Fantastic Opening at a Fabulous Space
Tim and I had the pleasure of attending Thomas Frontini’s art show opening at convivium33 gallery. I am at a loss for words on how to describe Thomas’s paintings and the beauty of the gallery. They are both must-sees.
For a preview of the paintings showcased at the gallery, visit the Frontini website, but don’t stop there. You must see the paintings at the gallery to get the essence of the artistry of Thomas. There is whimsy, there is humor, there is message. And, my descriptions do not do the artwork justice. Trust me, you need to see the artwork for yourself, with the proper lighting, in the appropriate space, and give yourself the ability to step up to it and then back from it. Alternative perspectives are important with this particular artist—there is more than one level at which you need to do your viewing, your savoring. The show runs through January 29th, 2006, so you have plenty of time to get there, unless God has other plans for you. Maybe it’s better to “Seize the day.”
And then, there is the rebirth of St. Josaphat Church. What an intriguing alternative use—adaptive reuse–of space! The school has become studio space for artists, and the sanctuary holds the gallery. The convivium33 gallery website gives a good overview, but the space deserves a true-life, on-the-ground exploration. The space feels great—it’s awesome just to walk through the doors and see the pews gone. When you go to the website, be sure to take the time to read the introduction which treats the church’s evolution with compassion and reverence of its past and its future.
In the deep dark days of December and January here in Cleveland, Tom Frontini’s artwork will give you a memory of soft summer breezes at the seaside and so much more.
We went to the Tremont Holiday Hop afterwards, and everything else we saw after our exposure to Frontini and the Josaphat space paled by comparison. But Tremont will always be one of our favorites because we see so many friends there and we always feel welcomed there.
December 13th, 2005 at 8:46 pm
I heartily agree. THe gallery space and the Frontini show were outstanding. Also worth mentioning were the delectable offerings on the center tables.This was not the usual Three Buck Chuck wine and cheese gallery opening. Dolmades, stuffed dates, goat cheese puffs, savory meatballs, and other very market fresh hors d’oeurves were complimented by the four star chardonnay and the cabernet I heard praised. The sense of sound was rememberred in this setting–The guitarist was plucked right from a Latin Bistro. He set a starry night mood indoors.
I’ll be attending every show I hear about at this gallery. This is the kind of gallery Cleveland deserves.