Gallery Night Enjoys Renaissance

Jessica Hunter

Patrons at the Erie Art Museum in early 2020 seen during musuems Everything But the Shelves exhibit

It feels like we were living in the Renaissance Period since we last enjoyed an Erie Art Museum Gallery Night — the beloved citywide event that opens participating galleries, boutiques, shops, cafes, offices, and other spaces to public perusers during primetime, often with complimentary refreshments and hors d'oeuvres for the taking. 

In reality, though, it's only been since Feb. 28, 2020 — Leonardo da Vinci wasn't displaying nude paintings at that event and he won't be displaying them at this next one either (sorry).  However, you'll be pleased to know that there will be a next one. Indeed, Gallery Night has not partaken in its Last Supper yet — and if that's not an occasion to crack a Mona Lisa smile, we don't know what is. 

While we are glad Gallery Night will realize its Renaissance, if you Michelangel-go please be certain to cover up — at least a full robe and a mask — because COVID-19 is the Goliath we have yet to slay. The 10 participating locations this time around are as follows:

Erie Art Museum (20 E. Fifth St.): Gallery Night HQ is sure to be buzzing — such that guests will be required to present proof of vaccination (with photo ID) or a negative COVID-19 test registered within 72 hours of the event start. Highlights will include Pointe Foure's Interactive Vintage Pop-Up Shop and Photo Booth, classical woodcarving with Fredy Huaman, live music from Optimistic Apocalypse (McKenzie Sprague), and two recently opened exhibits — NPAA's 7th Biennial Exhibition, and Sorrow/Fullness featuring Renee Zettle-Sterling, Sue Amendolara, and Adrienne Grafton. There will be a $3 cover charge.

Glass Growers Gallery (10 E. Fifth St.): In reality, the museum's next door neighbor is quite comfortable with Abstraction — abstract mixed media works from Heather Kanazawa, Jamie Keim, Belinda Rogers, and Molly Strong. 

Radius CoWork (1001 State St. #907): Speaking of renaissances and restorations, if you haven't had a chance to ride the newly installed elevators at the Renaissance Building on the corner of 10th and State, you're in for a treat (and probably 10 less phantom stops). On the ninth floor, Radius CoWork will showcase the work of graphic design artist Curtis Waidley and his Save America prints, inspired by his six-week foray into the American West and a love of our national park system. 

10/20 Collective (1020 Holland St.): Be sure to find the 10/20 Collective on Gallery Night for Found and Not Lost, mixed media and sculptural works by David Bordett and Ron Bayuzick. 

V Gallery (3330 W. 26th St.): Then & Now, Here & There: From Presque Isle to Monhegan Island, Maine by Kevin Irvin, 1994-2021

32 W. Eighth (32 W. Eighth St.): Take a free guided tour through the historic Masonic Temple building.

Andora's Bubble (516 State St.): Longtime Erie Reader cartoonist Bryan Toy is rangier than you think — he does oil paintings of wide open landscapes just as well as he does pointed sociopolitical commentary.  

City Gallery LLC (1505 State St.): The PACA Building continues to diversify, and City Gallery LLC (operated by Erie Art Company) is no exception. Between the Ceramic Continuum 23 (sculptures) and A Stitch in Time (paintings and mixed media evocative of Ukrainian embroidery) exhibits and the Noodlefish proof of concept (immersive, interactive art experience), there is plenty to see here (and there's more, too).

D'Hopkins Denniston Gallery (5 W. 10th St.): We close this preview out with The Art of Reopening Safely, featuring various artists including Herm Weber. 

Matt Swanseger can be reached at mswanseger@eriereader.com