Gallery W at American Greetings Exhibits 'Constructions'

Art is undoubtedly impacted by variables like location, materials, concepts, tools and processes. The upcoming exhibit at Gallery W, the public art gallery located on the ground floor of the new American Greetings Creative Studios world headquarters, is titled "Constructions" as a nod to the these dynamic variables and how their effects can be both an unseen influence and a tangible centerpiece in a finished work of art. Mixing photography, sculpture and installation, the show features works from Barry Underwood, Sarah Kabot, Joseph Minek and Jerry Birchfield. "Constructions" will be on display from Thursday, July 6 through Friday, August 25, 2017, and the public is welcome at the opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13.

Underwood, an associate professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), is best-known for his celebrated photography that juxtaposes landscapes with foreign materials and serves as commentary on the impact of human activities.

"My landscape installations and photographs purposefully refer to color-field painting and contemporary approaches to abstraction," said Underwood. "The conversations Joe, Jerry, Sarah and I have had on these topics deeply impact my approach to composing and contextualizing my work."

Kabot, an associate professor at CIA, is a renowned installation artist whose work takes "visual cues and materials from a location to create a secondary experience of that location." The photographic works of Cleveland-based artists Minek and Birchfield complement Underwood's use of color and light and Kabot's revelation of structure. Minek, an adjunct faculty member at CIA and Cuyahoga Community College, translates photographic materials into images beyond the traditional processes highlights the endless possibilities by pushing boundaries. Birchfield, also an adjunct faculty member at CIA, beautifully illustrates how each moment in the process of creating an image becomes part of the piece itself.

The opening reception will feature an outdoor summery string mix of upbeat classical, eclectic covers, and improvisational music performed by Cleveland's OPUS 216 - featuring Ariel Clayton Karas on violin and Erica Snowden on cello. For more on Opus 216, visit http://www.arielclayton.com./opus-216.

Please visit the Gallery W website for the hours the gallery is open, information about upcoming shows and more. For more art, inspiration and peeks behind the scenes, you can also follow Gallery W on Instagram.

For more information on American Greetings, visit www.corporate.americangreetings.com. You can also follow American Greetings on Twitter, Facebook, American Greetings blog, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.

About American Greetings

As a leader in meaningful connections, American Greetings is a creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in making the world a more thoughtful and caring place. Founded in 1906, the Company's major greeting card lines are American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus, and other paper product offerings include DesignWare party goods and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards. American Greetings also has one of the largest collections of greetings on the Web, including greeting cards available at Cardstore.com and electronic greeting cards available at AmericanGreetings.com. In addition to its product lines, American Greetings also creates and licenses popular character brands through the American Greetings Entertainment group. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.8 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide. For more information on the Company, visit www.corporate.americangreetings.com.