Heights Arts launches new local artist programs

Orange Sky; Winter Tree, by Bonnie Dolin.

Heights Arts introduces a new membership program specifically designed for working artists, made possible with generous support from the George Gund Foundation. Through this program, working artist members join at a special rate of $30 and gain opportunities to showcase and sell their work, while Heights Arts is able to further its mission of supporting local artists.

“This is a big step forward for Heights Arts in that we can now have a collaborative and mutually supportive relationship with our artists,” said Rachel Bernstein, executive director. “In addition, this program enables us to own editioned pieces of original art for the first time in our history. We look forward to showcasing these exceptional artists while offering the community a unique opportunity to win and own an original work of art created just for us.”

Beginning in May and for each month that follows, Heights Arts will select an artist of the month from among its working artist members. That artist will then create a special work of art, and people who visit the gallery (2175 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights) during the month can enter a drawing for a chance to win that month’s artist-of-the-month piece. 

The first artist of the month is Bonnie Dolin, whose beautiful giclée print will be on display for the month of May. Dolin has work in many Cleveland collections, including the Progressive Collection, the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Museum of Art. She received an individual artist award from the Ohio Arts Council and a fellowship from the OAC to spend three months at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass.

In addition, Heights Arts will select three different working artist members throughout the year for commissions of new works to be produced by the artists in editions of 25 pieces each. Historically, Heights Arts has sold art on commission without actually owning the artists’ work, so this represents a milestone in the organization’s history. These pieces will then be for sale in the gallery, providing patrons an opportunity to own a limited- edition piece of original art. 

The first artist commissioned to create a limited edition will be Sue Berry, a glass artist from Cleveland Heights. Her pieces debut in the gallery this June.

Mary Ryan

Mary Ryan is a member of the Heights Arts staff, and a 25-year Heights resident.

Read More on A & E News
Volume 7, Issue 5, Posted 4:33 PM, 05.02.2014