Venues

Let's Face It: Photographic Portraits by Melvin Grier, Michael Kearns, and Michael Wilson
October 6–November 12

Exhibition Reception
Sunday October 7, 2 pm–4 pm 

What's in a glance? What can we learn, what can we know by simply looking at someone? It's a strange but important question given that we're a nation obsessed with faces. For generations we've been told that our eyes are windows to the soul. We believe that we can know a lot about a person's character, thoughts and intentions by studying his or her face. But what is in a glance?

This exhibit, featuring large-scale black and white portraits by three local photographers, will address these, and other related issues, arising within the art of portraiture.

Photojournalist Melvin Grier worked for the Cincinnati Post from 1974 to 2007. He retired December 31, 2007, the same day the Post ceased publishing. On assignments, Grier has traveled to Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Kenya, Puerto Rico, Somalia, Vietnam, and the Virgin Islands. In addition to receiving 10 photography awards from the Society for Professional Journalists, Grier has earned accolades from the Associated Press Society of Ohio, Press Club of Cleveland, Ohio News Photographer Association, United Press International, and Cincinnati Magazine. His work has appeared in dozens of exhibits in Greater Cincinnati, and he was named the 2004 Robert A. Duncanson Artist in Residence at the Taft Museum. Grier was inducted into the Society of Professional Journalists (Cincinnati Chapter) Hall of Fame (2003) and the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of  Fame (2004).

Michael Wilson's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions including the Cincinnati Art  Museum, Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati, Ohio), Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, and J.B. Speed Museum (Louisville, Kentucky). His work is represented in the corporate collections of E.W. Scripps, PNC Bank, Frost & Jacobs, Deloitte & Touche, Duke Energy, and Nonesuch Records. He is also represented in the collections of the Cincinnati Art Museum and J.B. Speed Museum. His work in the music industry is the most recognizable face of his freelance work. Among the artists he has photographed are Lyle Lovett, B.B. King, Waylon Jennings, Randy Newman, Emmylou Harris, Bill Frisell, David Byrne, Doc Watson, Philip Glass, Dawn Upshaw, Steve Reich, Ben Folds, Robert Plant, and Dr. John.

Michael Kearns is a photographer and writer living in Milford, Ohio.

Kennedy Heights Arts Center is a non-profit community arts center founded in 2003 with a mission of enhancing the life of the surrounding community through arts and cultural experiences that embrace diversity, foster creativity, and build community. Housed in the historic Kennedy Mansion, the Center presents rotating art exhibitions and provides arts education programming and events for youth and adults.