The Smoking Cat seems to have popped up all over Toledo this year. It’s certainly one of my favorite pieces of street art. Have you seen the Smoking Cat?

Here we go! 2011 Art Walks in Downtown Toledo… an ongoing Summer event I highly recommend. Every Third Thursday during May through September (May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15) from 6-9 pm.

Visit www.acgt.org often for updated event details. Maps available at the info stations, at all venues during the event, and at www.acgt.org.

Venues include: 20 North Gallery, Bozarts, Collingwood Arts Center, Downtown Latte, Gallerie 333 at TSA, Jack Wilson Gallery, Madhouse, The Offices of Paul Sullivan, Secor Studios, Shared Lives Studios, Space 237, Studio M Printmakers, Sur Saint Clair Gallery, Swank Gifts, Toledo City Paper Offices, Truth Art Gallery, Zyndorf Glass & Arts, Glass City Cafe… and many more!

Park your car, walk or bike, and enjoy.

So much to see and do… it really does have to be split between three (3) Saturdays! The Ghost Hunt was a ton of fun – seriously do it. You can find your first clue on the second floor, at Studio Que’s space. We closed the day with live music at Bozarts and a post-post-party at the Ottawa Tavern with APB playing great record after great record. Counting the days till next Saturday!

So excited for this! The time has come once again for Toledo’s best art event of the year.

“For three consecutive Saturdays in April, more than 300 Toledo-area artists will take over two vacant buildings in Downtown Toledo, transforming them into the largest, most comprehensive and eccentric multi-media galleries in Northwest Ohio.”

Artomatic 419! is free, open to the public, and happening over the course of Three (3) Saturdays starting tomorrow–April 2nd, 9th, and 16th. Come on out! Check the website for schedules and more information!

Artomatic 419! | Downtown, in the Warehouse District | 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

This Saturday was the Vertical “Mix”, an annual fundraising party for The Arts Commission held this year at the top of the O-I/Fifth Third Bank building. Each year this party gets better and better, with amazing food and cocktails, live entertainment, and the best art auction in the city. As we arrived we were given complimentary binoculars so we could enjoy the amazing view to the fullest which included a “super moon”! The party was packed all night long with Toledoans in fancy attire. A big congrats to all the event chairs, volunteers, and to The Arts Commission!

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo | 1838 Parkwood Avenue | (419) 254-ARTS

A few weeks ago, on a wonderfully sunny day we took a walk through the Old West End for a visit to the Toledo Museum of Art. I was so happy to get a break from crappy weather that we’ve had and it was nice to see neighbors out and about. We walked through a mix of snow and freshly shoveled sidewalks. At the Museum D. and I enjoyed some great art, including the “Egypt Experience” show which is up for a limited time. While touring the other galleries we caught an impromptu performance by one of the docents on a piano. Later we walked across the street to the Glass Pavilion. Living in the Old West End certainly has some perks but you can enjoy them too. Go visit YOUR museum. It’s free!

Toledo Museum of Art | 2445 Monroe Street | (419) 255-8000

A gentle reminder that I’m not the only one enjoying toledo; Allison Dow has been documenting this great city in photos and sharing on her Flickr account here: Flickr.com/photos/allisondow/

Peruse and enjoy!

Last month the Owen’s Community College Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery had an opening for nationally acclaimed artist Arturo Rodriguez. Arturo was born in Cuba and as a young child came to the U.S. during the 1980 Mariel boatlift.

Rodriguez’s paintings, prints and mixed media are a mix of Cuban and American cultural imagery. While the underlying story could be considered pretty heavy, I might use the word “whimsey” when describing the show… a testament to his keen childhood memory?

Arturo and I met a couple years ago at a BBQ and shortly realized we both attended the same same school in Miami, although at different times and in very different programs (he was in the art high school and I was enrolled in the art college). SMALL WORLD!

The “Marielito” exhibit is currently being showcased in the Library Gallery on the Findlay-area Campus, Oct. 27 – Nov. 19.

What a great evening! The streets of Downtown, Uptown, and the Warehouse District were full of life during this month’s Art Walk. With visual art featured indoors and performance art on the streets (mostly!), you couldn’t get away from it. Rather than actually walking, D., J., and I rode our bicycles from spot to spot.

There was something about the above piece (@ Sur-Saint Clair Gallery on Summit Street) that really caught my fancy. Maybe it was the popsicle?

Anyhoo… next month’s Art Walk is the last of the year so set the date in your calendars! September 23! Visit the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo for more details.

The Art Walk–presented on a monthly basis by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, local artists, galleries, and street performers–is a perfect date night, excursion for people with kids, and everyone in between. There is an incredible amount of art viewable at 20-something galleries and venues. Each stop provides nibbles of food and drink alongside work in a multitude of media. Between each stop, you’ll be delighted by street performers busking their way into your hearts.

All of this is free. So, why not?

Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Art Walk | Next Art Walk is Thursday, August 26th but they only happen once a month during the summer, so don’t miss out!

Quick note: The music on the above video is a track by Tropical Dudes. They will be playing their first ever show at the Black Swamp Festival on September 11th. Details here.

For 92 years, the Toledo Museum of Art has exhibited a juried show of work from area artists. The openings I’ve attended have been a big to-do and this year was no different. D. and I first enjoyed a couple drinks while watching the “Falling Spikes”, a local Velvet Underground coverband, complete with a female drummer ala Maureen Tucker. It was great!

We then attended the awards ceremony for the best of the best of Toledo. Congrats to all of our friends who received much-deserved recognition.

And we finished the evening by touring all of the art… including a couple of pieces by D.–I’m very proud of him.

The 92nd Annual Toledo Area Artists Exhibition is up through August 22nd… so go view it!

Toledo Museum of Art | 2445 Monroe Street | (419) 255-8000

It was one great weekend. Favorite OWE fest ever, regardless of the weather. Above is some of the video D. shot during festival.

Toledo’s Historic Old West End Association

Last month was 2010′s first Gallery Loop, presented by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.

Approximately fifteen (15) Toledo galleries opened their doors to the public with free bus shuttles linking them all together. The venues were packed with area folk enjoying arts, entertainment, yummy nibbles and wine. Chilly weather did not keep people away!

There was something for everyone. Like the beautiful diorama above…

…or this curious piece.

I enjoyed the tiny dresses crafted of paper floating in this corner.

Keep an eye open for the next Gallery Loop, as they happen twice a year.

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo | 419-254-ARTS (2787)

Friday night was the Quest for Fire opening at The Toledo Museum of Art’s Community Gallery.

The show featured works from Toledo-area artists that reinterpreted art in the permanent collection of the museum. The above is based upon this piece of art.

The gallery was packed with guests enjoying the really fantastic show, curated by Jerry Gray of Bozarts Gallery (which I’ve posted about a couple times over the past year) and Kerry Krow.

It was great to see how local artists re-think and re-mix works from greats like Picasso and Rosenquist.

Mediums include painting, photography, sculpture and digital works. Many of the artists are exhibiting additional personal works for context, providing a glimpse of where they are coming from.

This show is up through May 2nd, so I highly suggest you check it out (if you weren’t one of the many in attendance this weekend) as a gentle reminder of how much talent this great city has to offer. Congrats to Jerry Gray, Kerry Krow, and The Museum staff for allowing this to happen.

The Toledo Museum of Art | FREE | 2445 Monroe Street | (419) 255-8000

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s spring fundraiser was last Saturday.

There was a huge bar in the middle of the main room, yummy bites to eat from Myles Baker Street (and I spotted pizza later in the night), live bands all night (including a local fave-Kentucky Khrome)…

… acrobatics performed by lovely people painted up…

…and, some pretty cool artworks up for auction.

Toward the end of the night, guests started to jump on the trampoline… at least until they were scolded. Alcohol and trampolines don’t mix. YouTube should have taught you that!

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo