The Pit Cycle Continues--SMAGMARE

Since Summer Space began in the abandoned Excelsior in the Oregon Arts District, the building itself has caught the attention of many other arts organizations in Dayton. With it's vast and interesting spaces, the Excelsior has transformed into the beginnings of an arts center, providing not only studio space for Summer Space artists, but also gallery space and performance space. SMAG Dance Collective has collaborated with Summer Space artists in the past and just performed their Halloween show along with Sandstorm Productions, "SMAGMARE" in the infamous pit of the building. Below are photographs of this delightfully eerie and creative performance. Please stay tuned for more updates on the Summer Space program, as well as the Excelsior building. This Friday, November 6th, The SEED Theatre Project will be performing, "Circumference of a Squirrel" in the space. Please come out and enjoy!

Oregon Arts District Book Reception

This past Thursday, Jay's Seafood hosted a book reception/signing for Summer Space artist Amanda Baker in honor of her new book, Pieces of the Oregon Arts District. Despite the rain, we had a good turn out and a fun night. Thanks to all who came! You can check out the book by clicking on the image in the previous post.

Oregon Arts District Book

Attention Summer Space followers! Summer Space artist, Amanda Baker has just finished her Oregon Arts District coffee table book. This project was assigned to her as a Summer Space photographer at the beginning of the summer. Amanda and her sponsor, Sue Bartoo, worked together to produce the book dedicated to Jay Haverstick. Please check the book out at HERE.

Feel free to browse the pages or even order a copy. Thank you for your continued support.

Energy in the Pit

Don't forget to check out the Mike Elsass's new book, created by Summer Space artist Amanda Baker. You can preview and/or buy the book HERE. Scroll down to learn about the PIT.














The Excelsior building, where the Summer Space program is rooted, has attracted many creative individuals and group this summer. Blue Sky, as mentioned in the previous post, has left our building with phenomenal creative energy, as well as a new and improved look. Mike Elsass, the founder of the Summer Space program has recently made the decision to capitalize on the space and energy in a specific area of the building known as "the pit." He will be painting his newest body of work in this area, and hopes to complete the series by October. We will be posting photographs of the progress of Paint in the Pit. Feel free to stop by and check it out!

Blue Sky

The past few months, Dayton has been home to another phenomenal arts program called the Blue Sky Project. The Blue Sky Project allowed professional artists, student artists, and high school artists to collaborate on projects of all mediums this summer. The Summer Space artists have had the privilege to work closely with these artists as they set up their final exhibition in the Excelsior building where Summer Space is held. Their hard work and dedication paid off and drew a large crowd to the building and the Oregon Arts District this past weekend. It was a pleasure sharing space and company with these fine artists. They truly transformed the space and created wonderful energy in the building. Photographs of their final exhibition are below.

Artists' Spaces

The artists of Summer Space have been working hard! We have welcomed a few new artists to the program who are moving into the Excelsior and beginning their own work. Featured here are some of the Summer Space artists' personal work spaces in the building. Feel free to stop by and check them out!

Featured:
Emily Burkman
Darren Haper
Ben Norton
Lesley Walton
Alyssa Foland
Brooke Landerman

In the News!

HERE is the official news article that ran this past week in the Dayton Daily News. We appreciate the media coverage and hope this publicity helps us to reach a much wider audience.

Community Outreach--Dunbar Institute

As part of the Dunbar Institute's Sprouts Summer Arts Program, around 60 inner-city children were given the opportunity to come to the Excelsior building and paint with Summer Space artists. The kids were able to talk to artist, Mike Elsass, as well as other Summer Space artists about the importance of the arts and what it's like to work as an artist professionally. After the art talk, the children were given a tour of the studio, as well as smocks and paint, and were taught the concepts behind abstract art. The children collaborated with each other to paint on canvas and pieces of cardboard in a non-figurative way. This experience was very successful, and enjoyed by all.