Variable Speed

E11even2 Gallery’s upcoming exhibition “Variable Speed” features the work of Katy Clark and R!ch Cihlar. The two regional artists, in collaboration around the common theme of “birds,” take full flight, alighting on various media, styles, and techniques. Within the pedantic naturalism of John James Audubon and the reductive vision of Constantin Brancusi, Clark and Cihlar, in tandem, soar in their distinctive manifestations of the avian, airborne, the essence of the wonder of flight.

Recently returning to her hometown from Madison, Wisconsin, Katy Clark demonstrates a
lyrical fearlessness in all her work, readily veering from decorative illustration to bold
abstraction. With virtuosity in acrylic, gouache, watercolor, pen/ink, and cut-paper collage,
Clark can be joyfully gestural, intensely chromatic and then sinuously precise with controlled curvilinear line. Observing birds in nature, singularly or in flocks, she ranges from meditative to exuberant.

R!ch Cihlar, as part of Don’t Panic! has helped propel graffiti art into Cleveland’s cultural
mainstream. His work offers a dynamic counterpoint to Clark’s fluid brushwork and intricate draughtsmanship with his multi-layered, spray-painted stenciled forms. As Clark’s birds flutter and hum, Cihlar’s scream. Along with his paintings, he perpetuates the Pop vernacular by appropriating found objects in quirky crafted “skateboard birdhouses,” fully functional and ready for backyard birdwatching.

In preparation for “Variable Speed,” Cihlar states, “In its simplest form this exhibition will look like a bird themed show, but the constructive result will be the completed work from two artists who were given the same project but ended up with much different results.”
Celebrate Spring and anticipate Summer with “Variable Speed” at E11even2 Gallery. Surround yourself with images of birds, these magical, mysterious creatures that perch on our trees, peck at our flowers, and gloriously populate our skies.

Opening Reception for “Variable Speed” at the E11even2 Gallery is May 20, 5-9pm with the Closing Reception June 17, 5-9pm

Reservoir Fiction: An Exhibition of Two Tarantino Films

Reservoir Fiction is the next featured exhibition at E11even 2 gallery opening September 21^st from 5p-9p  Artist and gallery owner, Billy Nainiger mashes up his favorite Quentin Tarantino films (Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction) in this heist style art display.

Nainiger, known for his pop art influence and mixed media approach to his work, says “I am sticking with a pop art stylistic approach,  like my last 2 “movie” shows. I will be focusing on portraits of main characters from both Tarantino films. I think it will relate to countless people since both films are so well known and relative to my generation. It’s interesting to me to take footage from a film and convey it into visual art pieces that hang on a wall.”

Nainiger’s medium can be summed up as “Mixed Media”, but it’s a bit more involved than that.  Nainiger states “The portraits consist of many different styles and textures of papers that I cut out by hand with an x-acto knife and then it’s layered for a three dimensional effect.  One sheet on top of the next brings the portraits all together. Most pieces also include paint, pastel, image transfer and found objects. I’ve always liked adding many different elements and mediums to my pieces, but the main material is layered paper.”

Opening Reception Friday, September 21, 5-9p

Closing Reception October 19, 5-9p

Don’t Panic! Calm Down, and Enjoy the Ride

Don’t Panic! – Collaborative works by Bob Peck and R!ch Cihlar at E11even 2
April 17th, 2015 5-9p (Opening Reception) & May 15th, 2015 5-9p (Closing Reception)

Bob and R!ch are here to save the world…or at least make some art about what they would save from total annihilation, if they had to. 

The open-theme and title came about during a brainstorming session between the duo after the first few canvasses had been completed by the artists. As they stood and looked at the first phase of work, R!ch looked at the images of women, vintage toys and other assorted affections and simply said, “Yup, this is everything I would save if it was the end of the world!” Bob nodded in agreement.

Both artists share a love for art that has bold color and flowing design, as well as having a place in their hearts for things like wind-up robots and retro rocket ships. It seemed only right that they joined forces on a series of paintings that merge all of this under one roof. R!ch starts out with a Pop Art style image, created through intricate layers of stenciling. Bob steps in next and works his bursting abstract-style over, under, around and through. The results are pieces of art that are best described as a candy coated explosion.

“Don’t Panic!” will be on Display at Eleven 2 Gallery, located inside 78th Street Studios on April 17th, 2015 & May 15th during the 3rd Friday Events.