Micah Kraus – Exhibition

The Cliffe College of Creative Arts’s Judith Rae Solomon Gallery in Bliss Hall on the campus of Youngstown State University is excited to announce Micah Kraus’s It’s Gonna Rain as its opening fall exhibition. Kraus’s work will be on display from August 28- September 28. The exhibition is free and open to the public. The Solomon Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

In this current exhibition, Micah Kraus reflects on his upbringing as the son of a Church of Christ Minister. The title of the exhibition, It’s Gonna Rain, comes from a hymn that Kraus sang during many Sunday services, “We would sing… our half-tempo’d acapella voices expressing the dichotomous blend of mournful and celebrate themes present in the lyrics – the apocalypse is coming, some people will win, and many will lose…. as I reflect back on the message of the hymn, I shudder…. In my adult years, I’ve struggled to bridge the ever-widening gap between the beautiful, complex fluidity of my community and the unwavering rubric of religiosity. Pursuing questions rather than answers, I’m exploring the vast grey space that exists between extremes.” As an artist, Kraus is energized when he is able to combine inventive artistic processes with personally-connected concepts. The work becomes even more meaningful for him when it resonates with other people.

Kraus is an artist and educator living in Akron, Ohio. He operates Work Studio LTD, an art and design studio specializing in printmaking-based processes for fine art and client-based projects. Since 2001, Kraus has served as an educator at Archbishop Hoban High School and Kent State University, specializing in printmaking, photography, and art career field experiences. Kraus has shown in solo and select group exhibitions regionally and nationally. He has engaged in community-based public art projects through organizations like East Akron Community House, Lock 3 Summer Arts Experience, Downtown Akron Partnership, and Akron Art Museum. He and his wife, artist Kim Eggleston-Kraus, live and work in Akron, Ohio. Micah Kraus has a BA in Art Education and an MA in Printmaking from Kent State University.