Monday, March 10, 2008

KZF Gallery, 1988-2008, Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The KZF Gallery celebrates its 20th anniversary this month with an exhibit that honors architecture in Cincinnati through the artistic lens of eminent Cincinnati photographer Robert A. Flischel.

The KZF Gallery, opened in 1988, is a unique concept in Cincinnati — a commercial art gallery in corporate space. KZF Design is one of the largest and oldest architecture and engineering firms in Greater Cincinnati. It operates the KZF Gallery within the corporate offices of KZF Design in the historic Baldwin Building at 655 Eden Park Drive near Eden Park.

KZF opened the Gallery 20 years ago when the firm moved into its current offices to the top two floors of the Baldwin Building in the Walnut Hills neighborhood. At the time, the gallery’s first show also featured work by photographer Flischel. A collection of his photographs entitled “Elements of Structure” were part of the opening 1988 gallery exhibit on the rebirth of the Baldwin Building.

This season’s show, entitled “Establishing Normal Detail,” opens to the public on March 21, 2008 at the KZF Gallery. The exhibit not only celebrates the work of photographer Flischel as he captures some of the most beloved and familiar architectural structures among Cincinnati’s public educational institutions, it also examines and presents in gallery format the art and beauty of Flischel’s recently published photographic books on Cincinnati architecture.

The exhibit showcases:
§ The University of Cincinnati / Architectural Transformation: Tradition and Innovation. Published in 2007, this volume honors the elegance and traditions of UC’s architecture and captures the dynamic changes in the campus landscape created by the university’s Signature Architecture program implemented over the past 15 years.

§ An Expression of the Community / Cincinnati Public Schools’ Legacy of Art and Architecture. Documenting the legacy of art and architecture in Cincinnati Public Schools, this book published by The Art League in 2001, is a warm and beautiful tribute to the beloved works that are integral elements of the historic structure of the city’s public schools.

Robert A. Flischel’s photos have appeared in Life, Time, The Smithsonian and National Geographic. He has served as contributing editor and photojournalist for a wide range of books and periodicals and was a long-time photographer and contributing editor with Ohio Magazine.

For a combined 16 years, Flischel photographed the treasured architecture and art of Cincinnati’s historic institutions of public education, with the culmination of his work captured in the published books examined in this gallery show.

A Cincinnati native and graduate of Xavier University, Flischel is president emeritus of The Art League and has taught photography at Northern Kentucky University.

Dr. Stanley M. Kaplan is a generous supporter of KZF Gallery’s show of Robert A. Flischel’s work.

About KZF Gallery
The KZF Gallery represents a 20-year commitment by KZF Design to showcase the work of the region’s artists. The gallery is a unique concept in Cincinnati — a commercial art gallery in corporate space — and has three to four shows a year. The KZF Gallery is open to the public during KZF Design office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free. Phone: 513-621-6211. Visit www.kzf.com/gallery.

About KZF Design
KZF Design is one of the largest architectural and engineering firms in Cincinnati, with a national practice, more than 110 professionals and technicians on its staff and $19 million in annual sales. KZF’s award-winning designs and technical expertise have created cultural landmarks, education centers, offices and workplaces, and government and industrial facilities. KZF projects and clients include the University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center, Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, The E.W. Scripps Company and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. KZF is a leader in sustainable design, with more than 12 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professionals on its staff. KZF Design also has an office in Atlanta, Ga. and an affiliation with KZF Design LLC in Florida, with offices in Orlando and Tampa.

No comments: