background image
July 2016
n
Beachwood Buzz
49
"Resilient Nature"
Laurel Hecht's Unique Vision of Nature, Paintings
Solo Exhibit · July 15 ­ August 31
Opening: July 15, 6-8:30 pm
Still Point Gallery, 2026 Murray Hill Rd, Cleveland
After leaving the Cleveland
area in 1979, Laurel Hecht had
the opportunity to return a few
years ago, when she opened her
Beachwood art studio. With a
unique vision of summertime,
Cleveland gardens and natures-
capes, she continues to capture
the pride and beauty displayed
in so many Cleveland gardens,
all of which were painted right
here in her studio.
Resilient Nature is Hecht's first
solo show since moving back
to Cleveland. With acrylic as her
medium, she works on canvas
and board and will proudly
exhibit two series of paintings:
"The Quiet Ones," featuring floral
bouquets of oversized flowers
and intertwining stems; and
"Safe Places," featuring trees
with their interweaving stems,
branches and root systems.
"This show is about falling in
love again with the city where I
was born and raised," Hecht told
us. "It's such an exciting time in
Cleveland right now. I think this
show represents the beauty of
our city of which outsiders might
not be aware and we Cleveland-
ers have known all along."
When asking Hecht what
makes an artist or an artwork
great, she says it's fundamental
to have the ability to "lose your-
self" in the painting. The artist, as
well as the viewer, must be able
to find the magic and the fluidity
that comes from pausing your
mind and letting something else
take over.
Many of Hecht's pieces are just
that: paintings of brilliant, fluid,
dreamy color transformed into
a whole ecosystem of flowers,
ponds, trees and their inhab-
itants. "They are images that
came to me when I was able to
let go of all the noise of everyday
life," says Hecht.
For more than 30 years, Hecht
has lived and painted in New
York City; Ithaca, New York; Santa
Fe, New Mexico; and now in
Cleveland. Her artwork exempli-
fies the symbiotic relationships
between art, nature and us. Her
artwork is exhibited in public
spaces and private collections
throughout the United States
and in the Museo de Arte Moder-
no in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Hecht lives with her wife and
three dogs in Pepper Pike and
paints in her spacious Beach-
wood studio.
Fallen Bouquet
Beachwood Library Programs
To register for the following programs (except storytimes), please visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call 216.831.6868.
Play Reading: Hamlet
Monday, July 11 · 7 pm
Award-winning playwright
and Great Lakes Theater edu-
cation associate David Hansen
returns to lead us in a discussion
of the world's most famous play!
Sponsored by the Friends of the
Library.
Coloring Happy Hour for Adults
Tuesdays in July · 4 ­ 5:30 pm
Stop at the library to relax
and socialize while enjoying
the newest hobby for adults
­ coloring. Supplies will be
provided by the Friends of
the Beachwood Library. No
registration required.
Music Montage with
Mary Beth Ions
Sunday, July 24 · 2 pm
Come to enjoy the music,
stories and wit of local violinist,
Mary Beth Ions, as she performs
favorites from every musical
genre from popular music
and show tunes, to ethnic and
classical numbers, and even
your requests! Enjoy her stories
about being in the orchestra pit
for performances of Broadway
shows to her commentary
on how her fiddle creates the
sounds that are so diverse.
Play Reading with Mamai The-
atre Company:
The Woman Hater
Wednesday, August 3 · 7 pm
Join Michael Parker of Mamai
Theatre Company to discuss The
Woman Hater, by Fanny Burney.
An absurdly satirical indictment
of the excesses of both men and
women, this 1802 comedy re-
mained unproduced until 2003.
Wordsmiths
Friday, July 7 · 6 pm
Grades 6-12
Experienced and inexperi-
enced writers alike: come share
and write with us. Light snacks
and drinks provided.
Friday Family Fun:
Preschool Science ­
Wonders of Water
Friday, July 8 · 10:30 am
Ages 3 to 6 with a caregiver
Explore the science of water
with simple experiments, art
projects and stories.
The Comedy Magic of
Michael Mage
Thursday, July 21 · 6:30 pm
Families
Join us for comedy and end-
less audience participation in
this show that is filled with non-
stop laughter ­ that you have to
see to believe!
Toddler Storytime
Mondays at 4 pm and
Wednesdays at 10 am
Ages 19-35 months with
a caregiver
Enjoy books, rhymes, songs
and fingerplays.
Baby and Me Storytime
Tuesdays at 4 pm and
Thursdays at 10 am
Caregivers and their babies from
birth-18 months
Join us for rhymes, songs,
fingerplays and books perfect
for baby.
Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays at 2:30 pm and
Wednesdays at 1:30 pm
Ages 3-5, not yet in kindergarten,
and their caregivers
Enjoy stories, books, rhymes,
songs and fingerplays with your
little one.