KATHRYN EARNHART | The Butlers '60s exhibit is blast from the past

As the holidays approach, the Butler Institute of American Art is busily unwrapping new exhibitions and events with a vitality that has become the hallmark of "America's Museum" and its dynamic exhibition program. Regional talent, internationally acclaimed photography, and the Butler's historic collection share the November spotlight.
Beginning Nov. 24 and running through Nov. 30, the Butler will salute an era with its exhibition of the "Art of the 1960s: Pop and the School of Color."
Works from the Butler's permanent collection along with select works on loan from private and museum collections combine for an overview of the art movements of the '60s -- Op, Pop, Photo realism and more.
Curated by Butler Director Dr. Louis Zona, this miniretrospective features innovative works by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Peter Max, Larry Rivers, Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist, Andy Warhol, Jim Dine, Malcolm Morley and Linda McCartney.
Area artists
Also on view through Nov. 24 at Youngstown's Butler Institute is the 66th Area Artists Annual Exhibition.
Works in all media by artists living within a 40-mile radius of Youngstown are featured in this yearly juried exhibition, sponsored in part by Bank One.
An invited element has been added to this year's show which was judged by Pittsburgh independent curator Vicky Clark. Invited artists include: Alexander P. DiGiacomo, Carol Begley, Mary Kay D'Isa, Tim Buckett, Rose Mary Buchman, Alex Kuthy, Maryann Cox Limmer, Julie DiSiena, Susan Jacobs, Henry Fusco, Judy Huber, Linda Hutchinson, Mary Jane Lynch and Tom Davidson.
Award winners include: Richard Brem, Kathi Ramunno-Finney, Richard Sulea, Maria Bertucci Karstadt, Jerry Domokur, James O'Malley, Stella Zeiger, Dawn Marr, Claudia Berlinski, Charles Jonesco and Dan Cefalde.
Nov. 24 is the last opportunity to view the exhibition "Ronald Davis: Forty Years of Abstraction" at the Butler in Youngstown. This retrospective exhibition, which includes the well-known constructions as well as new digitally mastered works, was organized by the Butler Institute.
A not-to-be-missed exhibition in the Youngstown Butler's Beecher Center Flad Gallery -- the film/computer installation by New York artists Jennifer and Kevin McCoy "Love and Terror" is on view.
This site-specific exhibition, designed by the Butler Institute, combines digital imagery with digital sound, and is the first Ohio exhibition of work by these internationally acclaimed new-age artists.
And Nov. 24 through Jan. 5, 2003, the Youngstown Butler's Mesaros Galleries a retrospective of the works of Patt Vaccaro will be featured.
This exhibition includes paintings and drawings by the much-respected regional artist.
A meet-the-artist reception is planned for Nov. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Last day
Today is the last day for the popular Butler Trumbull branch exhibition of "Expanding Boundaries: Works From the Art Quilt Network. & quot;
Art quilts have evolved in a very short time from traditional bed covers into wall hangings which deal with the same issues, themes and design problems encountered by artists in other mediums.
This exhibition, organized by Smith-Kramer, features one recent work from 38 selected artists from the Art Quilt Network.
Mother and son artists Abe and Simona Frajndlich, will display a selection of their photographs at The Butler Institute of American Art's Trumbull branch, beginning Nov. 24.
"Frajndlich & amp; Frajndlich: Scapes, City & amp; Land" is the first tandem exhibition of the duo's work.
On Nov. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. a public reception will be held to honor the artists at the Butler Trumbull branch which is funded by Foundation Medici.
Backgrounds
Abe Frajndlich was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and raised in Cleveland. An internationally renowned photographer, he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in English Literature from Northwestern University.
Abe began his photographic career in the 1970s as apprentice to photographer Minor White, and later studied with Nathan Lyons in Rochester, New York. Since 1984, the artist has lived and worked in New York City.
Abe Frajndlich's work has been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries worldwide, has been published in several monographs and featured in such publications as Life, The New York Times Magazine, London Sunday Times, ARTNews, and American Photographer.
This exhibition surveys nearly four decades of works of the city and landscape theme.
Simona Frajndlich was born in Poland and is a survivor of the Shoah. While spending time in a displacement camp in Germany, she organized a school for children who had also survived the Shoah. When the German universities reopened, she enrolled at a medical school in Heidelberg where she studied for two years. As she left Germany for America, Simona took along her most valuable possession -- her camera.
The artist assisted her physician husband in his Cleveland medical practice for many years. After Dr. Frajndlich's death in 1983, the artist returned to her camera, studying both black and white and color photographic methods, film developing and printing.
Three years ago, Simona began her current body of work which centers upon painting infra-red black and white photographs.
This exhibition includes many new works by the artist that utilizes this interesting and beautiful technique.
And at the Butler's Salem Branch, 343 East State Street, new works by regional painter Jennifer Lanza-Linn brightly fill the galleries. (The Butler Salem branch is funded by the Salem Community Foundation.)
'An American Holiday'
The Butler Institute of American Art will again present its annual Fine Art and Craft Show and Sale "An American Holiday" on Dec. 6-8 at the museum at 524 Wick Avenue in Youngstown.
The show, an exquisite display of works from more than 100 unique artisans, is celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year. An American Holiday is one of the region's most anticipated Christmas traditions.
In addition to the jewelry, furniture, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, wood, photography, decorative crafts, metal, glass and fiber art, this year's Butler craft show features several unique displays.
The "American Holiday" event begins Dec. 6 with a Butler members' preview from 7 to 10 p.m.
Dec. 7 and 8, the Butler's annual craft show will be open to the public.
For information regarding this very special service, call the museum (330) 743-1711, Ext. 112.
American Holiday event proceeds benefit the Butler's Children's Programs.
XButler hours in Youngstown are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4; p.m. Butler hours at the Trumbull branch are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Butler Salem hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to all three facilities is free.