“Speed Trials” was an essay commissioned for the catalog accompanying the exhibition “Trial by Fire: New Glass Work by Darren Goodman” at the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM). Goodman was selected by the 4 th Floor, an associated group of the Museum, for its biennial 4 th Floor Award, a competition to promote local artists. The organization is named for a level that is yet to be built in the Art Museum and encourages future...

Currently on display at the Miller Gallery on Hyde Park Square, is an exhibition featuring 25 artists whose work offers outstanding examples of contemporary realist painting. A movement towards figurative painting among artists has accelerated in the past five to eight years. Whether artists are painting portraits, interiors or still lifes, the work is incredibly exciting.

Once I thought of Bessie Wessel with some pity, a victim of her times, when women were permitted to study, but not to enjoy a full, satisfying career. Men, like Bessie’s husband, Herman, would pursue success in the world, while the ladies, God bless ‘em, tended the comforts that would enable the men to fight the good fight. Then I saw Bessie’s self portrait at Ran Gallery, painted in her mature years.

Despite having a PhD in Philosophy and Dr. of Divinity Degree I know very little art history.  As a self taught artist, from an early age, I have had creative abilities in drawing and woodworking.  I draw in pencil or charcoal.  I learned tools and skills from my mother.

Emerging Artists Exposed presents Emily Louise Howard discussing her narrative-driven practice across painting, sculpture, and printmaking. In this film interview, Howard describes the “Victorian Appalachian” mythology behind her work, its themes of childhood, family loyalty, good and evil, and the role of reading, writing, and community in sustaining an artist’s life.