The Allied Artists of America is holding our 110th annual show on line - September 1, 2023 thru September 1, 2024 at alliedartistsofamerica.org. On September 9th, The Allied Artists of America held the opening of a special exhibition of 110th show award winners, special invitees, and Board Members at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. This exhibition ran from September 10 thru October 8, 2023. I was fortunate to attend the opening. 

The Butler is considered a premier collection of American art - I arrived early to visit parts of the museum I missed on my first visit last year. On the side of The Butler are some excellent sculptures by Gregory Perillo - Cry Of Vengeance and Bronco Buster. My dad used to collect small, desktop Western and Native American sculptures - Vengeance looks like one in his collection. Will need to check next time I visit my parents’ house. 

My first stop when I went into The Butler was to visit my quiet, stoic security guard friend. Last year when I visited the show, I tried to strike up a conversation with a security guard not knowing it was an ultra-realistic sculpture of a security guard by Marc Sijan. “Boy, you have a great view” - silence - “how rude!” Tried again - he still wouldn’t talk to me. 

I spent more time in the Sport as Theme room. Gary Erbe, an amazing artist and President Emeritus of Allied Artists, has two paintings in this room - a baseball and a golf-themed painting. I’m a big fan of Gary’s work. Was thrilled when an art critic compared my artwork to his - “if only I were worthy”. The detail in his work is freaky. The stitching in a baseball jersey looks sewn.  

I also spent some time with Albert Bierstadt’s The Oregon Trail. I love Bierstadt’s work. In my hometown museum in Reading, PA, there’s a large Bierstadt hanging in a stairwell landing - one of my favorites since my childhood. And, I seem to be called to Bierstadt’s work anytime I visit a museum with one in their collection.  

In an upper hallway, I was able to view some excellent paintings by Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso, Max Ginsburg, and Harvey Dinnerstein, all of whom are members of Allied Artists. We lost Dinnerstein last year - was able to pay my respects by spending some time with his painting. 

As I approached the end of a long hallway, I heard a familiar, unmistakable “ping…boop bap boop...gong!” “Where have I heard that before? Sounds like that sculpture in Philadelphia airport’s Terminal B-C baggage claim area.” I travel a bunch for business and have admired George Rhodes’ Cellestial Balldergarten as I’ve waited for my bags after a trip. Steel marbles roll down an array of Rube Goldberg tracks until they strike various bells, tambourines, chimes, wood blocks, and gongs - a pleasure for multiple senses. Sure enough, The Butler has a number of Rhodes’ kinetic sculptures in their collection. When visiting, be sure to check out Wall Piece ‘89, Blue Shamrock, and Wall Piece 1. 

George Rhodes’ Cellestial Balldergarten