Gallery
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
the Many Hues Between Brown and Blue OAC inaugural EMERGING ARTIST IN RESIDENCY EXHIBITION August 16 - September 30, 2025
The OAC inaugural Emerging Artist in Residence, Lauren Sylvia, presents her first solo exhibition, The Many Hues Between Brown and Blue. In this exhibition, Sylvia honors the lifelong bond with her late soul pet, Twila. Through layered watercolor and acrylic on raw canvas, yupo paper, and Brusho pigments, Sylvia explores themes of love, loss, memory, and devotion. Her textured, symbolic compositions evoke warmth, time, and emotional resonance, offering intimate glimpses without revealing everything at once.
Join us in celebrating our first AIR and her first solo exhibition at the public opening on Saturday, August 16, during the Orange Community Art Fest. A closing reception will be held on Tuesday, September 30, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Learn more about Lauren’s residency here.
PAST EXHIBITIONS
OAC Fall STUDENT SHOWCASE JANUARY 13 - February 14, 2025
The Orange Art Center (OAC) proudly presents its Fall Student Showcase, a vibrant exhibition celebrating the creativity and dedication of students who honed their artistic skills under the guidance of esteemed instructors Annie Peters, John A. Sargent III, Terri Hickey, Sarah Camino, Marlene Weinstein, Lorri Ott, Nikki Mercer, Reham Mogawer, Ami Kamerer, and Eddie Mitchell. This diverse showcase features an array of works created in OAC classes, including stunning oil and acrylic paintings, intricate drawings, delicate watercolor pieces, expressive ceramic sculptures, exquisite fine silver jewelry, and innovative mixed media creations. Join us in celebrating the artistic achievements of our talented students and the inspiring community fostered at OAC.
Exhibition includes artwork by: Alva Chrisholm, Solly Cohen, Glenda Harris, Roberta Heller, Sue Holick-Bade, Natasha Kalas, Xiang Li, Anna Lloyd, Scott Meyerson, Nancy Minter, Marie O'Brian, Jane Richmond, Rubie Rosebrook, Debbie Seidman, Laura Stack, Victoria Vermes, Janet Voigt, Mia Waldorff, Christine Warren, Connor Weaver and Sofia Zacchino.
ORANGE STUDENTS FINE ART SHOW Spring 2024
This spring, Orange students from OHS Art Teacher, Dan Whitely’s fine art class will be exhibiting their artwork at the Orange Art Center. The Show will follow these students’ journey and process of creating fine art through the eyes of master artists.
These exhibiting young artists participate in the Studio Art Design (SAD) art program at Orange High School. SAD prepares students to create in a defined studio space while establishing studio skills and techniques that result in merit-based art portfolios and a developed focus on identifying their art careers in the visual arts. Learn more about this unique program at studioartdesign.org.
All Orange City School District (OCSD) students, parents, faculty, staff, and administration are encouraged to visit this Show at the Art Center. Take a break, bring your lunch, enjoy our patio, and view these young emerging artist’s artwork. This exhibition is free and open to the public. All are welcome!
OAC FACULTY SHOW FALL 2023
Please join us on Friday, December 1st, 4:00pm – 6:00pm for the opening reception of the OAC Faculty Show! The Show runs from December 1, 2023 through February 10, 2024.Exhibiting artist teachers include:
Terri Hickey, Ami Kamerer, Emilio Marriott, Stephanie Miller-Davis, Eddie Mitchell, Catherine Park, Annie Peters, John A. Sargent III, Andrea Serafino, Marlene Weinstein and Daniel Whitely.
Our creative social gathering will include holiday make + takes, and festive refreshments.While you’re here, be sure to browse the OAC Winter Session Course Catalogs! Registration for the winter classes begins Monday, December 4 at noon. This is a good time to chat with our faculty about their classes and even their artistic journey. All are welcome!
ROOTED IN PROCESS FALL 2023
Please join us in welcoming Orange City School District’s artist-in-residence and alum, Sarah Tuttle as she exhibits her journey as a current fine artist and illustrator at the Orange Art Center. Sarah graduated in 2018 from the Excel Tech Studio Art and Design art program taught by artist teacher, Daniel Whitely at Orange High School. She went on to earn her BFA at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her client list includes The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Case Western Reserve University, The Cleveland Botanical Gardens and more. Learn more about Sarah at setuttle.com
This exciting pop-up gallery installation Rooted in Process will be on display to the public November 8 – November 22. Gallery hours are from 9:30am – 3:30pm Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. All are welcome!
OSC + OAC STUDENT ART SHOW FALL 2021
Orange Senior Center and Orange Art Center are collaborating on a new fall exhibition. OSC + OAC Student Art Show is exhibiting artwork from our talented adult students who have created their art at the Centers. Each student is represented by at least one artwork.
exhibiting student artists
Arnold Altman, Barbara Bergsten, Inga Berkey, Jane Busse, Alvah Chisholm, Patty Corbo, Phyllis Estis, Steve Garfunkel, Susan Gordon Merdler, Shauna Hajek, Judith Hauser, Pamela Isquick, Kathleen Jung, Santosh Kalhan, Susan Karp, Rochelle Katz, Leah Lass, Christa Luck, Nicole Mawby, Ruth Nozik, Mary Clare O’Loughlin, Ille Olsson, Taru Patel, Jane Richmond, Lori Rosenberg, Janet Schwartz, Martha Shiverick, Sherry Ulrich, Verner Welsh, Karen West, and Marianne Wilham.
NEW OAC FACULTY ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
WINTER 2020
E. J. Bocan III
LEGO ARTIST
E.J. Bocan III has been a LEGO® builder since he was 5 years old. His first LEGO® set was 6675 Road & Trail 4x4. He is now a professional artist utilizing LEGO® to create a variety of artwork and sculptures. Attention to detail and variety of techniques make E.J.’s artwork unique and engaging. Utilizing many different types of pieces and combining them in new and challenging ways makes E.J.’s work stand out. E.J. is constantly devising new ways of using LEGO®, expanding his artistic skills to create meaningful, playful artwork. Not only does E.J. create artwork and sculpture, but also custom building kits and instructions. He has designed small builds for monthly magazines, kits for corporate businesses, and a few local Cleveland landmarks.
The Orange Art Center is delighted to partner up with the owner of creative business, Art on the Block to showcase a sample of his 2D works as well as host Snap + Blocks 2D Sculpture Art Camp this summer for our Young Artists.
Vine, part of The Elizabeth Series by Nancy McEntee
Master’s of Portrait Photography
Fall 2019
This fall the Orange Art Center (OAC) and the Cleveland Photo Fest (CPF) partnered to create Master’s of Portrait Photography, a staggering exhibition of Cleveland-based portrait photographers. This collaboration focuses on the creation of masterful portraiture and the importance of professional photography standards in the fine arts community. The show will begin with an opening reception on September 13 and will run through November 15.
opening reception Friday, September 13, 6pm-8Pm at the orange art center gallery
free + open to the public
EXHIBITING PHOTOGRAPHERS
HERB ASCHERMAN
Cleveland’s preeminent portraitist since the opening of his studio in 1975, 4th generation Herb Ascherman has taken over 9,000 black and white portraits throughout his storied career. Herb has documented Clevelanders in his seminal Cleveland, America!; The Artist’s Project and for twenty years as the Cleveland Orchestra’s portrait photographer. Herb works with an 8 x 10 film-based view camera, and prints in the resurgent art of Platinum Printing, patented in 1873.
DELORES JOHNSON
Delores Johnson was thirteen years old when she got my first camera. “It was love at first sight and I’ve never been heartbroken, cheated on or abandoned. In fact, it has been a faithful friend and companion. I suspect that it will be a relationship that lasts as long as I live, ‘till new technology do us part. Photography has given me many wonderful gifts. The gift of freedom. The gift of laughter. The gift of kindness. The gift of friendship. The gift of travel. The gift of problem-solving. The gift of adventure. The gift of love. The gift of hope. The gift of gratitude. The gift that keeps giving.”
JANET MACOSKA
If rock and roll has been the soundtrack of your life, photojournalist Janet Macoska has provided many of the visuals. Since 1974, Macoska has captured rock’s greatest on film…and now in pixels (digital), for publications worldwide, documentaries, record labels and the bands themselves. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum presented a touring retrospective exhibition of her photography in 2004 in many cities and venues in the U.S., Canada and Switzerland. In 2017, Macoska was inducted into The Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame.
ANGELO MERENDINO
Angelo Merendino believes any great conversation requires two people, talking and listening. He said, “I think a great photograph requires the same. My approach to photography is not to tell people what to do or how to do it.” Instead, he creates environments where people feel like their most authentic selves – and then captures what happens.
NANCY McENTEE
For 20 years Nancy McEntee’s daughter has been the subject of her ongoing photographic series entitled, The Elizabeth Series. The Series incorporates legacy, continuity, reexamination and transition. These images explore the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship and the temporal nature of things. It is an extended portrait that employs the direct gaze and constructed narrative. Everyday occurrences are re-framed through the perspective of the photographer's imagination and the photographs often become a vehicle to convey larger issues or observations. The Illumination frequently works in opposition to the darker narratives underlying the work. Nancy’s long-held interests in myth, storytelling, the snapshot and familial history are integrated into the photographs. Her work is subtle, quiet and contemplative often taking a few reads to understand the essential narrative contained within a facial expression or a small gesture such as head tilt, raised foot or tightened lips. Her photographs are a combination of the present, the remembered and the ambiguous space between memory and fiction.
STEVE WAGNER
Steve Wagner is a Cleveland area photographer that participated in personal project themes including, Real Cleveland Indians, Street Basketball, West 65th Lorain, Coventry Portraits, (A Time of Youth Well Past). Steve later participated in the Black & Blue Side by Side photographic portraits of Cleveland Police Officers with community members. He is an alum of the Cleveland Institute of Art.
PAINTINGS BY DANIEL WHITELY
SUMMER 2019
This summer the OAC Gallery walls are filled floor to ceiling with the life sized paintings of Daniel Whitely, accomplished artist and teacher. The pieces depict scenes from the artists studio, and are described by Whitely as “paintings of his paintings.” We are happy to share that all of the works are for sale!
Daniel Whitely is teaching two classes at Orange Art Center this Summer including Plein Air Painting on Tuesday mornings and Life Drawing on Wednesday evenings.
JEWELRY + METALS STUDENT SHOW
MAY 3, 2019 - JUNE 7, 2019
This exhibition features the outstanding artwork of our present jewelry + metals students. The pieces range from gold rings set with diamonds to delicate sterling silver necklaces - with intricate artistry through-out - this show is a must see display of incredible pieces. We are also happy to share that many of the works are for sale!
PAINTING + DRAWING STUDENT SHOW
WINTER 2019
Our painting + drawing students have expansive skills and talents. This exhibition features those students in this larger showing of paintings and drawings.
opening reception Friday, february 22, 6pm-8Pm
free + open to the public
CERAMICS STUDENT SHOW
FALL 2018
This exhibition featured the best work of our past + present ceramics students showing a wide variety of unique clay art works.
OAC POP UP Drawing Student Show
at Trinity Cathedral Gallery
One Night Only - November 14, 2018
Our painting + drawing students from beginning to advanced levels had the opportunity to participate in a pop up art show downtown Cleveland.
EEGUT JUHGUT: THIS AND THAT
AN EXHIBITION OF PAPER ARTWORK BY AIMEE LEE
JULY 23 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
This exhibition demonstrated how Aimee Lee has adapted the ancient art of hanji into a sculptural outlet, marrying old processes and new expressions. A truly unique experience. It also included a closing reception and artist talk.
Jewelry + metals student show
spring 2018
This exhibition featured the best work of our past + present jewelry + metals students showing unique jewelry works and metal pieces.
Painting + drawing student show
winter 2018
Our painting + drawing students have expansive skills and talents. This exhibition features those students in this larger showing of paintings and drawings.
Ceramics Student Show
fall 2017
Our most immersive students work in ceramics and this exhibition is to feature all pottery work that are both unique and functional.
OAC Faculty Show
summer 2017
To raise the profile of our amazing faculty members, we set designated this exhibition for our talented and professional faculty who specialize in ceramics, paintings, jewelry, metals, sculpture, and drawing.