Happenings at Arts Collinwood
February was jam-packed at Arts Collinwood with a gallery opening featuring photography, sculpture and neon light artwork by Stephanie Kluk, Elizabeth Emery and Jeff Chiplis respectively. “Homescapes” will be on display in the Art Gallery through March 14.
The “She Speaks” women’s poetry program held their first poetry workshop and slam on Saturday, February 26 in the Café at Arts Collinwood. The event was well-attended by people who came out to hear women poets compete to win a cash prize. This dynamic nonprofit poetry group led by Shelly Gracon-Nagy, Blaire Miller Bommer and Kisha Nicole Foster encourages women to express themselves through poetry and will make Arts Collinwood their home every fourth Saturday.
In celebration of Black History Month, Arts Collinwood’s Dramatic Reading Series was met with a standing room only crowd of nearly one hundred attendees for the dramatic performance, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Not Enuf” under the leadership of poet/educator, Michelle Smith.
Other events at Arts Collinwood in February included Wednesday Jazz nights, Friday night Art de Rockus band concerts, and the Café Music Series featuring a classical music evening with clarinetist, Bill Meyer and the duo MiZ on strings and woodwinds.
Standing educational programs such as the Thursday afterschool TAB (Teaching Artistic Behavior) program for kids and the kick-off of Portfolio Project also took place in February rounding out a solid month of a variety of accessible arts and entertainment for people of all ages.
The month of March will hopefully bring warmer weather and more community involvement in the arts. Arts Collinwood will continue the Wednesday Night Jazz performances in the Café. Also, join us in the Café for Fat Tuesday on March 8th and enjoy live New Orleans Jazz, Mardi Gras festivities and gumbo. The Art de Rockus concerts will continue to be held on Fridays at 9 pm and a variety of acoustical performances will take place in the Café including David Ullman, Anniversary Club and Stephe DK. On Thursday, March 24th the Café will take on a 1960’s French café theme with special food and drinks. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite berét or better yet, visit Blue Arrow Boutique or This Way Out (downstairs at the Beachland) on Waterloo Road to create an entire French ensemble.
Arts Collinwood is excited to announce that the Waterloo Arts Fest will take place on Saturday, June 25 from noon-7 pm. Bring the family out to enjoy a total arts experience including music, performance artists, art vendors, food vendors and more. It’s free and open to the public. Volunteers can contact Amy Callahan at 216-692-9500 for information on helping with the fest.
And finally, our Summer Camp for kids ages 6-12 will begin on July 11th and run for four weeks culminating in a fun, dramatic performance. Call RA Washington at 216-692-9500 for registration information. For these and all other announcements regarding programs and events at Arts Collinwood, visit our website at www.artscollinwood.org.
Cheryl Carter is the Executive Director of Arts Collinwood.