Early drawings, prints, and other work reveal patterns and themes which manifest themselves in my work to this day. This exhibit is a glimpse at seldom or never before seen artwork from the mid 1980s, and is a companion retrospective to my exhibit of early photography work from the same era.

As a young artist growing up, I used to create literally piles of drawings and artwork, all stashed around the house, and most, unfortunately, ended up in the trash. When I got to art school, I made a point to keep most of my work, and have done so diligently, carting several large portfolios and countless boxes of photographs and negatives from dwelling to dwelling. The work sat undisturbed and un-viewed for the most part, maybe catching a quick glimpse before being re-stored in a new home. All the while I was reminded of the regret of not having my childhood drawings, and so I felt justified packing and storing this material. In recent years I’ve finally begun to look at this old work, everything from sketchbooks and life drawings, to prints and paintings, and of course all of my photography from that era. I have been struck, that over 25 years later, I can trace themes and aesthetic ideas all the way back to that time, ideas I wouldn’t necessarily have been aware of earlier, but which have become very apparent now. I was also struck that a good portion of the work, while perhaps immature at times, really wasn’t all that bad!! Now, all of these years later, I’m inspired to pick up pencil and paper again (but that will be the subject of a future exhibition…)

So it is with great pleasure that I present another installment of my own personal retrospective, this time featuring mostly drawings and prints from the time just before I picked up a camera in earnest, and drifted away from drawing all together.

self portrait at Irv's Diner, etching

Cutting Portraits While Waiting for the Gasman, woodcut

self portrait with turntable, woodcut

self portrait--holiday greeting, woodcut

The Move Out, lithograph

Man of Showers, etching

Man of Showers, etching and monoprint

Man of Showers 1, acrylic

untitled self portrait with VW, charcoal on paper

untitled self portrait with VW, acrylic on canvas

untitled self portrait with VW, charcoal on paper

VW Kharmann-Ghia, the artist's first car, and inspiration for several pieces

untitled suite, charcoal on paper

untitled, charcoal on paper

untitled, charcoal on paper

Since the late 1980s, artists have been moving into the historic Tremont neighborhood.  In September 1990, Tremont resident Jean Brandt exhibited the art installation, “Olde Stuff” by Terry Durst, in her storefront law office on Kenilworth Avenue. Two years later Ron Naso, owner of Studio Gallery on Professor Avenue and artist Robert Ritchie teamed up with Sandy Rotokowski of Edison’s Pub and The Literary Cafe’s Andy Timithy and Linda Baldizzi for a multi-venue Halloween art celebration. The seeds a “Tremont ArtWalk” were being sown.
Two months later, in December 1992, marked the opening of Wildflower, an exhibit and performance space in Lemko Hall, with another neighborhood “ArtWalk”. To celebrate, The Lit exhibited paintings by Tim Herron, another Tremont resident and proprietor of The Manly Pad. Herron customarily left his sketchpad at the end of the bar at The Lit, to be reviewed and even added to by others; echoes of this custom continue today in the monthly drawing club that meets on Friday nights in the back room of The Lit.
The first official Tremont ArtWalk occurred on February 12, 1993–the second Friday of the month. Seven businesses pooled their resources to promote the event, with a card designed by Mikel Mahoney that included the ArtWalk logo and a neighborhood map. These seven businesses included not only two exhibitional galleries but also Bookworm and Bugjuice (a bookstore on Kenilworth Avenue) and The Guerilla Theater.
From these humble beginnings 20 years ago, Tremont ArtWalk has blossomed, now boasting monthly participation from almost 30 restaurants, pubs, galleries, museums, churches, social clubs, boutiques and specialty merchants. Much of this activity would be hard to imagine without the tireless energy and creativity of local artists and residents who have made Tremont ArtWalk the premier monthly event in Cleveland’s original arts neighborhood.

See the full gallery (along with alternate takes) and purchase prints here.

Here are some of the portraits we’ve done so far:

Linda Baldizzi and Andy Timithy, owners of the Literary Cafe, one of the earliest sites for artists' exhibitions in the neighborhood

Mikel Mahoney, artist featured on the first Tremont Artwalk card

Alenka Banco, owner of the former Eddie Moved Gallery

Dana Depew, owner of the the former (*) gallery in Tremont

Tim Herron, owner of The Manly Pad and host of the Pretentious Tremont Artist drawing group which meets at the Literary Cafe on Fridays

Jeffry Chiplis, artist and longtime resident of Tremont

Rich Weiss, founder of the former Guerrilla Theater in Tremont

Terri P. Tufts, exhibited at Edison's during the first official Artwalk

Angie Balbo, artist and early exhibitor

Charlotte Mann and Russell Vidrick

Jim Votava, Fruit Ave Gallery

Barbara Merritt, Barbara Merritt Photography

Rebecca Yody

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Scott Rosenstein, TWDC and Tremont Art Festival organizer

Michelle Davis, TWDC

Jean Brandt, owner of Brandt Gallery, longest running gallery in Tremont

If you think you or someone you know should be included in this exhibition, please contact me to set up a time for your photograph.

Join us for November’s Tremont Artwalk, when we present work by photographer Jason Robert Carroll, on November 9, 2012 from 6-10PM. The exhibit will run through November by appointment and will be open to the public again on December 14th for a closing reception.

“The moment after something happens, the echo of the event is still there.

Staring at a wall or an object, our mind begins to break down the surface.

Looking into a space, we project what happened there.”

My intent in these images is to capture a frame of time, a before and an after; to attune the viewer to the unseen emotions echoed everywhere we go. The images are a recognition that even in the most mundane places, it is likely that something meaningful happened there, somewhere along the line.

Even without people, places have depth, and they have emotional resonance.

Jason R. Carroll, 2012

“Each of my pieces has their own story to tell. I talk to them and, at times, they talk back, occasionally darkening my mood but mostly they bring a bit of humor to the conversation. They always remind me not to take them very seriously. And so, with a wink and a nod, I hope my work speaks to you, too.” ~Jackie Romanak Zubal

Artists include: Cristina Romenello, Chris Kaspar, Judy Kohout, Carol Lesko, Simone Jowell, Steve Syd, Melanie Petrilli, Kayleigh McGillvrary, Diana Hlywiak, Joe Nicosia, and Victoria Stanbridge.

“Kilimanjaro Express” will remain on view through April 29th by appointment only.

Terri P Tufts graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1988 with a BFA in Printmaking and a Minor in Painting. Born in Southern California, she has lived in the Cleveland area since 1983.Currently, Terri lives in Columbia Station with her daughter, dog, cat and fishes and has a studio on her property in which she operates her business “Art Crimes Inc.” which specializes in Decorative Painting, Murals, Fine Art, Theatrical Painting, Interior Decorating/ Contemporary Church Interiors and many other strange and interesting artistic projects that come along. She recently had an exhibit at the Brandt Gallery in August of 2011 that showcased her personal artwork.

Serengeti Slideshow, by Terri P Tufts

Join us for a gallery talk and presentation by the artist on Friday, April 27th, at 7PM.

Terri P Tufts graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1988 with a BFA in Printmaking and a Minor in Painting. Born in Southern California, she has lived in the Cleveland area since 1983.
Currently, Terri lives in Columbia Station with her daughter, dog, cat and fishes and has a studio on her property in which she operates her business “Art Crimes Inc.” which specializes in Decorative Painting, Murals, Fine Art, Theatrical Painting, Interior Decorating/ Contemporary Church Interiors and many other strange and interesting artistic projects that come along. She recently had an exhibit at the Brandt Gallery in August of 2011 that showcased her personal artwork.

Serengeti Slideshow, by Terri P Tufts