CROSSCURRENTS 2010 OPEN AT STIFEL FINE ARTS CENTER;
WINNING ARTISTS ANNOUNCED

WHEELING, W.Va. (February 8, 2010)- - Attracting some of the finest artwork from the tri-state region for more than 30 years, Oglebay Institute’s annual Crosscurrents Exhibition is now open to the public at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling.

Two hundred and fifty entries from 94 artists were received this year; 73 were selected for the multi-media exhibition, which can be viewed free of charge through March 27.

Each year artists who reside within an 80-mile radius of Wheeling submit hundreds of works and vie for a chance to exhibit in this show. Jurors choose the works for the exhibit and award cash prizes to winning artists.

Winners for Crosscurrents 2010 are: Robert Villamagna, $350 first place for his mixed media "Red Pig"; Herb Weaver, $300 second place for his ceramic "Four Play" and
Alfred Tuttle, $250 third place for his wood chair "WV Dreaming, Adirondack Variations.” Those receiving honorable mention ribbons for this year’s exhibition are:
Georgia Tambasis, Robert Sako, Laura Thrasher, Steve Opet and Nanci Yeager.

This year’s juror is Jason Lee, Assistant Professor of Sculpture and Foundations Coordinator in the Division of Art and Design at West Virginia University.

Lee, a multi media sculptor and installation artist, incorporates a wide variety of materials and techniques into his oddly humorous constructions and presentations. He has exhibited at 16 Beaver Space in New York, Spaces Gallery in Cleveland, The Contemporary Arts Collective in Las Vegas, The Soap Factory in Minneapolis, Western Exhibitions in Chicago, The Wisconsin Triennial and the Cleveland Museum of Art as well as having a solo show of his work in the Museum Of Contemporary Art Cleveland’s Curve series in 2004. Lee’s work was featured in the 2007 “Beyond/In New York” exhibition in Buffalo, the 2008 “Global Warming at the Icebox” in Philadelphia and was included in the 2008 Ohio+5 exhibition in Athens, Ohio. Lee also received the 2008 SECAC Individual Artists Fellowship

In his juror’s statement Lee said that the work submitted was “of high professional quality,” which made his job as a juror very difficult.

“As I looked over the submitted work I was both impressed by the wide variety of media represented as well as the range of individual inspiration for creating the work. All manner of artistic expression were represented,” he said. “Sculpture, ceramics, quilting, watercolor, glass, furniture, oil and acrylic paintings, photography, pencil and pastel drawings, prints and computer generated imagery all were present in the work of this wonderful region’s artists.  As an artist myself, I know what goes into the process of art making, and again I must say I was impressed.”

United National Bank partnered with Oglebay Institute to present the 2009-2010 season of art exhibitions at the Stifel and is proud to take an active role in support of art in the Upper Ohio Valley.

Crosscurrents 2010 can be seen free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday –Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through March 27. Evening hours are dependent on classes and special events. Please call 304.242.7700 for more information. Many of the works on display can be purchased.

Located at 1330 National Road in Wheeling, Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center is conveniently located just off exit 2B of 1-70. Also a teaching facility, the Stifel welcomes students of all ages to its ongoing classes in art, dance, fitness, cooking and more.

Part of the Helen B. Gaither Exhibition Season, the Crosscurrents Exhibition was also made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

Programs, activities and services of Oglebay Institute are provided equally without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex or disability.