Exhibition Showcases the Work of Former Art Teacher Joseph Motto

The work of artist Joseph Motto, instructor of Art and Modeling at Hawken from 1915-1928, will displayed in a retrospective exhibit hosted by the Cleveland Arts Foundation from July 8 through September 9 at the Beck Center in Lakewood. Motto`s sculpture of Pan holding a frog, which usually can be seen in the fountain area at the Lyndhurst campus, has been loaned to the exhibition. The exhibition is titled Joseph Motto: A Jazz Age Journey from Cleveland to Florence, and chronicles the artist`s contributions to sculpture, ceramics and watercolors. Motto graduated from the Cleveland School of Art in 1916, and began working on sculptures commissioned by various organizations in Cleveland, such as the bust of Shakespeare for the Cultural Gardens. He was one of the original faculty members at Hawken before becoming an internationally recognized sculptor. Motto established a studio in Florence and made about 16 trips between Cleveland and Italy. In the last 20 years of his life, Motto worked on commissions for the Diocese of Cleveland, such as the sculpture of St. John Bosco at the Holy Rosary Catholic School. Motto passed away in 1965 at the age of 74. The exhibition will include 30 three-dimensional works by Motto and works by the artist`s relatives. The opening reception for the exhibition will be held on July 9 and will include a tour of Motto landmarks around the city.