Arts + Culture
At the heart of Alexis Rockman: The Great Lakes Cycle—currently on exhibition at MOCA—are five mural-sized paintings unlikely to be forgotten any time soon. It’s the past, present, and future makeup of the Great Lakes on which the exhibition focuses: invasive species; mastodon bones left over from the lakes’ inception about 14,000 years ago; a genetically modified cow grossly mutilated; and byproducts from the agriculture industry feeding tributaries that will birth toxic algal blooms.
The Tinseltown glitz and glamour of Hollywood. The romantic late-night movie shoots of New York City. The internationally-recognized booming filmmaking industry of…Ohio?
If that last scene feels off and you’re doubting our fair state’s place on a list of bona fide filmmaking capitals, then it’s time to take notice of some monumental efforts aimed at not only attracting film productions to Ohio, but also establishing a veritable film industry right here in our own backyard.
If that last scene feels off and you’re doubting our fair state’s place on a list of bona fide filmmaking capitals, then it’s time to take notice of some monumental efforts aimed at not only attracting film productions to Ohio, but also establishing a veritable film industry right here in our own backyard.
Imagine walking into a pedestrian tunnel to discover a string quartet playing Schumann as fellow passersby journey through, each note more eerily beautiful than the last. That fully improvised soundscape is exactly what recently greeted travelers inside the W. 65th St. tunnel, and though it's not how most people experience classical music, that's precisely the point.
For many writers, the payoff comes when they see their work in print, performed onstage or screen. But at this Saturday’s inaugural Cleveland Drafts festival, works-in-progress will be the star of the show. Spearheaded by Brews + Prose, the daylong festival will feature 24 writers of all experience levels across the genres of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting.
FRONT International may have concluded its colorful run, but the former FRONT Porch space in Glenville will continue its arts and culture legacy with the opening of the new Center for Arts-Inspired Learning—a creative arts center for children and teens set to open this Sunday, October 21.
While The Land looks toward the future with a boom in growth and development, many Clevelanders are turning towards the past with a growing interest in crafts dating back thousands of years. Cases in point: MidTown's burgeoning Glass Corridor, and the trendy-by-accident Cleveland Blacksmithing.
Pop-surrealist sculptor Leslie Edwards Humez is on a mission to make contemporary art accessible to the blind with her Perceiving Art Through Sculpture (PATS) initiative. For the past six months, Edwards Humez has been creating sculptural replicas of paintings and illustrations—which are then scanned and 3D printed as a means to getting visual ideas into the hands of the blind community.
Fresh Water's monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up the freshest free events in Cleveland.
Few things give a neighborhood a boost of pride and sense of place like a work of public art. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) wants to help make the connection between civic-minded artists and Cuyahoga County-based nonprofit organizations seeking a collaborative way to solve problems and benefit the community. Enter the Learning Lab—a professional development program designed to train artists in civic, social, public, and placemaking practices.
Wide open spaces and peaceful time for connection and relaxation aren’t normally what one might associate with a busy children’s museum, but the new “Meadow” exhibit at the Children's Museum of Cleveland is designed to deliver exactly that. Scheduled to officially open next Monday, October 1, The Meadow caters to the infant and toddler crowd as the newest addition to the museum’s lineup of four existing exhibits.
When portrait photographer Matthew Greene took a mission trip to the Ugandan village of Kabingo back in 2010, he had no idea he would later become the official photographer for Hope for Kabingo and return to the village twice to capture more photos. Tonight, those portraits take the spotlight here in Cleveland with “Faces of Kabingo,” a three-day exhibition at Hudson Fine Art & Framing Company.
Driving down Pearl Road from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to its intersection with State Road, it’s hard not to notice the eight whimsical carrot sculptures that dot the streetscape and ponder their significance. “There has been a lot of curiosity about it,” shares Vince Reddy of LAND studio, which helped bring the project to fruition. “People are always wondering, ‘Where did these things come from?’”
Move over, traditional antiques dealers and auction houses—there’s a new kid on the block. Veteran antique dealer Ronald Greenwald and Aspire Auctions co-founder Cynthia Maciejewski have joined forces to open Neue Auctions, a one-stop online auction house and art gallery geared at Millennials and women.
Fresh Water's monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up the freshest free events in Cleveland.
Amanda King graduated from Case Western Reserve University's law school last year and still lives in the Cleveland Heights apartment she rented as a student. But instead of practicing law, King has immersed herself in her true love—photography. Now King's six-part portrait series, "The Marigolds," will be showcased as the first of four installations in LAND studio's Inner City Hues project.
Imagine 100,000 watts of surround sound pumping out high-voltage performances from 100 artists including Prince, the Rolling Stones, and Metallica, shown on 12-foot-high moving screens. Top it off with 761 laser lighting cues (one per second), and the Rock Hall’s “Power of Rock Experience” is one potent multimedia mashup.
For many people, “Power of Rock” amounts to a highly memorable music experience, but for those with sensory processing issues, it can be a whole lotta overload.
For many people, “Power of Rock” amounts to a highly memorable music experience, but for those with sensory processing issues, it can be a whole lotta overload.
The Land has been a welcoming place for immigrants since the dawn of the 20th century—when Cleveland was the nation’s fifth most important immigrant gateway city. Over 100 years later, immigrants continue to be a vital part of Cleveland’s population. Their significant impact is felt not only in Cleveland’s economy and vibrancy, but also celebrated in the city’s cultural offerings.
Take a visual journey through the great work of five organizations highlighting Cleveland’s immigrants with grants from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Take a visual journey through the great work of five organizations highlighting Cleveland’s immigrants with grants from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
From Cake to SZA to Rock Hall inductee Booker T. Jones, more than 20 musical acts descended on downtown Cleveland this weekend for the inaugural InCuya summer music festival. Along with enjoying 10+ hours of live music each day, festival-goers also got free admission to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with other special touches that added ample Cleveland flavor to the amped-up event. (Check out our pre-coverage for more details.) FreshWater's managing photographer, Bob Perkoski, was there to capture the sounds and sights.
From Beyonce to David Byrne, it’s been an impressive summer for concerts in Cleveland. As the season approaches its end, denizens of The Land will be treated to one last hurrah: the inaugural InCuya Music Festival, the first contemporary, multi-day music fest to be held within city limits in quite some time.
Lakewood may be a huge hub for the “shop small” movement, but the personalities of the city’s emergent local businesses are anything but small. This summer, the city has welcomed two niche stores: Coven and Cleveland Curiosities. Catering to those with interests that may be off the beaten path, Coven focuses on all things witchy, while Cleveland Curiosities is packed with oddities that can’t be found anywhere else.