No Vacancy Here: Art in (Phone) Box
A few weekends ago Phone Gallery - Cleveland's Smallest Gallery – opened it’s first curated show, #ThisisWaterloo, a revolving set of crowd-sourced photographs taken by visitors, residents, and merchants in the Waterloo Arts District.
In the shadows of Russ’ Auto, I stood in front of the once vacant, phoneless box and tinkered with the format of the first 16 photographs now on view through mid-May when a new batch of photographs will replace the initial selections. I drew the attention of curious on-lookers and happily chatted about the project’s aspirations to engage any and everyone who finds themselves on Waterloo. Not once but twice I was offered the use of a stranger’s cell phone or directed down the street to an operable pay phone. I can only imagine how bizarre I looked, reaching through the wormhole for a phone receiver that is long gone.
Originally conceived in 2013 through collaboration between artist Ivana Medukic of 'Project Pop-Up Galleries' and myself and executed by neighborhood handyman Doug Holmes, Phone Gallery demonstrates the transformation of an otherwise underutilized "space" into an inventive place for art display.
It’s mission is to exhibit neighborhood-centric work by local artists, promoting Collinwood and its people to Cleveland and beyond. For the first exhibition, the goal is to engage people who otherwise might not describe themselves as artists or might not otherwise find time to visit Waterloo.
In fact, the intention for all of my community-led, interactive arts projects coming to North Collinwood (LOCKS of Love, from Waterloo; YARN n YOGA; and more) is to convey how accessible making art can be. “Smart” cell phones are prolific: We use them as substitutes for alarm clocks, handheld gamers, and cameras. It’s the latter function I am interested in, especially as a tool to promote the wonderful emerging arts scene brewing in Collinwood.
Playing off of Positively Cleveland’s newest campaign, #ThisisCLE, #ThisisWaterloo encourages people to document their experiences in the Waterloo Arts District and promote them to each other, greater Cleveland, and beyond. We are our own best advocates, which is why I started this grass-roots campaign to publicize the exciting changes happening and the new events and opportunities for photography that present themselves everyday
Whether it’s a show at the Beachland Tavern or a detail on a Zoetic Walls mural, viewing Waterloo Road through the eyes of others only enhances our own understanding of what makes this place special. Phone Gallery wants to see what makes you happy … what keeps Waterloo weird.
Participating in this exhibit is easy. Now through June 21st, 2014: (1) Snap a photograph; (2) upload it to your preferred social media platform (Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook); (3) hashtag it #ThisisWaterloo. Now it’s eligible for digital exhibition on the Facebook page (This is Waterloo.) and in print inside Phone Gallery.
During the Waterloo Arts Fest on June 28th, 2014, the public will select their favorite photographs by text message. Winsome photographs will go into production as greeting cards to benefit future exhibitions at Phone Gallery.
Can’t find Cleveland’s smallest gallery? Look on the wall of Russ’ Auto Care on the south side of the Waterloo Road, just west of E156th Street. Phone Gallery is electrified and always open.
Allison Lukacsy
Allison is a North Collinwood resident, artist, and neighborhood cheerleader curating community-led, interactive art installations throughout Cleveland. Her passion is upcycling and architecture, and Cleveland's vast stock of underutilized space is the perfect canvas for her design work.