Heights Arts' Public Conscience Event 3.30 7PM

Laura and Gary Dumm, “Old King Coal,” acrylic on canvas

“Public Conscience” a showcase of Northeast Ohio illustrators and graphic designers currently on display at Heights Arts. Because designers and illustrators’ work appears in books or other commercial materials—not galleries or museums—they can become isolated from “the art world” after getting their degrees. As curator Dave King noted in promotional materials for the exhibit, “People see the work of illustrators and graphic artists in print form but they don’t see the original work.  Because of this disconnect, [i]llustrators and graphic designers are frequently not viewed as artists.” Heights Arts wishes to promote their art as art.

“Public Conscience” is stronger as a display of designers and illustrators’ talents than it is an anthology of social criticism. This is simply because not every contributed artwork is political. Some are avowedly apolitical. This doesn’t mean these work aren’t engaging; they very often are.

“Public Conscience” runs through April 16 at Heights Arts. The gallery is located at 2175 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. On Thursday March 30, at 7PM several artists will give talks at “Ekphrastacy.” The event will also include readings of original poems by area wordsmiths Jeffrey Bowen, Clarissa Jakobsons, Chuck Joy, and Emily Troia. For more information, please call 216-371-3457 or go to heightsarts.org.