This fall, Cincinnati-area museums and galleries are presenting a variety of outside-the-box fare, including quilts, wedding dresses, motorcycles and even an installation made of trees.
The Taft Museum of Art opened its exhibition American Elegance: Chintz Appliqué Quilts, 1780–1850 on Aug. 27. To make these elaborate quilts, middle-class ladies cut colorful, decorative elements from imported chintz (polished cotton) and stitched them onto cotton backgrounds. The quilts are on view through Nov. 7.
The Cincinnati Art Museum becomes a woman’s world with two shows related to the female sphere. Thomas Gainsborough and the Modern Woman runs Sept. 18-Jan. 2. A selection of period dresses will accompany 16 paintings by the master of 18th-century British portraiture. Running Oct. 9-Jan. 30, Wedded Perfection: Two Centuries of Wedding Gowns features more than 50 wedding dresses from the 18th century through works by contemporary designers.
On Sept. 18, the Contemporary Arts Center opens Where Do We Go From Here? Selections from La Colección Jumex, the largest private collection of contemporary art in Latin America, housed in Mexico City. In addition to well-known names in contemporary art like Donald Judd, Andy Warhol (his "Jackie [Smiling]" is pictured) and Jenny Holzer, the show will introduce American audiences to influential Mexican artists. Also beginning Sept. 18, the CAC will feature Shinji Turner-Yamamoto: Disappearances. As an adjunct to the show at the CAC, the Japanese environmental artist will mount an installation of two intertwined trees inside the abandoned chapel at the Mount Adams monastery. Both exhibitions run through Jan. 30. In addition, paintings and customized motorcycles by L.A.-based artist Rosson Crow will open in November.
At the galleries, Country Club in Oakley has Permanents Transients Air-Conditioned from Oct. 9-Nov. 13. The cross-generational show will feature preparatory drawings by the late Cincinnati graphic artist Charley Harper, accompanied by works by Matthew Brannon and Katarina Burin, two younger artists influenced by graphic design.
Manifest Gallery in East Walnut Hills launches its seventh season on Sept. 24 with Head First. This international-juried exhibition featuring art inspired by the human head will be up through Oct. 22.
The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington presents A Time to Celebrate from Sept. 10-Oct. 15. This collection of shows includes paintings by M. Katherine Hurley and M.P. Wiggins, along with glasswork by Oliver Debikey in the Carnegie's first-floor gallery. There will be a diverse set of solo exhibitions on the second floor.
Abstraction will reign at downtown’s Weston Art Gallery starting Sept. 17, with three solo shows featuring large-scale geometric sculptures by Jarrett Hawkins, paintings by Cedric Michael Cox and drawings, paintings and prints by Roy Johnston. The artists’ work will be on view through Dec. 5.
On Sept. 24, Carl Solway Gallery in the West End unveils three new print editions by the internationally known artist Ann Hamilton, whose recent exhibitions included one at New York’s Guggenheim Museum. Her exhibition reading literally and metaphorically addresses the act of reading. The show closes Dec. 23.
The young Northside gallery Thunder-Sky Inc., hosts the Raymond Thunder-Sky Folk Art Carnival Sept. 25-26 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on the grounds of Building Value Retail Outlet (4040 Spring Grove Ave.). Featuring 30 artist booths, family art activities and a cookout, it sounds like an event that has the potential of becoming an annual autumn tradition. For more information, visit www.thunderskyinc.org.
