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What: Open Figure drawing classes Where: Manifest Gallery's drawing studio, Stewart Iron Works' 3rd Floor Studio Complex, 20 W. 18th Street, Covington Date: April 12-June 7 Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Cost: $90 Contact: (513) 861-3638 or www.manifestgallery.org Friday, March 24, 2006 Drawing sessions at Manifest Gallery Classes underscore creativity, self-direction By Gail Towns Jason Franz draws the line when it comes to stifling creativity. And that's one of the reasons so many people are drawn to his programs at the nonprofit Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center, where freedom of expression and self-direction rule. Experienced and novice crowds alike—including painters, sketch artists, designers, sculptors, photographers and others—are invited to join the gallery's open figure drawing sessions that launch Wednesday, April 12. "These are not 'instructed' courses," said Franz, the gallery's executive director and a former art instructor at University of Cincinnati, the Art Academy of Cincinnati and Xavier University. "It makes a difference because we attract all levels of artists to the sessions, [including] students who are already taking formal classes at regional colleges as well as professional artists/designers who have already been through rigorous training." While the studio has advertised two series this spring, one is already completely booked. The other, the Open Figure long pose workshop, offers artists nine 2-hour life drawing sessions with a nude model, giving access to people who ordinarily might not be able to afford or arrange for a model as they draw. The $90 series is staged at Manifest's 1,000-square-foot drawing studio in the Stewart Iron Works in Covington. The uninstructed courses are "consistently filled with dynamic and friendly people who share and learn together without the pressure of a structured curriculum," said Franz, whose main gallery is based in East Walnut Hills. "I have found that this creates an amazing culture of creativity and a communal quest for excellence of the highest degree." While the class is considered a no-pressure kind of course, there is potential for the public to eventually view the art created during the series. Presently, on exhibit at Manifest are 109 pieces made in the last 18 months at various Open Figure sessions. The exhibit Drawn from Life contains items by five local professors and four students, including sketches, renderings, mistakes, questions and answers are among the pieces picked for the show. Visit online, for more information. "The exhibit is one fringe benefit to participants in our sessions," Franz explained. "They are invited to submit work made at Open Figure (with no entry fee) for consideration for exhibit at Manifest. The current exhibit, curated by Kevin Muente and Brigid O'Kane, is our first for the sessions, and will likely become a biennial exhibit." While the structure of the classes may seem loose, Franz and other artists affiliated at the gallery are firm about one thing: "The culture that we promote, and that the participants carry forward, is a creative spirit that is priceless," Franz said. "One of Manifest's key underlying principles is that we must stand for quality. "Too much art is made and promoted today that is not representative of quality," he said, "and this deludes or alienates the viewing public and borderline participants. So we strive to inject professionalism and quality into everything we do—including how we run the Open Figure Sessions." The Open Figure long pose session that meets on Wednesdays is still open for registration. Enrollment is limited to 10, and the cost of the entire session is $90. Detailed info and registration is available online.  Gail Towns is a freelance writer who lives in West Chester. Return to regular view