One advantage of a small organizations is the ability to nimbly respond to fortuitous opportunities. One of the exciting aspects of an artist-in-residence program is how often these opportunities organically develop, as did the Cuban art book exhibit coming to Waterloo Arts this spring through CAN Journal and the Creative Fusion program of the Cleveland Foundation.

Laura Ruiz Montes is a writer and poet who, hosted by CAN Journal, will be in residence in Cleveland March through May to meet and write about Latino artists here. Ruiz Montes is also editor of Ediciones Vigia, an independent, literary publishing house located in Matanzas, Cuba. Ediciones Vigia’s books and magazines are published by hand, in elaborate editions of 200, which are collected by art museums, libraries, and private collectors. Drawing on the holdings of Case Western Reserve University, CWRU Professor Damaris Punales Alpizar, and CAN Journal publisher Michael Gill, and augmented by titles brought for the exhibit by Ruiz Montes, Waterloo Arts presents this collection of artist books from a place that has surprising common ground with Cleveland.  The Cuban collective of artists, poets and writers at Ediciones Vigia have created these elaborate books using collaged, repurposed materials since 1985 and are recognized internationally for these unique works that combine layers of art, literature and moving parts.

Visiting artists-in-residence programs also spark new connections between organizations, and as result of this book exhibit, Art Book Cleveland–the collective of artists behind Cleveland’s annual Octavofest–will be doing an artWATCH event on May 5 at Waterloo Arts. Described as a “petty zoo for art books” by ABC member Laura Martin, artWATCH, allows visitors to see the process of artist creating books and provides an opportunity to try creating an art book of their own.

 

Waterloo Arts

15605 Waterloo Road

Cleveland, Ohio 44110

artscollinwood.org

216.692.9500

 

National Arts Program Exhibit  – March 3 – 19, Opening Reception  5 – 9 pm March 3

Cuban Art Book Exhibit: April 7 – May 21, Opening Reception 5 – 9 pm April 7

Art Books Cleveland artWATCH, 5-9 PM May 5

Waterloo Arts Juried Exhibition June 2 –  July 23. Opening Reception 5 – 9 pm June 2

Waterloo Arts Fest June 24 Noon-7 PM