Summer Space

Summer Space Welcomes 2010!

2010-01-10T17:21:00.001-08:00

Hello All!

Welcome to 2010! Summer Space artists had quite the year in 2009 and are looking to make 2010 even better. Dani Schmidt and Darren Haper had their very own shows this past fall in the Dayton area, Amanda Baker published three books through Blurb which you can preview here, and Ben Norton sold his first painting to a couple in Columbus, Ohio. In February, Norton will have a solo exhibition at Malton Gallery in Cincinnati. Please come and support him!

Looking ahead into 2010, it seems Summer Space is going to have a busy and productive year. Our first event is coming up in February. Amanda Baker and Ben Norton are putting together a juried show at the Color of Energy Gallery in the Oregon Arts District. Dr. Judith Huacuja, a professor of Art History at the University of Dayton will be judging the show for first, second, and third place prizes. Please feel free to enter work. The details are below.

Call for Entries

Define.

Define marks the first ever juried show at the Color of Energy Gallery. Entrants are encouraged to submit work that reflects their individual artistic identity, art that defines the artist. This show is open to artists of all ages and experience levels, students, amateurs, and professionals.
Work in any 2-D or 3-D medium is welcome, though the artist must provide for any work that requires special installation.

The show will open on February 5 as a part of the Oregon Arts District's First Friday events, and will be on display until February 26.
Submit work to the Color of Energy Gallery on Friday, January 29, or Saturday, January 30, between 12 and 5 pm. All work must be presentation-ready, and properly labeled. Applications will be available to fill out upon drop-off with name of the artist, title of work, medium, and price for sale.

A non-refundable entry fee is due with the work: $10 for one entry, or $25 for three entries.

The show will be judged by Dr. Judith Huacuja, a professor of art history at the University of Dayton.

Entrants will be notified of acceptance into the show via email by February 1. Unaccepted work must be picked up on February 2 or February 3 between the hours of 5 an 8 pm.

Awards will $200 for first prize, $100 for second prize, and $50 for third prize.

Contact: (614)214-6505 or bnorton522@gmail.com

The Pit Cycle Continues--SMAGMARE

2009-11-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

Since Summer Space began in the abandoned Excelsior in the Oregon Arts District, the building itself has caught the attention of many other arts organizations in Dayton. With it's vast and interesting spaces, the Excelsior has transformed into the beginnings of an arts center, providing not only studio space for Summer Space artists, but also gallery space and performance space. SMAG Dance Collective has collaborated with Summer Space artists in the past and just performed their Halloween show along with Sandstorm Productions, "SMAGMARE" in the infamous pit of the building. Below are photographs of this delightfully eerie and creative performance. Please stay tuned for more updates on the Summer Space program, as well as the Excelsior building. This Friday, November 6th, The SEED Theatre Project will be performing, "Circumference of a Squirrel" in the space. Please come out and enjoy!

Oregon Arts District Book Reception

2009-10-10T12:42:00.001-07:00

This past Thursday, Jay's Seafood hosted a book reception/signing for Summer Space artist Amanda Baker in honor of her new book, Pieces of the Oregon Arts District. Despite the rain, we had a good turn out and a fun night. Thanks to all who came! You can check out the book by clicking on the image in the previous post.

Oregon Arts District Book

2009-09-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

Attention Summer Space followers! Summer Space artist, Amanda Baker has just finished her Oregon Arts District coffee table book. This project was assigned to her as a Summer Space photographer at the beginning of the summer. Amanda and her sponsor, Sue Bartoo, worked together to produce the book dedicated to Jay Haverstick. Please check the book out at HERE.

Feel free to browse the pages or even order a copy. Thank you for your continued support.

Energy in the Pit

2009-08-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to check out the Mike Elsass's new book, created by Summer Space artist Amanda Baker. You can preview and/or buy the book HERE. Scroll down to learn about the PIT.

The Excelsior building, where the Summer Space program is rooted, has attracted many creative individuals and group this summer. Blue Sky, as mentioned in the previous post, has left our building with phenomenal creative energy, as well as a new and improved look. Mike Elsass, the founder of the Summer Space program has recently made the decision to capitalize on the space and energy in a specific area of the building known as "the pit." He will be painting his newest body of work in this area, and hopes to complete the series by October. We will be posting photographs of the progress of Paint in the Pit. Feel free to stop by and check it out!

Blue Sky

2009-08-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

The past few months, Dayton has been home to another phenomenal arts program called the Blue Sky Project. The Blue Sky Project allowed professional artists, student artists, and high school artists to collaborate on projects of all mediums this summer. The Summer Space artists have had the privilege to work closely with these artists as they set up their final exhibition in the Excelsior building where Summer Space is held. Their hard work and dedication paid off and drew a large crowd to the building and the Oregon Arts District this past weekend. It was a pleasure sharing space and company with these fine artists. They truly transformed the space and created wonderful energy in the building. Photographs of their final exhibition are below.

Artists' Spaces

2009-07-21T20:08:00.001-07:00

The artists of Summer Space have been working hard! We have welcomed a few new artists to the program who are moving into the Excelsior and beginning their own work. Featured here are some of the Summer Space artists' personal work spaces in the building. Feel free to stop by and check them out!

Featured:
Emily Burkman
Darren Haper
Ben Norton
Lesley Walton
Alyssa Foland
Brooke Landerman

In the News!

2009-06-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

HERE is the official news article that ran this past week in the Dayton Daily News. We appreciate the media coverage and hope this publicity helps us to reach a much wider audience.

Community Outreach--Dunbar Institute

2009-06-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

As part of the Dunbar Institute's Sprouts Summer Arts Program, around 60 inner-city children were given the opportunity to come to the Excelsior building and paint with Summer Space artists. The kids were able to talk to artist, Mike Elsass, as well as other Summer Space artists about the importance of the arts and what it's like to work as an artist professionally. After the art talk, the children were given a tour of the studio, as well as smocks and paint, and were taught the concepts behind abstract art. The children collaborated with each other to paint on canvas and pieces of cardboard in a non-figurative way. This experience was very successful, and enjoyed by all.

Media Coverage

2009-06-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Lately, Summer Space has been receiving positive feedback from the community, as well as a lot of interest from the media. Today, Ben Norton and Amanda Baker were interviewed by the Dayton Daily News about the program. HERE is a Link to the photos on the DDN's web site. Enjoy!

Artists in Cahoots--Collaboration

2009-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Another program of Summer Space is the collaborative, Artists in Cahoots. This aspect of Summer Space encourages our emerging artists to work one on one with established local artists. Dani Schmidt, who teaches art at Springboro Junior High School will be working with Ham Dixon this summer at Front Street. Schmidt will be welding steel pieces onto Mike Elsass' paintings. Below are photos of some of her experiences thus far with Mike at the steel yard, as well as some of her works in progress.

Community Outreach--Ruskin School

2009-06-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

As a Summer Space artist, we are expected to participate in various community outreach programs where we bring art to places and people that may not have the privilege to experience art in their daily lives. Our first major experience with this brought us to Ruskin School, where artists, Ben Norton and Emily Burkman painted in front of the elementary schoolers in league with an arts night at their school. At first, the painting was a demonstration where the children could watch artists at work and ask them questions about their profession. Later, however, the kids inevitably jumped in and got their hands dirty and created their own masterpieces! This was an experience we all enjoyed greatly, and are looking forward to more community projects. Take a look!

Artist Survival

2009-06-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Summer Space artists are expected to participate in different projects that work to bring exposure to their own work, as well as liven up the overall essence of the Oregon Arts District, (OAD). This past weekend, painter, Ben Norton, began a program called, "Artist Survival" Ben painted outside of Pacchia in the Oregon Arts District for a few hours in exchange for a free meal from the establishment. Ben was approached by many people asking about his work and Summer Space, as well as Pacchia. Other restaurants that have agreed to sponsor this program include, 5th Street Deli and Blind Bob's. Thank you to our sponsors! As Summer Space artists, we hope to bring a positive and vibrant energy to the Oregon Arts District. Look for us around 5th Street! Here are a couple of photos from the beginning of this venture.

Welcome to Summer Space

2009-06-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Summer Space! This summer, artist and Color of Energy gallery owner, Mike Elsass will be leading the creation of Summer Space; a program for emerging artists in the Oregon Arts District. Summer Space works to support many aspects of art, including youth and emerging artists, as well as promoting an arts culture in the city of Dayton. The program gives 10 artists a chance to work in their own studio space amongst a thriving arts community, and foster their own creative body of work. The program helps artists network and market their work, as well as collaborate with established, nationally recognized artists. The artists involved in Summer Space have set up their studios in the, until now, vacant Excelsior building on East Sixth Street, and will be working their for the remainder of the summer.

Summer Space artists are responsible, not only for creating their own body of work, but for many other arts related concerns, such as arts based community outreach, indiviudal art openings, and an artist exchange program, which will work to bring national artists' work to Dayton, and promote Dayton artists' work on a national level. Summer Space artists are expected to work in league with the Oregon Arts District in order to promote a healthy, community based arts culture.

The artists of Summer Space come from many places, work in many mediums, and are a variety of ages. Please welcome them to Dayton, and stay tuned for what the summer will bring.

Artists Include:
Emily Burkman
Ben Norton
Dani Schmidt
Brooke Landerman
Dan Hoelting
Amanda Baker
Alyssa Foland
Darren Haper
Lesley Walton
Ann Hollingsworth
Mike Elsass

Below are photographs of the inside of the Excelsior building where the artists will be working.