Building Something New at Waterloo Arts in February

This month at Waterloo Arts, two artists are featured: Alex Vlasov, whose sculptural paintings encourage the viewer to see the art in common building materials and Anitra Frazier, who takes us back in time with paintings based on her family’s photographs.
Friday, February 3, during Walk All Over Waterloo, an opening reception will be held from 6pm-9pm for I Paint Houses, a collection of three-dimensional paintings by Alex Vlasov, which according to the artist, questions the boundaries of what a painting is. Vlasov’s playful use of fluorescent paint, plywood, drywall, concrete blocks, and other building materials as a canvas for his work illustrate his belief that when paint is applied to any surface, a painting is created, expanding the established idea of what a painting is. For the viewer, this exhibition challenges us to find the art in the everyday.
Russian born Vlasov is a student at the Cleveland Institute of Art, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His work was recently shown in two solo exhibitions, one at the Ann & Norman Roulet Student + Alumni Gallery in Cleveland and another at the Massillon Museum in Massillon, OH. I Paint Houses will be on view at Waterloo Arts Gallery February 3 through Saturday, March 25.
Also opening on February 3, in the café space of Waterloo Arts, is Back in the Day, an exhibition by Cleveland area artist Anitra Frazier. The artist explains that these paintings were inspired by family photos taken by her father with his Pentax film camera during her childhood growing up in Cleveland Heights in the 1970s and 1980s. The paintings are not only Frazier’s way of preserving these family mementos, but also offer a nostalgic view of childhood through the lens of the adult, evoking simpler times and precious memories.
Frazier specializes in realistic acrylic paintings. Her work can be found in many private collections and has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights, IL and at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, IL. Visitors to Waterloo Arts might remember seeing Frazier’s work included in the recent CAN Triennial 2022: You Are Here exhibit as well as DayGlo 9 and the 2020 Juried Exhibition. Back in the Day will be on view at Waterloo Arts from February 3 through March 4.
Looking ahead, opening on March 18 will be Bingo, I’m the King Now, a collection of ink drawings by Elena Masrour. As the artist explains, her work employs the techniques used to produce American Comics to discuss the oppression of Iranian women. Masrour represents “a generation of Iranian people who aspire to be modern at a time when religious leaders continue to weaponize the rules of God to maintain.” Masrour’s Bingo, I’m the King Now will be on view at Waterloo Arts March 18 through April 11.
Waterloo Arts is happy to announce that during Walk All Over Waterloo visitors will be able to purchase a selection of wine, local beers and craft cocktails. Please note that Walk All Over Waterloo will remain the first Friday evening of the month during February and March, with additional Sunday afternoon hours scheduled for February 5 and March 5, 12pm-4pm. Regular gallery hours are Thursday-Friday, 12pm-4pm.
The Cleveland Deep Listening Circle meets the last Sunday of the month in the café at Waterloo Arts, 6pm-8pm. Facilitated by Certified Deep Listening® instructors, Kristen Ban Drake and bbob drake, they describe Deep Listening® as “…a practice, pioneered by experimental composer Pauline Oliveros, which combines active listening, sonic meditation, collaborative performance, movement, and dreamwork. The goal of Deep listening is to enhance our awareness of sound, and to promote experimentation, improvisation, and playfulness…” Sessions are free (donations accepted) and open to all. Find out more at Cleveland Deep Listening Circle | Facebook .

All events, unless otherwise noted, are held at Waterloo Arts, 15605 Waterloo Road in the Waterloo Arts District. Visit our website, waterlooarts.org/ , call 216-692-9500 or email at info@waterlooarts.org for more information.