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Arts & Entertainment

Artists Inspired by Artists at TANK Exhibit

'TANK Artist's Invitational Exhibition' is on view at Kent State University's Downtown Gallery

Every artist has experienced a moment when they were drawn to something. This initial attraction then blossoms into inspiration, and that's when an idea begins to form. 

While these inspirations are found in every part of life, they often come from, and are cultivated through, other artists. Many artists spend years working alongside their artist friends bouncing ideas around and "talking shop," so to speak. These relationships can be very rewarding. (And let's just say it, sometimes they are the only ones who get it. Or even want to get it.)

This is what The Artists Network of Kent (TANK) board members were thinking about when they each invited an artist that inspires them to show at Kent State University's School of Art Downtown Gallery

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TANK is an organization that aims to connect artists with one another and the greater Kent community. They have more than 80 members who work in a diverse range of media. 

Melissa Luciano came to the opening night of the exhibiton this past weekend from her home in Buffalo, NY. She was invited to share her photography by her former roomate, TANK board member Michele M. Pamer. 

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Luciano finds "subjects" for her photos from thrift stores and garage sales. The subjects she compiled for this series of work all happened to be plastic toy dolls. By bringing her subjects to different environments, she creates interesting tension in the frame because the dolls quickly stand out as strange. Luciano sometimes includes a narrative to go with her photos. This ends up intensifying the surreal strangeness of her work instead of explaining it.

In my favorite shot, three dolls are lined up in a park while two geese and a duck try to figure out just what the heck those pink plastic things are.

"The dolls don't know they are strange," Luciano said. But those birds sure do. 

Luciano credits Pamer for her artistic growth. You can hear the gratitude in her voice. 

 "I never would have taken my work to this level if it wasn't for her," she said. Luciano then looks over at Pamer, who had been standing nearby and heard, and said "It's true."

Laura Burns was asked to present work by a former friend, co-worker and TANK member Joanne Ryan. The two met at Hattie Larlham, where Burns helped to start the creative arts program. Because of the time demanded by this job, she rarely finds the time to create her own work — until now. 

Burns' gouache paintings are soft and expressive sky scenes that give you just a hint of treeline and mostly explore the expansive space and color of our Earth's ceiling. Burns chose gouache — a water paint style — for this series of three pieces because it was a chance for her to loosen up and get back into the groove of painting. Now she wants to go bigger. 

Brad Hart, a TANK board member, invited fellow commercial photographer and 20-year friend David Samiec to show his work because of his Polaroid transfers.

Samiec elicits tender sentiments coated with bittersweet hues in the pieces chosen for this show. The emotions in Journey's End, Oct. 26, 2010 are palpable as a middle-aged woman is shown embracing her old dog.

"David is the most artistic photographer I know," Hart said.

The Downtown Gallery is located at 141 E. Main St. Kent, OH 44240. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday noon-5 p.m. & Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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