It’s clearly difficult to categorize the 2015 autumn art season. Two shows embrace baseball themes, and one touches on the Three Graces of ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Other exhibitions discuss subjects ranging from UFOs to the impact of outside cultural influences on artists.
The Everson Museum of Art (401 Harrison St.; 474-6064) is the venue for Three Graces, named after goddesses personifying elements of creativity: wonder, joy and beauty. The exhibit features work by three contemporary artists. Tony Feher is known for sculptures made from found materials and everyday objects, and for site-specific installations. Carrie Moyer’s paintings combine bold colors and biomorphic forms. And Polly Apfelbaum creates vibrant fabric and clay sculptures. Three Graces runs Sept. 25 to Jan. 3, while the companion exhibit Joy, Beauty & Wonder (Sept. 26 to Nov. 15) displays photos taken by members of the public that explore the notion of creativity.
The Everson Plaza will also be the outdoor location for Urban Cinematheque 2015, the annual end-of-summer free event on Sept. 4, 7 to 10 p.m., presented in conjunction with Light Work Gallery and the Urban Video Project. Expect representatives from more than 30 local arts organizations, as well as a gaggle of food trucks, free popcorn and lemonade, and a screening of the action-packed blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road.
At the Community Folk Art Center (805 E. Genesee St.; 442-2230), Resistance draws on a series focusing on struggles for civil and human rights. Najee Dorsey’s mixed-media pieces depict both current-day demonstrators and figures such as Rosa Parks and Toussaint L’Ouverture, leader of the Haitian revolution more than 200 years ago. There will be an opening reception on Sept. 10, 6 to 8 p.m.; Dorsey will give an artist’s talk on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Light Work Gallery (316 Waverly Ave.; 443-1300) is showing images by the late Rotimi Fami-Kayode and the winners of the 2015 Light Work grant awards. Fami-Kanode, who was born in Nigeria and spent much of his adult life in London, created photos dealing with desire and spirituality, ancestral rituals and cultural dislocation. The awards show displays images from diverse projects: Allison Beonde’s reflections on alleged sightings of UFOs at Roswell, N.M., in 1947; documentation of Rust Belt life in Binghamton and surrounding towns by Costa Sakellarious; and The Unwanted, Thilde Jensen’s haunting photos of people living on Syracuse streets. Light Work will host a reception on Sept. 17, 5 to 7 p.m.
SU Art Galleries (Shaffer Art Building; 443-3127) is now featuring James Rosenquist: Illustrious Work on Paper, Illuminating Paintings (through Nov. 22), which traces a career spanning five decades. It presents 35 of his works including large-scale prints, works on paper and sketches, studies and collages. British Prints in the Age of Pop and The New Humanists: Introspective Impressions from the Syracuse University Art Collection are also on display through Sept. 27. A reception is scheduled for Sept. 10, 5 to 7 p.m.
Global Citizen: The Graphic Art of Marlene Buzcek Smith runs Sept. 12 to Oct. 24 at ArtRage Gallery (505 Hawley Ave.; 218-5711). Her sparse, expressive prints discuss topics such as torture and political repression. In “Voices of Freedom,” a dove flies above two figures wrapped in chains. The artist will speak on Sept. 12, 4 p.m., followed by a reception from 7 to 9 p.m.
Two shows center on America’s pastime. At the Syracuse Tech Garden (235 Harrison St.; 470-1970), The Boys of Summer: Baseball Meets Art (through Oct. 2) presents a range of work ranging from photos and pastels to collages and mixed-media works. It’s a wide-open exhibit offering pieces steeped in realism, fantasy and other sensibilities.
La Casita Cultural Center (109 Otisco St.; 443-8743) will display Beisbol at the Heart of Our Latino Communities from Sept. 15 to Dec. 11. It encompasses baseball memorabilia as well as photos and videos of grassroots participants, including Little League players, coaches and parents. A Sept. 15 reception will run from 6 to 8 p.m.
Edgewood Gallery (216 Tecumseh Road; 445-8111) will be hanging A Conscious Allusion from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23. The show features Nicora Gangi’s pastels and oils, glass bowls co-created by Doug Williams and Jason Howard, and Gail Sustare’s jewelry. The opening reception is on Sept. 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
Le Moyne College’s Wilson Art Gallery (Noreen Reale Falcone Library, 1419 Salt Springs Road; 445-4100) will exhibit artworks by faculty members Barry Darling, Jen Gandee, Katya Krenina and David Moore. They will be feted at a Sept. 11 reception from 4 to 6 p.m. The show closes Oct. 2, succeeded Oct. 9 by Mark Topp’s solo exhibition.
Gandee Gallery (7846 Main St., Fabius; 416-6339) is preparing for The Almighty Cup, a national juried exhibit displaying cups made by artists from Central New York and around the country. The cups fall into various genres: functional, metaphorical and others. An opening reception is scheduled for Oct. 3, 6 to 8 p.m; the show closes Nov. 22.
At the Manlius Library (1 Arkie Albanese Drive, Manlius; 682-8400), Associated Artists is presenting its 89th juried show. This one displays work by Karen Harris, Roscha Folger and Audrey Decker, among other artists. An opening reception is slated for Sept. 13, 2 to 4 p.m.
Baltimore Woods Nature Center (4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus; 673-1350) will showcase Lucie Wellner’s watercolors and Robert Glisson’s paintings. A Sept. 19 reception begins at 2 p.m.
Water Effect: Art Inspired by Water runs Aug 29 to Oct. 18 at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center (205 Genesee St., Auburn; 255-1553). A roster of 57 artists have created photos and paintings, video and sculptures. The Sept. 4 opening reception runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (3883 Stone Quarry Road, Cazenovia; 655-3196) is the site for Jeff Rose’s one-man show (through Sept. 27) as well as the outdoor installation “Spheres” (through Sept. 26). Each weekend, students from Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF will assemble red disposable cups that were once discarded and will now be part of an installation.
Tyler Art Gallery, on the SUNY Oswego campus (Penfield Library; Route 104; 312-2113), will showcase Origins: Tradition & Innovation from Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. The group show investigates contemporary art connected to traditional forms, craft and folk art. The 13 artists include Kara Walker and Faith Ringgold, as well as Syracuse artists Lauren Bristol and David MacDonald. The gallery has scheduled a reception for Sept. 16, 5 to 7 p.m.
SUNY Cortland’s Dowd Gallery ((607) 753-4216) is the venue for Syracuse artist Sarah McCoubrey’s one-woman exhibit (Aug. 31 to Oct. 15), which will feature butter-paper drawings and other works. A Sept. 3 reception takes place from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Finally, the Picker Art Gallery, on the Colgate University campus (228-7634), will host an exhibition of multimedia works by Jaye Rhee. The show will run from Sept. 17 to Jan. 3.
