Bozartists at the TSA is a forthcoming exhibition staged in cooperation with Bozarts, LLC and The Toledo School for the Arts (TSA). The show aims to inspire a collaborative spirit among downtown art institutions and individuals. The featured artists have shown their work frequently at Bozarts, and owner Jerry Gray is eager to share the fruits of their labor with the young community of budding artists from TSA.
“I absolutely love the Toledo School for the Arts,” he said. “I am actually extremely jealous and can only imagine how different my life would be if I was raised in such an artistically nurturing academic environment.”
Participating artists include long-time supporters of Bozarts and the downtown arts, and iconic works from Jerry Gray, Anthony McCarty, Josh Byers, Yusuf Lateef, and Jefferson Nelson will be displayed. Gray commented, “The artists were selected because they are part of the core group of artists that have shown at Bozarts. They’re also close friends who were excited to be involved with the Toledo School for the Arts.”
Strength in numbers
Not long ago, Gray mentioned the idea of a Bozarts artists’ show at TSA to Dave Gierke (the school’s Director of Development) and Leslie Taylor (Gallery Director). The administrators then asked him to plan a group exhibition composed of artists with whom he often collaborated at Bozarts.
When asked about why he wanted to work with the school, Gray responded, “I really hope the students at TSA realize that being an artist doesn’t mean you have to be solitary, honing your craft locked away by yourself. There is strength in numbers that allows collaborative thought.”
Artful collaboration
The show will promote the importance of collaboration among downtown artistic institutions. “That was actually the entirety of the reason for the first ‘Tis the Secor’ I participated in,” Gray said. “The purpose was to bring high-caliber artists and organizations together under one roof for the holidays. We had the TSA, The Arts Commission, The Toledo Museum, The Toledo Opera, The Collingwood Arts Center, the Glacity Theater Group, over 40 artists, and 30-plus businesses that donated to a silent auction to benefit the Young Artists at Work program,” he explained.
Gray’s push for institutions and individuals to work together is something he takes very seriously. “It’s not just important, it’s vital and necessary for the next big push forward in Toledo.”
April 3-24, 2015. Toledo School for the Arts, 333 14th St. 8am-3:45pm, Monday-Friday.
