John Farina & Adam Tully have been collecting art together since they met nearly eight years ago. Adam actually became an instant collector when he met John, who had already begun his collecting of Cleveland art many years earlier.

The collection they have amassed over this time now numbers close to 350 pieces – almost 90 percent of which is art by Cleveland artists. There are a few pieces by some of Cleveland’s well known ‘Cleveland School’ artists, such as William Sommer and Paul Travis, but the bulk of it is made up of recent work.

“We bought a bigger house last year to accommodate our collection and, well, we’re already full,” says Farina, “but that hasn’t stopped us from continuing to add to the collection.” Their Collinwood home is like a gallery exhibition of Cleveland’s best known artists: Amy Casey, Matt Dibble, Michelangelo Lovelace, Lori Kella, Liz Maugans, Cathie Bleck, Michelle Murphy, and Phyllis Seltzer–just to name a few.

There’s a bright neon piece by Jeff Chiplis, textile work by Antonia Reiner, prints by Jen Craun and Michael Loderstedt, photography from Barbara Polster, sculture from Kristen Cliffel, paintings by George Kocar, Patricia Zinmeister Parker and Mark Keffer. Frankly, there’s not enough room here to cover it all. There is plenty of work by lesser known artists as well. “We buy what we like,” says Tully, “it is more about our enjoyment than anything. Every piece is valuable to us.”

A small sample of their collection will be on display at Zygote Press this August. You’ll have a chance to see what they own in one gallery, and add the same artists to your own collection in the second gallery – with the proceeds going to support Zygote Press.

Simon de Pury once said “[Art] collecting is a beautiful disease, and is also totally incurable.” Judging from their collection, it would seem that John & Adam are obviously afflicted with the ‘disease’ and don’t have any interest in being cured.

Making Mail: Mail Art from the Documentary

Curated by Amber Esner & Mike Polk

June 6 – July 3, 2014

Opening Reception 6 – 9 pm June 6

Screening of film, TBA

 

The Rasmuson Exchange: Melissa Daubert and Jimmy Riordan

Rasmuson Foundation Artist Residency

July 11 – 31, 2014

Opening Reception 6 – 9 pm July 11

Artist Talk + Potluck 6-8 pm Thursday July 24

 

 

Collector’s Affection, curated by John Farina + Adam Tully

August 8 – 30, 2014

Opening Reception 6-9 pm August 8

 

Zygote Press

1410 East 30th Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

zygotepress.com

216.621.2900