Heights Arts founder returns as exhibiting artist

Squares and stars three (1986), by Peggy Spaeth.

On Friday, June 29, 6 to 9 p.m., Heights Arts will celebrate the opening of presents a new exhibition in its spotlight gallery of works by Heights Arts’ founding executive director, Peggy Spaeth. In the work, a collection of paintings made between 1972 and 1986, Spaeth focuses on the principles of design, with particular attention to color and repetition.

The paintings on display were made alongside another series of work, comprising hand-dyed and hand-sewn quilts. While making her quilts, Spaeth simultaneously experimented with pattern and color in painting form, creating combinations she was unable to achieve with cloth. Spaeth’s intense love of geometry and her ability to create illusion with color and pattern are evident in this selection of works, on view through Aug. 12.

Proceeds from the sale of her work benefit two programs near and dear to Spaeth: Heights Arts, and Sober Living Cleveland, which provides safe, affordable sober housing to those in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

On July 12, at 7 p.m., Heights Arts will hosts its only Ekphrastacy of the summer, wherein local poets read works they have composed, inspired by works in the current exhibition, and the exhibiting artists discuss their work. For this edition, Damien McClendon, Cleveland Heights poet laureate, has invited local poets to explore the Sticks & Stones exhibition, currently on view in the main gallery. The experience of hearing the artists speak about their work and process, juxtaposed with the poets’ literary responses to the work, gives the pieces new meaning and can make the viewer re-look at the art in a different light.

Kristen McDowell

Kristen McDowell is the marketing coordinator for Heights Arts.

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Volume 11, Issue 7, Posted 12:45 PM, 06.19.2018