sankofa fine art plus...numerous original oils, acrylics, and gicleé prints to patrons, and has...

Temporary Art Exhibition Program

Current Exhibit

The 2011 Art Exhibition currently has two exhibits running. “Sankofa: Learning from the past, looking toward the further” is on display until July 25, 2011 and features the works of ten local artists. The collection can be seen in the Public Gallery (located on the ramp entering Concourse A) and the ticketing level.

Type City Cleveland is on display until August 30, 2011. This exhibit features works of art made from typeface. Communications Design Students from the Cleveland Institute of Art were required to create images of Cleveland venues using the characters of chosen typeface. The Collection can be seen in the gallery, located on the lower level terminal adjacent to the RTA Station.

SANKOFA FINE ART PLUS is a nonprofit community arts organization founded in January, 1999 by a group of art enthusiasts who shared a passion for African American ethnic art and artists. Understanding there are limited opportunities for ethnic art and artists in mainstream venues, co-founders created Sankofa Fine Art Plus.

The organization’s mission is to develop and advocate for ethnic artists and present ethnic art as a credible and meaningful art form through community education and collaboration. Their purpose is to

contribute to the art and culture of the African-American community and other ethnic groups through a climate that will recognize diversity in ethnic art and its artistic expressions.

The goal of Sankofa is to increase community awareness and appreciation of the rich history and tradition of “fine ethnic art” by creating opportunities that will support emerging and aspiring ethnic artists; developing educational opportunities and cultural events that will provide significant exposure and support of ethnic art and artists.

The theme of this exhibition is, "Sankofa: Learning from the past, looking toward the future." The selected artists were encouraged to reflect upon their past personal experiences and how mistakes may have affected their lives. The selected artists’ images reflect their approach to life and art differently as a result of their experiences.

The following artists’ works showcase both their past experience as well as their progressive action forward. For more information about Sankofa Fine Art Plus and the exhibiting artists, please visit their website at www.SankofaFineArtPlus.org.

Donald Black, Jr. Jack Coville

Gabriel “Gabby” Gonzalez Vincent Irizarry

Ronnie Pyles Jennifer Rynbrandt

Paul Schuster Irene Sukle

Angelos Vlahos Jose Vasquez

http://www.sankofafineartplus.org/

Description: Photographs

Location: Public Gallery, ramp entering Concourse A

Title(s): “Divided We Fall” and “Under the Bridge”

DONALD BLACK, JR. was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1980. His formal art education began in the fourth grade at the Cleveland School of the Arts (CSA). His early years at CSA afforded him the opportunity to experiment with multiple art forms including dance and instrumental music.

However, it was not long before he unearthed his passion for photography. Driven by the unique properties of the medium and the voice that it afforded him, he decided to concentrate solely on receiving instruction in this area. He furthered his pursuit of photography at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication in Athens, Ohio. There he studied commercial photography and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Commercial Photography. In 2002, he was awarded the Kodak Scholarship for Outstanding Photographer at Ohio University. He was the first-ever African American to receive this prestigious award.

Shortly after college, Black relocated to New York City where he began to extend his craft into the realm of fine art photography. It was during this time that he established a concrete vision for himself as an artist and a sense of purpose in his work: to portray a more accurate and positive image of black culture, to provide educational experiences around teaching others about urban culture within the African American community, and to teach art as both a form of personal expression and a marketable, technical skill. He developed workshops and mentoring programs that would teach young people photography and give those persons (particularly children) with limited access to art an instrument for claiming their own identity.

Black was eager to find the most viable place to continue his personal and artistic mission. In June of 2007, he returned to his native home of Cleveland, Ohio: the very center of his heart and the foundation of his inspiration.

Upon his return, Black began to work in conjunction with Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio (YANEO): a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering enriching, hands-on arts experiences to children, with particular emphasis on underserved populations of young people with limited access to the arts. Through YANEO’s summer program, Black worked with students from across the city, teaching fundamentals of photography, basic “pin hole” photography, and screen-printing. He also helped to facilitate an opportunity for one of his students to feature his work along-side Black’s at Cleveland State University’s Gallery in the College of Urban Affairs.

Donald Black Jr. has received many distinguished awards for his photography, including the 2007 International Nikon Award, third place for his work entitled “Self Imprisonment.” His work has been displayed in multiple exhibitions throughout Northeast Ohio, New York, NY, and Atlanta, GA. He was also included in the 2006 exhibition Silent Voices, Loud Echoes at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, PA.

Black is imprinting his signature upon the world, beginning with the opening of his gallery Warrior of Light in November of 2007, on the very street where he grew up as a child. Black is actively pursuing collaborative endeavors with the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. However the very crux of his efforts remains to create inspiring opportunities through his work that will inspire social change.

Description: Lithograph


Title(s): Mound I and Mound II

JACK COVILLE is a Cleveland artist born and reared in Northeast Ohio and has been a working artist for 39 years. Mr. Coville received special mention for his paintings from Dr. Sherman E. Lee, Director, at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s “May Show”. Coville’s paintings are abstract images inspired from nature primarily and executed on canvas or paper. His work has been featured in the Nelson Rockefeller Collection, Palm Springs, California and is included in private collections in America and in England and Australia. Mr. Coville’s academe includes a B.F.A degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and a M.F.A. degree from Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.



Title: “Urban Roots”

GABRIEL GONZALEZ was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico in 1980. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1984 where he grew

up in the West 25th and Clark Avenue area. He attended High School at Cleveland School of the Arts and graduated in 1999 and received a National Gold Award from the Scholastics Art and Writing Awards in his senior year. After graduating Gonzalez became a new face in the Cleveland art scene and exhibited his photography in many galleries throughout Cleveland. In 2002 he became an Artist in Residence at Cleveland School of the Arts and honored as a gifted educator by the Scholastics Art and Writing Awards. He also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for his outstanding teaching abilities from former Congresswoman, Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Gonzalez continued his education at Ohio University where he studied Art and Photography. At Ohio University, Gabriel was voted president of the Hip-Hop Congress; a non-profit, grassroots organization that help join the community through the arts. After returning to Cleveland, Gonzalez continued to educate others at the Cleveland School of the Arts and in his community. On August 12, 2009 Gabriel received The Representative Marcia L. Fudge Distinguished Citizens Award. This honor is to recognize those individuals who have made valuable contributions to the community through their professions.

Gonzalez strongly believes that art education saves lives and gives hope. Gonzalez hopes to continue his journey in the Art World and break new boundaries. Gabriel is concurrently working on several bodies of work and exploring the historic events that have taken place in Puerto Rico while capturing the spirit of his people. In this search Gonzalez explores how to reconcile preserving a sense of history and pride towards his Puerto Rican lineage while maintaining a sense of place in his current American surroundings. Gonzalez regards this work crucial to representing Puerto Rico and preserving his cultural identity.

Description: Acrylic on paper

Location: Public Gallery, ramp entering concourse A

Title: “Primordial Soup”

VINCENT IRIZARRY, also known as Viso, was born in Ohio City on October 18, 1954 soon after his family arrived from Puerto Rico. Growing up in Ohio City, Vincent saw many changes in the neighborhood; from the not so nice area just over the bridge from downtown to the super hip urban styling it is known for today. Many of these urban influences can be seen in his artwork. Viso has been painting since childhood where he attended classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The experience instilled in him the principles and skills he would need to utilize his talents. Viso has been able to create mixed-media art wonders and shows no signs of slowing down.



Title: “Seagulls Over Seattle, Washington”

RONNIE PYLES is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Kentucky State University, as well as a professional designation in

Public Relations from UCLA’s extension program. Ronnie had an extensive career in modeling, which ultimately led to his interest in photography.

While spending some of his modeling career in Europe, he developed an appreciation for architecture. However, it was when he returned to Cleveland that he began to turn his new love of photography into a new career. His first project was photographing the old abandoned buildings in the flats. Since then, photographing architecture in black and white has been his primary interest.

While living in Los Angeles, he also developed a love for “old Hollywood”. This passion has led to his photographing anything vintage, including a friend’s collection of ladies vintage shoes. In fact, he has dedicated one of the vintage shoe photographs to the late Cleveland film star, Dorothy Dandridge.

In addition to architecture and vintage shoes, he enjoys photographing old bridges and old cars, and is continually finding new subjects to photograph. With his roving eye, he says he is sometimes amazed himself at what he finds interesting. Ronnie’s main goal is for people to enjoy his work as much as he does.

Description: Giclee’ print


Title: “Sunflower”

JENNIFER WILKINSON RYNBRANDT is originally a native of the Washington, D.C. area. A Gerontologist by profession, she has painted in her free time since 1999. Jennifer has sold numerous original oils, acrylics, and gicleé prints to patrons, and has made art donations to various schools and civic groups.

Jennifer's work is fresh and playful, colorful and fluid. Her liberal use of paint and brushwork, lend a truly unique opportunity to own art with a distinct and lively personality.

Description: Giclee’ print


Title: “We Are One”

PAUL SHUSTER was born in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio in 1966 and began painting at the age of 25. In the twenty years since, Paul has continued to paint with unrelenting abandon. His paintings range from well-rendered

representations of the human form to studies of everyday objects. All of Paul’s canvases are painted in a highly modern manner and each tells a story. Along with his paintings, Paul has also created 14 Murals and Public Art Commissions. His works decorate many restaurants and bars, offices and homes throughout northeast Ohio.

Description: Giclee print


Title: “Come to Mind”

IRENE M. SUKLE was one of Northeast Ohio’s most beloved Artist. She passed on Halloween of 2008 and left a vast legacy of art work behind in numerous mediums.

Sukle created six of the guitars for the Guitarmania fund-raising project. The guitars she designed were auctioned to benefit the Save the Music Foundation of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and United Way Services of Greater Cleveland. Prior to the auctions, they were enjoyed as public art throughout downtown Cleveland. She was the only area artist to create two guitars each during the three years (2002, 2004 and 2007) of the project. Four of the guitars were reproduced as miniatures and sold around the world.

In 2007, she created two of the pig sculptures during the Chinese Year of the Pig and a rat sculpture for the Year of the Rat public art projects. Both sculptures were on public display throughout Chinatown and the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.

Sukle taught at West Geauga Schools for 42 years until she was diagnosed with cancer in August, 2008. She was a board certified art teacher and her artwork was included in many Northeast Ohio public arts projects and exhibited in several area leading art galleries.

A native of Cleveland and graduate of John Adams High School, Sukle received her bachelor's and master's degrees in art and secondary education from Kent State University. She also studied at Cooper School of Art, Cleveland Institute of Art, both in Cleveland, Ohio and the Art Institute of Charleston in Charleston, S.C.



Title: “City Center”

ANGELOS VLAHOS, photography has been Angelo’s passion for over 30 years. Each photo is skillfully enhanced and created to be a piece of art. Angelo delights the senses by presenting something familiar in an extraordinary fashion. With vibrancy of color, often with an unusual combination and a weaving of more than one image, painting and various other ways his work stands out. He has worked in various fields. For more information please visit his website at www.fotodimensions.com.

http://www.fotodimensions.com/

Description: Pen and ink


Title: “Blue Pulse”

JOSÉ VASQUEZ. Most of José V's art is created on canvas and copy paper with ink pens and "Sharpies". Other media José V uses includes acrylic, water and oil based paints, Indian ink, heavy gel, foam and caulk. Many pieces have also been enhanced with sand, sea shells, glitter, rhinestones and sequins.

José V has had no formal art training. He has always enjoyed drawing in his spare time and has a natural

talent for combining color schemes and designs. It wasn't until the summer of 2006 that he was encouraged to take his art seriously. In 1996, José was employed as a Monitor Technician where he began learning cardiac related issues and the rhythms of the heart. While at work, a patient whose rhythms became critical, inspired José to create a drawing using electro-cardiographic rhythms for the lines. His first creation brought some enthusiastic comments from his co-workers; it was a heart with a series of heads each one smaller than the other in a sequential manner indicating full life to a slow death. The drawing quickly became a favorite and earned its place on T-shirts that are now available to the public. Those lines have become his trademark. Artistic painting had been a long-desired dream for José. For more information and to purchase his art, please visit his website at www.cardioartjose.com.

sankofa fine art plus...numerous original oils, acrylics, and gicleé prints to patrons, and has...

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