Forged Souls, Weathered Soles

The Cincinnati Arts Association’s Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery in the Aronoff Center for the Arts debuts its tenth exhibition season with two thought-provoking exhibitions that address political and social issues: Sticks and Stones, a contemplative site-specific installation by veteran Cincinnati artist Gary Gaffney; and Forged Souls, Weathered Soles, a provocative mixed media installation by multi-talented and acclaimed Cincinnati artist Brian Joiner.

Brian Joiner creates multi-dimensional paintings and mixed media assemblages that address historical and contemporary political, social and spiritual issues impacting the African-American community in particular, and society as a whole. A prolific artist, Joiner is well known in Cincinnati and the region for his inventive paintings and provocative installations.

In a new and ambitious undertaking, Joiner will create an installation assuming the entire lower exhibition space of the Weston Art Gallery. Forged Souls, Weathered Soles focuses on the dilemma of the African Diaspora and challenges viewers’ perceptions of life, liberty and justice through a provocative journey of spiritual exploration. Utilizing Dorothy’s journey in the timeless and classic film The Wizard of Oz as a conceptual springboard, Joiner seeks to depict a spiritual journey encompassing hostility, pain, desperation, surrender, discovery, understanding, reconciliation, healing and peace.

Brian Joiner earned a bachelor of fine arts in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1985. From 1985 through 1997 he worked full time at Ethicon Endosurgery in Cincinnati while pursuing his studio work. Since 1997 he has devoted himself full time to his artistic pursuits, establishing an impressive exhibition history locally, regionally and nationally. He has received numerous Individual Artist Grants from the City of Cincinnati and was the recipient of a major Individual Artist Fellowship award from the Ohio Arts Council in 2001. In 2004 he completed a major commission for the newly-opened National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.