Stories
Fresh Water explores a quartet of Cleveland's ethnic houses of worship that endure in traditions of faith, history and culture.
A 27-year-old skateboarding organizer is running for City Hall chief despite tough competition. Does he have a chance?
Last summer, MOCA Cleveland's fourth floor Mueller Family and Rosalie + Morton Cohen Family Galleries featured the works of Mark Mothersbaugh in a multi-media explosion of color and playful commentary with everything from a mutated Scion to the Booji Boy mask of DEVO fame.
Last Friday, Adam Pendleton's Becoming Imperceptible took over the space. Like the Mothersbaugh show, it's an immersive experience full up with sound and visuals that reflect the man behind it all. Unlike last summer's offering, the current multi-media exhibition is void of color. The ceramic floor sculptures, framed Mylar prints, collage, silkscreens printed on mirror and two film installations are all depicted in black, white and gray.
While the two shows have commonalities, the narrative arc in time, politics and culture that separates them could not be more stark. When Mothersbaugh's Myopia debuted, the city was on the verge of the gentle summer months and giddy with the prospect of the Republican National Convention. Cleveland was, essentially, preparing for its close up.
Adam Pendleton, Black Lives Matter #3 (wall work), 2015
Now a scant eight months later, division and uncertainty cloud the days. The city is covered in snow after an extended and eerie January thaw. Protests have filled Public Square with women and encroached on Cleveland Hopkins. More such events are scheduled.
Such is the current backdrop for Becoming Imperceptible. Different incarnations of the collection previously appeared in New Orleans and Denver, but both of those events closed prior to November 8, 2016. Hence, like the America it reflects, the exhibition woke to a new day when it debuted last week.
Continue reading.
Last Friday, Adam Pendleton's Becoming Imperceptible took over the space. Like the Mothersbaugh show, it's an immersive experience full up with sound and visuals that reflect the man behind it all. Unlike last summer's offering, the current multi-media exhibition is void of color. The ceramic floor sculptures, framed Mylar prints, collage, silkscreens printed on mirror and two film installations are all depicted in black, white and gray.
While the two shows have commonalities, the narrative arc in time, politics and culture that separates them could not be more stark. When Mothersbaugh's Myopia debuted, the city was on the verge of the gentle summer months and giddy with the prospect of the Republican National Convention. Cleveland was, essentially, preparing for its close up.
Adam Pendleton, Black Lives Matter #3 (wall work), 2015Now a scant eight months later, division and uncertainty cloud the days. The city is covered in snow after an extended and eerie January thaw. Protests have filled Public Square with women and encroached on Cleveland Hopkins. More such events are scheduled.
Such is the current backdrop for Becoming Imperceptible. Different incarnations of the collection previously appeared in New Orleans and Denver, but both of those events closed prior to November 8, 2016. Hence, like the America it reflects, the exhibition woke to a new day when it debuted last week.
Continue reading.
For John Kulbis, inventor of Safety Skin reflective skin spread, the light bulb went off in 2010 when he leaned against a wall while painting a home interior. A dash of white paint from the wet surface striped Kulbis's arm, leading to a creation meant to make joggers, cyclists and pedestrians easier to see on the road.
Today, Safety Skin is the first product of Road Wise, Kulbis's Cleveland-based startup. The reflective spread is applied directly to the skin before or during activity, with the aim of bouncing headlights back to drivers in a variety of weather or nighttime conditions.
"Without light the spread has a subtle gray hint to it," says Kulbis, a Cleveland native and Euclid resident. "When light hits the product, it reflects back to the light source."
Safety Skin is made of natural ingredients and can be placed anywhere on the body. Kulbis tells outdoor athletes to run the deodorant-like applicator down their legs or along their arms and sides, especially in warm weather where less reflective garments are used. Kulbis's product stands up to perspiration, but can be removed easily enough using a wet wipe or soap and water.
A former competitive cyclist and runner, Kulbis has been perfecting his invention for the last two-and-a-half years. Safety Skin is now available at area athletic apparel and bike shops.
"Safety" is in the name for a reason. In 2014 alone, 4,884 pedestrians and 726 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That said, Kulbis wants to keep his product message positive and upbeat.
"I'm not selling this on scare tactics or fatalities on the road," he says. "I wanted to create something that people are actually going to love to use."
Looking ahead, Kulbis envisions Safety Spread having fashion and art applications. A hot pink or bright orange product could be used to make a mural, or be placed on a model for a colorful photo shoot.
For now, the athletic entrepreneur is increasing brand awareness through expos and other events. Empowering runners, cyclists and late-night walkers to take control of their visibility is all the motivation Kulbis needs.
"Right now, it's about getting people to believe in the product," he says. "All the stages of this have been really exciting."
Today, Safety Skin is the first product of Road Wise, Kulbis's Cleveland-based startup. The reflective spread is applied directly to the skin before or during activity, with the aim of bouncing headlights back to drivers in a variety of weather or nighttime conditions.
"Without light the spread has a subtle gray hint to it," says Kulbis, a Cleveland native and Euclid resident. "When light hits the product, it reflects back to the light source."
Safety Skin is made of natural ingredients and can be placed anywhere on the body. Kulbis tells outdoor athletes to run the deodorant-like applicator down their legs or along their arms and sides, especially in warm weather where less reflective garments are used. Kulbis's product stands up to perspiration, but can be removed easily enough using a wet wipe or soap and water.
A former competitive cyclist and runner, Kulbis has been perfecting his invention for the last two-and-a-half years. Safety Skin is now available at area athletic apparel and bike shops.
"Safety" is in the name for a reason. In 2014 alone, 4,884 pedestrians and 726 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That said, Kulbis wants to keep his product message positive and upbeat.
"I'm not selling this on scare tactics or fatalities on the road," he says. "I wanted to create something that people are actually going to love to use."
Looking ahead, Kulbis envisions Safety Spread having fashion and art applications. A hot pink or bright orange product could be used to make a mural, or be placed on a model for a colorful photo shoot.
For now, the athletic entrepreneur is increasing brand awareness through expos and other events. Empowering runners, cyclists and late-night walkers to take control of their visibility is all the motivation Kulbis needs.
"Right now, it's about getting people to believe in the product," he says. "All the stages of this have been really exciting."
The latest episode of "Neighbor Up Spotlight" is now available. "Neighbor Up Spotlight: What does Neighbor Up do?" is a 15-minute kitchen table conversation between host Carol Malone and Neighbor Up member Tom O'Brien focusing on how Neighbor Up came together and what members are doing to make change in Cleveland.
Hosted by Malone, a Cleveland resident and activist, each episode of "Neighbor Up Spotlight" focuses on members of Neighbor Up, a network of approximately 2,000 Greater Cleveland residents making positive change in their neighborhoods. This resident-driven social change movement is about bringing equity to all Cleveland neighborhoods.
Listen to “Neighbor Up Spotlight" on Soundcloud or download episodes from iTunes. Or just click below to hear the latest edition right now.
Support for this series, "Grassroots Success: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods," is provided by Neighborhood Connections.
Hosted by Malone, a Cleveland resident and activist, each episode of "Neighbor Up Spotlight" focuses on members of Neighbor Up, a network of approximately 2,000 Greater Cleveland residents making positive change in their neighborhoods. This resident-driven social change movement is about bringing equity to all Cleveland neighborhoods.
Listen to “Neighbor Up Spotlight" on Soundcloud or download episodes from iTunes. Or just click below to hear the latest edition right now.
Support for this series, "Grassroots Success: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods," is provided by Neighborhood Connections.
This Friday, Feb. 3, at 4 p.m., a demonstration denouncing Trump’s executive orders on immigration will be conducted at Market Square on the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue.
The following is the complete press release regarding the event:
"Civic leaders will join together for a demonstration in Market Square to denounce the Trump administration's executive actions on immigration. These executive orders, calling for the construction of a border wall and threatening the withdrawal of federal funding from sanctuary cities, prioritize the deportation of illegal immigrants without considering the circumstances that drove them to emigrate from their homes. The documents promise to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement by a combined total of 15,000, but no amount of border control or enforcement will affect whether or not migrants make the difficult choice to leave their countries and seek safety in the US.
There are several push factors existing in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez, co-director of the InterReligious Task Force on Central America, said, “Neoliberal and militaristic US foreign policies are often at the root of the push factors for refugees who are fleeing violent social and economic persecution. If we promoted true democracy in our international relations, rather empirical, unbridled, domineering policies, refugees would have less reason to flee violence and poverty.”
The Trump administration’s executive actions claim to target dangerous criminals, but, in reality, the new policies are vague enough to put at risk the status of families and individuals who, in the administration’s words, “In the judgment of an immigration officer, otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security.”
Jose Mendez from DreamActivist Ohio, said of his personal experience with immigration policies, “As a Dreamer, I can’t continue to live in anxiety day by day. We need Congress to act and fix our broken immigration system. I will continue to fight for my family and myself no matter how tough the battle gets.”
Civic society will continue to fight for the rights of immigrants. We call on this administration and the 115th Congress to do everything in their power to reverse these executive orders."
Per the statement, attendees will include the following organizations: InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia, DreamActivist Ohio, Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights Association, Cleveland Jobs with Justice, Ohio’s Voice and others.
The following is the complete press release regarding the event:
"Civic leaders will join together for a demonstration in Market Square to denounce the Trump administration's executive actions on immigration. These executive orders, calling for the construction of a border wall and threatening the withdrawal of federal funding from sanctuary cities, prioritize the deportation of illegal immigrants without considering the circumstances that drove them to emigrate from their homes. The documents promise to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement by a combined total of 15,000, but no amount of border control or enforcement will affect whether or not migrants make the difficult choice to leave their countries and seek safety in the US.
There are several push factors existing in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez, co-director of the InterReligious Task Force on Central America, said, “Neoliberal and militaristic US foreign policies are often at the root of the push factors for refugees who are fleeing violent social and economic persecution. If we promoted true democracy in our international relations, rather empirical, unbridled, domineering policies, refugees would have less reason to flee violence and poverty.”
The Trump administration’s executive actions claim to target dangerous criminals, but, in reality, the new policies are vague enough to put at risk the status of families and individuals who, in the administration’s words, “In the judgment of an immigration officer, otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security.”
Jose Mendez from DreamActivist Ohio, said of his personal experience with immigration policies, “As a Dreamer, I can’t continue to live in anxiety day by day. We need Congress to act and fix our broken immigration system. I will continue to fight for my family and myself no matter how tough the battle gets.”
Civic society will continue to fight for the rights of immigrants. We call on this administration and the 115th Congress to do everything in their power to reverse these executive orders."
Per the statement, attendees will include the following organizations: InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia, DreamActivist Ohio, Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights Association, Cleveland Jobs with Justice, Ohio’s Voice and others.
Fresh Water managing photographer Bob Perkoski was on hand to capture these evocative images from last Saturday's demonstration in Downtown Cleveland, which was attended by some 15,000 people.
The Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards (GSEA) will host a Qualifying Competition on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Kent State University School of Podiatric Medicine, 6000 Rockside Woods Blvd N in Independence, starting at 1 p.m. GSEA, a program of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), is an awards program for student entrepreneurs, providing students the opportunity to form relationships with fellow enterprising students and the judges.
“Over the course of the past several years, the GSEA awards have been responsible for launching and fostering the entrepreneurial efforts of many local students” said Brain Sprafka, Chair of Cleveland’s GSEA Awards, in a statement. “We look forward to hearing the presentations from these enterprising individuals.”
As qualifying criteria for the program, the four student finalists are in currently enrolled in their undergraduate studies of a recognized college or university and have been primarily responsible for operating a business for no less than six consecutive months. The four presenting students are enrolled at Kent State University, The Ohio State University, and Cuyahoga Community College. The presentations will focus on their business efforts in emergency medicine, software, locally sourced food, and fashion with a philanthropic cause.
The winner of this competition will be sent to compete at the Qualifying Competition in Kansas City, MO, on March 8 – 9, and will also receive business services and prizes totaling more than $20,000 from Brouse & McDowell, Compass Packaging, Licata Law, Northcoast Angel Fund/Todd Federman, Post-Up Stand, Sales Concepts Inc., Studiothink, and Technical Assurance, Inc.
The winner of the Qualifying Competition will attend the GSEA Finals in Frankfurt, Germany on April 27-29, 2017 to compete with the world’s top student entrepreneurs and have a chance to win over US $400,000 in cash and donated business services.
“Over the course of the past several years, the GSEA awards have been responsible for launching and fostering the entrepreneurial efforts of many local students” said Brain Sprafka, Chair of Cleveland’s GSEA Awards, in a statement. “We look forward to hearing the presentations from these enterprising individuals.”
As qualifying criteria for the program, the four student finalists are in currently enrolled in their undergraduate studies of a recognized college or university and have been primarily responsible for operating a business for no less than six consecutive months. The four presenting students are enrolled at Kent State University, The Ohio State University, and Cuyahoga Community College. The presentations will focus on their business efforts in emergency medicine, software, locally sourced food, and fashion with a philanthropic cause.
The winner of this competition will be sent to compete at the Qualifying Competition in Kansas City, MO, on March 8 – 9, and will also receive business services and prizes totaling more than $20,000 from Brouse & McDowell, Compass Packaging, Licata Law, Northcoast Angel Fund/Todd Federman, Post-Up Stand, Sales Concepts Inc., Studiothink, and Technical Assurance, Inc.
The winner of the Qualifying Competition will attend the GSEA Finals in Frankfurt, Germany on April 27-29, 2017 to compete with the world’s top student entrepreneurs and have a chance to win over US $400,000 in cash and donated business services.
