Page 4 HIGH GEAR-SEPTEMBER 1981

One man show artist talks to HIGH GEAR

By Ray Chesnick, Jr. Arcade Art is opening an exhibition of Jeff Wright's current works for the month of September. This will be the first oneman show at Arcade Art and promises to be one of the best displays in Cleveland during 1981.

Jeff Wright, originally from Cincinnati, came to Cleveland

six years ago to study at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), where he studied primarily under the colorist Julian Stanczak and was graduated in 1980. One of fourteen artists represented in the NOVA (New Organization For The Visual Arts) 6th Annual Painting Show, he had favorable reviews of his two works by Jeanne Fryer Kohles, in the 5/81 edition of NOVA News, and by William Olander, in the April 20May 3, 1981 edition of Northern Ohio LIVE.

I was granted an interview with the artist and had the chance to learn more about the man and his work. Wright works in two media large oil canvases and watercolor on raw canvas. He isone of the very few artists, if not the only artist, to work with watercolor on raw canvas. "The expedience of watercolor has helped to experience a wide range of imagery," he said. "Oils are not quick; they are substantial. Watercolor on raw canvas has the linear quality of a drawing, but transcends this to become a painting." His works are museum-mounted in custom-made frames that are

hand-beveled.

intention, but is divorced from He has innumerable watercomy teacher's work. The colorist lors (from very small to mon-philosphy is, essentially, to use strous) and approximately 25 color; to work from one complelarge (8-% ft. x S-1⁄2 ft.) oil can-mentary color to another. As vases (only a small portion of Paul Klee said, 'I don't know anywhich will be exhibited in the thing about color; I just use it.'" show) and is surrounded both by these works of his own and by

When asked about contemthat from other periods some of porary artists and the contemwhich date back to the 16th cen-porary trends in art, Wright said. "All contemporary artists can be promoted and be successful if they're not too silly about their prices. The contemporary trends The selling point is that it's 'difof art are, often, not personal. ferent'; if it's different, it will be

tury. Wright thinks, "Artists should own treasures from other times to help influence their work. These 'old' things definitely do influence me." Wright's work is greatly influenced by textiles. Some of his paintings are, in his words, "Still life, spatial implications of the colorist themes of antique textiles."

He also approaches his subject matter in a historical sense comparisons of one shape against that of another; of one type of line against a different one. This has a noticeable visual effect and has been done for centuries.

Antiques; ambiance; a timeless quality; empty rooms; stacked furniture; a feeling of presence, but, at the same time, no presence; spirit faces; juxtapositionwing of images all things that may be found in his paintings. He stated, "My paintings have a mixture of motion. We don't see things as stable they just aren't. I add a touch of fantasy to all my works; that's the world I believe in."

About his compositions, he added, "My work has colorist

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sold. There is little sense of self within the works. We will, probably, find an increase in very simple human images, i.e., a new period of naturalism.

exhibit, Arcade Art is sposoring a In conjunction with this HIGH GEAR Day on Tuesday, September 15th featuring a reception with the artist from 2 Mr. Wright is currently teachp.m. to 7 p.m. Also, ten percent of ing at Cooper School of Art and all card purchases made that day he stated. "Cooper's supera lot will be donated to High GEAR for of people at CIA teach there. the purchase of office equipment There's a wonderful atmosphere (it will also be the first day for there and it has helped me grow ordering Christmas cards). as a person." High GEAR Day, and the exhiWright's works are enjoyable bition, itself, should not be and pleasant and, I'm sure, will missed by Cleveland lesbians repeated visits to Arcade Art durity see you there. provide a good reason for and gays. Support our communing September

800 in GayRun '81

San Francisco GayRun '81, the second annual gay-sponsored, AAU-sanctioned footrace was held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park July 26th. A field of just under 800 competed in 5 and 10 km events, nearly double the number as in last year's premier GayRun '80.

GayRun '81 was sponsored by The ADVOCATE, the Bay Areabased national gay newsmagazine, and Frontrunners, San Francisco's gay and lesbian running club.

Sanctioning of the race by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) was again an important sign that gay athletics in the United States have gone a long way toward professional status. The race was open to everyone and attracted a diverse group of runners from

ten states, Switzerland and ADVOCATE toward the Golden Denmark. Gate Park Maintenance Fund, a About one-third of the runners non-profit group. were women.

Overall first place winner of the event was Virgimo Dearaujo, 29, of San Francisco. His time in the 10 km race was 32:46.

Lisa Buckley of Los Angeles, 23, was the first place woman in the 10 km event with 38:20, placing 25th overall.

In the 5 km race, 19-year-old Spencer Ferguson of San Francisco took first with 16:12, and Teresa Jenkins, 22, of Long Beach, California won the women's division in 19:09, placing her 25th overall in the 5 km competition.

Although the race was operated at a deficit, a donation was made by Frontrunners and The

KEYTM

Race monitors were provided by the San Francisco Street Monitors and the gay self-defense group, Community United Against Violence. First aid stations were provided by the Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights, the San Francisco organization of gay doctors. Bottled water was provided by Perrier of Greenwich, CT. Prizes for 15 division winners were provided by local San Francisco merchants.

coast counterpart of GayRun '82 There is already talk of an east to be held in New York City on cisco race. the same day as the San Fran-

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