Artists Archives of the Western Reserve Launches Online Catalog

2021 Members Exhibition, Artists Archives of the Western Reserve. Photo courtesy of Mindy Tousley

The Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (AAWR) is thrilled to announce the launch of the online catalog of its permanent collection of Ohio art. Featuring over 10,000 works from 89 watershed artists, the digital database positions the vast wealth of the region’s visual culture squarely at the public’s fingertips.

“We hope that this database becomes a resource not only for art lovers, but also a research tool for museums, universities, historical societies, area schools, and for artists seeking inspiration from the rich history and current talent of the Western Reserve,” explains AAWR Executive Director Mindy Tousley.

The project represents years of effort by a team of archivists, interns, and volunteers who painstakingly entered thousands of records while preserving the work for storage in the museum’s massive 108,000-cubic-foot archival facility. Thanks to their efforts, the catalog is now one of the largest online repositories of Ohio art.

In celebration of this momentous achievement, the Archives will focus its 2022 exhibition calendar on the work of its members and archived artists, including four shows which highlight pieces from its extensive collection.

March welcomes the return of the popular Annual Members Exhibition, in which all members are invited to display one work under 24 inches in any medium. Hung salon style, the show presents a dynamic cross-section of the Northeast Ohio arts community. Visitors will be invited to vote for their favorite piece, and the top four artists will receive awards and cash prizes. Among last year’s winners were paper and mixed media artist Tony Williams, textile artist Myrya Johnson, oil painter Susan Hood, and ceramicist Michael W. High.

In May, the Archives celebrates the work of Terry Durst and Roy Bigler, two assemblage artists known for their intense, emotionally-evocative sculptures and fearless use of Rust Belt detritus as a vehicle for expression. The exhibition will be celebrated with an opening reception on Thursday, May 19.

For full exhibition details, or to become a member and take part in the Annual Members Exhibition, visit artistsarchives.org.