The September issue of Aeqai has just posted.  We waited one extra week to post so that we could begin to cover some of the numerous FotoFocus exhibitions that are all over the region, under the title “Open Archive”, curated, again , by New York Curator Kevin Moore.  FotoFocus is now the largest photography festival in The United States. We also have other reviews of other shows unrelated to FotoFocus, too.

Of the FotoFocus shows covered this month, we recommend Jonathan Kamholtz’s review of “Flyover Country” at Xavier University, which looks at the work of numerous area photographers examining The Midwest, as it’s sometimes derogatorily called on the Coasts.  Some of our best talent is exhibiting their work in this show, also curated by five area photographers.  Chris Carter reviews the work of Chris Engman at The Weston Gallery in The Aronoff Center with a terrifically clear and thorough review of that artist’s work there.  Aeqai’s fashion critic Jennifer Perusek reviews fashion photos made by premier Cincinnati photographer and former ” Cincinnnati Post” photojournalist Mel Grier, which are wonderful, at Behringer-Crawford in Covington, Kentucky.  Karen Chambers examines the photographic work of PJ Sturdevant , also at Xavier University, who documents buildings which may no longer exist.  Russell Hausfeld examines and analyzes new photographic work by four Chinese women photographers at The Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Other reviews include Cynthia Kukla’s gorgeous review of the “Collecting Calligraphy: Arts of the Islamic World” show at Cincinnati Art Museum, the basis of which is a collection of Arab/Muslim calligraphy recently donated by a Cincinnati couple, and also includes the Museum’s own holdings in this area (our museum is known for its extensive Middle Eastern holdings).  Tony Huffman reviews a brilliant show covering many aspects of today’s social justice and environmental concerns at The Rubin Foundation in New York City.  Joelle Jameson looks at a show based upon Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick”, maritime paintings, in Boston.  Annabel Osberg reviews work  by Jeff Keens in Los Angeles, and Martha Dunham, magnificent sculptures by Philip Levine in Seattle.  Will Newman also reviews the performance by Raquel Andre at The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati.

Marlene Steele brings her painter’s background in a review of a National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society show at Eisele Gallery in Fairfax, Cincinnati, while Amy Bogard reviews exciting work by Karla Batres Gilvin at The Eva Ferris Gallery at Thomas More College in Northern Kentucky.  Kent Krugh’s monthly FotoFolio gives us images by Enrique Leal. Laura Hobson offers an insightful look into the world of handmade paper by Margaret Rhein and a group of craftswomen with whom she works regularly in Cincinnati.  Megan Bickel reviews work by Joan Tanner at the Cressman Center for the Visual Arts at The University of Louisville.

We’re also reprinting catalogue essays by Chris Carter, commissioned by Michael Mergen for his photo show at Visionaries and Voices, and my own for Kevin Kelly’s show at Alan Avery Art Company in Atlanta, with permission.  I also offer four book reviews this month, of “My Year of Rest and Relaxation”, by Ottessa Moshdegh;  “The Silence of the Girls” by Pat Barker; “Lake Success” by Gary Schteyngart; and “War and Peace”, by Leo Tolstoy, which I read for the first time in the dog days of August.

Our September issue is meant to show the eclecticism of art being made and exhibited around our region and nationally, with a particular emphasis on photography.  Our October issue will offer a larger number of photography reviews, including shows at Cincinnati Art Museum, Taft Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Center, work by Tina Guiterriez in Cincinnati, a review of Ann Segal’s new video, photos by Courtney Hubbes at The Art Academy and quite a few others.  Our Baltimore critic, Bret McCabe, will return, as will our new Washington critic, Sarah McGavern. We’ll also be reviewing Guest Curator Kent Krugh’s exhibition on photographs made by new immigrants to Cincinnati on display at UC Clermont Gallery.

We hope that you find this issue stimulating, and that you’ll let us know your thoughts.  Cllick onto www.aeqai.com/main to go directly to the site.

Daniel Brown

Editor, www.aeqai.com