The ceiling over the back room at the Semantics Gallery is a peeling collage of green, brown and white. The wooden floor boards are dotted with spots of paint and cigarette butts; the white washed walls with naked power outlets and exposed piping. But that's the way director David Dillon likes it.

        “The reason why it's still such a raw space is because people have literally begged us not to put it up all that much,” he says. “They tell us "don't make it sterile, keep it rough and comfortable.' ”

David Dillon, one of the founding members of Semantics Gallery, stands in front of a painting by Millicent Straub of Covington. Ms. Straub is showing her work through June. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Semantics has maintained that rough and comfortable feel since moving into its current location, 1107 Harrison Ave., Brighton, nearly four years ago. For Mr. Dillon, the gallery is an almost full-time labor of love. He's the only one of its original founders (a group of University of Cincinnati art students) still involved.

        “As the last original member I kind of feel like I'm stuck with it,” he says with a chuckle. “I don't have an opportunity to create much art anymore. This gallery consumes a lot of time, and the entire place is kind of my artwork.”

        As an artist, Mr. Dillon specializes in design and installation. He is a native of Richfield, Ohio, and graduated from UC in 1987. In addition to supervising operations at Semantics, he helps put together installations and exhibits at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

        Semantics was created in 1993 to establish an environment friendly to young, up-and-coming artists. The gallery takes no commissions and depends heavily on donations and volunteer work. New exhibitions appear monthly.

        “It's a laboratory type of atmosphere where people can try things out,” Cincinnati artist Julia Ranz says.

        “The great thing about David is that he's completely trusting of the artist,” said artist Mark Fox of Cincinnati. “He lets them direct the show, construct the space to display what they want, how they want.”

        Though Semantics is open to all art forms and media, Mr. Dillon says there has been an emphasis on performance and installation works. One of the quirkier projects in recent years involved the gallery's sponsorship of cars at the Hamilton County Fair's demolition derby.

        “It started with a group of performance artists called the Liberty Amateur Stunt All Stars. They did a lot of stunts and semi-dangerous things,” Mr. Dillon says. “And so there were 25 cars from body shops and garages and one from this art gallery. It was an interesting juxtaposition. We got crushed three years in a row.”

        Mr. Dillon has no definite plans about what direction he wants to steer Semantics. He's just pleased that it's lasted so long.

        “We do progression in very, very, very slow steps. At this stage we're able to operate in a way that's very casual that a lot of people are happy with,” he says. “In the beginning there were a lot of skeptics that said it'll never last. And here we are going on our 10th anniversary. It's very gratifying.”

        Semantics is open noon-4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment, 651-5460.

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