Summer Space Welcomes 2010!

Hello All!

Welcome to 2010! Summer Space artists had quite the year in 2009 and are looking to make 2010 even better. Dani Schmidt and Darren Haper had their very own shows this past fall in the Dayton area, Amanda Baker published three books through Blurb which you can preview here, and Ben Norton sold his first painting to a couple in Columbus, Ohio. In February, Norton will have a solo exhibition at Malton Gallery in Cincinnati. Please come and support him!

Looking ahead into 2010, it seems Summer Space is going to have a busy and productive year. Our first event is coming up in February. Amanda Baker and Ben Norton are putting together a juried show at the Color of Energy Gallery in the Oregon Arts District. Dr. Judith Huacuja, a professor of Art History at the University of Dayton will be judging the show for first, second, and third place prizes. Please feel free to enter work. The details are below.

Call for Entries

Define.

Define marks the first ever juried show at the Color of Energy Gallery. Entrants are encouraged to submit work that reflects their individual artistic identity, art that defines the artist. This show is open to artists of all ages and experience levels, students, amateurs, and professionals.
Work in any 2-D or 3-D medium is welcome, though the artist must provide for any work that requires special installation.

The show will open on February 5 as a part of the Oregon Arts District's First Friday events, and will be on display until February 26.
Submit work to the Color of Energy Gallery on Friday, January 29, or Saturday, January 30, between 12 and 5 pm. All work must be presentation-ready, and properly labeled. Applications will be available to fill out upon drop-off with name of the artist, title of work, medium, and price for sale.

A non-refundable entry fee is due with the work: $10 for one entry, or $25 for three entries.

The show will be judged by Dr. Judith Huacuja, a professor of art history at the University of Dayton.

Entrants will be notified of acceptance into the show via email by February 1. Unaccepted work must be picked up on February 2 or February 3 between the hours of 5 an 8 pm.

Awards will $200 for first prize, $100 for second prize, and $50 for third prize.

Contact: (614)214-6505 or bnorton522@gmail.com

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