Parade prep: Artists, makers, and community members get ready for Parade the Circle

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Héctor Castellanos Lara, Lead Artist, Parade the Circle with his dragonfly creations for this year's theme: TRANSFORMATION (Dragonfly ǀ Libélula) Bob Perkoski

Héctor Castellanos Lara, Lead Artist, Parade the Circle placing the wings on his dragonfly creation Bob Perkoski

Guest artist Mary Joe Nikolai working on Marlin's Menagerie float for the Parade Bob Perkoski

Guest artist Liza Goodell from Philadelphia with the head section of her cat themed Parade float Bob Perkoski

Stefanie Lima Taub, Director of Community Arts at CMA demonstrates the cool pitcher of lemonade piece for the Parade Bob Perkoski

Artist Ashley Wischmeier adjusting a costume on her daughter Lily Bob Perkoski

Lily Wischmeier demonstrates a costume made by her mom Ashley Bob Perkoski

Artist Ashley Wischmeier gets some help from her two daughters Corey and Lily Bob Perkoski

Inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

Costume fitting inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

Inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

Héctor Castellanos Lara, Lead Artist, Parade the Circle working in the artist tent Bob Perkoski

Erik Melendez of the Hispanic Police Officers' Association works on their float for the Parade Bob Perkoski

Costume fitting inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

Inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

Guest artist Liza Goodell from Philadelphia and her crew work on her cat themed parade float Bob Perkoski

Héctor Castellanos Lara, Lead Artist, Parade the Circle placing the wings on his dragonfly creation Bob Perkoski

Inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

Chuck Supinski working on a float piece for the Parade in the artist tent Bob Perkoski

Inside the Parade the Circle artist tent Bob Perkoski

It’s been a month since the tent housing a temporary art studio has been up in University Circle—allowing lead artist Héctor Castellanos Larais his team of artists to create the puppets, masks, costumes, and other artistic creations that make Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle so vibrant and fun.

The fun starts this Saturday, June 10 at the north entrance of the Art Museum with the theme Transformation (Dragonfly/Libélula)—symbolizing strength, joy, creativity, and transformation.

As the artists and volunteers put the final touches on their creations, FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski captured the buzz and activity in the studio tent this week.

Parade the Circle starts at 12 p.m. this Saturday, June 10 at the north entrance of the Art Museum. The event is free and open to the public. University Circle Incorporated’s Circle Village on Wade Oval, where there will be live music, food vendors, and activity tents, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bob Perkoski

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

Bob is managing photographer with FreshWater as well as a Cleveland freelance photographer. His photographic approach is rooted in the art of storytelling. Whether freezing the energy of an event, encapsulating the magic of a performance, or astutely anticipating the decisive moments, his work displays an innate ability to distill the essence of any scene or subject into a single frame or series of work. In addition, Bob is the official photographer for LAND studio and Holden Forest and Gardens and has worked with various Cleveland organizations. In 2019 he published a book of his photos Rust Belt Burlesque. He's had work published in other books like LGBTQ Cleveland by Ken Schneck, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, Rust Belt Chic: The Pittsburgh Anthology and Moon Cleveland by Douglas Trattner. Previously he was co-founder/art director for Balanced Living Magazine. You can view his versatile portfolio of work, which includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural and fine art at Perkoski Photography. Originally from Conneaut, Ohio, Perkoski now lives close to the city in Parma. He has been Fresh Water's managing photographer since the publication's September 2010 inception.

See all of Bob Perkoski's Articles

Parade prep: Artists, makers, and community members get ready for Parade the Circle

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

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