We were sorry to learn that Arthopper.org, an online source of reviews, essays, and other writing about the region’s art, is taking a break.

We got word yesterday via an e-mailed announcement that the blog, which sought to “provide high quality arts journalism in the Greater Lake Erie region in specific cities including Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Toledo, and Youngstown” is going on hiatus as founder Jimmy Kuehnle and editor Indra Lacis stepped down.

Arthopper.org’s announcement, grabbed from the screen.

We’re sad to see this. We want more writing about art, not less.

As the folks at Arthopper said, “Covering visual arts events through reviews of exhibitions, interviews of artists, essays, opinion pieces and critical discourse … provides an engaging community asset that educates the public, fosters critical thinking, provokes conversations, and contributes to an overall better quality of life for the citizens of the region.”

We couldn’t agree more.

As the announcement says, Arthopper will continue as an online archive of its past reviews, while the organization sorts out its future.

The announcement closes by saying the writers “are honored to have served our community …”  CAN understands that feeling, and we have to reflect it back. It is an honor to be a part of the community Arthopper served.