Area Art Show ’09 notable for variety

Middletown Arts Center opens the popular annual exhibition this evening with a reception.

Pat Belisle, director of the Middletown Arts Center, says this year's Area Art Show is one of the best yet featuring a wide variety of media and many artists from Butler and Warren counties.

Staff photo by Linda Weisenborn Pat Belisle, director of the Middletown Arts Center, says this year's Area Art Show is one of the best yet featuring a wide variety of media and many artists from Butler and Warren counties.

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 4:10 AM Friday, September 11, 2009

When the Middletown Arts Center opens its annual Area Art Show today, Sept. 11, viewers will see about half the work that was originally submitted.

Out of 200 pieces submitted for the exhibition, 95 were chosen for inclusion, said Patt Belisle, the executive director of the center. The show invites any artist age 18 or older living within a 50-mile radius to submit work. It opens with a reception at 6 p.m. today and will remain on display though Oct. 4, which is Middfest weekend.

“When I went around with the judges, it was very interesting to hear their comments. ... I didn’t want to be in their shoes. There really is a lot of different talent. There is a lot more variety and versatility in the use of colors,” Belisle said.

She also notices a lot of variance in the photographs submitted, primarily because of the wide range of digital tools artists may use. One of the photographs, called “Ash Cave No. 2,” by photographer Craig DeHart, used an effect that made it look somewhat like a painting.

“It’s a whole different venue. When you use the old methods (of photochemical development) you get more feeling in it,” Belisle said.

As such, she is considering making digital photography and photochemical photography separate categories for future shows.

Another feature of the show that stands out is the physical size of some of the pieces. A number of them measure 28 by 36 inches.

One of these is a piece called “Schoolhouse Antiques,” by Cincinnati-based artist Joan Rothel, who is well known for her watercolor work. It depicts a number of pieces of furniture, with light streaming into the room.

It stands out “because of the detail. She tends to do a lot of sunlight coming through windows. I want to walk into that painting and sit down in that chair,” Belisle said.

On the whole, the Area Art Show is one of the center’s most popular draws, precisely because it has so much variety.

“It’s phenomenal. Every year it’s different. We usually get a lot of people attending this one,” Belisle said.

Award-winners will be announced at the show today.