News

Immediate Release: October 16, 2008
Digital Images Available Upon Request

Contact: Maria Ecks,
mecks@cia.edu, 216.421.7417
Bruce Checefsky
bchecefsky@cia.edu, 216.421.7407

Cleveland: For photo lovers, it’s the perfect time to focus on The Cleveland Institute of Art. On Friday, November 7, 2008, four photography-related events are developing at CIA: The grand opening of CIA’s newest exhibit, (RE)Imaging: Photography; The SPE Conference takes place; noted photographer Penelope Umbrico delivers her key ImageMaker address,’ and the Cinematheque screens the photo-related film, Guest of Cindy Sherman.

In (RE)Imaging: Photography, regionalism goes global in this unique, exhilarating exhibition of still and moving images by photographers from 10 countries around the world. Artists include Sze Tsung Leong, Richard Renaldi, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Didier Massard, Neeta Madahar, Tayna Marcuse, Shai Kremer, Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao, Barry Underwood, Mary Jo Toles, Nancy McEntee and Dominik Lejman.

"The landscape photograph often serves as a kind of peek behind the curtain, a glimpse at a place often unseen by the masses,” says Bruce Checefsky, Director of the Reinberger Galleries. "But unlike traditional landscape photographs that seek solace in nature, these photographs seek to find a place that has been changed, not always for the better, by human activity.”

The opening reception for (RE)Imaging: Photography takes place November 7 from 5–7 p.m. The Exhibition runs from November 7 to December 23, 2008 in the Reinberger Galleries at CIA, 11141 East Boulevard. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Galleries are closed on Sunday and Monday.

"If you enjoy photography as an amateur or a professional you’ll love this exhibition,” Checefsky says.

The Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Midwest Conference will hold this year’s session, Imag(in)ing the Future of Photography: The Photographic and the Digital at The Cleveland Institute of Art from November 6 – 8 , 2008. The general public is invited to attend individual events of the conference. The full schedule of events, and pricing, is located at www.midwestspe.org.

"The regional meeting that we are hosting at CIA allows members to meet annually in somewhat smaller sessions to share images, discuss pedagogy, share scholarship, and be inspired by some of the most talented image makers in the region,” says Nancy Stuart, Provost of CIA and a board member of the national organization of SPE. "It is also an opportunity to show off our photography program, faculty, and facilities as well as promote Cleveland's artistic culture.”

Also on Friday November 7, artist, Penelope Umbrico, will deliver the conference’s key ImageMaker address. Umbrico is currently the Chair of the MFA program in Photography at Bard College, and a member of the core faculty at the School of Visual Arts’ MFA program in Photography, Video and Related Media in NYC. Her work is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, International Center of Photography and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and more. Penelope Umbrico will speak at 6:30 in Aitkin Auditorium in the Gund Building on CIA. Admission is $10 for the general public.

To wrap up the evening, The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque will screen The Guest of Cindy Sherman. In the film, TV host Paul Hasegawa-Overacker (H-O) chronicles his former relationship with reclusive photographer Cindy Sherman. Filmmaker Paul Hasegawa-Overacker (H-O) will be in attendance this evening and will answer audience questions after the film. General admission is $8, and Cinematheque members and CIA students/staff admission is $6.

Founded in 1882, The Cleveland Institute of Art is an independent college of art and design committed to leadership and vision in all forms of visual arts education. The Institute makes enduring contributions to education and extends its programs to the public through gallery exhibits, lectures, a continuing education program and The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, an art and independent film program. Please visit www.cia.edu or call 216.421.7000 for more information.

"Sunset Fence"
Digital Lambda Print by Kelli Connell, courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, NYC

Founded in 1882, The Cleveland Institute of Art is an independent college of art and design committed to leadership and vision in all forms of visual arts education. The Institute makes enduring contributions to education and extends its programs to the public through gallery exhibits, lectures, a continuing education program and The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, an art and independent film program.