Arts + Culture
Cleveland-based artist Loren Naji made waves at ArtPrize in 2016 with EMOH, a spherical sculpture and temporary living space made of found objects, garbage, and remnants of abandoned or demolished Ohio and Michigan homes. Now he's set to take it on the road this year in U.S. cities with large homeless populations—starting in New York in March during the Independent Air Fair.
Find out more about this socially conscious sphere here.
Find out more about this socially conscious sphere here.
As anyone who attended the Cavs championship parade knows, the Land knows how to throw a party—and with multiple centennial celebrations over the past few years, there has certainly been a lot to celebrate. The party continues into 2018 as a number of Cleveland institutions, organizations, and businesses mark major milestones.
The best things in life are free, indeed, and our monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up all of the free #CLE events that get our "stamp" of approval. See what's on tap for January here.
From Nela Park to Public Square, Cleveland is full-on festive when it comes to the holidays. Fresh Water managing photographer Bob Perkoski set out to capture our city in all of its glittery glory this holiday season.
A 10-member team of artists and community leaders is helping to shape the next wave of individual support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
For many longtime Clevelanders, the holidays conjure up memories of downtown shopping tips to the former Higbee’s Department Store in Public Square. Images of ornate arches, ribbons, and even Bruce the Spruce come to mind in the holiday season.
The historic 1931 Higbee Building at 100 Public Square seems to bring up nostalgic memories at all times of the year, with current office tenants like Quicken Loans incorporating Higbee’s décor into its modern office design and the famous 10th floor—known for its fashion shows and Silver Grille restaurant— recently up for lease.
But JACK Casino, located within the building, has for the sixth year now transformed the casino and the windows lining Public Square into a whimsical wonderland called Holidays at the Higbee.
Read more about JACK Casino's recycling of Higbee's holiday decor here.
With 2018 in sight, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is again poised to make a significant impact on local non-profit arts organizations with $12 million in grant funding. While many associate Cuyahoga County's arts and cultural scene with the well-known institutions that receive general operating support, the smaller organizations that receive project support are often unsung heroes making a difference in their communities.
In early October, Cleveland became the first northern port city to sign a memo of understanding with Cuba’s maritime administration—effectively paving the way for future trade possibilities. The agreement makes a fitting cap for what has been a year of rich synergy between Cleveland and Cuba across the spectrum, from art to entrepreneurship to architecture to dance.
Interested in learning more about Cleveland's rich history? Point your GPS toward Cleveland Starts Here, the new permanent exhibit opening tomorrow at Cleveland History Center.
According to director Angie Lowrie, Cleveland Starts Here will cover the time period from the city's origins in the 1790s all the way through the Cavs taking home the gold in 2016.
"We used to have a core exhibit that talked about the early history of the Western Reserve, but the history [coverage] ended at the Civil War," says Lowrie. "There was no one place that you could get the full story of what Cleveland is all about. Cleveland Starts Here is an opportunity to show a lot more of our stuff and do it in a way that shows people the story of Cleveland."
According to director Angie Lowrie, Cleveland Starts Here will cover the time period from the city's origins in the 1790s all the way through the Cavs taking home the gold in 2016.
"We used to have a core exhibit that talked about the early history of the Western Reserve, but the history [coverage] ended at the Civil War," says Lowrie. "There was no one place that you could get the full story of what Cleveland is all about. Cleveland Starts Here is an opportunity to show a lot more of our stuff and do it in a way that shows people the story of Cleveland."
If your idea of the perfect gift is a locally made one, Cleveland doesn't disappoint. From a Black Friday event at 78th Street Studios to a CIA student art sale, these six shows offer the best of locally made products and art.
From making pilgrimages to the A Christmas Story House to downing 30,000 barrels of Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Clevelanders take holiday celebrations very seriously. This year offers a significant addition for The Land’s yuletide revelers: a bar dedicated entirely, for just over a month, to Christmas cheer.
Let it snow, and let it glow and sparkle. That’s what the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) elves have in mind this week as they busily prepare Public Square for the holidays and the upcoming Winterfest on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Decorating is already in full swing, but will officially kick off today, Tuesday, Nov. 14, with the arrival of the holiday tree. The evergreen, donated by the Hlavin family, makes its debut on the north end of Public Square around 2:30 p.m.
Read more about the tree and Winterfest here.
Decorating is already in full swing, but will officially kick off today, Tuesday, Nov. 14, with the arrival of the holiday tree. The evergreen, donated by the Hlavin family, makes its debut on the north end of Public Square around 2:30 p.m.
Read more about the tree and Winterfest here.
That time David Bowie played his first show in Cleveland back in 1972? Anastasia Pantsios was there.
The time the Jacksons visited Playhouse Square in the late 70s, or when an emergent U2 played the Agora Ballroom? Also there.
And when Bowie returned to play the Richfield Coliseum in 1990? Yep, she was there, and so were Bono and Adam Clayton—both of whom got their photo taken with Bowie backstage, by none other than Pantsios herself.
In just under three years, Literary Cleveland has launched the annual Cleveland Inkubator conference (which attracted 500 people in 2017), gained nonprofit status, and hosted a wide array of workshops, programs, networking events, and author readings—all geared at empowering Northeast Ohio writers. This year, the organization also introduced a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel. That momentum continues with the launch of Lit Cleveland's literary journal, Gordon Square Review.
When the community talks, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) listens. As CAC enters its second decade of funding arts and cultural programming in Northeast Ohio, one of its top priorities will be working to achieve equity and diversity in programming—a focus identified as the result of a community listening project and in-depth assessments.
Fresh Water's monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up the freshest free events in Cleveland.
First there were dogs. Then came pigs, rats, and even dragons. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, according to the Chinese lunar zodiac, and it marks the last of St. Clair Superior Development Corporation’s (SCSDC) Year of the Zodiac Projects—a 12-year public art, cultural awareness, and fundraising campaign.
Find out how to get your hands on a rooster here.
Find out how to get your hands on a rooster here.
During Cleveland Book Week, 12 Literary Arts Incubator and LAND Studio enlisted local poets, authors, and spoken word artists to read passages from Anisfield-Wolf award-winning books at RTA stations and platforms around town. This video by New Departure Films captures their poetry in motion.
It's fitting that designer Christine Wisnieski kickstarted her career designing love notes for Kate Spade, because her Cleveland-based branding and collaborative design studio is a love letter of sorts to the city itself.
Over the last six years, Wisnieski has worked with a long list of local icons—from the West Side Market to Majestic Steel to RTA to Trentina—on redefining and refreshing their brands. "At the core, most people hire us to reimagine their organization and assist in repositioning themselves for growth," shares Wisnieski. "In a small way, [the studio has] been able to help shape the way the city presents itself to the world.
Over the last six years, Wisnieski has worked with a long list of local icons—from the West Side Market to Majestic Steel to RTA to Trentina—on redefining and refreshing their brands. "At the core, most people hire us to reimagine their organization and assist in repositioning themselves for growth," shares Wisnieski. "In a small way, [the studio has] been able to help shape the way the city presents itself to the world.