The Lens

Covid-19 interrupted senior thesis shows throughout the region. Here’s how five art departments made do this spring—offering, perhaps, a taste of creative ways universities may have to again adapt in the fall.

The senior thesis show is a rite of passage for art students. It is their moment to show their work and skill—to take their art out of the classroom and to present it, in person, to the public at large. And for many, it functions as their debut into the professional art world. However, the global Covid-19... Continue reading Local Universities Honor Their Graduating Art Students Amid a Global Shutdown

Last week, three artists from the exhibition “Past as Present: Capturing and Archiving the Female Experience” headlined its opening reception. The event offered the pleasures one would expect from a FotoFocus-affiliated production: astonishing art, tasty refreshments, and a lively panel discussion featuring the artists themselves. But there was one twist. The event didn’t occur at the Contemporary Arts Center or a similar venue. Instead, it took place in the heart of the University of Cincinnati’s Clifton campus, at the DAAP Reed Gallery. FotoFocus has cultivated a rich relationship with higher education, even if that relationship sometimes gets overlooked. “Consistently, since the first Biennial in 2012,”... Continue reading FotoFocus Goes to College, or: Building Engagement with Photography by Collaborating With Higher Ed

There are more than 90—count 'em, more than 90—FotoFocus projects at museums and galleries across the region this Biennial. We know, it can be daunting. Sot here at The Lens, we want to help you navigate the shows scattered around town. Today, we’re talking about what’s happening in central and eastern parts of the Cincinnati region. Without further ado, here are three itineraries to choose from on the East/Central Neighborhood Spotlight Day, Saturday, October 27. All you need is an open mind, some time and an appetite for art. 1. Embed in Methods These days, we all have a powerful camera in our hands. Smart phones do the... Continue reading East/Central Neighborhood Spotlight: Three Itineraries for Oct. 27

As part of the 2018 Biennial, FotoFocus is featuring five Neighborhood Spotlight Days: Opportunities to visit multiple Participating Venues in certain geographic locations on a day when artists, curators, and more will likely be present, along with other neighborhood activities—a great chance to dive into the energy of the Biennial...and map out a plan to get to venues in a year with such a chock-full exhibition list. Each day, you’re invited on a journey through art and the communities hosting it. The Lens will tell you how to experience the stirring and sensational work spread across the region’s diverse and... Continue reading Camp Washington, Clifton, and Northside Get the FotoFocus Neighborhood Spotlight October 13

Two Participating Venues in this year’s FotoFocus Biennial feature exhibitions that explore the lives of refugees and immigrants, as seen through their own eyes. Prairie, Inc. in Northside will exhibit photographs made by clients of the local Refugee Resettlement Program in New American Stories, and the University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College Park National Bank Art Gallery will host an exhibition titled New World: Refugees and Immigrants Photograph the Experience of a New Life in America. For much of the past five years, photographer and Executive Director of Prairie, Inc. David Rosenthal has largely used his gallery as an office space and fabrication area related to ongoing... Continue reading Recent Arrivals: Two Upcoming FotoFocus Exhibitions Feature Artwork Created by Immigrants and Refugees