Rita Montlack (b.1938)
Through a Glass Brightly, 2019
Commissioned by Summa Health
Materials: 6 archival computer-manipulated digital prints on transparent film, each 10”x10”
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), Blue Neighborhood, Sixth Floor, Secondary Nurses' Station
About the Art
Through a Glass Brightly invites viewers to reconsider familiar views with a fresh perspective. This series of six digital prints, created by Rita Montlack, captures the surrounding landscape through the windows of Summa Health's new patient tower. The work was commissioned to enhance the hospital environment while celebrating the beauty of its neighborhood and reflecting on the transformation of the local area.
Montlack’s process is akin to assembling a collage, where meaning emerges from the interplay of images. The selected views, arranged in a staggered pattern, reflect the dynamic relationship between the natural world and the rapidly changing urban landscape. As Montlack describes it, her method is a surprise: "The way things evolve and go together," she says, "is part of the discovery."
The photographs, taken from the sixth floor, depict distant views of Akron’s skyline, aerial perspectives of the surrounding landscape, and closer details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Some images capture the morning glories growing across the street from the former First National Bank Tower, while others offer a fuller view of the dignified façade of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church.
To enhance the aesthetic impact, Montlack employed computer software to introduce dream-like color palettes, altering each image to evoke a sense of vibrancy and otherworldliness. Printed on transparent film, the images are further heightened by the play of light, giving them an ethereal quality. The transparent prints are mounted on textured metallic backgrounds, adding a layer of visual complexity. Together, these elements create a thoughtful and uplifting experience for the viewer, blending the ordinary and extraordinary in a single, captivating vision.
The title, Through a Glass Brightly, references the artist’s favorite Ingmar Bergman film, Through a Glass Darkly, which in turn draws on the biblical passage from 1 Corinthians 13:12. Montlack’s series thus transforms everyday views into poignant reflections on perception, light, and change.
Hopeful, 2025
Acquired by Summa Health with a donation from the Richard and Alita Rogers Family Foundation
Materials: Digitally manipulated photograph on vinyl wall covering
Location: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.)
Red Neighborhood, Ground Floor, near the Comunale Courtyard and Employee Entrance
About the Art
Hopeful began as a photograph printed on metallic paper and evolved into the large-scale wall covering seen here. Using digital tools, artist Rita Montlack manipulated fonts and color to draw attention to a single powerful word: HOPEFUL
Created during a period of reflection, the work conveys a message of resilience and optimism. “Trying so hard to understand and make sense of this world we are living in, it is vital to keep our positive hope alive at all times,” Montlack reflects. “Hopefully Hopeful serves as a special reminder”
With its bold text and vibrant tones, the work offers a message of encouragement and perseverance. It invites viewers including patients, families, and caregivers to pause, reflect, and carry forward a sense of optimism in their daily lives.
Bold and affirming, the artwork transforms a simple word into a visual anchor of encouragement for all who pass through the space. It reflects Summa Health’s ongoing commitment to integrating healing, art, and humanity throughout the care environment.
About the Artist
Rita Montlack’s creative journey spans a variety of media, from her early career as a textile artist to her current focus on digital photography. She has worked extensively with digital photography, embracing the potential of new technologies to enhance both the creative and technical aspects of her work. Through the use of digital cameras, scanners, printers, and sophisticated software, Montlack is able to amplify the possibilities for artistic expression.
Montlack earned a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, and she studied design, painting, and photography at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Cuyahoga Community College. Her work is regularly exhibited in Cleveland and beyond, including installations that combine digital imagery with animation and sound.
Where You Can See More of This Artist’s Work
Montlack’s work can be explored further on her website, which offers a comprehensive overview of her recent projects and past exhibitions. Her work is included in notable collections such as the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Progressive Insurance, Cleveland State University, and Cuyahoga Community College. Additionally, her work has been shown in galleries in Palm Beach, Boca Raton, New York, and Columbus. Montlack's Importance of Being Windows, a large installation in Akron’s Curated Storefront Project (2018), is one of her more recent public exhibitions. She also exhibited at the Trudy Wiesenberger Gallery (2019), the Cleveland Clinic Exhibit Weston, Fla. (2024) and Hedge Gallery Exhibit (2025).