Monday, May 17, 2010

Spring & Early Summer Images from Cleveland

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

Spring in Cleveland brings interesting weather, fascinating cloud patterns, and high contrast light. The low angle sun often provides interesting photo opportunities.

This image of Frank Geary's building on the Case Western Reserve campus was shot one early cloudy morning on my way to work. That's a great time to do photography. The sun is just coming up and it's low angle creates wonderful shadows, textures and highlights. Shot with an ultra wide angle lens and a circular polarizer the building looks like something from a Tim Burton movie.

Just a couple of mornings later bright sun creates contrasting reflections amidst pools of darkness.

A short walk away is the Cleveland Botanical Garden with an island of tulips greeting you at the main entrance. Continuing south on East Blvd, the Cleveland Museum of Art's new wing comes into view. It's lines offer start contrast to the original classical design.


Beyond this point the south stairs come into view with vistas of Wade lagoon and other scultpture.
With the Lagoon in the background, the morning sun washes across Chester A. Beach's "Fountain of the Waters" which sits by the south entrance to the museum. Beach was an American sculptor (1881 - 1956) and is known or his medallic art and busts.

A few miles west is the Playhouse Square area containing Cleveland's theater district. NPR affiliate WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream is headquartered there with its distinctive " Idea Center" vertical signage.

Remodelled Euclid Avenue sports modern bus shelters for the RTA Healthline as well as some interesting public art.

"Chorus Line Luminaries" by urban designer and public artist Stephen Manka challenges your vision with shifting colors as buses approach.

Manka's stainless steel sculpture is a stylized interpretation of dancers kicking in a Broadway chorus line. It is fascinating to study the light display from different angles. As the sun sets the backdrop of office buildings provide a canvas of many contrasts.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

From Mountain to Metropolis - Excerpts from Pearl Exhibition

Click on Image to Enlarge

Do you enjoy hiking in Cleveland's Metroparks? Do you like to peruse art galleries that feature local scenes?

This month you can do both at the North Chagrin Reservation. My solo exhibition "From Mountains to Metropolis" will be on display in the Nature Center gallery through the end of May.

"Walking Through Big Meadow"

The forty framed works show interpretive views of Cleveland's skyline, the Flats, and scenes from America's parklands. The show is free to the public and open daily from 9:30 A.M. to 5 PM. in the Nature Center adjacent to Sunset Pond. The park is accessible via the SOM Center Road entrance in Willoughby Hills.

Stuart Pearl in Sunset Pond Nature Center, N. Chagrin Reservation

"View From 42nd & Czar"

These photographs represent nearly four years of work and cover the beginning of my entry into digital photography in 2006.

"Wood Near McCauley Pond" - Shot while on vacation in the Adirondacks.


"Nowhere to Roll"

I 've seriously pursued the craft since 1969. However, my efforts from that period through this decade involved only 35mm and medium format film. With this body of work, I've digitally tried to capture familiar landmarks in a way that creates a unique viewpoint for the observer.


"Morning At Columbus Road"


"Rusted Vines Snowy Tents" Across from Settlers Landing in the Flats

"Timken Wheel and Friends"

"Marketable Sunset" End of the day at the West Side Market.