New ARTery space joins Front Street galleries

The ARTery has joined a long list of studios and galleries now located in the Front Street Buildings east of downtown. Billed as a gallery with “Gifts and Art from the Heart,” this is a space where 17 artists working in various media present their work.

"It's a fun gallery, and we're set in the middle of a world of artists. We had a great opening on First Friday," said artist Mary Clifford, who does watercolors. "The building manager said a couple hundred people came through, so a lot of people know about our gallery now."

Jeff Stapleton of Washington Twp. is one of the gallery’s featured artists. His work is a compilation of digital, handcut paper and glue on hardboard. The Columbus College of Art and Design graduate owns Graphica, an integrated branding firm he began in 1984.

Jo Ann Vincent of German Twp. is another ARTery member. She specializes in unusual designs for sterling silver necklaces, earrings and leather cord pendants.

Vincent has exhibited at the Dayton Art Institute’s Oktoberfest for the past 10 years. David Zawisa of Springboro creates oil paintings and 3D wood and metal. His work, “Grammie’s Cabin,” features a small room as a frame for a winter painting.

“The scene can be changed for any season, paintings included, or any photo. A Manhattan skyline would be interesting,” said Zawisa.

Other ARTery members: paintings by Helen Friedman, Janet Garlikov, Rosie Huart, Mary Baker Koch, Bonnie Kuntz, Tony Lee, Keith Thue, and Leonard Williams; photography by Jim Hayes and Gary Kunze; hand-dyed scarves and shirts by Rosalie Campbell; fabric art and dreamcatchers by Tess Stelmat; wood sculpture by Robert Pricer.

“We have 900 square feet of space, and an added wall for presenting our artwork,” said Clifford. “Right now we’re only open for First Friday and Third Sunday, but we may extend our hours to Saturdays this summer.”

Other Front Street galleries and studios open during Third Sunday: Mythic Silver, Dayton Art Collective, Adam Mitchell’s Galerie Espiegle, Fairy Godmother Creations, Aquascapes, Divisible, Mike Elsass Studio, Gary Hinsche, Blender, Father Tom, Katherine Cruse, Dutoit Studio, Index Gallery, Mindful Magic Gallery, Julie Byers, and The Glass Station.

“We are the largest community of artists and artisans in the history of the Dayton area. We have over a dozen studios and galleries open to the public,” said Front Street office manager Janice Glynn.


Want to Go?

WHAT: Third Sunday Free Art Hop

WHERE: Various Galleries at Front Street, 1001 E. Second St.

WHEN: Sunday, March 19

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MORE INFO: 937-239-9963 | frontstreetbuildings.com

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