Toledo Blade Review of "Transitions"

The "wow"! factor is off the charts at Space 237's autumn exhibition of creations by 24 local and national artists.

Not only, is there a terrific variety of media on the first and fourth floors, visitors to tonight's opening-night party may decorate tiles in ClaySpace on the lower level. The tiles will be installed in the 1907 Renaissance Revival-style building that has about 12,000 square feet of exhibitions space said Hali Lynne, exhibition coordinator.

On the third floor, a multimedia exhibit open tonight only will feature electronic music and video projection by Colman McCord, accompanied by a harpist.

The spacious first floor holds five dreamy, fantasy landscapes by Scott Hewicker of California. Bold editorial declarations with thick, colorful words by Patrick Dodd carry messages such as: "Nearly half of black men in New York City in 2003 were not working." Dodd's primitive faces and nudes are appealing.

In the aggressive collages by Chuck Lawson of Georgia, photographs of bodies and faces are torn apart and reassembled with oversized lips or legs or eyes, creating eerie, intriguing images.

And then there's the whimsical roundness of Kim Thanasiu's work. "The texture of the world is so simple and intricate that I try to show that less is more," Thanasiu says.

If you have driven on the Anthony Wayne Trail toward downtown lately, you've likely seen his handiwork affixed to poles - dozens of white posters, each with a large red circle.

Thanasiu fills about 2,500 square feet here with more of the same. Red Hula Hoops dangle from the ceiling and GI Joe action figures drip with red paint. And finally, a use for old long-playing records. His appealing wall display makes use of dozens of the large records, painted and set against album covers.

The fourth floor brims with charms and challenges by 20 artists, in media including jewelry, photography, fabric, glass, metal and stone.

Don't miss the enchanting watercolors in Max Rojas' Costa Rican countrysides, the photographs of daily life in the Philippines by Karen Mathews, and the digital photographs by Ramon Tiggs.

Katrina Baden, who often completes large canvases during concerts, will demonstrate her work with an on-site painting on opening night.

Beautifully detailed fabric hangings by Ellen Leonard include beads, frayed bits of cloth that lend a textured look to pine trees, metallic threads, and pieces of kimonos, stitched in intricate patterns.

Robert Dieter's stone tabletops have patterns made splendid by fossils. Linda Knowles-Dieter's newsprint pieces and copper sculptures are imaginative.

Also featured are Sally Thompson's rich portraits, and Ben Moeller's crisp drawings, accented with muted washes.

Hallways hold the computer art of Dustin Hostetler, and cases display jewelry (metalwork) by Rhonda Oertli and Valentina Beene (beadwork).

The opening-night party for "Transitions" takes place from 7 to 10 tonight in Space 237, 237 North Michigan St. in downtown Toledo. The exhibition runs through Dec. 17. Beginning Tuesday, "Transitions" will be on view during regular gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, and noon to 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month. Admission is free. Information: 419-255-5117.