UC Clermont College Art Gallery presents Above+Below Appalachia by Coomer

The UC Clermont College Art Gallery presents Above+Below Appalachia, a collection of photos and artwork by Southwest Ohio artist Robert Coomer. The show runs from October 3 -30 in the UC Clermont College Art Gallery in Batavia, OH.

Above+Below Appalachia photos reveal mysterious and beautiful images from beneath the Earth’s surface and the natural beauty of forgotten rural barns and back road landscapes of Appalachia. “The images capture the world of natural light and color and then contrasts it with a world of complete darkness, of alien shapes and forms that are rarely seen,” said Coomer.

Coomer is nationally recognized as an award winning cave photographer. Last month he received the best of show medal for the 2006 black and white print salon during the National Speleological Society’s annual photo competition. This is Coomer’s fourth national award for cave photography. He also received best of show for the best non-photographic newsletter cover design. As editor for the Greater Cincinnati Grotto, he has received many national awards for his cover artwork.

A reception will be held on October 13, from 7 – 9 p.m. Celebrate "Black Friday" with the artist offering an unusual look at the beauty hidden beneath Appalachia and help preserve caves and karst. A portion of the proceeds from work sold during this show will go to help preserve caves and karst through a donation to the Rockcastle Karst Conservancy (RKCI.org). Coomer has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Arts Council's Appalachian Program to help make this show possible.

The Clermont Art Gallery is sponsored by Park National Bank and located in the Snyder building on the UC Clermont College campus in Batavia at 4200 Clermont College Drive. Hours are Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public

For more information about the show or the artist, visit his website at http://www.robertcoomer.com/

For more information contact Mae Hanna, Director of College Relations UC Clermont College (513) 732-5332