The Shaker Historical Museum is pleased to present two fresh, fun exhibitions in the Lissauer Gallery this summer. Be sure to catch the whimsical work of Elisabeth Cain Pressler on view through the beginning of June. Up next, Sarah D. Johnston’s brilliantly colored floral landscapes offer up an idyllic retreat for anyone in need of a summer vacation.

Elisabeth Cain Pressler: Enigmatic Nostalgia

Multi-media artist Elisabeth Cain Pressler is a Cleveland native and self-proclaimed vintage lover.  Old photographs or sketches of people and landscapes often inspire Pressler, but over time, she has begun to experiment more with abstract techniques and compositions in her paintings, prints, and collages. The resulting juxtaposition of realism and abstraction has become a key element in her art. Pressler uses traditional techniques including gouache, watercolor, and printmaking in tandem with non-traditional found objects, resin, and manipulated digital images. Also, she often incorporates vintage paper or frames into her work.

Pressler graduated from Kent State University in 2010 with a BA in Art History. She has participated in several art shows around Northeast Ohio and was recently listed among “29 Cleveland Visual Artists to Follow on Instagram in 2017” by Clevelend.com. Currently, she works as a commission-based artist and enjoys the challenge of creating custom artwork for a wide range of clients. Pressler is equally passionate about sharing her love of art with audiences of all ages and serves as an art educator for enrichment programs and museums around the Cleveland area.

Sarah D. Johnston: The Romantic Garden

A Shaker Heights resident, Sarah Johnston has been an active member of the Cleveland art scene for over thirty-five years. Trips to Cape Cod, Maine, England, and recently France serve as the inspiration for her lushly rendered watercolors of gardens and domestic landscapes.

While in the U.K., Johnston studied the work of English landscape painter John Constable, whose plein air paintings inspired her to engage more directly with the outdoors. In these watercolors, characterized by rich colors and detailed brushwork, Johnston has recorded her sensations of nature. These pastel visions evoke the feeling of sun on your skin as you stroll through peaceful, verdant gardens.

A 1974 graduate of Sweet Briar College in Virginia, Johnston has taught art classes at Hathaway Brown School, Ruffing Montessori, and in her home. Locally, her work has been shown at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Intown Club, St. Paul’s South Wing Gallery, and Judson Manor’s Howson Gallery. Johnston has also completed numerous private commissions, including custom house portraits.

The Shaker Historical Museum’s Lissauer Art Gallery (near the Shaker-Lee Road RTA GREEN LINE stop) features art from Northeast Ohio artists. This intimate gallery is designed to encourage new and emerging artists, promote an appreciation of art, and support local artists. For more information, call 216.921.1201 or visit www.shakerhistoricalsociety.org.

 

Lissauer Gallery

Shaker Historical Society

16740 South Park Blvd.

Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120

shakerhistoricalsociety.org

216.921.1201

 

Elisabeth Cain Pressler: Enigmatic Nostalgia: April 13—June 2, 2017

Sarah D. Johnston: The Romantic Garden: June 9—August 20, 2017