Butler show completes circle for late Youngstown artist

An interesting exhibition of paintings and drawings by the late Evelyn Killian brings the artist’s life full-circle. The exhibition runs through Aug. 30 at the Butler Institute of American Art on Wick Avenue.

Killian was born in Alabama in 1923, moved to Youngstown when she was a baby and spent her entire life here until she died in 2008.

The Rayen School graduate won a Butler art contest in 1942 for her painting “Cozy Corner.” As her prize, she went to Chicago to study art at Hull House. After a long sabbatical from art, she attended Youngstown University from 1962-63 to study commercial art and advertising. Her works have since been shown at a gallery in San Diego and at a number of local coffee shops.

Her son Tim Killian of San Diego told me that he wishes his mother was alive today to see the Butler exhibition. “It has come full circle for her,” he said. “Her first exhibit was at the Butler when she was in high school, and she won a scholarship for that piece, ‘Cozy Corner.’

“It has taken this long to have her works exhibited [at the Butler] again.”

Tim said his mother loved to draw caricatures of people at parties, in the park, or just in the neighborhood. When asked if the subject matter derived from specific people in Youngstown, he said no; they were created in her imagination.

FILMMAKER SCOUTS CITY AS SITE FOR NEW PROJECT

Cincinnati filmmaker Jim Amatulli is hoping to shoot his next movie in Youngstown.

Amatulli is in the city this week to scout locations and meet with officials. He’s hoping to obtain financial assistance, including a float loan, from the city to help make the film a reality.

It’s still early in the process, but if he gets the green light and then is able to line up some investors to back him, Amatulli could begin work as early as this fall. The film is “Life After,” which will have a budget somewhere between $2 million and $4 million. Amatulli wrote the script and will be the director. He plans to use Hollywood-level actors for the leads, and local actors for the other roles.

“Life After” is about a man who loses his career job and then pursues his dream of being a landscape architect. He takes a job at an impressive old cemetery, and moves his wife and daughter into the spooky caretaker’s house.

There, he makes contact with a restless spirit, and also pursues an urban legend about hidden treasure.

Amatulli already has found the perfect spot to shoot most of the film: Oak Hill Cemetery in Youngstown.

Amatulli was brought to Youngstown by Fred D’Amico, who is working on starting a film industry in the city. His previous films include “Flying By,” starring Billy Ray Cyrus, and “Artworks,” starring Virginia Madsen.

ACTOR FROM CANFIELD LANDS SEVERAL ROLES

Speaking of movies, Christopher Mele of Canfield is staying busy with some roles in movies and small-screen series.

Mele got into acting a couple years ago and already has appeared in some major films. He played an NFL scout in the 2014 film “Draft Day,” starring Kevin Costner.

Next up for Mele is “Banshee,” a series on Cinemax. He will play the role of a prison commissioner in an episode that will air this fall.

Mele also will be seen in two episodes of “The Outsiders” this fall on cable network WGN America. He plays a store manager in a small Kentucky town.

You also will see him on MTV’s “Broke A$$ Game Show” later this month. He plays a French painter, trying to entice park visitors to play along with the game show.

Mele also has a role in the film “Madtown,” which stars Milo Ventimiglia and is still seeking distribution.

HOOKAH CAFe opens Monday The Hookah Cafe, located behind the Circle Deli, downtown Youngstown, opens Monday. The bar and restaurant features a large covered outdoor deck in the parking lot off West Commerce Street. It will have a full bar, hookah pipes to rent and a Middle Eastern menu. The grand opening will be in a few weeks, says owner Al Adi.

NORTHERN WHALE at FESTival

Northern Whale, the rising alt-rock band from Youngstown, will play the first day at the Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, Sept. 5 and 6. Headlining that festival is Young the Giant, Ludacris, AWOLNATION, St. Vincent and O.A.R.

Northern Whale is Jake Capezzuto (vocals, keys, percussion), Scott Davis (guitar, vocals), Brandon Fisher (guitar, drums, vocals) and Jake Stephens (bass, keys). The band’s latest release, “The Flawed Album,” came out in February.

‘BAR RESCUE’ CANDIDATES?

A scouting crew from Spike reality series “Bar Rescue” was in the downtown Youngstown area recently. It’s too soon to say which (if any) local bar will be picked for the show, which revives struggling bars.