exhibits that promise wonder to onlookers

For those who appreciate beauty and excellence, attending an art exhibit is like drawing a breath of fresh air, only to have it taken away a moment later in awe of the work.

Many striking exhibits exist within and outside of Ohio, so why not take some time to indulge in human imagination?

Monet/Mitchell: Painting the French Landscape

Through June 15

Saint Louis Art Museum

Monet/Mitchell: Painting the French Landscape examines the unexpectedly fascinating similarities between its titular artists, who both resided in France during their respective lifetimes.

A frenzy of broad brushstrokes and dream-like hues, Claude Monet’s works have transfixed people for over 100 years. Born in 1840, the French painter was a chief pioneer of impressionism. Finding inspiration in the accessible magnificence of nature, whether in the form of blossom- ing poppies or a hazy sunrise, he successfully immortalized life’s inherent splendor.

Like Monet, American abstract expressionist artist Joan Mitchell remained a staunch individualist throughout her entire career. Known for paintings such as River and Hemlock, she worked professionally from the 1950s to the 1990s, using thick ribbons of color to create images that impressed casual viewers as well as critics.

The exhibit showcases a total of 24 paintings, including Monet’s Water Lilies and Mitchell’s Ici.

Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence

Through July 16

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Though some might not recognize the name Katsushika Hokusai, the artist’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa woodblock print – dated to 1830 or 1831 – has a continuous cultural impact.

Despite passing away in 1849, Hokusai continues to inspire countless modern-day artists, leaving behind a legacy of about 30,000 diverse works. In addition to roughly 100 of those 30,000 works, the exhibit boasts 200-plus works related to Hokusai and his iconic imagery.

Among the featured artists is Katsushika O –i, Hokusai’s daughter and a skilled painter of her time. Another contributor is Jumpei Mitsui, a LEGO certified professional who built a large-scale Under the Wave off Kanagawa replica with a whopping 50,000 bricks.

Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds

June 23-Oct. 15

Cincinnati Art Museum

Pablo Picasso is often remembered for his warped portraiture that reframes human features through a cubist lens. But when it comes to Picasso, there is always more than meets the eye.

Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds is a celebration of Picasso’s true depth as a 20th-century artist, as this year marks 50 years since his death. An array of paintings and sculptures reveal how Picasso made sense of a rapidly changing European landscape and developed his unconventional art style over time.

What’s more, Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds is “the first exhibition to comprehensively present Picasso’s fertile engagement with landscape over his 75-year career,” according to the Cincinnati Art Museum’s website.

Degas and the Laundress: Women, Work,

and Impressionism

Oct. 8-Jan. 14

Cleveland Museum of Art

It can’t hurt to plan ahead, even if summer hasn’t descended quite yet. Degas and the Laundress: Women, Work, and Impressionism is an intimate and memorable look into Parisian laundresses’ everyday toils in the late 19th century.

Edgar Degas, an upper-class artist hailing from France, was proficient in impressionist painting, sketching and photography. His artistic portrayals of laundresses working in Paris, of which there are about 30, characterize women who sparked an entire city’s interest.

Degas’ works will be joined by those of other French artists who lived during the same time period, notably Berthe Morisot and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Posters, photographs and books round out the exhibit, making for a thoroughly educational experience. CS

Lucy Lawler is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

2023 Events Dates

Wine and Arts Festival

June 16, 17

Bourbon Tasting

August 12

Tacos and Tequila

July 15

Annual All Ohio Model T Ford Jamboree LABOR DAY WEEKEND

September 1, 2, 3, 4

Pub Crawls

TBD

Coffee & Chocolate Festival

October TBD

Mistletoe Market

December 1 & 2

Christmas Parade

December 1

Food Trucks & Shop Hop Dates

May 12, 26

June 9, 23

July 7, 21

August 4, 18

September 1, 15, 29

October 13, 27 www.heartofgrovecity.org

Art Spot is a series of temporary public art installations featuring 14 artists at 13 storefront window locations in and around downtown Columbus. The artwork, viewable 24/7, explores issues of climate change, conservation and the role of art in science communication.

ON VIEW UNTIL JUNE 30, 2023

ColumbusMakesArt.com/ArtSpot

MARCUS BLACKWELL

Ohio Theatre Ticket Booth

There is No New Water

CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS

Co-directors Amy Leibrand and Stephanie Rond

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