Who knew that there was an art gallery across the street from Shanghai Mama's? Located inside the…read morebuilding marked "Cincinnati Bar Center," the Art Gallery is presenting Panorama of Cincinnati Art, currently in its 25th year. Unlike the art museum, this gallery is a business that sells paintings.
I was buzzed in through the from door, welcomed by the receptionist. As I browsed the exhibit, salespeople kept approaching me, asking about my collection. This was a little awkward as, while I do collect art, I could never afford any of the pieces here which averaged around $3,500, some reaching $25,000 - $150,000. I kindly dismissed the salespeople, explaining I just wanted to view the exhibit.
There were 100 paintings lining the walls, but only a few were impressive to my eye. Many were scenes of Native Americans, sailboats, or generic landscapes. The most notable Cincinnati artist, Frank Duveneck, is what drew me to the exhibit. Duveneck is known for his breathtaking murals inside Cathedral Basilica and Mother of God Church. Unfortunately, only one painting in the exhibit was a Duveneck. There was also only one Harlan Hubbard landscape. Hubbard was a folk artist who painted Ohio River scenery, known for living off the land well into the 1980s.
Understandably, these prominent artists may only have a few paintings for public purchase (most are in museums.) I was expecting for the rest of the art to be of Cincinnati landscapes or period pieces of the city by lesser known artists. Not quite. A handful of portraits I recognized as Cincinnati, whether modern or past, or mentioned Cincinnati in their description.
Of those few artists, I found these pieces to be beautiful:
- Tom Bacher, who paints with phosphorescent acrylic for a textured, glowing look. http://www.cincinnatiartgalleries.com/painting/artist-browse.aspx?p=3&id=ART86
- Lewis Henry Meakin (1850-1917), who painted a landscape of rural Clifton. Yes, Clifton was farmland at the turn of the century. http://www.cincinnatiartgalleries.com/painting/artist-browse.aspx?id=ART1127
- Shafer, who created a sole black and white sketch resembling an old newspaper cartoon with clippings of musical notes. It was my favorite piece in the gallery with a style unique from all the rest.
I enjoyed seeing these Cincinnati artists and their local pieces. I'll be on the look out for their works around town, especially Bacher, since he is still living and creating art.
Overall, Panorama of Cincinnati Art could have used some more details explaining the artists ties to Cincinnati. The Gallery itself was exquisite and a perfect place for the art connoisseur. While you definitely need deep pockets to purchase the portraits, Cincinnati Art Gallery has a selection of local art books, including many on Rookwood Pottery. They also have books on the past Panorama exhibits with vivid pictures of each of the paintings. Books are more affordable, averaging around $25.00.
