Ohio Authority  |  November 18, 2010

SPACELab, SWAP and R&D

SPACES Gallery brings the work of three emerging artists under one roof for exhibits that are sure to spawn discussion and interaction. This is made possible by three unique programs that fulfill SPACES' mission of engaging artists with a supportive Cleveland audience. The artists will be exhibiting at SPACES from November 19, 2010, through January 21, 2011.

Chris Kulcsar - SPACELab
A Clevelander, Kulcsar's sound art project will strike a vibrant cord as part of the SPACELab program, which helps artists to push and pull a concept until it materializes. In Kulcsar's sound installation, visitors will play an integral role in crafting the finished product. After being greeted by a continuous sound loop playing over speakers throughout the space, visitors will be encouraged to play and record with pre-produced cassette tapes to add a distinctive sound, or layer, to the loop as a contribution to the ongoing process. The SPACELab program provides resources and instruction to artists and plays an active role in the conceptualization of art. The elements of the SPACELab program are designed to allow for the development of truly experimental projects. Artists from a 14- county region of Northeast Ohio are eligible to apply for the program.

Nandipha Mntambo - SWAP
Nandipha Mntambo has been immersing herself in Cleveland culture since July, thanks to support from The Cleveland Foundation and its Creative Fusion initiative. In return, she has been sharing her varied interests and talents with the community. Mntambo, for example, is fascinated with bull mythology and its use in various cultures. She has developed an aesthetic using cowhide to create masks, body armor and adornments. Her obsession with bull mythology has led her to resources at Cleveland State University. Mntambo recently received the prestigious 2011 Standard Bank Young Visual Artist Awards in South Africa. The award winners are given various opportunities to represent South Africa on international stages as a result of their association with the award.

Jerzy Goliszewski - R&D
Jerzy Goliszewski creates aesthetic works of art, but their beauty belies a much deeper meaning. SPACES teams with the Ohio Arts Council and CEC ArtsLink to bring Gliszewski here for a residency program that is designed to introduce him to the United States and to make his talents known in Cleveland and throughout the country. SPACES' R&D program will help Gliszewski make full use of local resources for his installation project. His craftsmanship and attention to detail will no doubt create a vibrancy in the local artistic community to be felt long after he returns to Poland.

Get Stuffed
In addition to these three artists' offerings, SPACES is hosting Get Stuffed, an exhibition of designer plush - a movement that is gaining speed worldwide. Although they may look like toys, these are plush sculptures that play with notions of what a toy should be. All work will be for sale in time for the approaching holidays. Participating artists have exhibited worldwide and one has representation with Kid Robot, a designer toy and street art franchise located in New York, LA, Miami, San Francisco and London.

For more information on the SPACELab, SWAP and R&D programs at SPACES, or to learn more about the upcoming artists, please call 216-621-2134 or go online. SPACES is located at 2220 Superior Viaduct, in Cleveland. Gallery hours are Tu?Th, 11 a.m.?5:30 p.m.; Fr 11 a.m.?7 p.m.; Sa 11 a.m.?5:30 p.m. and Su 1?5 p.m. Admission (and parking) during regular gallery hours is free and open to the public.

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