I'm stoked to kick off the spring/summer gallery season on May 13th with a new and extensive retrospective entitled The Deliberate Portrait. This show includes studio portraits taken between 2001 and 2011, many never before seen (not even by some of the subjects!). Over 75 prints will be displayed, many newly struck for the exhibition, will be on display throughout the summer. As always, we'll be open on the second friday of the month for Tremont Artwalk, other hours by appointment. The exhibition was inspired by and includes images from the so-called Literary Sets, a series of portrait sessions shot at the Literary Cafe in Tremont throughout the double-oughts, and expanded with a continuing series of less than formal portraits shot in the studio. The approach is deliberate from my point of view, presenting subjects in an immediate and sometimes disarmed manner.

The show will be open on Artwalk Fridays 6-10pm, May 13, June 10, July 8, and August 12, 2011, and by appointment. Mastroianni Photography and Arts is located at 2688 W.14th St, Cleveland OH 44113, in the historic Tremont district.

The June 10th Artwalk will feature local musician John Henry Scully providing an ambient musical setting for the images.

Scully, a drummer on the Cleveland scene for more than a quarter century, is setting aside the drum sticks in favor of a solo performance from within the virtual grid. Utilizing his laptop and a touchpad mini-synth, Scully will improvise ambient textures, grooves and the occasional odd trip. Moments of doubt will be subject to a vast collection of delay effects and/or a blank stare.