Press - Cleveland Plain Dealer, Connecting 13+

By Dan Tranberg

"There are a lot of artists here in Cleveland that really deserve to have a light shined on them," said Guy-Vincent Ricketti, owner of the new gallery Elevation Art, in Cleveland's theater district near Playhouse Square.

Ricketti will hold an opening reception for his premier exhibition, "Connecting 13+," from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at 1240 Huron Road, fifth floor, in the space formerly occupied by the gallery GSI Fine Art.

The show will feature a mixture of local artists (Jurgen Faust, Charles Tucker, Gerry Vandevier, Robert Jergens, Dennis Long, Michael Castellana, Dale Goode, Susan Squires, Robert Banks and James LoParo) and three Italian artists (Achille Pace, Luigi Boille and Aldo Bertolini).

Ricketti plans to take a similar approach with future shows, combining local, national and international artists.

"I feel a great passion to show the artists I believe in," he said.

A working artist himself, Ricketti has been an art consultant in Cleveland since the late 1980s, specializing in site-specific art. He often works with designers and architects to incorporate artwork into commercial spaces right from the initial plans. "Art shouldn't be an afterthought," he said.

While many have tried opening commercial galleries in Cleveland in recent years without success, Ricketti's enterprise seems promising for several reasons. For one, he has a great eye. The premier exhibition is full of strong works by interesting artists who almost never show in Cleveland.

"There are many, many artists here who have given up on the local scene," he said.

Ricketti hopes to change that by offering artists who generally fall under the radar an opportunity to show in a highly professional environment.

The new gallery is a spacious and beautifully designed space adjoining the offices of GSI Architects Inc., a major architectural firm.

Another promising aspect of Ricketti's approach is that he plans to continue working with architects and designers rather than just waiting for people to walk in off the streets. "I want to carry the vision of the artists out into the real world," he said.

Through his travels, both in the United States and abroad, Ricketti has formed personal relationships with artists such as Pace, who has represented Italy three times in the prestigious Venice Biennale and has work in museum collections throughout Europe and South America. Boille, another Italian artist in the first show, has work in museums in Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice and Berlin.

Closer to home, Ricketti often draws upon long-term relationships with local artists. He was once a student of Robert Jergens, for example, at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Ricketti is also exceptionally choosy about which of his artists' works he will show. "In most cases, it's a matter of getting into their studios and hand-picking the actual pieces," he said.

Considering Ricketti's connections, his passion for artists and his well-established professional history, Elevation Art may be exactly what Cleveland needs to give underrepresented artists local visibility.

"My goal," he said, "is to create the right environment in which artists can succeed."

"Connecting 13+" runs through Thursday, July 22. Call 216-430-2751.

Tranberg is an artist and writer living in Cleveland. Art Matters is a column that runs weekly in Friday! covering the area art scene. To be considered for publication, items about shows or openings must be received three weeks in advance. Mail to Plain Dealer Art Critic, 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114. Fax 216-999-6269.