In my last Canvas editor’s note, I wrote about how reacquainting myself with in-person arts events was likely to be a highlight of the summer.
And it sure was. Going to local gallery openings, museum exhibitions and concerts – where we often post photos to Canvas’ Instagram account, @canvascle – has been a staple of the season. Like many of you, I adapted quickly to being out and about post-vaccination. It felt oddly normal, yet so exciting to again experience our local arts and cultural scene.
Now, things are changing again. As I’m writing this in August, we are seeing another surge in COVID-19 cases because of the delta variant and low vaccination rates here in Northeast Ohio.
This comes just as many local theaters are gearing up to return to in-person seasons this fall, after a year and a half of virtual, outdoor and other creative performances developed to enjoy theater safely during the pandemic. As we wrap this issue of Canvas highlighting stages – as we have in past years for the fall issue – how exactly those performances will be experienced remains to be seen. Knowing the wealth of fantastic theater organizations we have locally, I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion however necessary.
At the same time, on a personal level, I’m frustrated for them.
I grew up performing in youth theater at the Fairmount Center for the Arts. As a shy kid, it was a kick of confidence for me to participate in plays, transporting me to a different world outside the anxieties of elementary school and with a flair of dramatic fun.
Later in high school, I became so obsessed with the musical “Rent” when it became a major motion picture that I convinced my mom to take me to New York City to see the show on Broadway. Growing up in a small town with what I would consider a lack of cultural offerings and exposure to a world that honors cultural diversity, queerness and urban, artistic life, “Rent” altered and added to my perspective.
My parents also took my sister and me to see “Rent” at Playhouse Square a couple years later, which became a very memorable and special experience to my family. Seeing “Rent” live in Cleveland was a highlight especially for my dad, who died in 2019. Leading up to the show, I thought he’d be shocked and perhaps bothered by the racy nature of “Rent.” But he loved it. Almost a decade later, I would still hear him listening to the soundtrack at home, blaring “Take Me or Leave Me” from his computer in our basement.
As Gina Vernaci, Playhouse Square’s president and CEO, told Canvas, “The audience experience is one where it’s a shared social experience. That’s why you come together.” I couldn’t agree more. As sung in “Rent’s” “La Vie Boheme” it’s about, “being an us for once – instead of a them.”
Stages, to me, mean coming together both with strangers in the audience, as well as family and friends who may have very different beliefs and life experiences – and being electrified by the show together. How do you measure (more than) a year in the life of no in-person theatrical experiences, or significantly more than 525,600 minutes without that shared experience?
I’m not sure you can. But as local theaters, big and small, are gearing up for a strong return, I can’t stress the need to support them strongly enough. And not for their sake, but for ours – for our own connectedness and enlightenment.
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STAFF PICKS
Upcoming openings, events and performances
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Photo: “Artists of CONVERGE” by Melissa Bloom (2021). Acrylic on wood, 71 5 x 5 inch panels. Courtesy of Artists Archives of the Western Reserve. |
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WHAT: “CONVERGE” exhibition to celebrate and acknowledge both the historic and ever-relevant struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community
WHO: 71 artists from Northeast Ohio
WHERE: Artists Archives of the Western Reserve; the LGBTQ Center of Greater Cleveland; Lake Erie College; MetroHealth Main Campus Medical Center and Judson Manor
WHEN: Artists Archives public opening reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 26, at 1834 E. 123rd St. in Cleveland. More programming listed here. Exhibition on view through Oct. 16.
Pride isn’t just the month of June for the 71 artists featured in the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve’s upcoming multi-venue exhibition, “CONVERGE,” bringing together diverse stories from the queer community, including voices of women, transgender and artists of color throughout the region. With installations at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, the LGBTQ Center of Greater Cleveland, Lake Erie College and MetroHealth Main Campus Medical Center, “CONVERGE” will acknowledge both the historic and ever-relevant struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community, incorporating themes of protest, pride, celebration and transformation.
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Photo: “Linear Construction 12 (Doan Creek)” by Barry Underwood (2020). Pigment print, 40 x 40 inches. |
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WHAT: 2021 Faculty Exhibition
WHERE: Cleveland Institute of Art, Reinberger Gallery, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
WHEN: Public opening for the annual exhibition will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26. The show will be on view through Oct. 10.
A tradition that spans more than eight decades, the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Faculty Exhibition is a celebration of art, design and their makers. It provides an opportunity for the public to view new, original and innovative works by CIA's world-renowned art and design faculty. The public opening will be held in conjunction with the event for the “ Snickers That Turn Into Livable Joy” exhibition featuring work by Cleveland Institute of Art students and recent graduates. |
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WHAT: Lorain County Community College Art Faculty Fine Art Exhibit
WHO: Artists Josh Eiskamp, Greg Little, Leigh Hughes, Diane Marrapese, Nancy Halbrooks, Amy Sedlak, Molly King, John Hooks, Walter Grossman, Christian Fredriksen, Lauralee Hutson, Catherine Rozmarynowycz, Donna Coleman, Ryan Craycraft and Brad Blahnik
WHERE: Stocker Arts Center, 1005 N. Abbe Road, Elyria
WHEN: Opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 26; on view through Oct. 15
The Studio Art Faculty Exhibition features faculty who have taught studio art at LCCC in the past two academic years. The exhibit, held every two years in the Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery, will include ceramics, drawing, printmaking, photography, painting and digital art.
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Photo: “Flow” (2019) by April Felipe. Porcelain, pastels, hair, underglaze and acrylic paints. |
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WHAT: Kent State National Ceramics Invitational, “Cutting The Line: Drawing on Ceramics”
WHERE: KSU Downtown Gallery, 141 E. Main St., Kent
WHEN: Exhibition opens Aug. 26, with reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27. On view through Oct. 23.
INFO: Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. More info here.
The School of Art Collection and Galleries at Kent State University presents the fifth annual Kent State National Ceramics Invitational “Cutting The Line: Drawing on Ceramics.” The exhibition was curated by School of Art ceramics professor Michelle Summers and includes artists Molly Ann Bishop, Eun-Ha Paek, Joe Kraft, April Felipe and Rick Nickel. It explores the unique material qualities of ceramics as a surface for drawing, and includes 2-D drawings and 3-D ceramic works by five artists. The exhibit aims to show how each artist’s hand and approach to making and drawing is influenced by the physical qualities of paper and clay.
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WHAT: Mural and arts program, in collaboration between MidTown Cleveland, LAND Studio and POW! WOW! Worldwide
WHO: In partnership with local organizations and artists, and nationally known artists
WHERE: Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood, headquartered at 7113 Euclid Ave., where visitors can obtain event information, see painting demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities, meet local vendors and participate in film, musical and educational programming.
WHEN: Through Aug. 28; most programming occurs from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27 and from noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 28
INFO: Programming details and more info listed here.
CLEVELAND WALLS! brings 23 world-class artists to Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood to create 19 dynamic public murals. The 11 local artists include creators such as Glen Infante, Robin Robinson and Gary Williams, while the 12 national artists will visit from locations including Miami, Oakland, Hawaii, New York City and Chicago. It also features programming from local arts and culture groups such as Shooting Without Bullets, Twelve Literary Arts, Museum of Creative Human Art, Graffiti Heart, The Distinguished Gentlemen of the Spoken Word and collaborators from AsiaTown.
Visitors should visit the CLEVELAND WALLS! headquarters to pick up a mural passport booklet and then travel to nearby mural sites to watch the artists in action, according to a news release. The goal of CLEVELAND WALLS! is to uplift the MidTown neighborhood through vibrant art and programming while creating opportunities for local artists and elevating their work.
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WHAT: Market-type event to feature local artisans, crafters, edible goods, food trucks and more.
WHERE: Solon Community Park, 6679 SOM Center Road, Solon
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 28
INFO: Admission to the event is free. Free parking is available at Solon Community Park or in the parking lots to the south of the park by Solon Middle School. For more information about Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, visit avantgardeshows.com/events.
The City of Solon, in conjunction with Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, is hosting the Pop-Up in the Park 2021 at Solon Community Park Aug. 28. The event will feature 60-plus local artisans, crafters, food provisions, food trucks and farmers-market-type vendors. Free fitness classes will also be offered starting at 10 a.m. by Solon Community Center and other local fitness businesses.
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Photo: Nastassja Swift’s exhibition “blue/Black/baby smiles, singin’ to an old river – we hear you coming” is on view at SPACES. | Photo courtesy of SPACES |
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WHAT: Parade Day with SPACES artist-in-resident Nastassja Swift
WHERE: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2600 Church Ave., Cleveland
WHEN: 6 p.m. Aug. 28
INFO: Free to attend. More info here
As part of SPACES’ “blue/Black/baby smiles, singin’ to an old river – we hear you coming,” exhibition of artist-in-residence Nastassja Swift, a youth-led parade and performance will be held to address the question, “How do we bring joy to our spaces?” The parade aims to be a celebration of self, our woven communities and the presence of joy and paradise within us. The parade route is set to begin at St. John’s Episcopal Church, also known as “Station Hope,” one of the final stops on the Underground Railroad. It ends at Whiskey Island, the site where enslaved Africans set sail to Canada in search of their freedom. With an interest in navigating spaces of Black life, both past and present, the parade will also move through and involve youth living in Lakeview Terrace, one of the oldest public housing projects in the United States. |
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WHAT: Theme-based art, performances and installations; kicks off with a cabaret performance Aug. 29
WHERE: Events throughout Lorain; Aug. 29 performance at The Bank, 383 Broadway Ave.
WHEN: Events weekends from Aug. 29 through Sept. 18; Aug. 29 event is from 5 to 9 p.m.
FireFish, the Lorain-based themed art and performance festival, is back this year during weekends throughout August and September. Kicking it off Aug. 29, Lorain natives Jaclyn Bradley and Melissa Driscol will perform live cabaret in a musical celebration of show tunes and Lorain culture. Then Sept. 3, there will be fire, audio and video performances presented by FireFish Arts Community Artist Board members and invited artists, and events will continue Sept. 10, 11 and 18. |
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Image: “Clock Talk” by Jim Soppelsa. Acrylic on canvas |
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WHAT: Opening reception for Jim Soppelsa’s “Combinations Along the Way” paintings and graphics show
WHERE: Article Gallery during Walk All Over Waterloo; 15316 Waterloo Road, Cleveland
WHEN: Reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3; on view through Sept. 25.
Artist Jim Soppelsa will show new paintings and graphics at Article Gallery in the Waterloo Arts District, opening during Walk All Over Waterloo Sept. 3. After the opening reception, the show will remain on view through Sept. 25, including during the Waterloo Arts Fest Sept. 11 (gallery is open that day from noon to 6 p.m.).
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Photo: Artwork from Kimberly Chapman’s “Eighty-Six Reasons (for asylum admission)” exhibition. Image courtesy of the artist. |
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WHAT: “Eighty-Six Reasons (for asylum admission)” exhibition
WHO: Solo show of Northeast Ohio artist Kimberly Chapman
WHERE: Fawick Art Gallery in Baldwin Wallace’s Kleist Center for Art & Drama, 95 E. Bagley Road, Berea
“Undesirable behavior” – chattering, dispassion for domestic chores, even novel reading – was often deemed as hysteria in women during the Victorian era. With that diagnosis, many of these women were sent to asylums. Artist Kimberly Chapman’s exhibition at the Fawick Art Gallery of Baldwin Wallace University tells the stories of these mistreated women. Encompassing a collection of porcelain sculptures and large-scale tintype images of the artist as the asylum patient, the exhibition details why women were sent to mental asylums and the botched diagnoses and treatments they received. Chapman is known for tackling issues like silencing women, domestic abuse, refugee crises and American school shootings through her delicate, ethereal porcelain sculptures.
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Read a Canvas profile of Chapman here and a Canvas Q&A with her here.
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ART NEWS
News from CanvasCLE.com and its partners
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Pianist Jonathan Biss’ love for music could probably be connected to his Jewish faith. Biss, whose mother’s parents were Hungarian Holocaust survivors, said their experience has strengthened his sense of identity as a Jewish person. He describes his Judaism as cultural in nature, rather than religious, but said it has always been an important part of him. Read more
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The COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, visitors to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood have been lining up to take their photo with a life–size cardboard cutout of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and to take in “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” Read more
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The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra will resume concerts in its 84th season in 2021-22 under the leadership of music director Victor Liva. The Cleveland Philharmonic will continue to reside at Cleveland State University for rehearsals and performances. Read more
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IN PRINT
Read the digital edition of the latest issue of Canvas
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Interested in having an upcoming event, exhibition or performance mentioned in this e-newsletter? Email information to [email protected].
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Canvas is a periodical supplement to the Cleveland Jewish News and published by the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company. |
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