Yesterday, I posted some photos I took of the Community Vehicular Reclamation Project in Toronto and was thrilled to see one of the organizers there post a comment on REALNEO with more details today. I went to their website and found all sorts of other cool initiatives they drive for reclaiming the streets there, which we should embrace here... I know, "not invented here". Well, be like realneo and think glocally! Here's what's planned for tomorrow in Toronto. Wish I could be there for this... world carfree day 2006! Join Streets are for People! and The ReEvolution Day Arkestra in celebrating World Car Free Day via a musical parade through downtown - heading East from Trinity Bellwoods Park along Queen St.West.

Friday September 22nd, 4pm
Meet at Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen St. Gate) for Tea and Preparations BYOTea, costumes, instruments, floats, banners, signs, etc... All Musicians are most welcome and encouraged to join the Arkestra
5:30pm - Take to the streets!

All Day &/or during parade - Parking Meter Parties!
Rent back a piece of the city! It's fun! It's Legal!
Just as a car driver would, park your vehicle (ie your bike, trike, or unicycle...) in a parking spot along Queen West (the main parade route) & for $1.50/hr it's all yours!

WHAT CAN YOU DO with a 6 x 12 foot parking space?

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While hard to compare to shootings and murder, I can't think of a worse development for NEO, local arts and culture and my neighborhood than the news I recieved just now - Gallery 1300 is closing. I don't know enough details to know if it is "our" fault - not enough money flowing from the community to the gallery and artists - or just that the smart, great people who have made 1300 a core part of the NEO scene have other opportunities to pursue, but I know we all owe it to their team to really put out for them in their closing months. More to come on this as I learn details... for now: the Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Title of the Exhibit: Leave ‘Em Wanting More – The last shows of 1300

Opening Reception: 

5 - October 20, 7-10 – Grant Smrekar, Paul Sydorenko, Bill Rupnik

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This weekend the Toronto arts and culture scene was world-class beyond belief, featuring the final weekend of the Toronto Film Festival, the opening of the new Four Seasons Opera House (premiering Wagner's Ring Cycle), many smaller community arts festivals, and two major arts festivals – the Queen West Arts Crawl, featuring over 500 artists and galleries along mind-blowing Queen Street) and the august 11th Annual Canadian Art Gallery Hop. The Queen West Arts Crawl was way cool, but I stayed in Toronto an extra day for Software Freedom Day and the Canadian Art Gallery Hop, as that featured a free “Glocal Live Roundtable” of many of Canada's arts leaders. “The term GLOCAL fuses global with local and points to the meshing of macro and micro realms of experience in the contemporary world of Internet technologies and instant information. The speed and collapsing distances of this new reality hold challenging implications for traditional identities and communities, along with promising opportunities.” The roundtable was astounding... see below for detailed notes of interest to all concerned about arts, culture and the economy, local to anywhere in the world and global.

Susan Miller posted very exciting news about NEO today: former editor in chief of the Free Times and now columnist for the esteemed New York Times Lisa Chamberlain (props, Lisa!) published in today's New York Times a real plum of promotion for NEO, with an article titled: "Filmmakers Say Hooray for Cleveland". The subject is very smart and progressive local real estate developer David Perkowski, shown above on top of his Hyacinth lofts, which David developed to serve the unique live/work needs of local artists and film and music makers. Anyone who knows NEO knows David for transforming the historic Tower Press building from a dilapidated shell into a spectacular and bustling arts loft complex... one of the most innovative historic restorations and downtown redevelopments in Cleveland History. Well, the Hyacinth is as impressive and significant in similar and other ways.

The 17th annual chalk festival at the Cleveland Museum of Art -- its the best reason to hope for good weather this weekend. Stroll around Wade oval anytime Saturday or Sunday from 11-4 and see hundreds of artists, young and old, at work on their sandstone canvases. It is always exciting to see how much artistic talent we have here in Cleveland. If you are inspired, for $15 you can buy a large space and box of chalks or a small space for $7.50. See the CMA website for more details.

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Tremont Arts Festival -- always a lot of fun! Great art by local artists (one of my favorite local ceramists, Gina DeSantis will have her work there) live entertainment, activities for children provided by local non-profits, the APL moble adoption van filled with cats and dogs and delicious food from local churches and restaurants.

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At the Meet the Bloggers benefit last week, at Tower Press, I hoped I would see NEO's top filmmaker Bobert Banks, who has his studio in the Tower Press. Robert showed up, as is his style. Not only did I learn it was his 40th birthday (happy b-day... shush) but that he was having a filmfest birthday party today, 09/10/06... not to be missed, to celebrate a great man and artist's b-day and enjoy some retro film of Robert's choice. As Robert was born in 1966, and Star Trek was apparently invented then, the evening started out with some crazy Star Trek film that I suppose was the pilot of the series, and was totally freaky... rampant green dancing aliens, booze and sex.

I've totally appreciated Convivium 33 Gallery in Josaphat Arts Hall since I first heard of its creation - one must love people who resurrect an abandoned church on West 33rd Street in the unblessed heart of Detroit Superior, and pump a ton of money into it, and make it into a major showcase for art (equal love must go out to the Saltzmans for operating a great Dave's Market a block away). While lots of economic development dreamers talk good talk about transforming midtown and developing the arts economy, here it is happening day in and out. So I was thrilled to learn an old friend Clarence Van Duzer is showing there this month

What a week for fine art in Cleveland! In a wise move to spread the cultural-wealth and art enthusiasts time, Spaces made great noise and started the weekend early by throwing their "Street Repairs" opening party on the relatively quiet 09/07/06 Thursday night, drawing in a huge crowd. Read on about Friday's festivities...

There is a core group of really cool people in NEO committed to developing a great intellect and quality of life here, and they turned out in force this Thursday evening in two very different but interrelated ways. Free speech enthusiasts gathered for a poetry-laced fund-raiser for social consciousness catalyst "Meet the Bloggers", at Tower Press, and other free expression enthusiasts turned out for "Street Repairs" at Spaces... between the two, perhaps 1,000 of Cleveland's finest turned out, showing NEO at its best.

ART FOR LUNCH

Slide/PowerPoint Lectures by
Case Art History Faculty, Case Art History Graduate Students
Guest Faculty, Cleveland Museum of Art Curators
 
Prof. Edward Olszewski

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The weekend of September 16-17 marks the fourth annual Sparx Gallery Hop, presented by National City, where the work of more than 500 artists will be accessible to the public from inside galleries, studios, major festivals, and art institutions. It's considered Ohio's largest art walk because of it's geographic size and large number of featured venues across the City Center, Tremont, Superior Corridor, University Circle and Little Italy neighborhoods. Read on to see how you can HOP TO IT!

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Closing reception of "After Katrina" at Heights Arts (next to the Cedar-Lee Theater) an exhibition curated by Tom Hinson (CWRU alumnus and CMA curator of photography) featuring the works by renowned Cleveland artists Linda Butler, Daniel Levin and Jonathan Wayne. Opening reception from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. 

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It's that time again to get excited about art and fall fashion. Pinky's Daily Planner, the "modern clothes-closet for spirited girls" will feature their hand made fineries and accessories from other emerging artists. visit http://www.pinkydailyplanner.com

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  Opening at the Artists' Archives of the Western Reserve from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. featuring the graphic art of Gary Dumm. The artist will be present as well as Harvey Pekar and other graphic and comic book artists and illustrators.

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The Cleveland Clinic Art Program Presents: A Lunchtime Artist Talk with David Levinthal
Please join the Cleveland Clinic Art Program in welcoming internationally acclaimed photographer David Levinthal to Bunts Auditorium for an informal talk about his work and career. This event coincides with an exhibition of Levinthal's works, Baseball, on view in the M lobby corridor on Main Campus. This exhibition of color photographs is part of the Cleveland Clinic Art Program. Part of the Program's mission is to exhibit the works of contemporary artists and encourage dialogue, challenging viewers to experience diverse points of view.

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Covering History: Revisiting Federal Art in Cleveland (1933-1943)

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Lynden B. Miller is part garden designer and part magician. Her results include some of New York's most famous, graceful and uplifting spaces, such as The Central Park Zoo and Bryant Park.

Prior to her remarks, Miller will receive the Delia White Vail Memorial Medal, which recognizes individuals who have made significant national contributions to the field of horticulture.

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Convivium33 Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibit of remarkable paintings, drawings and sculpture, on view beginning 09/09/2006 through 10/15/06.

The Van Duzer Perspective showcases the work of this legendary 20th Century artist.

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"Street Repairs", opening at Spaces, fourteen artists use the urban neighborhood as its inspiration or canvas. Aritsts have turned the gallery into a streetscape, complete with storefronts, a night club, bus stop, theater and bike shop. Photography, installation, video, dance, graffiti and sound are incorporated into an artist-envisioned urban space.

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I always thought there was something innately good about Cleveland Tech Czar Michael DeAloia but didn't know why or what, and then I learned he's a poet, who has published a book of his work and is now participating in area poetry reading for good causes. That enough tells me he is special, but no way to tell how without reading or hearing the poetry. So I asked him to send over a few works to post with him as this Poet of the Day, for us all to preview... and tomorrow, September 7, we all can experience the complete poet Michael DeAloia as he reads more of his work at a fundraiser for Meet the Bloggers. Thanks for the good words for Cleveland, Michael. Read on, and be there, you all!

The Jazz Influenza

The high sounds of strings

Are teased by petite one-sixteenths

Infecting my soul,

Making me want to dance.

A whole note engulfs my sense of style.

My fingers snap!

Sweat rains on my forehead.

I perish under blue fever.

There rests my anger

On a lofty quarter note.

High….

Buzzing sounds of life

Are being played by a maestro,

By a drug addict,

By a man with a matter-of-fact life.

Ready your souls for cheap brass.

Rich men play money.

Poor men drums.

And I fly away riding on an eighth-note, waving.

Case Associate Professor of Music Mary Davis will be a featured speaker at the symposium, "Rock and Roll Couture: Music, Fashion, and Modern Style," beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 7, at the Western Reserve Historical Society, Norton Room, 10825 East Blvd. The event is free.

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