BY KATE BRAUER

Maybelle Stamper's "Mockery," 1948, is on display at the Weston Art Gallery.

Cincinnati art has a rich history and a strong tradition. This week, we take a closer look at some exhibitions that celebrate the colorful history of art in our city. ...

Have you ever wondered how Cincinnati fits into the modern art milieu? WESTON ART GALLERY (650 Walnut St., Downtown) answers this question brilliantly and demonstrates our illustrious past in the realm of modern art. Cincinnati Modern: Art & Design at Mid-Century contains a fascinating survey of the period from 1939 to 1960 when Cincinnati participated in the modern aesthetic. The exhibit was organized by independent curator DAVID LUSENHOP. Lusenhop weaves elements of the modern art movement such as artists, photographers, architects and collectors into a dazzling tapestry revealing the considerable contributions of Cincinnati. The show culminates with "Living With Modern Art & Design," which includes modern painting, furniture, architecture and design in one impressive installation. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Info: 513-977-4165. ...

An eclectic mix of media is on view in Northern Kentucky at the newest exhibition at THE ARTERY (913 Monmouth Ave., Newport). New Women's Work: A Group Exhibition of Works by Young Female Artists combines two floors of photography, paintings, video, sculpture and mixed media for a collection of diverse works. The photography by SHANNON SMITH, on display on the first floor, is compelling. Her "Female Surrounded," which depicts a woman trapped in a phone booth, effectively conveys a sense of urban anxiety. Go upstairs and you'll find some of the strongest pieces in the exhibition, including a video installation by JULIET RIOS, "I Love Mini," which utilizes a slow, melodic pacing of images and music. The effect is hypnotic and enjoyable. Also upstairs, two untitled paintings by KATIE SWARTZ illustrate the artist's ability and fine use of color. "Osmosis Dictionary," a mixed-media work by JULIA RANZ, is an intelligent addition to the exhibit. Ranz has taken the pages from a dictionary, torn each page into eighths and stuffed them into capsules. The capsules are about the size of an aspirin and have been hung in delineated bags on the wall. A statement by the artist explains her intention to continue the project by placing all 1,702 pages of the dictionary into 6,808 capsules and then placing them into a pillow to be slept on. "Osmosis Dictionary" touches on a variety of themes that convey a playful look at language and the acquisition of knowledge. All in all, The Artery has done a skillful job in collecting a talented group of artists for an effective exhibit. New Women's Work: A Group Exhibition of Works by Young Female Artists is a strong showing by one of the area's up-and-coming galleries. Gallery hours: noon-4 p.m. Saturdays, through July 14. Info: 859-431-8151. ...

Cincinnati artist TOM LOHRE is looking for a new home. Lohre's gallery in Hyde Park closed recently, leaving him in need of a gallery space to exhibit eight "art machines" that he describes as "novel, interesting and playful." Two of the art machines are human-powered and use a bicycle for their power source. The "Art Waterfall Bicycle" incorporates an exercise bike to run a water pump that makes a small rock erode into a sphere. This installation will be juxtaposed with the "Art Air Bicycle," which uses a bicycle to drive an enclosed propeller that will push the machine in the air from the helium balloons that are attached to it. It's thought-provoking, interesting stuff. Those interested in helping find a home for Lohre's exhibition should e-mail him at tlohre@attglobal.net. Info: www.tomlohre.com. ...

JULIE ARONSON has difficulty playing favorites. As Curator of American Painting and Sculpture for the CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM (953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park), she is thrilled about the recent donation of 78 paintings from the Cincinnati art collection of PROCTER & GAMBLE (see The Big Picture). Aronson came to the CAM in 1999 as the museum's first-ever curator of American art. Her hiring came on the tail of a visitor survey that revealed great interest in seeing more American art at the CAM. The works from P&G's collection will give visitors exactly what they have been asking for. Ask Aronson which paintings in the collection are her favorites, and she bubbles over, citing numerous works, including Robert Blum's "The Silk Merchant, Japan" and Elizabeth Nourse's "La Mere." "I just have so many favorites," she confessed. And she's confident CAM visitors will, as well.

E-mail Kate Brauer

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