“Miamisburg Mandala,” by Amy Kollar Anderson of Dayton
ReImagining Works, the innovative project that invites area artists to create artwork for new and newly renovated Dayton Metro Library branches, has four new additions to its impressive and growing art collection.
The Miamisburg Branch Library, located at 545 E. Linden Ave., officially opened on Feb. 20. This new library features the latest technology, new materials and a STAR Puppet Theater for children. There are also four new art installations, all inspired by pieces from the Dayton Art Institute’s collection: a bronze sculpture entitled “Huck Finn” by Robert Koepnick, and the oil painting “Endless Energy for Limitless Living” by Rockwell Kent.
The new local works:
,is a triptych using mica as a key component. The work references the use of mica in the energy industry as well as its importance to the Adena/Hopewell culture — early inhabitants of the area who created the Miamisburg Mound.
“Dream Chasers,” by Darren Haper of Miamisburg
fuses pop culture ideas, childlike imagery, and abstracted cartoon characters into large boldly colored canvases. “The Story of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer rafting down the Mississippi river in search of adventure sparked the abstracted depiction of that event in my painting,” said Haper. “The bright colors and movement represent the energy and creativity of youth while also capturing an adventurous spirit.”
“From the River to the Stars,” by Mychaelyn Michalec of Oakwood,
depicts the importance of energy to Miamisburg’s history. “This work uses the ghostly images of historic slides and photographs to create an abstracted visual timeline,” Michalec says. ” Some of the images include aerial views of Miamisburg, the locks on the canal, the first electric street car, the first water and electric plant, aerial views of Mound Labs, and the Cassini satellite.”
“Great Miami School” by Susan Byrnes of Cincinnati,
is a largescale work comprised of 60 multicolored cast resin fish, representing three types of fish found in the Great Miami River. Brynes says the piece was inspired by the proximity of the library to the river and its aquatic life, the importance of the Library to local schoolchildren, and the fish in the DAI’s sculpture by Koepnick.
Three proposals have been approved for artwork in the remodeled West Carrollton Branch Library. Jennifer Rosengarten of Yellow Springs will create a series of four large oil paintings depicting the Ohio prairie in each season. Dayton artist Gary Hinsche will create a landscape that depicts the horizon in clearly defined squares and Dayton photographer Ron Geibert will present a panoramic triptych. different performances, including live music, improvisational artists and live art creation. Attendees will be encouraged to contribute to creative projects as they move throughout the 120,000-plus-squarefoot building, discovering the library’s new amenities.
Tickets are $150 per person, available now at DaytonMetroLibrary.org/TheMainEvent.DaytonMetroLibrary.org/TheMainEvent. All proceeds benefit the Dayton Metro Library Foundation.
The Tripod Club of Dayton will be repeating two courses to help you to learn to improve your digital photography. Both courses will be taught by Ron Wilson, who has been teaching photography for more than three decades. Classes will be held at the Masonic Temple Lodge, 5501 Far Hills Ave., Centerville.
The first course is slated for six Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. until noon on March 18-April 29. This class will emphasize the basic fundamentals of modern digital camera use. The second course, Photoshop Digital Photo Editing, runs from 1-3 p.m. on the same dates. Costs for each series is $125 or $200 for both.
For further information visit www.tripodcamera. com.
Theater-lovers should consider taking advantage of one of the world’s most famous theater festivals, the Humana Festival of New American Plays. It takes place every year in Louisville and attracts artists and industry professionals from across the country.
It’s a great chance to see the premiere of new plays written by talented up-andcoming playwrights from around the nation and over the years has introduced 450 plays into the American theatre’s repertoire. Many of these plays end up on Dayton and Cincinnati stages.
This year’s festival is slated for March 1-April 19 and will featured six world premieres, including “I Now Pronounce” by Tasha Gorgon-Solomon; “We’re Gonna Be Okay,” by Basil Kreimendahl; “Cry it Out” by Molly Smith Metzler; “Recent Alien Abductions,” by Jorge Ignacio Cortinas; “The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield” by Jeff Augustin, Sarah DeLappe, Claire Kiechel and Ramiz Monsef; and “Airness” by Chelsea Marcantel.
The plays are performed in rotating repertory in three theaters located in the downtown Louisville complex. Close by are attractions such as the Muhammed Ali Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory (great fun!) and the newly renovated Speed Art Museum.
Weekend packages and single tickets are now on sale. For more information visit ActorsTheatre.org or call (502) 584-1205.
Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has received a historic $9 million donation from Chris and Sara Connor to create the Connor Theater.
When it opens this summer, the theater will house an epic signature experience featuring arena-quality sound, larger-thanlife video screens and fan interactivity that will bring audiences closer to their favorite artists than ever before.
Connor is the Chair of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Board of Directors and the executive chairman of the Sherwin-Williams Co.