Dayton Visual Arts Center

The Co's (DVAC) gallery in downtown Dayton presents a full schedule of contemporary art exhibitions each year that are free to the public.[2] There are usually 12 to 18 exhibitions.[3] Some exhibitions include the annual Open Members' Show, the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery, and a preview exhibition leading up to DVAC's annual art auction fundraiser.

After almost 30 years, The Dayton Visual Arts Center, (DVAC) changed its name in November 2018 to become The Contemporary Dayton. Its mission will mostly remain the same, but with the name change and a move to a bigger location, it aims to do more - both locally and nationally. “So, I would say instead of it changing, it’s evolving," says Eva Buttacavoli the current executive director. "And what it’s evolving to is, we are claiming a promise to the community that we will be the ones that will be presenting the most current ideas and concepts that are happening in Contemporary Art – throughout the world, really.”[4]

The Contemporary Dayton (The Co), formerly known as Dayton Visual Arts Center, officially announced plans to complete their capital campaign and move into the historic Dayton Arcade. Campaign support will allow The Co to almost double its space at the new location; bring more artists to Dayton and advance those whose work emanates from Dayton and Ohio, and make a bold commitment to present exhibitions and programs exploring the most prominent social justice issues of our time. Designed by LWC Incorporated, The Co's Executive Director, Eva Buttacavoli, and Curator, Michael Goodson, the 6,224 sq ft (578.2 m²) art center will be part of the Arcade's nine-building complex featuring popular local restaurant, bar, and retail neighbors as well as the University of Dayton’s School of Entrepreneurial Leadership.[5] The inaugural exhibitions will feature three premieres, two produced exclusively for the opening.

The Contemporary Dayton officially opened its doors to its new home at the Dayton Arcade Friday, April 30, 2021, with a free opening party for the public. The grand opening exhibition featured the work of Dayton natives Zachary Armstrong, the late Curtis Barnes Sr., and Los Angeles filmmaker Cauleen Smith, artists who play a role in social justice education, community building, and social activism.[6]

The Co. (DVAC) was founded as a tax-exempt organization in June 1991. Based on a 1986 proposal from Sean Wilkinson, its six founders were Lucia Bravo (Board President), Sara Exley, Lou Mason, Ruth and Nelson Mead, and Terry Young with a number of friends who provided the initial seed money.

Its Mission: DVAC was formed by a coalition of artists, visual arts professionals, and patrons to promote interaction between the public and area artists, designers, and their work through exhibitions and public programs. It is conceived as a 'people place' serving as a support space for artists and visual arts organizations, that will contribute substantially to the revitalization of downtown.

Their first location, 13,000 sq ft (1,200 m²) of space at 210 North Main Street on the second floor of the historic Biltmore Towers The Dayton Biltmore Hotel was made possible when The Muse Machine, a nationally celebrated arts education organization, and The Human Race Theatre Company moved into their current location in the Metropolitan Arts Center (The MAC). The Muse Machine sublet the Biltmore space to the upstart non-profit with a two-year lease. DVAC downsized in 1993 leasing 2,300 sq ft (210 m²) of space on the ground floor of 40 West Fourth St(Then the Miami Valley Tower). DVAC in Motion Campaign raised 600K to renovate and move to space at 118 N. Jefferson St. in 2006.[7]

In its first year, the organization was run by volunteer Acting Director Suzanne Mitolo and part-time staffer Edythe Nesmith as Office Manager.

The first full-time executive director Paula Recko led from 1992 to 1998 and was credited with growing DVAC membership to over 500 artists and community supporters. Office managers included Kathleen White and Niema Jones.

Wright State University Adjunct Art Director Kay Koeninger took over as executive director in 1998.

Jane Black came on as DVAC's executive director in 2003 and oversaw a staff of three, including Patrick Mauk, an Ohioan printmaker who has taught at four-year universities in the area such as University of Dayton and Wright State University, and Janelle Young, an Ohioan photographer, and printmaker.

Eva Buttacavoli was named executive director of The Contemporary Dayton in December 2011. Before she served as the first executive director of FilmDayton where she promoted Dayton filmmakers as a resource for the industry through fundraising and marketing. Previously, she served as director of exhibitions and education at the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) for eight years where she developed the Museum's lively, experimental and accessible programmatic identity. "When you have a period that does not have a name or definition. People have not put it in a box yet." Stated Eva in 2012 on the current Digital Arts Renaissance. "Right now, if you are reading the blogs and the art magazines there is not a name for this period of art right now, it's everything."[8]

Current staff in 2021 includes curator Michael Goodson who came from Columbus' Wexner Center for the Arts, Lauren Gleeson as Bookkeeper, Allison Messer is the director of Marketing, Beth DeVilbiss, event coordinator, and Cydnie King, curatorial assistant.[9]

Notable artist members of The Co. are Jud Yalkut, an internationally known pioneer in the field of video art and also internationally known teacher and artist Bing Davis who was one of the original 40 exhibitionists in 1991.[10] In 2006, acclaimed sculptor, Jun Kaneko, presented his redesign for the opera Madame Butterfly in the gallery. A 2009 exhibit included work by Curtis Mann, a 2010 Whitney Biennial participant and in 2010 the "REACH Across Dayton" exhibit included work by Cuban-born artist Eduardo de Soignie and a public art installation by Juan-Si Gonzalez. A 2017 exhibit includes works by artist Glen Cebulash, professor and Art Department Chair at Wright State University.[11] DVAC offered free studio space in exchange for conducting public programs, presented the Culture Lunch Series, artist technical assistance workshops, and the CityArt annual members show in which the work of more than 100 artists was on display in downtown windows, storefronts, and lobbies.

Area organizations that have collaborated as affiliate members with The Co. include the Miami Valley Cooperative Gallery, Visual Arts Network (VAN), Miami Valley Arts Council, Sinclair Community College, The Rosewood Arts Centre, National Conference of Artists, and the Dayton Art Institute's artist cooperatives. Funding came from area foundations, individuals, corporations, and the Ohio Arts Council.

• Dayton Visual Arts Center collection Dayton Metro Library, Dayton, Ohio.

• The Contemporary Dayton Website