Monsters headed for Oxford

Oxford (Ohio) – No sooner than her work comes off the walls in one place, it pops up in another.

Creative Aging Painting instructor Chrissy Collopy – whose colorful canvases filled the Monument Gallery at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts during the Human Nature/Class Act exhibition that shuttered September 22 – moves into somewhat darker territory for October.

Collopy curates the Monsters exhibition opening October 13 and running through November 4 at the Oxford Community Arts Center (10 S. College Avenue, Oxford, Ohio 45056).

She’s taking Fitton Center artist colleagues Julia Bailey, Kate Rowekamp and Billy Simms with her. The exhibition also features works by Nikki McGlosson, David Dotson, Mark DeGennaro and Zoe Lynn.

“It’s a fun monster mashup,” Collopy said. “A lot of us grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s with spooky movies like Beetlejuice. It’s a very kitschy show, but also very diverse. We have a lot of different kinds of monster art – sculptures, prints, paintings, drawings.

“It’s kind of fun that it actually opens on Friday the 13th in October right before Halloween. That’s a good day for monsters.”

Monsters is part of the Oxford Community Arts Center’s 2nd Friday Celebration of the Arts series. Also on view with Monsters will be works by Dan Bonham and artists of the OCAC.

Collopy served as gallery curator at OCAC for several years, so she is familiar with the space.

“I’m really fond of the Center,” she said. “The (Art Exhibitions) committee does a great job representing and supporting local artists. It’s great to work with them again for Monsters.”

OCAC hosts a free opening-night reception from 6 to 9 p.m. for 2nd Friday, including live music at 7:30 in the Pavilion. Guests are encouraged to come in monster costume for the reception.

Regular hours at OCAC are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10-5 Fridays and 10-2 Saturdays.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

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