Community Calendar

Join us for an inside look at the exhibition, with fresh insights into the artist and her exhibition "Xaviera Simmons." FREE & open to all.
Join us for an inside look at the exhibition, with fresh insights into the artist and her exhibition "Xaviera Simmons." Led by Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs & Engagement.

FREE & open to all.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

December 11, 2025; 6:30p

Jan 10, 2026; 2p

Jan 22, 2026; 6:30p

We invite you, whether you’re a musician, poet, comedian, or just a lover of live talent, this is your night to shine—or just sit back, sip something cold, and enjoy the show. Kyle and Rob are bringing their signature energy and laid-back charm, setting the perfect stage for an evening packed with creativity and community.

Mr Sun records and performs a new interpretation of Ellington’s legendary Nutcracker Suite

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite contains some of the most beloved and familiar melodies in the Western world.
Mr Sun has seized upon the inspiration of Duke Ellington’s brilliant, sly, & urbane re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Suite as an opportunity to salute and re-invent this wildly multi-faceted work anew through the lens of the American String Band, a musical form which contains myriad styles and is presently engaged in a marathon upheaval of innovation and expansion.

On Mr Sun’s new recording, the pieces of the Suite range from close interpretations of Billy Strayhorn’s original charts to intense extrapolations based on the spirit of the material.

On the recording, Mr Sun generally played original improvised solos, though some crucial musical statements by giants such as Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonsalves were transcribed directly and played in their spirit. Most of Strayhorn’s startling original horn voicings have been preserved in bowed strings, with multi-mandolin parts adding a punchy edge.

There is one new additional piece, drawn directly from Tchaikovsky’s Ballet, setting three themes in classic “Dawg Music” format. The Russian Dance is now hilariously full-on Bluegrass with banjo guest Alison Brown while still using the spy-movie intros, outros, and background lines of Strayhorn’s original. Dobro King Jerry Douglas interprets an iconic Lawrence Brown trombone solo on Dance Of The Floreadores, now re-titled “(don’t) Walk On The Flowers”.

Now the band is touring nationally, recreating the sounds of the album – their core quartet is joined by additional regional string players to re-create a full orchestra of sound.

Looking for new and fun holiday traditions? Then try our Ornament Blow! With help from our professional glassblowers, you can make your own ornament from hot molten glass! Everyone ages five years and older can participate, making this a perfect family activity. Since this event requires your participation, it gives you an enjoyable and memorable introduction to this unique and fascinating art form. Experience the wonder that is glassblowing this holiday season with your loved ones!

Scheduled in 15 minute increments per person and reservations are required. Excludes Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Ready for pickup in 7 days and shipping is available.

In her work, Eden Quispe creates interior scenes using inherited quilting techniques, embroidery, printing, and collage. Quispe expresses the precarious balance of her multiple roles as a mother, artist and teacher with symbols and materials;  her daughter’s baby clothes, grandfather's ties, and inherited fabric from her family and husband's Peruvian culture are painted and sewn upon and cut to become walls, tables, and chairs. These object memories are sewn together and printed on to create her patchwork paintings.

Denny Gerwin’s ceramic sculptures and vessels reference the female form, acknowledging artifacts created up to 30,000 years ago and illustrating universal human interest in precarious subject matter. Recognizing himself as the “other” in the equation, and noting that this is a rare position for him to sit in, the artist is grateful for lessons learned in vulnerability. More recent works in this series show clinched fists, an aberration from traditional depictions of Venus and an apt departure given the threat to women's power.

The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven, a major solo exhibition bringing together recent works in photography, painting, video, and the world premiere of a new body of bronze sculptures by one of the most bold and visionary artists of our time.

Simmons’ practice is deeply rooted in art history, both through deliberate assertion and continuous engagement, drawing on references that span from antiquity and the American landscape to contemporary media. Her work unfolds through a cinematic sensibility, where narrative, movement, and stillness intersect. This is evident in her photographic series such as American Book Covers and Sundown, in her monumental text paintings, and now in this new body of bronze sculptures.

Performance, choreography, and the sensual are integral to Simmons’ artistic language. In this recent sculptural work, these elements coalesce into forms that feel both classical and contemporary. As with much of her practice, Figure Eleven situates art history within an ongoing continuum, like a film that resists final resolution.

The sculptures recall the Venus of Willendorf and Venus de Milo while simultaneously reflecting the multiplicity of contemporary bodies and motifs. Their power lies in their capacity to collapse and reconcile distinct historical and cultural narratives. The figures embody a poised stillness that resonates with the language of movement and performance. Figure Eleven, both the exhibition’s title and the newest figurative sculpture, appears as if drawn from a film still, a moment suspended between gesture and permanence.

In Small Measure is our inaugural fundraising exhibition where we ask participants to create a postcard sized work of art, donate it to us, and in exchange, it will be included in an exhibition on February 13-14, 2026 at The Contemporary Dayton, Dayton, Ohio’s contemporary art center.

Submission Deadline (Postmark): Feb 1, 2026

In-Person Drop-Off Deadline: Feb 4, 2026

Exhibition Dates: Feb 13-14, 2026

December 3 – 27, 2025

Opening Reception: December 3, 6 – 8 pm

Closing Reception: December 27, 2025, 4 – 6 pm

Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers brings together a series of intimate encaustic works in which color, wax, and heat converge to form small but potent moments of energy. In each piece, Dayton-based artist Lori Daugherty coaxes organic bursts of form and pigment into being—gestures that feel alive, expanding, and quietly insistent. These works reward slow looking: what first appears delicate reveals surprising force, and what seems restrained carries a pulse of movement just beneath the surface.

Working with encaustic wax and inks, Daugherty builds her compositions through layered translucency, texture, and the dynamic unpredictability of a torch and flame. The resulting surfaces hover between control and spontaneity, abstraction and suggestion. Together, the paintings in Bold Whispers invite viewers to linger in the space where subtlety becomes powerful and small moments open into larger stories.

All artworks in this exhibition are available for purchase. Please visit the reception desk or speak to a staff member to purchase. Proceeds support both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.

The fifth annual Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News returns on Wednesday 12/10, Thursday 12/11, and Friday 12/12 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM.

This annual three-day event in the Arcade's event spaces will feature holiday shopping from over 50 small business vendors, dining at food trucks and restaurants, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and performances, a cash bar, and holiday surprises.

More information, including a full vendor list and entertainment schedule, can be found at arcadedayton.com.

Watch as the stage transforms into a heavenly landscape where a young mischievous angel learns that all gifts are valuable and all beings are special. This holiday season, experience The Littlest Angel—a magical retelling of Charles Tazewell's beloved story brought to life through stunning dance that celebrates Black heritage and the true spirit of giving. Perfect for families, first-time dance audiences, and arts enthusiasts alike, this 90-minute production needs no dance experience to sweep you up in its magic.

Presented by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company—one of the nation's top 10 modern dance companies and a beacon of artistic excellence for nearly 60 years —this cherished annual tradition holds deep roots in our community. DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden once read this story to her daughter, current Artistic Director Debbie Blunden-Diggs, who later danced in early versions. Now, Associate Artistic Director Crystal Michelle's choreography continues the legacy, bringing together our community for an unforgettable evening.

Performances: December 12 & 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Location: University of Dayton Boll Theatre
Tickets: $35
Purchase: DaytonLive.org/littlest-angel

Make this December memorable. Experience the wonder of The Littlest Angel and discover why audiences have cherished this production year after year.