Dayton Visual Arts Center

The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) formerly known as the Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC), is a group of artists and art lovers who believe that a vital visuals arts community is essential to the life of the community in Dayton, Ohio. The center offers art gallery talks, art exhibitions, professional development workshops, and other programs that support contemporary visual art.

After being founded in 1991, The Co's (DVAC) gallery in downtown Dayton continues to present a full schedule of contemporary art exhibitions each year that are free to the public.[1] There are usually 12 to 18 exhibitions.[2] Some exhibitions include the annual Open Members' Show, the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery, and a preview exhibition leading up to DVAC's annual art auction fundraiser.

Name Change, The Contemporary Dayton, Dayton Arcade move

[3] After almost 30 years, The Dayton Visual Arts Center, (DVAC) changed its name in November 2018 to become The Contemporary Dayton. Its mission will mostly remain the same, but with the name change and a move to a bigger location, it aims to do more - both locally and nationally. “So, I would say instead of it changing, it’s evolving," says Eva Buttacavoli the current executive director. "And what it’s evolving to is, we are claiming a promise to the community that we will be the ones that will be presenting the most current ideas and concepts that are happening in Contemporary Art – throughout the world, really.”

The Contemporary Dayton (The Co), formerly known as Dayton Visual Arts Center, officially announced plans to complete their capital campaign and move into the historic Dayton Arcade. Campaign support will allow The Co to almost double its space at the new location; bring more artists to Dayton and advance those whose work emanates from Dayton and Ohio, and make a bold commitment to present exhibitions and programs exploring the most prominent social justice issues of our time. Designed by LWC Incorporated, The Co's Executive Director, Eva Buttacavoli, and Curator, Michael Goodson, the 6,224-square-foot art center will be part of the Arcade's 9-building complex featuring popular local restaurant, bar, and retail neighbors as well as the University of Dayton’s School of Entrepreneurial Leadership.[4] The inaugural exhibitions will feature three premieres, two produced exclusively for the opening.

The Contemporary Dayton officially opened its doors to its new home at the Dayton Arcade Friday, April 30, 2021, with a free opening party for the public. The grand opening exhibition featured the work of Dayton natives Zachary Armstrong, the late Curtis Barnes Sr., and Los Angeles filmmaker Cauleen Smith, artists who play a role in social justice education, community building, and social activism.[5]

Noteworthy Staff and Artists

Jane Black took over as DVAC's executive director in 2003 and initially oversaw a staff of three, including Patrick Mauk, an Ohioan printmaker who has taught at four-year universities in the area such as University of Dayton and Wright State University, and Janelle Young, an Ohioan photographer, and printmaker.

Eva Buttacavoli has been Executive Director of The Contemporary Dayton since December 2011. Before she served as the first executive director of FilmDayton where she promoted Dayton and its filmmakers as a resource for the industry through fundraising and marketing. Previously, she served as director of exhibitions and education at the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) for eight years where she developed the Museum’s lively, experimental and accessible programmatic identity. "When you have a period that does not have a name or definition. People have not put it in a box yet." Stated Eva in 2012 on the current Digital Arts Renaissance. "Right now, if you are reading the blogs and the art magazines there is not a name for this period of art right now, it's everything."[6]

Current staff in 2021 includes curator Michael Goodson who came from Columbus' Wexner Center for the Arts, Lauren Gleeson as Bookkeeper, Allison Messer is the director of Marketing, Beth DeVilbiss, event coordinator, and Cyndie King, curatorial assistant.[7]

Notable artist members of The Co are Jud Yalkut, an internationally known pioneer in the field of video art and Bing Davis.[8] In 2006, acclaimed sculptor, Jun Kaneko, presented his redesign for the opera Madame Butterfly in the gallery. A 2009 exhibit included work by Curtis Mann, a 2010 Whitney Biennial participant and in 2010 the "REACH Across Dayton" exhibit included work by Cuban-born artist Eduardo de Soignie and a public art installation by Juan-Si Gonzalez. A 2017 exhibit includes works by artist Glen Cebulash, professor and Art Department Chair at Wright State University.[9]

References
  1. "Dayton Visual Arts Center – DVAC". Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  2. "History/General Information | Dayton Visual Arts Center". Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  3. https://www.wyso.org/news/2018-11-26/a-new-name-only-the-first-step-in-dvacs-rebranding-to-become-the-contemporary
  4. https://www.daytonlocal.com/news/community/the-contemporary-dayton-moving-to-dayton-arcade.asp
  5. https://www.dayton.com/what-to-know/the-contemporary-dayton-opens-friday-in-new-dayton-arcade-home/2HD7EJ7EABFAPKRDDOFWV7UESY/
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The Contemporary Dayton. Art History w/Eva Buttacavoli. Pt.1. YouTube.
  7. https://thecontemporarydayton.org/
  8. Kenney, Jerry. "Local Artist Jud Yalkut Dies". Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  9. "The Shape of Art to Come". Retrieved May 2, 2017.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.