By Fran Watson

KIM KRAUSE admits it was a little strange to have people wandering into the studio in Munich as he painted, commenting on color and direction as naturally as if he were a routine phenomenon of daily life in the German city. "They would just hop on a bus a couple of days a week and drop by to see how things were going with the work," he says, adding that they also offered advice on how to proceed, a definite no-no with artists. But it was all part of a curated cultural exchange between the two cities at the invitation of Munich Kulturreferat. For three weeks last March, he, PAIGE WILLIAMS, KEITH BENJAMIN, MARK FOX and STEWART GOLDMAN were asked to transform Munich's immense Rathausgalerie into studio space, with a goal of hanging the resulting work in the gallery at the end of that time. A catalog was printed documenting their work, and the experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with cutting-edge German artists, to live with families and fit into their society, however briefly, and to work and exhibit in one of newest galleries in the most prestigious area of Munich, the Marienplatz. Considering the cultural ties our own Art Academy historically shares with Munich, it was probably a bit of old home week all around.

Pick a gallery. Any gallery. Cincinnati offer everything from recycled throw-aways at the Contemporary Arts Center to smooth sculpture and abstract paintings at Malton Gallery. September is the traditional big show time in art, and a day (actually, a week might do it) spent investigating fresh art-ventures could be the best time you ever invested. The UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI'S MEDICAL LIBRARY (513-558-5627) does When the Dress Makes the Monk, paintings, drawings, masks, sculptures and maquettes by DEAN MOGLE, head of CCM's costume design department at the University of Cincinnati. Reception to meet the artist will be Sept. 28 from 4-6. Show runs through Oct. 5.

It could have been the terrific title -- Art in the Grass -- that makes this sound good, but looking over the list of participating artists, curator FARRON ALLEN, ROY CARTWRIGHT, JANE CASH, STUART FINK, DAVID HUG, KIRK MAYHEW, CHERYL PANNABECKER, CHARD SCHOLTEN, and PAIGE WIDEMAN, there's obviously more than just a title to dropping by Stuart Fink's Ohio River Grass, now owned by Cooper Burchenal. These easy maintenance grasses have blossomed into an area planting frenzy, with one or more in every landscape, predictably providing a picturesque background for fine sculpture such as these artists invariably produce. Reception Friday, 6-8 p.m. Through Sept. 30. Info: 513-871-1158.

"It's all about being in the right place at the right time ... and having a camera helps," says photographer HANK SCHNEIDER, whose Images will be displayed at THE HERITAGE VILLAGE MUSEUM in Sharon Woods. Soothing visions will benefit the Ellen Schneider Foundation of the East Galbraith Health Care Community, a non-profit organization devoted to education about the aging process and long-term care. Opening reception Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Info: 513-563-9484.

E-mail Fran Watson

Building the Arts (August 30, 2001)
Is That You, Pablo? (August 23, 2001)
Docentitos, Olé! (August 16, 2001)
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