Cleveland is full of talented amateur and professional artists who commit their unique views of the city to canvas. Take Tremont, which has long been known for its art events (Jean Brandt’s Tremont ArtWalk, Walkabout Tremont and Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival); exhibit spaces (Barbara Merritt’s 818 Studios, Theresa Boyd’s Doubting Thomas and the galleries of Giancarlo Calicchia, Paul Duda and […]
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Art moves. In an esoteric sense, art can move the soul. But art also moves physically. Galleries, for example, can be transitory things—they seek spaces where costs are low and they often relocate when neighborhoods change. But Cleveland art isn’t all about galleries. How about restaurants? Establishments in Tremont—Edison’s, Grumpy’s, Lava Lounge, Loop, Southside, Treehouse and others—regularly display, and even […]
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Rob Hartshorn, artist, activist and longtime gallery owner, is leaving the Professor Avenue retail scene. Not closing up shop or quitting the business, but simply opting for a quieter open studio near Lincoln Park. In effect, he is evolving as an artist much like Tremont has evolved as an art venue. “For decades Tremont has been a go-to place for […]
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Look hard enough—online and in books, churches, libraries, etc.—and you’ll likely find a treasure trove of urban images: artists’ renderings of city neighborhoods, local houses of worship, natural features and street scenes. Tremont is no exception. In fact, the neighborhood formerly known as South Side, Lincoln Heights, University Heights and Cleveland Heights is the subject of dozens of artistic gems. […]
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Living in Berlin shocks me awake. In my teens I fantasized someday I would move to Berlin. I thought: that’s where the zeitgeist was, that’s where things start, where I can let loose and taste rebel culture. My dreams were born of a restlessness I didn’t know how to satisfy. Berlin seemed dark and gritty, and that was attractive to […]
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Tremont isn’t yet known as a hotbed for public art—at least not in the way we usually define it, which is “pieces created for display in outdoor settings.” But public art can have other meanings, such as “places and spaces where members of the public can display their work and create art in a communal, supportive setting.” And that is […]
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Millions of jobs were lost during the Great Depression. Writers, musicians and artists were particularly hard hit as patronage dried up, markets withered and customers tightened their belts. Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal”—an amalgam of public work projects, financial reforms and regulations—was a godsend for workers in many fields, but especially the arts. In fact, one of the first back-to-work programs […]
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Plein air painting, simply put, is “painting out of doors.” However, the literal French translation of plein—“full”—does a much better job of summarizing the plein air artist’s mission. In effect, he or she seeks to capture a “full air” experience: painting the out of doors out of doors. The Tremont neighborhood has a rich plein air history. In 1874, mapmaker […]
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Part performance art, part display art, part work of art, Climb Cleveland in Tremont has created a unique art venue and an alternative showcase for emerging and more established local artists. At its core, Climb Cleveland is a rock climbing and bouldering gym, but creator Chick Holtkamp’s vision was to create a comfortable, welcoming space for the community—a “big house […]
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Arts and culture go inside for the winter in Tremont. But our artists don’t hibernate. They re-double their efforts, open new cultural venues and welcome visitors to witness the neighborhood’s ever-increasing creative diversity. Visible Voice Books, the renowned curated bookseller, re-opened on Professor Avenue with double the space, an intimate cafe, beer and wine tastings, author events and musical performances. […]
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