Opening March 9 in the Heights Arts main gallery, Drawn Together: Emotional Intelligence and the Vernacular of the Heart explores the Buddhist concept of the brahma-viharas, also known as the four divine emotions, through drawings by John Carlson, Suzanne Head, Tony Ingrisano, and Dana Oldfather.

Drawn Together explores the emotions of loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), vicarious or sympathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha), through the expression of visual line and imagery.

“Drawing is so effective and efficient in its ability to convey emotion that it seemed a most appropriate medium for this subject,” says Josh Werling, exhibition curator. “Each mark is a statement of expression by the artist. It is also a perfect metaphor for social interaction and relationships between individuals and the collective. Like all of us moving through the world, reacting to and relating with each other based upon our own individual stories and experiences: marks and lines, all part of a bigger picture.”

Each of the four artists has created three drawings based on the brahma-viharas: one representing the divine emotion and its corresponding near and far enemies. The far enemy represents the opposite of the emotion and the near enemy is an emotion masquerading as the pure emotion. A related program on Thursday, April 5, Ekphrastacy: Artists Talk + Poet Respond, offers an opportunity to hear the artists speak about their work and invited poets read original work written in response to select pieces in the exhibition. Drawn Together is on view through April 22.

The Same…Only Different

The Same…Only Different, recent drawings by Jennifer Adams, opens in the spotlight gallery on March 23. The series, which began after Jennifer moved to Shaker Heights in 2015, is based on brick patterns in local architecture. Since receiving an MFA in fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art, her work has primarily focused on 2D practices including drawing, printmaking and photography; as well as textile arts such as quilting and knitting. Repeated pattern is at the heart of her work, unifying a visual field, drawing the viewer’s attention to pattern and inspiring viewers to notice patterns in their daily experiences.

Heights Arts Members Show

Heights Arts unveils its first Members Show, a non-juried exhibition of art in all media by more than 30 of its artist-members, on April 27. The show is an outgrowth of the Heights Arts mission to support the community by providing a variety of opportunities for artists and art audiences to discover each other.

For more information on Heights Arts community programs and events, including house concerts, gallery performances and outreach, visit heightsarts.org.

 

DRAWN TOGETHER | MARCH 9–APRIL 22

Reception 6–9pm Friday, March 9 | Gallery Talk 7pm Thursday, April 5

SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER ADAMS | MARCH 23–MAY 6

Reception 6–9pm, Friday March 23

MEMBERS SHOW |APRIL 27–JUNE 4

Reception 6–9pm Friday, April 27 | Gallery Talk 7pm Thursday, May 24

Heights Arts

2175 Lee Road

Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

216.371.3457