BAYarts delivers environmental monsters exhibit

"Burning in River, Drowning in Plastic," an acrylic work by Laura and Gary Dumm, will be among the pieces on display in October.

Venerated Cleveland artists Laura and Gary Dumm will be showing an exhibition at BAYarts this October, titled "Here There Be Monsters." Within the series of acrylic paintings, film villains meet current environmental concerns for an apt collaboration.

Humans are set up to embody the classic roles such as Frankenstein's monster, the Creature (from the Black Lagoon) and Dr. Jekyll with Mr. Hyde. The destruction being wreaked includes genetic engineering, animal extinctions caused by compromised habitats, and (of course) the monumental concern of climate change.

The piece "Frankenstein's Bride" is featured in "Scream of the Butterflies," which won Best of Show in BAYarts' Annual Juried Show of 2016. And the Bay Village campus is well suited to the environmental matters at hand.

Artistic director Karen Petkovic believes the BAYarts campus is the perfect location for this exhibition, due to being in the heart of the Metroparks. “At BAYarts we exist in a beautiful natural setting; we are committed to our environment and the show deals with issues that are near and dear to us."

Furthering her statement, Petkovic praised BAYarts for being a zero-waste campus as aided by the Bay Village Green Team. "Our goal is to exist as a facility that treads lightly on the earth and we make every effort to protect the environment that we exist in."

During the Dumms' opening reception on Friday, Oct. 7, 5-9 p.m., the Rustbelt Monster Collective will be creating a mural for BAYarts, which will mark their fourth to be displayed on the campus. 
 
The exhibition will run through Oct. 25.