

Melinda Placko makes pictures using drawing, painting and collage. She works on a variety of surfaces including paper, parking lots, walls and walkways. She embraces Dada, and is currently inspired by sacred architecture and magnetism. A teaching artist for over ten years, she works with Art House and Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio. She currently serves as President of the Board at the Cleveland West Art League, and is a long-time member of the International Union of Mail Artists. Melinda earned her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and her MFA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, focusing on public and collaborative art. Her next exhibition of new work will be at the Loren Naji Gallery in May, and features collage drawings, mail art, and maybe even a wall drawing or two. For more information about Melinda’s work visit her website www.melktrukstudio.com

The answers, of course, are: yes and YES!

To be a part of the absolute biggest arts buzz in Cleveland this month you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is awarding grants worth up to $150,000 each to fund TWO fantastic public art projects! The jury at CAC narrowed the applicants down to six potential projects and it’s now up to the public to pick the winning two! In the running are some of Cleveland’s best loved creative entities including Dancing Wheels, Cleveland Public Theater, Zygote Press, LAND Studio and the Cleveland Museums of Natural History and Art. Voting has already begun and will end on February 20th! To learn more about each project and VOTE, go to the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture page.

Vessel by Mark Yasenchak

Also this month, Art House teaching artist (and ceramist/gallery manager/teacher-for-other-institutions…but we like to think of him as “ours”) Mark Yasenchak has partnered with local artist and entrepreneur Jackie Adamany to offer a one day workshop for artists! For many emerging and hobby artists, making the leap from producing work to selling it can be daunting. And for those already in the local circuit, the leap to wholesale can be overwhelming. In this workshop, Mark and Jackie will demystify the process of applying for and getting accepted to craft and art fairs as well as presentation and preparing for wholesale. The workshop will be held in the Art Craft Building on February 17th. Space is limited! For more information or to sign up, go to HandCraftYourCarreer.com.

Not quite ready to sell your work? There’s still time to sign up for one of our winter classes or workshops!  Our winter line-up includes clay with the lovely Gina DeSantis, printmaking with Claudio Orso, and much much more! We also have a new punch card system for those of you looking to become regulars at our Sippin’ in the Studio sessions: buy 4 get one free! For our current class schedule and to sign-up, click here.

For the kids: Mosaic Madness with Art House Favorite Mark Yasenchack meets on Saturdays, starting in February. We also have a NEW Cartooning and Animation class taught by the very talented Will Wilson. Class meets on Tuesday afternoons starting at the end of January. In addition we have a kids Printmaking class with Claudio Orso and a combination Drawing and Clay class with Billy Ritter, starting in February and March, respectively.

Of course, we would never leave out the adults! No matter what you’re in the mood for, we’ve got something for you. The Lovely Gina DeSantis is back with her Clay on the Wheel and Advanced Wheel Throwing classes. Clay not your thing? Try Batik on Silk with Peggy Wertheim, Fused Glass with Cat Zurchin or Drawing Basics with JenMarie Zeleznak.

In other news, we’d like to give a shout out to our very own teacher and studio manager Billy Ritter, who recently published and artist book! In his own words, “This limited edition, six volume series chronicles the life and times of an aspiring artist who returns to college at the age of thirty. Finding himself surrounded once again by the mimetic uncertainty of a university microcosm, he turns to the refuge of drawing. Throughout the journey, the artist traverses the murky depths of a “college experience,” smudging the line between fact and fiction.”

For more information on this six volume series, got to http://billyritter.weebly.com/books-2010.html or, to order, http://printedmatter.org/.

Work by ceramic artist Mark Yasenchack

Snow! We finally got our first light dusting of snow over the holiday weekend and now it officially feels like winter! Hot chocolate, fires in the fireplace, walks in the snow, parties with friends and, of course, the winter holiday! No matter what you celebrate, we have fantastic upcoming artportunities you are sure to enjoy.

This year, Art House will be hosting our very first ever ”Short and Sweet Holiday Shop”! For two consecutive weekends s: November 30th-December 2nd December 7-9th stop in for a chance to check out our studio space, learn more about our programming, and shop for artisan made items perfect for gift giving! Open 4pm-8pm Fridays and 1-5 Saturdays and Sundays with an opening reception on November 30th from 6-8pm.

Then join us Tuesday, December 4th, for an ornament making workshop. Artist Jeannie Oakar will walk you through the process of making unique, one-of-a-kind ornaments to keep or give as gifts! 6pm-7:30pm $20 per person ($30/pair). Teens welcome at both workshops! Register here.

Starting December 10th, ceramic artist Mark Yasenchack will be offering a unique class designed for parent and child. A $95 registration fee includes classes for the pair as well as 12lbs. of clay and all glazes and firing. For an extra $46, bring a sibling or friend! For more information, click here and scroll down.

December 20th, grab a friend and join us for Sippin’ in the Studio! The gifts have been purchased (or handmade!) and wrapped so come have a glass of wine and relax as you make punched metal luminaries to make your winter nights brighter.

And don’t forget: you can always give the gift of Art House! Whether in the form of an art class or a donation made in their honor, there is something for everyone on your list.

Happy Holidays, everybody!

3rd graders from Denison school learning silk painting.

Every year our unique Urban Bright Arts-in-Education Program pairs talented local artists with student in the community. This year we are so fortunate to have artist Peggy Wertheim working with third graders from Denison School. Employing the theme of “tolerance”, Peggy is teaching the students how to paint on silk with dyes and salts. Each student will be creating individual pieces as well as working collaboratively to create four large banners with words that exemplify tolerance, which will be displayed during the Urban Bright Year End exhibit, then installed in the school permanently.

8th graders from William Cullen Bryant making coil pots

In addition, we have the wonderful Kristen Cliffel back for another year! If you have been in our studio, you will most likely have noticed the beautiful ceramic piece hanging on the back wall, which was installed after a previous Urban Bright residency with Kristen. She is currently working with 8th graders at William Cullen Bryant School, a CMSD school in Old Brooklyn.

Check back for updates as the year and respective projects progress! And for more photos, have a look at our gallery.

We suggest starting your weekend off right by checking out the ArtiSIN show at the Sin Factory. Friday night from 6-11pm (and continuing Saturday, October 13th 6-11pm) at 1668 E. 40th (Corner of East 40th and Payne Ave.). There will be food, drinks, poetry, and art by 25 local artists, including work by Art House’s very own Stephanie Kluk!! Guaranteed to be a great time!

Saturday afternoon, stop by Zygote Press for the Foreign Affairs XV Exhibition. German artists in residence Tina Wohlfarth and Heike Wadewitz and Ivan Andres Lecaros Correa, an artist printmaker and Tamarind fellow from Santiago, Chile will be giving an artists lecture and showing new work created at Zygote.

Sunday, take a break. You deserve it! But stayed tuned because Art House Inc. has tons of fun fall events planned for the month including Painting on Silk with Peggy Wertheim, a special Halloween Family Open Studio and Old Brooklyn’s Fall-O-Ween event!

See you out there!

Second: There is still room in Gina DeSantis’ Beyond the Basics clay class. Know how to throw a pot but want to learn more? This is the class for you. Or, maybe you are ready for something entirely new: check out the Fused Art Glass class with artist Cat Zurchin!

Third: We would never forget about the kids! This Saturday is our monthly FREE Open Studio session. Drop by and play with clay under the instruction of the extremely excellent Billy Ritter! You might find that they like it so much, you just have to sign them up for Billy’s fall class. There is also a new printmaking class for kids and there is still space in Mark Yasenchack’s winter parent & child clay class where you will learn to make functional vessels.

Fourth: Last week Clevelanders were treated to the unofficial opening of the fall art season. A number of galleries including Brandt, Proximity, and Zygote Press, among others held simultaneous art openings–hopefully you got to make it to at least a few; it was impossible to see it all! Luckily, we reside in the beautiful CLE and will get a second round of art inundation this weekend. Between the annual Sparx City Hop and Ingenuity Festival Cleveland (this year in a new location!), you’ve got a full, art-filled weekend. Enjoy it!!!

Can’t make it this Saturday? No matter. We have just put out our fall class schedule! There’s still time to sign up for the next Sippin’ on August 23rd: Batik and Dye Immersion with Wendy Mahon. Then, the ever popular Miss Gina DeSantis is back doing what she does best. This session, she will be offering an advanced class that goes beyond the basics, as well as an intro to throwing on the wheel. Classes start in October but sign up soon–these usually fill up quickly.

Want to try something entirely new? Explore fused glass with the fabulous Cat Zurchin! From jewelry to tiles, magnets and drawer pulls–you will be taking home new work every week. Or, make a commitment to giving handmade this holiday and join Mark Yasechack for Intergenerational Handbuilding. Bring a parent, spouse, or child and make the experience even more meaningful. Stay tuned–new children’s classes will be posted soon! And, as always, you can sign up for everything ONLINE! Oh how we love the technology revolution.

Come join us!

Brooklyn Centre’s Bicentennial Community Parade

~ Neighborhood on Wheels ~

August 12th, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Meet at Riverside Cemetery

Kids and adults of all ages are invited to take part! Join the parade on your bikes, wagons, skateboards, or roller blades and celebrate Brooklyn Centre’s 200 Years ofPioneers!

There is still time to register for these community workshops with Parade the Circle artist Wendy Mahon!

Friday August 3 from 6-8pm
Sat. August 4 from 10-12pm
Tuesday August 7 from 6-8pm
Wed. August 8 from 6:00-8:00

Call Art House to register! 216.398.8556 Come Decorate your Bicycle at Art House Friday, August 10th from 4-6PM (All materials and supplies will be provided for free!)