The way we look at fibers is changing. The Perrysburg gallery River House Arts’ latest exhibition examines the things that touch us most and the craft that goes into their creation. The “Transforming Touch” group exhibition now on display features artists working in the field of fabrics, including Jennifer Maestre, Stephanie Metz, Erin Endicott, John Paul Morabito, Susan Iverson, Sandra Jane Heard, Jeanne Butler and Lia Cook.

“I wanted to offer a diversity of works in varying fiber techniques that were expertly crafted, demonstrated refined editing and portrayed a strong concept,” said curator Sandra Jane Heard. “For this show, I also sought works that had an inherent emotional rawness and would elicit a very human interaction.”

Heard’s goal with the exhibit was to introduce more people to this often overlooked field and to stimulate discussion within the arts community.

“I think the show reflects the infinite possibilities and meaning that can be pursued using the various media. They are also finely made, well-crafted works that manage to convey and express the artist’s concept. What sets this show apart from other exhibits is that the presentation is more focused on the message and concept than the medium,” said gallery owner Paula Baldoni. “We have an extraordinary collection of contemporary artworks that are grounded in some of the most demanding, historical material processes such as weaving, sewing and felting. These are world-class works that just happen to fit the genre of fiber.”

The artists represented have exhibited their work in a number of venues and permanent collections around the world, including the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.,  the SOFA Expo in New York, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Mass., the Davis Museum at Wellesly College, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh and a host of others.

“Transforming Touch” will be on display through June 18. River House Arts is located at 115 West Front St. For more information, call (419) 874-8900 or visit www.river-house-arts.com.

Tags: Erin Endicott, Jeanne Butler, Jennifer Maestre, John Paul Morabito, Lia Coo, Paula Baldonik, River House Arts, Sandra Jane Heard, Stephanie Metz, Susan Iverson

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 at 3:29 pm and is filed under Exhibits, Star.
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River House Arts is about to put its ZIP code on the map, or at least front and center on its latest galley card with ART 43551. The aptly titled group exhibition featuring works by some of Perrysburg’s finest visual artists is on display through Feb. 25. There will be a free public reception on Jan. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The show offers original works by Brian Heller, Mania Dajnak, Sandra Jane Heard, William Jordan, Scot MacPherson and Jennifer Solon. River House was co-founded by William Jordan and Paula Baldoni.

‘Unraveling her Blue Square’ by Mania Dajnak

“We haven’t done an entire show of hyper-local work like this and it is the first of what we hope will be an annual event. It’s also probably one of our most beautiful shows to date,” Baldoni said. “The exhibit was designed by Sandra Jane Heard, who is also a participating artist. She has managed to invoke a playful, yet thoughtfully energetic rhythm in this show with juxtaposing 2-D/3-D works, large/small scale, color/form in a way that  pulls patrons through the gallery’s several rooms.”

Baldoni said the ART 43551 exhibit has many striking pieces.

“There are lots of works here that have that wow factor,” she said. “Mania Dajnak’s works are definitely the kind that jump out at you, and Sandra Heard’s 3-D pieces are sublime and truly original, but there is one piece that has had something of a slow burn effect on me, one of Scot MacPherson’s black-and-white pastels. The light in this quiet piece is just extraordinary and for me it evokes an almost immediate, positive emotional response.”

River House Arts is located at 115 W. Front St. For more information, call (419) 874-8900 or visit www.river-house-arts.com.

Tags: Brian Heller, Jennifer Solon, Mania Dajnak, Paula Baldoni, River House Arts, Sandra Jane Heard, Scot MacPherson, William Jordan

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 9:43 am and is filed under Exhibits, Star.
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Sandra Jane Heard’s latest artistic offering has been a long time coming. The exhibit, on display at River House Arts in Perrysburg, is the artist’s first solo show in nearly 15 years.

“Steel Matriarch” by Heard. PHOTO BY WILLIAM JORDAN

Heard is a member of the Young British Artist Movement, which includes artists born between 1960 and 1970. In addition to completing foundation training in art at Braintree College, Heard also studied the science of textiles at Huddersfield University in Yorkshire, before completing a BFA degree from the California College of Arts and eventually moving to the Perrysburg area in 2007. She has since exhibited her work at three fiber arts shows at the 577 Foundation, as well as the 2010 Ohio +5 show at the Dairy Barn in Athens, Ohio. Heard’s last solo show was in Sonoma, Calif. She has also shown at venues such as Penn State University and Mesa Arts.

“This show came about out of a friendship with Bill Jordan and Paula Baldoni, who own River House. I first got to know them around the local community; our kids go to the same school. One of the reasons why I hadn’t done a solo show in so long is because we were moving every other year for like 10 years and there wasn’t that closeness,” Heard said. “I started helping curate for the gallery and they just thought that I should put together my own show. I would be happy to work in my basement, but Bill and Paula said, ‘Hey, this needs to be out there.’ I created around 20 pieces over a seven-month period. I just allowed the work to be fluid and tried to use the materials in different ways to convey my message using a repetition of movement. I don’t really make traditional art, but instead let my work follow the journey.”

For Heard, who took a hiatus from exhibiting her work to raise her family, the River House exhibition highlights the journey of her life, not only as an artist, but also as a human being.

“My work exposes the inside to the outside; it’s about those things in all of us that you just can’t touch. This exhibit includes vessels inspired by Native American dream catchers I saw while living in Phoenix,” she said.

The exhibit runs though July 30 and is free and open to the public. River House Arts is located at 115 W. Front St.

For more information, visit www.river-house-arts.com.

Tags: River House Arts, Sandra Jane Heard

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 11:56 am and is filed under Exhibits, Star.
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A local art gallery is set to showcase the work of an internationally award-winning artist.

From April 30 until June 4, River House Arts in downtown Perrysburg will display Chilean artist Veronica Leiton’s paintings, illustrating the images of her adopted home of Ciudad Juarez, which is known as the murder capital of the world.

Since its opening in November, River House Arts has  shown collections from World War II veteran and co-founder of Arts of the Round Table, Clay Walker, and “Absolut Europa: original prints.”

“Art speaks the truth and can bring to light ideas and concepts we can’t express with words,” said River House Arts co-owner Paula Baldoni. “We’re not wedded to any particular style, though our focus is on modern and contemporary, rough late 19th century to present.”

While River House Arts has a plethora of selections, the main focus is providing an environment for local artists.

“We want to provide a source of inspiration and stimulation in the community,” said co-owner of River House Art, Bill Jordan. “This small intimate space makes art more accessible, understanding and creates more opportunity for engagement and questioning.”

For an artist to get their works shown, they first have to go through a submission process.  The procedure consists of the artist sending an e-mail with a description of the work they have an interest in displaying along with a cover letter and resume.

An artist may submit three to five samples in a one megabyte or less JPG file.

Additionally, the artist has to submit the title, size, price and media information.

“We have a great deal of talent here and want to provide a venue that has strong work to promote local artists who haven’t been exposed yet. It’s like the old adage, you are never recognized in your own backyard,” Baldoni said.

The submission process is highly selective.

“If we don’t choose someone’s work, it’s not an indictment against the artist, we have to feel good about promoting it,” Baldoni said.

Since the opening of River House Arts, the public continues to be receptive, she said.

“We have been impressed with the community response and nothing makes us happier than people coming off the street and buying a piece that speaks to them,” Baldoni said.

As with any form of art, the purpose is to feel a personal connection and River House Arts hopes to epitomize the vibrant spirit of a person’s serenity when discussing a particular piece or promoting the works of an artist.

Gallery Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit the Web site www.river-house-arts.com.

Tags: River House Arts

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 at 9:38 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Exhibits, Galleries.
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