KATHRYN EARNHART | The Butlers Butler Institute displays colorful summer fare

As summer sizzles, within the galleries the Butler Institute of American Art and its two branch museums cool relief can be found along with an array of colorful exhibitions to delight visitors of all ages.
From holograms and other digital artworks to traditional paintings included in the 67th National Midyear exhibition, July is a perfect time to visit the Butler Institute with family and out-of-town visitors.
Some highlights of Butler summer fare are as follows.
Through Aug. 17, The Pilot Hill Collection of Contemporary Art is on view within the second-floor galleries of the Butler Institute.
The exhibition is drawn from the personal holdings of John and Jane Fitz Gibbon, whose California home has been a retreat, salon and setting for artists for more than half a century.
This exhibition includes works by such noted artists as Diebenkorn, Bischoff and Linhares.
This show, which includes a full color catalog authored by John Fitz Gibbon, was also seen at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and is made possible locally by the Beecher Foundations.
Annual Midyear Show
Also on view at the Butler in Youngstown through Aug. 24 is the 67th National Midyear Show.
This annual summer show, a juried exhibition, features works in all paint media by artists from across the nation.
This year's show was judged by distinguished American painter John Alexander.
The exhibition, which features 90 works by 70 artists, is made possible in part by Dianne B. Bernhard and Jim & amp; Sara Kennedy.
In the Butler Institute's Beecher wing (through Aug. 15) is "Shu-Min Lin: Glass Ceiling and Other Works."
Shu-Min Lin's holographic masterworks have been exhibited and admired worldwide.
"The Glass Ceiling," an installation work included in the Butler show, was presented in 2001 at the Venice Biennale.
This show offers the rare opportunity to interact with a work of art by walking upon its surface -- an experience not to be missed.
Through July 20, the works of internationally renowned sculptor Manolo Vald & eacute;s are on view at the Butler's Trumbull branch, located at 9350 East Market Street in Howland.
Works in two and three dimensions by this internationally renowned Spanish artist are included in the exhibition, the first in America since Valdes' Guggenheim retrospective in Bilbao, Spain.
Geometric abstractionist
And beginning Aug. 3 through Sept. 28, the Trumbull Butler will be the site for an exhibition of the recent work of famed American geometric abstractionist Al Held.
The Butler Trumbull branch is funded by Foundation Medici.
Opening July 26 and continuing through Aug. 24 at the Butler Salem branch is an exhibition of recent works by accomplished Cleveland artist Barbara Stanczak.
The show, titled "Intuitive Parallels" includes sculpture, reliefs and photographs.
A meet the artist reception is planned for July 26 from 1-3 p.m. at the Butler in Salem.
The Butler Salem branch, at 343 East State Street, is funded by The Salem Community Foundation.
Visitors are welcome to The Butler Institute of American Art to observe the museum's annual day camp for children with special needs, Tuesday through Friday and July 22-25, 2003.
The much-heralded program, designed for young people from special constituencies, and is conducted within the galleries of the historic Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown.
This year marks the 50th consecutive year for the program.
Campers reside in Mahoning, Columbiana, or Trumbull counties in Ohio, or in Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania.
Summer camp
The Butler Summer Art Day Camp format is based upon an interdisciplinary, hands-on, experimental approach to learn about the arts: visual art, music, drama, and dance. The camp is staffed by professionals in the various arts disciplines as well as volunteers from throughout the community.
Call (330) 743-1107, Ext. 114, for more information on this unique program.
There are still a few openings for those interested in join Butler Director Dr. Louis Zona and others who love art and New York City for a spectacular tour Sept. 17-21.
This year's Butler New York City tour includes a trip to Queens to visit the Museum of Modern Art/Queens where an exhibition of that prestigious institution's permanent collection is on view while the famed 53rd Street location undergoes extensive restoration. Also on view at MOMA/QNS are works by Modernist master Max Beckman and photographs by the legendary Ansel Adams.
A visit to the Noguchi Garden Museum and the SculptureCenter are also featured during the Queens' stop of the Butler art tour.
The Butler's annual New York City tour also includes a trip to the well-known Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park as well as a trip to Dia Beacon in Beacon, N.Y.
A visit to the Soho studio of prominent realist painter John Alexander rounds out the Butler's New York City tour.
All of this and much, much more including great food, shopping and superb accommodations are including in this fall tour organized exclusively for The Butler Institute of American Art by Burger Travel of Youngstown.
For information and/or a complete itinerary, call (330) 744-5035.
Sunday film series
Thanks to the generous donation of the personal collection of artist Gary T. Erbe (Union City, New Jersey), The Butler Institute of American Art will begin a Sunday afternoon film series featuring classic Hollywood movies, vintage television programs, cartoons and documentaries.
This program, the Erbe Art of Film Series, is free and begins at 1 p.m. today in the Butler's Zona Auditorium in the Butler's Beecher Wing (main floor).
For more information on the Erbe Art of Film Series, contact the Butler (330) 743-1711, Ext. 216, or visit the museum's Web site at www.butlerart.com.
News of local artists includes the Ohio Watercolor Society's 26 Annual Exhibition Sept. 20 through Oct. 31 at the Zanesville Gallery in Zanesville, Ohio.
Artists from our area included in the show are Chris Leeper, Mary Kay D'Isa, Lynne Rosati and Mieze Riedel.
For more information, call D'Isa at (330) 782-2348.
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.