Enlarge Alison Meaney, Sun News Rocky River artist Pam Gilliland’s chlorine-infused “swimmer” series was inspired by her love and fascination with water. Her work is on display throughout her city, including its Parks and Recreation Department and Gestures gallery on Linda Street. Gestures: the Fine Art of Giving gallery (3 photos) Gallery owner Chris Keener envisions art becoming one of Clevelands claims to fame.

Theres so many talented people in this city, its crazy, Keener said. I would love to have art landmark Cleveland instead of all the negative things.

Keener and partner Val Greathouse run Gestures: the Fine Art of Giving at 1150 Linda St. in Rocky River.

Their showrooms are stocked with all manner of media from handmade ceramic housewarming gifts to meticulously felted scarves, which essentially amount to wearable art.

Keener said the shop is run on consignment, and that it features exclusively local artists in an attempt to help them get through the recession.

We give a lot of artists a place to show their work and make some money, Keener said. The line starving artist pretty much holds true in all economies.

In return, Keener said artists like Rocky River resident Pam Gilliland contribute to the shops energy and that they make the space a better place.

All the artists we have are passionate about what they do, and I think that shows, Keener said. The culmination of everybodys work gives it (the gallery) a kind of personality.

The passion and personality in Gillilands paintings stem from her life experiences, she said, noting artists subject matter is often a converging of their lives.

Gestures is showing colorful paintings from Gillilands swimmers series, as well as several abstract paintings that draw on how light fragments in, and on, the surface of water: The former competitive swimmer and sailor explained shes always loved the water.

I love looking through the water . . . it naturally fragments light, Gilliland said, speaking to natures lesson in abstraction.

Gilliland teaches to artists from 4 to 85, and her renderings of the natural world are also on display at the Rocky River Recreation Department.

She said her paintings of the area seascapes and its woods are popular in the area because so many people identify with the Metroparks.

Cleveland has four seasons some of them are a little rough, but you never lack for a change in color and mood and light. We really have it all when it comes to natural ingredients, Gilliland said. Its tough, but thats beautiful.

Keener wonders whether the rough winters are why the areas vibrant artistic scene has blossomed so.

I dont know if its because we have long winters and people head inside, put their heads down and work, Keener said.

For whatever reason, Keener said her shop and its range of showcased artists continues to grow by word of mouth, and shes hoping it will stay that way.

We hope to continue to have a never-changing venue of artists, she said.

Similar Posts:

• Entertainment listings July 21-27
• Two Occidental Art Professors Show New Work at Local Galleries
• Sun News Picture Perfect Pet: Lola
• The Use Of Wooden Toys In Childhood Development
• Christo and Jeanne-Claude to be Honored Feb. 23