Every first Friday of the month at Front Street in Dayton, artists invite the local community to visit their studios and watch the process of creation. Many of these artists enjoy talking about why they are there, how they create and what brought them to the area.
In particular, Wright State graduate of 2005, Matthew Burgy, spoke on what he thinks of Front Street in terms of community.
"We're like a hub...We're the spot," Burgy said. "There's 150 plus artist here, and they are always making something."
Burgy touches on topics of how, in museums, the audience can view the art once it has been created, but at Front Street, the audience can see it in every stage. The artists all open their doors to visitors, answering any questions one might have and sharing what they are currently working on.
As students graduate in visual-art majors, they may connect with how Burgy once felt, graduating from Wright State in 2005 with a BFA in sculpture and printmaking. Burgy spoke highly of art professor Glen Cebulash. He also spoke of feeling uncertain of where to begin after graduation in the art community, but after he connected with the Dayton Artist Society, he was able to integrate more into the Dayton scene, more with Front Street.
"You know, it's not just something that's on the walls. It's something you can come in and experience," Burgy said.
Local artist and member of the Dayton Society of Artists, Bil Tipton, also spoke highly of the Dayton art scene.
"There's always an opportunity for new artists," Tipton said.
Each artist spoke of the other, showing a genuine interest in each other's art and space. Both Tipton and Burgy agreed that opportunities always open up for artists in school and graduated. Both emphasized going out to connect with other artists.
The Dayton Society of Artists (DSA) is a local organization founded in 1938 that partnered with the Dayton Art Institute to hold meetings and exhibits throughout the years.
The DSA website shows that they currently exhibit seven shows a year and have opportunities for internships. Over the summer, Wright State art major Mikail Berger-Messenger curated an exhibit, "From Campus to Community," within his DSA internship that aimed at current art students and recent graduates. The exhibit had five Wright State students and several other students from other local schools. The exhibit happened at Front Street, further tying together the community.
