Art News

Skyline *

After watching the movie “Skyline,” I would give it one star. There is a group of young adults who try to escape brain sucking aliens. The movie doesn’t explain why the aliens need human brains. Most of the cast do not survive. The most interesting part of the story is at the very end, which causes you to wonder if there will be a part two. I hope not. This movie is not worth your time.

Alice in Wonderland ***

I enjoyed watching the remake of the movie, “Alice in Wonderland,” staring Johnny Depp.  Alice is now a young lady expected to be engaged.  However a turn of events sends her back to Wonderland.  The characters in Wonderland expects her to save them from the Red Queen.  Alice believes she is in a dream and has no desire to fight.  While in Wonderland, Alice regains something she has lost and learns about herself.  The movie was entertaining and humorous at times.  I give this movie three stars.

Speakeasy II, a fundraising night to benefit Collinwood's own UpStage Players and the Slovenian Workmen's Home, was a festive celebration of fun, food and a variety of entertainment options. The October 2nd event was packed with supporters, whose donations netted roughly $1,500 for each organization after expenses. Over 30 volunteers helped organize and promote the event.

During the summer, two of VASJ’s exceptional artists, Olivia Biondo and Derek Witcher, participated in the "Mural My Neighborhood" program and contributed to the painting of two beautiful murals in North Collinwood. Olivia and Derek, both juniors, underwent interviews and had to show examples of their work before they were accepted into "Mural My Neighborhood," a program of Cleveland’s Bureau of Cultural Arts. “I like painting and art so I thought it would be fun and a chance to meet other kids in my neighborhood who enjoy art as well,” Olivia explained.

The Beachland is the greatest music venue in the world. Apologies from all of us here to all the other music clubs in the land. You can only compete for second place. The Beachland did not reach this lofty position due to its fine selection of beer, wine and spirits. Nor is it the charm and history of the place’s original mission as a home for Croatian immigrants that rockets us to the top.

The sound and acoustics of the Ballroom are unparalleled. The intimacy of the Tavern evokes a sense of being in your friend’s basement watching a high school band. Only the bands at the Tavern are national acts using a state-of-the-art sound system designed by Big Audio Mike. Yes, Mike performs magic seven nights a week with his encyclopedic knowledge of sound and deep love for music. But even that is not what has led the Beachland to conquer all concert halls.

It’s Love. That is the secret ingredient. Mark Leddy and Cindy Barber are alchemists. They took their incredible love for music, for Cleveland, for the North Collinwood neighborhood that Beachland calls home, and for all who are fortunate enough to walk through Beachland’s door and created something timeless and beautiful. To understand the Beachland you must understand its parents.

Local children's theater company, UpStage Players, based in the Waterloo Arts District, invites interested area 7- to 15-year-olds to audition for the troupe's Spring 2011 musical, "Seussical: The Musical," this December.

I fell in love with Dr. Dog when I first heard the first song off their first album, “The World May Never Know”. I was in college, which was a vital place for all kinds of new music, probably most of it downloaded from the Internet. When I played the song for my dad, he said, “That’s a total Beatles rip-off”. Well, if you don’t want to listen to any more Beatles re-recordings, then you should listen to Dr. Dog.

Have you noticed The Tower at the corner of Waterloo and E185? Its appearance startled many and displeased some; I find it’s growing on me – and it’s undeniably a great landmark (“Meet me under The Tower,” sort of like “Meet me under the clock,” at Grand Central). Would you like to know what’s planned for the final stage of the Waterloo Streetscape (of which The Tower is a small but very visible part)? Come hear – and contribute to – the plans for the final stage of the Waterloo Streetscape Project. Nov. 29th, 6 – 8pm, Slovenian Workmen’s Home, 15333 Waterloo Rd. Questions? Contact John Boksansky at Northeast Shores, (216) 481-7660 or e-mail jboksansky@northeastshores.org

Independent Pictures and the Ohio Independent Film Festival present RRIICCEE, featuring actor/director Vincent Gallo.

The event will take place at the Beachland Ballroom Tavern, located at 15711 Waterloo Rd. in Cleveland on Saturday, November 13, at 8PM. Limited tickets for the event are $15 and can be obtained by calling Beachland Ballroom at 216-383-1124 or by visiting their website at www.beachlandballroom.com.

Vincent Gallo is one of this generation’s most exciting indie actors and filmmakers. He received critical acclaim for his films “Buffalo 66” “The Brown Bunny” and more recently as the lead in Francis Ford Coppola’s 2009 film “Tetro.”  Born in Buffalo in 1961, Gallo moved to New York City in 1978 and began playing in the experimental music band Gray with artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Since then he has had a wildly successful and at times, controversial career as a conceptual and visual artist, filmmaker, musician, race car driver and music collector. Highly prolific, Gallo is one of the most misunderstood, misquoted and misrepresented talents of the last 25 years.

RRIICCEE is a spontaneous collective between Gallo and two other musicians - Woody Jackson and Nico Turner – and exhibits the creation of composition within a live performance. In addition to the performance, Clevelanders will be treated to a special screening of Gallo’s four-minute short film, “Honey Bunny” as well as a selection of short films from the Ohio Independent Film Festival.

Arts Collinwood presented Collinwood Unveiled Sunday, September 19th. The evening began at the Arts Collinwood Café located at the corner of East 156 Street and Waterloo Road.

The first honor of the evening belonged to Sarah Gyorki, Sarah recently retired from Arts Collinwood. Councilman Michael D. Polensek and State Rep. Kenneth "Kenny" Yuko were in attendance and presented Sarah with City and State Proclamations honoring her for her dedication and hard work.

After the ceremony, the party moved across the street to welcome Azure Stained Glass Studio to Waterloo and to marvel at Mary Zodnik and Ben Parsons stained glass creations and restorations. The team of craftsmen at Azure Stained Glass Studio specializes in the fabrication, preservation, restoration and repair, of ecclesiastical, commercial, and residential stained glass. Words cannot describe the beauty of their work. A visit to their studio is a must-see the next time you are in the Waterloo area.

Next, the party was chauffeured by Shima Limousine to seven Open-House parties at Bonniewood Park Club and Villa Beach Club. Hosts included Kathleen Sullivan, Sue Lather, Miles and Nancy Kennedy, Glen and Marie Cunningham, Marcia Egbert, Jeff Hagan, and Suzi Darlin. Their warm receptions could not have been nicer. The hosts were gracious enough to open their beautiful homes for all to tour. The seven parties all featured wine and food. The homes spotlighted just what a great community Collinwood is to live in. I overheard several folks pondering why anyone would look in any other area to purchase a house. I was fortunate enough to witness a spectacular sunset while enjoying the Cleveland Philharmonic Duo, featuring Stephen O’Block and Margaret Lynch.

At the end of the evening, we were whisked off by the Shima Limousine back to Arts Collinwood Café for a nightcap.  Sarah Taylor had laid out a spectacular spread of appetizers for all to enjoy. The Collinwood Unveiled event is one that should not be missed. I would encourage everyone to contact Arts Collinwood and request that they are placed on their mailing list so next year's event may be enjoyed, as well as all the other fantastic events and gallery openings that Arts Collinwood sponsors throughout the year.

The Slovenian Workmen’s Home, located at 15335 Waterloo Road in the Waterloo Arts District on the east side of Cleveland will have polka dances every Sunday from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM in their “Waterloo Ballroom”. Cost per person is $10 which includes a sandwich and soft drink. A cash bar will be available so there will be no byob.

The schedule through the end of 2010 is as follows: October 10 – Bobby Kravos & the Boys in the Band (Meet State Representative Kenny Yuko and Cleveland Councilman Mike Polensek at this dance.) October 17 – Al Batistelli Band October 24 – Don Wojtila Band October 31 – Jeff Pecon Band (Halloween costumes optional) November 7 – Wayne Tomsic Band November 14 – Joey Tomsick Orchestra November 21 – Ray Polantz Orchestra November 28 – Don Wojtila Band December 5 – Al Batistelli Band December 12 – Eddie Rodick Band December 19 – Frank Moravcek Band December 26 – No Dance New Year’s Eve – December 31 - Bobby Kravos & the Boys in the Band – Watch for details of this special celebration dinner/dance.

Rick Porrello didn’t write because he necessarily wanted to, he wrote because he had to. Generations of untold stories caught up with him, and it was his job to finally put them on paper. His grandfather died before he ever got to know him, and it wasn’t until Porrello grew up that he discovered why his death was never discussed.

“Nobody talked about it,” he said. “But I was curious.” The more he researched the more he discovered the weight behind his family’s name. He soon began to realize that his grandfather and great uncles were killed by Cleveland’s mafia. This is when he knew it had to be documented into a book.

Cleveland’s organized crime history begins during prohibition when the fight for corn sugar was rampant. It was the easiest sugar to ferment into alcohol, and therefore, the most coveted. Collinwood is a landmark location because of its placement right on the lake, just across from Canada where illegal goods could be brought into the city. Homemade distilleries in the basements or attics of Collinwood homes were also part of surviving prohibition. During snowy winters, authorities could identify those making liquor in their attics by the melted snow on the roof. 

Organized crime continued into the 70’s even though the fight for corn sugar was no longer an issue. “There is always someone who wants to be in charge,” Porrello said. Danny Greene was no exception to this, where his goal was to be liked by everyone. He gave away turkeys to the needy on holidays or paid the tuition of young girls wanting to attend Villa Angela. Though his attempts may have seemed unselfish, they were acts to gain people’s trust. As president of the worker’s union, he had the opportunity to be in charge.

Throughout all three of Porrello’s books, the story of Cleveland’s organized crime history is thrilling, especially to realize what went on in our own backyards. There is more to come in next month’s issue on this tale of Collinwood’s riveting history.

“Hope for the Picture Guild” is the title of Matt’s latest show which opened Friday September 17 at the Arts Collinwood Gallery on Cleveland’s east side and is appropriately named as the show itself seems to be a counterpunch to the Postmodernist assertion that painting is dead.  

Presenting… THE TOWER, a new addition to the Waterloo District. But what the heck is it? If you don’t already know the intent behind this place-maker, the Waterloo Tower is just the beginning of an ongoing public art project. That’s right, it’s still not done and with your help it never will be. It will always change. It is meant to change. What you see on the corner of East 156th and Waterloo is a framework for site-specific art installations, an outdoor stage and a sort of urban gazebo designed to change throughout the years.

"Memories of Our Lake", is the title given to the 14th mural, produced by the City of Cleveland Bureau of Cultural Arts Mural My Neighborhood Program. On display at 18324 Lakeshore Blvd., the mural was the second one in North Collinwood. It depicts activities in and around the lake neighborhood, and includes picture of our beloved Euclid Beach.

Elena Tomorowitz, volunteer Collinwood Observer Arts reporter and columnist, took a moment to interview Chris Seaman,  the featured artist at the Arts Collinwood Gallery this month. Take a moment to get to know him, and then head down the street to see his amazing show. For free!

ET: When did you know that art was your passion, and what inspired you to get involved in it?

I knew very early on I wanted to create. I always felt a need to express myself through pictures. Comic books really inspired me. I wasn't a good student so I read a lot of comics to learn how to read when I was 7 and 8. Visual story telling captured my soul very young.

ET: Were you always interested in fantasy art?

Yes. I remember drawing a lot of knights on horseback fighting off orcs and ogres. Rushing home from school as a kid to watch the next episode of He-man or Thundercats had a hand in my creative stimuli.

ET: You come from a creative family, were they a big part of your enthusiasm for art?

Absolutely! Trips to museums and art galleries were always a part of my childhood.  I remember a lot of natural history and national parks were something my parents enjoyed and my brothers and I did too.  Exposure to theater and staged plays were also very important at my young age. I think it gave the storyteller edge in my art.

Speakeasy II, a fundraising night of fun, games of chance, food, and a few surprises, will benefit Collinwood's own UpStage Players and the Slovenian Workmen's Home. The October 2nd event will begin at 7:00 p.m. For only $10, patrons will surely get their money's worth and more!

It is my pleasure to tell you that one of my favorite bands played recently at our very own neighborhood Beachland Ballroom. You may not have heard of Roger and his Peacemakers, you may not have heard of his former band the Refreshments, but I’ll guess that you’ve heard the theme song of King Of The Hill. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are a hard band to define, although they have hints of rock, pop, folk and country, they don’t fit into any one of these categories.

The Peacemakers always play at the Beachland when they come to town, and they and always put on an epic show. Although the band is consistently excellent, the best part of the show has to be the fans that come from near and far, sing along together, toast shots and beers together, and become friends for life bonding over the amazingness that is Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.

The big question was: “Will it rain?” The big answer: “Apparently not. But who cares? I’m staying for the Helper T-cells.”

That handsome painting of Waterloo shops that ran in the Friday tab, along with the write-up on the Waterloo Arts District? It came to life on Saturday, as 10,000 people (more or less) flowed up and down the road: listening, talking, eating, shopping, laughing. From the pre-opening ceremony of unveiling the mural at 11:30, to the official closing at 7 pm (when vendors had to be gently invited to pack up, as the last shoppers made their lingering choices), the Waterloo Arts Fest 2010 was one long series of happy encounters: People meeting people. People finding that one piece of pottery they’d been dreaming of. People hearing music they loved. Or encountering music they’d never heard before. Quite a lot of people meeting food.

The East 185 street ARABICA presents... ARTS ALIVE! An ongoing series of Arts events engaging audiences with Gallery showings, Live Theater, Vocalists, and Poets.

Last month's featured event was the play; Malcolm's Conversation, a hot stage play that appeared for two nights, Friday, June 11 and Saturday June 12. Friday night's standing room only crowd demonstrates the hunger in the community for accessible arts programming. 

The corner of East 185th and Lasalle will be abuzz again, Friday, July 23, with "Friday Expressions". The frappes and coffee will be chilled and the open mic and gospel offerings will be hot! This is the second time owner/operator Jim Edsall has partnered with Pam Scott to bring Collinwood, "Friday Expressions".

I’m not sure what they have to do with mathematics, but they certainly have spirit. Delta Spirit brought what sunshine they had left from their hometown in Long Beach all the way to the Beachland Ballroom  on June 24. Lovers of bands like O.A.R. or Phantom Planet would be interested in this group. The crowds were young and some even traveled from Athens, Ohio to see this band. Love was in the air as the men took off their glasses to impress their dates, who they held onto from behind.

The SS+W Boardwalk has put together quite an event that has never before happened on Waterloo, a classic car show! The block between East 160th and East 161st will be closed down from 4-10 pm on July 24th to host as many as 50 cars as well as vendors and entertainment.

Racer, musician, and long time Boardwalk friend, Gene Schwartz, will have one of his race cars parked right outside the Boardwalk! The Schwartz Brothers will be performing later that evening in the Beachland Tavern.

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, is the true story of a brave little 10 year old Yemen girl, who challenged age-old customs, and set a precedent in her country, by getting a divorce from her abusive husband. 

After her father arranged for her to marry a man three times her age, the man promised to wait until she reached puberty, before consummating the marriage. But he lied! He was cruel to her. He made her drop out of school. He beat her.  Nujoodhas no one to turn to for help.  Her mother-in-law told her son to "hit her even harder."

With great courage Nujood found a way to leave, to seek help, to go the courts, and demand to see a judge, saying, "I want a divorce!" She endured a long struggle, before finally being granted freedom from the abuse that stole her childhood.

Here is an e-mail interview between A. Boles and Upstage Players Improvisational Troupe leader Carrie Walsh-Hilf.

AB: What is the Upstage Players improv group?

CWH: UpStage Players Improvisational Troupe is a group of actors who dedicate time to working on the craft of acting and improvisation. They perform original scenes at different venues. Our future performances will be at the East 200th Street Stroll and at the Waterloo Arts Festival. This group is a piece of UpStage Children's Theater, but differs in that it is open to ages 5-whatever. We have about twenty participants and are always looking for more.

AB: What do you when you get together?

CWH: It depends. We do traditional vocal warm-ups and body warm-ups. Then we play a variety of games. The games will turn into our scenes. However, the scenes that we practice are just practice; we will create new scenes when we perform at whatever venue we are at. Sometimes we create a show out of ordinary boxes big and small, other days we turn ourselves into out-of-the-ordinary super heroes such as Bubble Man or Fashionista Girl with crazy super powers. You never know what will happen when you plan the games. Creativity fills the auditorium the instant you announce the game. We play different improvisational games each meeting. It is interesting to watch how a story can shift depending on who is leading it.

Amy Pheneger is a transplant from Chicago who left her corporate job there and was inspired to move back to Cleveland because she wanted to “get back to painting.”

Despite having lived many years in Chicago—what many consider a place to move to create art—she found herself compromising that art in order to afford the cost of living. Amy moved back to Cleveland, and the Collinwood area, because of the warmth of the people and the accessibility to a strong artistic community that allows her the freedom to create.

Since her return, Amy has been a staple at the Grovewood Tavern and Wine Bar, where I first met her. If you’ve been there for dinner, you will no doubt remember her smile and earnest disposition. In addition, you may have noticed some of her work on display. Those pieces are also for sale for an affordable price because she feels that “art should be accessible to many.”

Poetry is a terrifying creature. It lurks beneath the surfaces of other art forms causing most people who encounter it to run away in discontent. They are left with questions that can never be answered, only speculated about.

The Sunday Roast Reading Series is just the cure needed for this phobia. Mix the aroma of coffee, the clink of glasses, and the aura of a little booze with this poetic creature and suddenly it becomes a likeable friend and a completely visceral experience.

The next Sunday Roast will be June 13th and feature readings by three regional writers. T.M. Göttl is best known around Cleveland as a slam poet, but her work can be found in print in various magazines and online journals. Her poetry captures the nature of storytelling while exploring themes of myth, adventure, and religion.

Cleveland’s fastest-growing grassroots, family-friendly arts festival is back and better than ever, with more exhibits, installations performances and activities. More than 10,000 people are expected to spend the day on Waterloo, seeing and making art, catching live performances, shopping an array of vendors and noshing on local eats, as well as visiting all the one-of-a-kind businesses that make this burgeoning district unique.

Some of the popular features of last year are returning, including public art installations and historical exhibits; children’s activities with custom installations; live music on four stages; performance art, poetry and dance as well as local artisans selling their wares. This year look for a unique theater commission in our sculpture garden, stages in the street with even more live music al fresco, and a dynamic kids stage with incredible dance, music, contests and performances all day long.  

New York has its Off Broadway theater district that offers audiences edgy, provocative works that challenge and even defy tradition. Now I'm bringing that dare-to-be-different approach to a non-traditional site for theater in Cleveland; The East 185th street ARABICA coffee house, with what has been called a "stage-shaking piece"; Malcolm's Conversation.   

Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12 at 8 pm, the East 185th street Arabica will feature my latest work which I wrote, produced, directed, and oh yeah, I'm playing Malcolm Washington, the play's central character.

For four months, Hospice of the Western Reserve patients and families welcomed photography students from Notre Dame College on their journey with a serious illness. 167 photographs later, the four participating students found themselves changed forever.

These students, Aurelia Nuber, Ralph D’Alessio, Sarah Nank and Dominic Schiavoni, spent time with patients and families at Hospice of the Western Reserve’s Hospice House – an inpatient facility overlooking Lake Erie.  

The fruits of their experience – called “Images of Hospice” – will be on display at Arabica Coffee House at 818 East 185th Street beginning Thursday, June 24. The show kicks off with a reception from noon to 2 pm at Arabica and will remain there through July 16. The reception is free and open to the public.

On Friday, June 11, 6-9 pm, Arts Collinwood is hosting a free meet and greet event with Shaker Heights resident and independent filmmaker, Todd Kwait, as a kick-off to the 2010 Ohio Independent Film Festival, and to promote Kwait's newest film, Vagabondo!. Todd is a lawyer and businessman with a lifelong passion for film.

The Film Fest starts Sunday, June 13, at the Beachland Ballroom with a premiere of "Vagabondo!" and benefit presented by Independent Pictures. The event begins at 6 pm.

The film by Todd Kwait and Mark Sebastian, brings us into the world of seminal New York singer songwriter Vince Martin. Martin spent time recording with The Lovin’ Spoonful's John Sebastian and Fred Neil and Felix Pappalardi. In the early sixties, he influenced the growing folk and folk rock scene in New York.

The festival runs from June 12 through the 14th, for a full listing of films, descriptions and times, go to www.ohiofilms.com.

My name is Mariesha Mikel and I am currently a senior at Collinwood High School.

I enjoy cooking, drawing, painting, sewing, writing poetry, and playing piano.

During my freshman year attending Villa Angela- St. Joseph High School, the school magazine called Venture’s published one of my paintings and a short story I had written; I was also awarded 3rd place for use of color and 1st place for teacher’s choice. 

In the summer of my sophomore year, I entered 4 of my paintings into the Vision Arts Gallery and the Waterloo 7 Art Gallery. They are inspired by music, books that I have read, and dreams I have had.

Record Day was the biggest success ever, thanks to everyone who came out, sorry to John Copic who came in to check out the exclusive John Lennon vinyl and postcards only to find that people who slept over night in sleeping bags outside the store had purchased every one. Let's hope next year is even bigger.

I believe that art is an expression that reflects one’s own interpretation of the world…or simply just what they find interesting. It doesn’t matter if you attended a top art school or picked up a paintbrush one day and found that you enjoyed “moving paint around on a surface,” either way, you’re an artist to me (I’m the latter, by the way). Maybe your “canvas” is a sidewalk, a chunk of metal, a bar of soap, a computer screen, a gold chain or a greeting card…if you inject a piece of yourself and creativity into that medium, it’s art to me.

Arts Collinwood is seeking submissions from experienced mural artists to create an original design on the north elevation of the arts center building. The proposed image/concept should build on the work done by students in the Portfolio Project, using their artistic discoveries about themselves and their community as a springboard for an original design. Go to the website for details (lengthy details) and pictures of the site (a wall of many, many bricks; if I were submitting a design, I’d consider hundreds of little frames with eyes peering out; the eyes would belong to kids and their families, and the frames would be copied from neighborhood houses. Some eyes would belong to cats.)

Arts Collinwood’s Portfolio Project is an after-school program designed to give middle school and high school students the full experience of creating a portfolio, jurying a public art commission and creating an exhibit.

In this, its first year, it immediately became evident that the students’ grasp of the artistic mediums is growing almost as rapidly as their self-confidence and their ability to work as a team.

Visit the Arts Collinwood Web site to see some of the portraits they produced in Bridget Caswell’s photo classes. And visit the Arts Collinwood gallery on May 20, 6 – 9 pm, for the opening reception of their show, “This Time, Our Time.” The exhibit will be on view till May 23.

April 17th is the 3rd Annual Record Store Day!

It was a "holiday" of sorts created by some industry folks and independent record store owners to celebrate the life and culture of independent record stores. In just 3 years, the event has grown in scope and notoriety, and this year's will be huge for Music Saves, our record store. What happens is that a bunch of record labels, and the bands on them, come out with a ton of limited, exclusive releases, mostly on vinyl, and all releases are only available in participating independent record stores. Along with that, the stores themselves host events, giveaways, and contests for the day. The stores plan as much or as little as they want, but all of this works together to get a ton of people going out to independent record stores, and all on the same day. The first Record Store Day, two years ago was the best day our store ever had, and it has since only been outnumbered by last year's Record Store Day. The support and enthusiasm of our customers has been overwhelming each time, and preparing for Record Store Day once again is truly exhausting!

My name is Angela Ferritto and I am a working artist in (South) Collinwood. As a long-time resident and former business owner in the community, I have watched it change in a process that in some ways reflects the organic process inherent in the creation of artwork.

As a portrait painter, I record and reflect the characteristics of social and personal change found in the faces of my subjects.

The process of creation never becomes rote; it is different with each piece. I am constantly fascinated by the evolution of the image from my hands. It grows and changes, taking on a life of its own. It becomes its own entity, exuding independence.
Sometimes I look at something I've made, and it feels like I didn't even have anything to do with it. I love that feeling.

Summer can be a magical time for children. As a caring parent, you want them to play and explore and grow, to make friends and make memories. A creative summer camp experience might be just the right choice for you.

Arts Collinwood's summer Art and Drama Camp offers children ages 5-12 the chance to get hands-on and creative, working with professional artists in a space where they can experiment with a range of artistic outlets. They'll paint and sculpt, build and draw, write their own plays and stage their own performances. They'll work together and grow together. Each year the end-of-camp performance is a special moment for parents and children alike. 

Don’t miss your chance to witness the Spring musical performances of one of Northeast Ohio’s hardest-working children’s theater companies, UpStage Players. From March 26th through March 28th, the group will be producing and performing Aladdin, Jr., where many all-time favorite characters come to life in this stage adaptation of the Disney hit.

UpStage Players’ opening performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26th at the Slovenian Workmen’s Home (15335 Waterloo Road; Cleveland), their permanent performance residence. The group’s second show will commence on Saturday, March 27th, also at 7:30 p.m. Their final performance of the Spring will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 28th.

The name of the movie I saw is God’s Gift (2006), written by Britt O. Wynn.  It was based on a boxing film and Romeo's struggle with God and also his struggle with his father's problem.  This movie was a drama film, because it involved many situations of love and heartbreak.  The characters in this film were Master P and Lil Romeo.  The setting was in Los Angeles.

"We try to teach the principles of design and other visual elements," says Alexis Hedderson, who teaches Thursday afternoon  classes for elementary-school-age children at ArtsCollinwood. "The children do what they want to do." According to Hedderson, the program is  "choice-based"  and  "allows kids to be their own artist." The classes cover drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and working with clay. Miss Hedderson has an Early Childhood Education degree from Ursuline College and has taken art classes at Cleveland State University.

When many outsiders think of Collinwood they think of it as the setting for the 2002 movie Welcome to Collinwood, starring George Clooney. One resident sees it differently. Dustin Nowlin, a resident of the area since the age of 15, thinks the area is a breeding ground for young artists. He enjoys walking through the neighborhood with his dog Cabbie.

“Collinwood is ripe for new blood,” Nowlin said. “There needs to be more young artists.”

Nowlin, along with two other artists, plan to show off some of their talent with an exhibition called A War Within Our Hearts opening March 12, 2010 at the Doubting Thomas gallery on 856 Jefferson Ave in Tremont. During the opening night, 6-10 PM, there will be merchandise, as well as food and refreshments, available.

For the last eleven years there has been a movement afoot. It was founded with a simple mission: “ Never hide your talent," and was taking place annually in recreation centers, co-op storefronts, and  Community galleries across the nation. This year, The National Arts Program (nationalartsprogram.org) will hold The City of Cleveland exhibit at the Arts Collinwood Gallery, March 29 – April 9, 2010, with a grand opening reception Thursday, April 1 from 6 –9pm. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Participants must be employees of the City of Cleveland, a family member of an employee, or a City of Cleveland resident. Proof of residency is required to enter the exhibition.

Don’t miss your chance to witness the Spring musical performances of one of Northeast Ohio’s hardest-working children’s theater companies, UpStage Players. From March 26th through March 28th, the group will be producing and performing Aladdin, Jr., where many all-time favorite characters come to life in this stage adaptation of the Disney hit.

UpStage Players’ opening performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26th at the Slovenian Workmen’s Home (15335 Waterloo Road; Cleveland), their permanent performance residence. The group’s second show will commence on Saturday, March 27th, also at 7:30 p.m. Their final performance of the Spring will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 28th.

 

Hundreds celebrated the Beachland Ballroom’s tenth anniversary, this past weekend, with Pere Ubu and Roky Erickson. Here are the highlights:

Pere Ubu: The God Daddies of Avant Garage
David Thomas  took the stage dressed as neutral as his attitude and wore a coat as long as his moustached face. The term avant-garage was actually coined by the frontman himself (not to be confused with the deceased Wendy's Restaurants entrepreneur) so that journalists could pigeon-hole their sound. Pere Ubu is also often described as post punk, experimental, and proto new wave. In 1974 Mr. Thomas was the vocalist of a group called "Rocket From the Tombs."  In  1975, Thomas left Rocket From the Tombs with guitarist Peter Laughner to form Pere Ubu which left Johnny Blitz and Cheetah Chrome to join Stiv Bators, forming the infamous punk outfit the Dead Boys. Hailing from right here in our rust belt city, Pere Ubu birthed their first creative child, "The Modern Dance" in 1978 and performed every molecule of it on the Ballroom stage over 30 years later for a special Anniversary show on March 5th. This night in Cleveland, you looked around and forgot THIS many people lived in the city limits. There was no generation gap, which really gives you a strong idea of how influential this band really was and still is.

Hundreds celebrated the Beachland Ballroom’s tenth anniversary, this past weekend, with Pere Ubu and Roky Erickson, followed on Sunday with a new brunch menu from the fabulous mind of chef Jeremy Cobb. WRUW's DJ Katherine from Maximum Consumption provided tunes.

To read about the show, go online at www.collinwoodobserver.com, and scroll down the front page to "Beachland Ballroom"

If you ask most Cleveland Municipal School District students if they have ever been to the Cleveland Museum of Art, chances are the answer would be no. Regrettably, a visit to this jewel in the University Circle cultural crown has become unattainable because field trips are so costly. However, guided tours for groups of fifteen or more are available on a first come, first serve basis and teachers can apply at the CMA Education Department section at www.clevelandart.com. Fortunately, before Christmas break I was able to take five Collinwood High School students on a tour of the newly renovated galleries of CMA, which is ranked as one of America’s top five art museums. Their enthusiasm was a delight to witness. Here are some of their comments:

Arts Collinwood is proud to be sponsoring The Portfolio Project, a collaboration between teenagers and senior citizens, and is now accepting student nominations from teachers and others familiar with student work.

This project is a unique intergenerational experience in which a small group of high school students work with senior citizens to create poetry, oral history, video, still photography and portraiture. The sessions will be led by artists pre-eminent in their fields, who will also teach the young artists how to develop a portfolio, curate an exhibit and participate in the jurying process -- by helping to select a finalist for a mural installation at the Arts Collinwood center. 

A CALL TO ARTISTS

The All-City Art Show, sponsored by the National Arts Program, will be held at the Arts Collinwood gallery March 26 to April 9, with an official opening reception on April 1. Submissions are due by March 22. The exhibit is judged by professional artists and art educators in Amateur, Intermediate, Professional and Youth classifications. Entry is free. Participants must live in or work for the city of Cleveland, or belong to a city employee’s family. All entries must be the artist’s own original work (no kits!). There’s $1800 of prize money for the nine adult classes; $600 for the eight under-eighteen classes; and the possibility of an Honorable Mention, besides a Certificate of Participation for all entrants. For information and registration forms call: 216-664-2562, or visit www.nationalartsprogram.org.

Just before receiving my Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1989 as a drawing major, I was introduced to enameling. In my 4th year, a friend showed me pieces of copper she had covered with some sort of colorful, durable coating. She explained that it was enamel, and briefly told me about the class and the process. I’d never heard of this, but was very intrigued and so enrolled in the class at the start of my 5th and final year at CIA, to learn some of the basics of the medium.

Visual artist Terry Durst, who taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Cuyahoga Community College, moved to South Collinwood from Tremont four years ago. The move got him closer to the Waterloo Arts District and to the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, where he loves to see music, mostly country music or anyone that sounds like Neil Young. When he lived in Tremont, his friends knew to look up his home phone number by searching for Neil Young in the phone book, that's how much Durst believes and associates with the power of music.