New art gallery art Haus SYR hosts ‘Pride,’ a wide-ranging exhibition

“Pride,” a group exhibition at the art Haus SYR gallery, 120 Walton St., works with a range of media and artistic styles. Indeed, it features figurative paintings, sculptures recreating geometric forms, photos investigating issues of masculinity, and more.

First, several of Clove Flores’s artworks reference geometric objects, a cube, octahedron and other polygons. They are called Platonic solids, referring to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. He believed the forms symbolized harmony and balance and represented fundamental forces — fire, earth, air and water.

Discussion of the Platonic solids isn’t a purely academic exercise. Various thinkers today, including mystics and scientists, think the forms, and their emphasis on harmony, are useful in considering personal growth and balance in the environment.

Flores also has a large, imaginative painting, “Ventruvian Alchemy,” on display. It incorporates two other-worldly figures, swatches of green color, small geometric forms and text. Flores is comfortable doing paintings or sculptures; she likes to work in various media.

In addition, Jillian Hagadorn, a painter, has several pieces in the show. In “Standoff,” a woman appears in the middle of the painting, with small revolvers on her left and right. It seems clear that the work is not depicting a literal threat of gunfire. Rather, the artwork portrays an individual dealing with anxiety, with concerns about her life.

A second painting, “Crossing the Pacific,” depicts a social scene. At the very right, there are three woman standing together. At the very left, one of the three appears again, with her image almost falling off the canvas. In discussing the work, the artist talked about the idea of being in a crowded room but feeling alone.

This has been a busy summer for Hagadorn. She’s participating in the art Haus exhibit, had work in an exhibition at the Atrium which closed July 28, and has had six paintings in display at the Hope Cafe in Liverpool.

A third artist, Corbin Clemons, creates photos in which he appears in roles associated with masculinity in our society. The works touch on how masculinity is defined.

“Frosted Fisherman,” a framed print, depicts Clemons in a rain slicker, standing over a table with a fish on a plate. The fish is portrayed in a gaudy manner. A second print, “Coded Cowboy,” depicts Clemons in a cowboy outfit that might be worn by a young boy. These images, and two other photos, give viewers an opportunity to get a sense of Clemons’ work.

The exhibit also presents Lee Spencer’s “Animalistic,” in which mirrored imagery of two women embracing plays off a quote from Anais Nin, a French writer, and two large, abstract paintings by Jeff Appel.

And Caitlin Marx scores with “Hometown,” a striking artwork. In it, an image of a woman is positioned not on canvas but on fabric. She created the work with acrylic paint and embroidered fabric. Marx describes herself as a conceptual artist whose work is rooted in themes of identity, queerness and relationships.

The artworks are on view in a gallery which opened during June 2024. It was founded by partners Marianna Ranieri Schwarzer, who has extensive experience curating art, and Appel, a co-developer for 120 Walton St., which contains apartments and is also known as the Bentley Settle Building. Artworks are displayed not only in the gallery but also throughout the building. Over a dozen paintings are displayed in the hallway next to the gallery.  

Schwarzer and her husband, Michael Schwarzer, also coordinate another public art project, Midoma Interactive Street Galleries. It sets up window displays of art at three downtown locations. For example, a selection of paintings is on display in a window at 400 S. Salina St., home for the Red House Arts Center.

A second display, at 210 Walton St., once the location for Eureka Crafts, presents “Learning in Color” by Ben Coir, Tyrone Johnson-Neuland’s painting “Spirit,” and “Sunrise at Erie Boulevard” by Richell Castellon. The latter work captures a scene on the edge of downtown, focusing on buildings, the urban skyline and the brightness of a rising sun.

At 290 W. Jefferson St., in the windows of a space that formerly housed a Starbucks cafe, there are various artworks on display. They include imagery of fashion curated by Cjala Surratt for the Black Citizens Brigade, work from Schwarzer’s “Decomposition” series, photo taken by David Stein and Peter Robinson, and Donna Stuccio’s image, “Prairie Chicken Dancer.” It documents a performance during a festival on Blackfeet Nation territory in Montana.

The West Jefferson Street display is dedicated to the memory of Anatoli Truskalo who died during 2023. He had a photo studio at 181 Walton St. for many years.

Finally, “Pride,” the exhibition, runs through August 30. The gallery is open from noon to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays from noon to 6:00 p.m. The public is welcome, and there’s no  admission charge.

For more information, access www.arthaus-syr-com.

Correction: An original version of this story mischaracterized Jillian Hagadorn’s painting “Standoff.” The previous version of this story stated, “It seems clear that the work is depicting a literal threat of gunfire.” It now states, “It seems clear that the work is not depicting a literal threat of gunfire.” Central Current deeply regrets this error.