Adam Kolp - Coming to terms with the fact that I was losing my eyesight was actually when I first began to see the world much more clearly. We often spend our days over scheduled with things to do and places to be. Consumed by brief memories of what something was or the thought of what it could have been, we then quickly move on to the next pressing moment. We can easily get caught up living in this rapid paced blur, and unknowingly are missing out on the incredible beauty that surrounds us in any given moment. I realize that losing my eyesight was a wake up call. I needed to take the time to see the world we live in. It is such a beautiful and inspiring gift to have the opportunity to slow down and appreciate every moment and each amazing experience. This was the turning point for who I am now and the artist that I have become.

To View Adam’s Work Click: Here

Robert Coomer - Robert Coomer is an internationally recognized, award winning photographer who grew up on a farm in Brown County, Ohio. Art has always been a part of his life and in 1994 he graduated with a BS degree in Graphic Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning. He draws from his farm roots to shoot images of backyard wildlife, old barns, farmscapes, and scenic landscapes in Southwestern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky. His work is an exploration of light and subject, and discovering beauty in unexpected places. I find beauty in age and decay, and then reproduce it in a way that maintains a sense of time and place. To do this, I use distressed steel as the basis of my pieces. It can take up to 3 months to build up the rust and patina patterns on each piece of steel and then up to 12 hours of surface work to strip and reveal the damage done. Once I have my surface, the image is printed to the metal with various techniques, and then float mounted on stained wood using distressed bolts that maintain the aged and worn appearance. Through this process I am able to create an emotional connection to the image, and produce a piece authentic enough to look as though it had been stolen from the scene and presented to the viewer as an artifact on display. The work is modern and industrial, but is equally at home among antiques and more traditional settings.

To View Robert’s Work Click: Here

Coming to terms with the fact that I was losing my eyesight was actually when I first began to see the world much more clearly.  We often spend our days over scheduled with things to do and places to be. Consumed by brief memories of what something was or the thought of what it could have been, wethen quickly move on to the next pressing moment. We can easily get caught up living in this rapid paced blur, and unknowingly are missing out on the incredible beauty that surrounds us in any given moment. I realize that losing my eyesight was a wake up call. I needed to take the time to see the world we live in. It is such a beautiful and inspiring gift to have the opportunity to slow down and appreciate every moment and each amazing experience. This was the turning point for who I am now and the artist that I have become. TO SEE ALL OF ADAM’S WORK, PLEASE CLICK HERE

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND HIS OPENING RECEPTION: https://forms.gle/DUJMHZadbpQr6Xyo8

Adam Kolp was born in Westerville, Ohio, in 1978. As soon as he could hold a pencil, he started drawing and doodling. Adam’s desire to create led to a childhood dream of becoming an artist. When he was in high school, his vision started to decrease and he was diagnosed with Kerataconus, an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea and causes vision issues. After graduating from high school, Adam continued his education at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, studying Visual Art.

Even though his vision became a constant struggle and he was placed on the cornea transplant list, he still continued on at Otterbein, taking classes and making artwork. After two cornea transplants and a pending graduation, Adam decided to return to Otterbein College and get a degree in education so he could share his love of art. Adam is a Middle School art teacher in New Albany. Adam enjoys sharing his passion for art with his middle school students so much that his job doesn’t feel like work. Adam also has established himself as a local professional artist, creating many original and commissioned pieces of art work.

The struggle that Adam endured with his loss of vision has given him a unique view on life and living. He is constantly creating; drawing, painting, wood burning, researching new ideas and techniques, finding a new life for reclaimed materials, or falling back to how he started in 1980, doodling in a sketchbook.