Final Four: FRONT Presents Futures Fellows’ Capstone Exhibition, New Work at Transformer Station

New Work: Amanda D. King, Charmaine Spencer, Erykah Townsend, Antwoine Washington—the upcoming exhibition of works by the FRONT Art Futures Fellows at Transformer Station—will mark the end of the FRONT Triennial, and perhaps the most significant arts fellowship program ever yet offered to artists of Northeast Ohio.

Since its inception, the FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art aimed to  make Cleveland and Northeast Ohio an art destination for people from elsewhere. The idea was to put Cleveland in its rightful place on the international art map by attracting artists and tens of thousands of art lovers to the region—and also to pump millions of dollars into the local economy. Driving force behind the effort was philanthropist/photographer Fred Bidwell, and his partner, artist Laura Ruth Bidwell.

In 2022, the FRONT Triennial announced the Futures Fellowships, aiming specifically to boost the careers of three deserving artists of Cleveland’s BIPOC community. In the end the program’s judges settled on four: visual artist, cultural strategist, and social justice advocate Amanda D. King; sculptor/mixed media artist Charmaine Spencer; conceptual artist Erykah Townsend; and fine artist/painter Antwoine Washington.

“The idea was to create this fellowship—specifically targeted at artists of color. How could we do a robust fellowship program, that would be more than just an exhibition and actually change a career? And have the potential to launch someone beyond Cleveland?” said Fred Bidwell.

Each of the fellows were awarded $25,000 stipends, with no strings attached. Along with that was a commitment to get professional support from the FRONT staff. And a professional development ten-day trip to New York. A planned trip to Venice was cancelled, but the artists were given monies for their own independent travel.

In early 2024 came the stunning announcement that FRONT would cease operations.

“Ultimately, a few things have happened over the last several years that have made the triennial hard to sustain,” said Bidwell. “The COVID-19 pandemic had a really big impact, not just on people’s attendance, but it forced a lot of funders to change their priorities. With the murder of George Floyd, and a lot of the turmoil that continues in the political environment, we agreed that this was not the time to continue.”

Although FRONT would be no more, Bidwell followed through on the promise that the artists would be part of a prominent show. It will take place at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Transformer Station. The Bidwells had opened the venue in 2013, then fulfilled a commitment to give it to the museum last year. The FRONT Futures Fellows exhibition culminates the museum’s first full year of programming there.

“It was great that I was able to persuade the Museum to lend me back the space for this show, which opens in early October,” Bidwell said.

All four artists are excited about the upcoming exhibition, but revealed very few details about the works they’ll display. Bidwell says he has thoroughly enjoyed the journey of working with them.

“I would like to give the four artists a shoutout; they’re a really interesting group,” Bidwell said. “What’s cool about these fellowships is that each of these artists has had significant career bumps since they were awarded this fellowship. These are really signs that this program is working. It’s been exciting for me to learn about these artists, get to know them and see their ideas develop over the past three years, and see signs of their career trajectories on the upswing.”

This exhibition puts FRONT finally in the past, but could Cleveland one day return to the international triennial stage? It’s not out of the realm of possibility.

“The show at Transformer Station is the capstone show, but it is my not-so-secret hope that people are going to be impressed enough that they’ll to want to do this again. I think this community needs it,” said Bidwell. “I’m hoping that we find a way to continue…in some incarnation.”

MEET THE ARTISTS

AMANDA D. KING—Case Western Reserve University School of Law, JD;  Bryn Mawr University, BA / art history and photography

Originally from Pittsburgh, King has been a resident of Cleveland for approximately ten years.

“I am a visual artist, cultural strategist, and social justice advocate, and they all have multiple realms. And a lot of the realms that my work and practice navigate are in between cultural, community and institutional—in reference to my work being shown in cultural institutions.”

King is also the founder and creative director of Shooting Without Bullets, which she created while attending law school. Shooting Without Bullets is a creative agency and production company geared towards giving Black and Brown youth a voice about social justice issues in their communities.

“The law and art degrees intersect as two lenses through which I view the world—from a justice and equity lens, as well as a lens of beauty, possibility and making.”

Regarding being named a FRONT Fellow, King is truly grateful.

“We know that resources for arts in Cleveland are just too limited. To be chosen for something that provided monetary support, an exhibition and travel—that was quite a platform to continue the trajectory that I was already on. And this, in my opinion, did bolster and position us (Fellows) better overall. Being named was an honor.”

CHARMAINE SPENCER—Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Spencer moved to Cleveland to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art and is a former resident of the Hodge School Studios. She currently has space at the 78th Street Studios.

A mixed-media artist, Spencer works with an array of materials including pulped paper, cement, driftwood, wax, bronze, clay, synthetic hair and many others. Several of her Spirit Vessel pieces are on permanent display as part of the Putnam Collection at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Sciences on the Case Western Reserve University campus.

“In 2022, I did a show at the Sculpture Center, and members of FRONT came and saw the show and they requested to do a studio visit. They urged me to apply for the FRONT fellowship. At that point, I wasn’t aware the program existed. I never feel I do well explaining myself when it comes to filling out applications, but when I was told I was named a Fellow, I realized I must have been clearer than I thought.”

Once it was announced that FRONT would end, Spencer was affected by the news.

“Yes, it affected me greatly, in the sense that I’m trying harder to make the statement that my work is quality, and that programs like FRONT are definitely needed. The outcome of these programs, if supported, is something that you can take pride in. The supporters of the art should have just as much pride as those creating the work.”

ERYKAH TOWNSEND— Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA

Townsend’s art is steeped in pop culture references and consumerism.

“I think my fascination with pop culture is the idea that most people can connect to it—because it breeds familiarity. These are characters that I grew up on and they seem more embedded in my life than other things, so why not use them as a medium?”

When Townsend was informed of being named a Fellow, she misunderstood the message. “I thought they were telling me that I had been named a finalist, and they were surprised at how calm I was. And they said ‘No, you’ve been named a Fellow!’ I was super excited on two levels. One for receiving the award, and I’d have the freedom to be able to create a big project.”

When learning that FRONT would be ending, Townsend was ready to pitch her idea for an exhibit but changed her mind because she felt the complexities and scale of the work may have been too large for a non-triennial show.

Townsend’s work has been featured at Chicago’s Barely Fair and SPACES. She currently has a fellowship at Zygote Press, as well as an exhibit on display at moCa Cleveland through January 4, 2026, entitled “Happy” Holidays.

ANTWOINE WASHINGTON—Southern University (Baton Rouge), BFA

Originally from Pontiac, Michigan, Washington’s artistic talents were encouraged early on by his mother and grandmother, and the support continued in school from his art instructors. Washington was also blessed with athletic prowess. He attended a junior college in Iowa on a basketball scholarship but continued to pursue his artistic studies.

When Washington and his wife, Carlisle, relocated to Cleveland, the first FRONT Triennial was in its early stages, but he kept it in his peripherals because he was intrigued by the program.

In 2018, Washington suffered a stroke, and he used his art as a form of therapy against anxiety and other debilitating symptoms.

In 2020, Washington created the non-profit organization The Museum of Creative Human Art (MOCHA). Geared towards young artists, MOCHA uses a character-based approach to bridge creative expression with education and personal development.

When applications were being accepted for the FRONT Fellowship, he didn’t want to apply.

“Cleveland is a very competitive city, and I didn’t want to get involved in that situation. But I was heavily encouraged by others to apply. When I received the email that I was chosen, I was really excited, not only because it was an accomplishment for myself, but largely because I was one of the first cohorts to do it.”

He’s glad he did, because the journey has been one of enlightenment.

“It’s been a lot of ups. To build this camaraderie with the other fellows, and all the support we received from Fred Bidwell and [FRONT Managing Director] Sarah Spinner Liska and other FRONT organizers, has been great. And having the resources to pull from for travel, buy materials, and forming relationships with New York gallery owners and artists and getting the opportunity to ‘see behind the curtain.’”

New Work: Amanda D. King, Charmaine Spencer, Erykah Townsend, Antwoine Washington
October 2 – December 27, 2025
Transformer Station