Artist Jim Soppelsa returns to Article Gallery with Playing In The Present—New Paintings from Friday, August 4, through Thursday, August 24. A formal approach to visual composition has been a lifelong quest of Jim Soppelsa. Beginning with sketches using the elements of shape, color and line, Jim explores dynamic energies, tensions and movement across the canvas. His earlier studies in black and white have burst into colorful freedom. Much like improvisational jazz, these formal visions are spontaneous journeys in pursuit of the present. Abstract but always representational, his paintings evoke pleasant and playful moments, memories and emotions.

After graduating from the Cooper School of Art in 1974, Jim began his career in graphic design. Working with the fundamentals of compass, straight edge and T-square, he plied his craft in the commercial art world. After earning a Special Mention in Graphics in the 1980 Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) May Show, Jim shifted his focus to family and working as a partner in the family silkscreen printing business.

Since retiring, Jim has returned to his studio with a much-earned freedom to pursue his art.

Artist Louis Ross brings The Memory Project to Article on Saturday, August 26, through Saturday, September 30. Louis and Jim met in 1976 while working as graphic artists. They created catalog pages of nuts, bolts, mops, and spark plugs for a Cleveland manufacturer. Forty years later, after retiring from their respective professional careers (Louis as president and project manager of his family’s electrical construction company), they became reacquainted while sharing memories over coffee at the CMA.

Louis presents a retrospective of drawings, assemblages and photographs including his nostalgic 3-dimensional Memory Project series. Using cardboard boxes, glue and paint, Louis reminisces on long-gone Cleveland landmarks and experiences, including Municipal Stadium, Cedar Lee Theatre, Roxy Burlesque, the Toddle House restaurant, Mt. Pleasant Russian-Turkish Bathhouse (the Schvitz), and many more. Louis hopes the series, produced during the quarantine year, brings the viewer some humor and fond memories of happy times.

Both August shows reflect Jim and Louis’ friendship and lifelong pursuit of creative work.

Louis is co-founder with his wife, artist Susan Ross, of Article/Art In Cleveland in the Waterloo Arts District.

ARTICLE GALLERY/ART IN CLEVELAND
15316 Waterloo Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44110
artincleveland.com
Facebook: artincle
440.655.6954

EVENTS:

Jim Soppelsa: Playing In The Present, August 4–24

Louis Ross: The Memory Project, August 26–September 30