Did you know that the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a good place to see art as well as exotic animals? This duct tape giraffe was made by Nicholas Hiltner of the Cleveland Institute of Art. How real does it look? I'm not sure, the live giraffes were being shy that day so I could n't compare. There are other great sculptures at the zoo -- many are by Cleveland's own Viktor Schreckengost.

 

The best part of Ingenuity was that it lacked the packaged look and feel of the festivals that come to Burke, the IX Center, the Convocation Center, etc. There was sincere NEO pride generated by Ingenuity. True, not all the "ingenious" people involved were local, but it showed the collaborative potential we have here and the appeal we have for outsiders.  To anyone that thinks we need big box developers here and chain restaurants, Ingenuity is evidence that we don't. We have great people and great ideas right here, we just need to utilize them.

Please join us
Thursday July 27th 5:30 - 9:00

at Elevation Art
for the opening reception of "IDENTITY"

Location

 

There was a show of Yoshitomo Nara's work at MOCA Cleveland a few years ago, it was one of the most memorable shows I have seen there. This Japanese artist's imagery haunts you like a bad experience from your childhood. I felt compelled to buy this ash tray from the gift shop even though I have not smoked since high school. This Wikipedia page on Yoshitomo Nara provides some nice background. Not all his images are so biting. I think what I like about his work is that he captures the essence of modern childhood in both a personal and general way.

She made the first cut! Angela Keslar, our fellow Ohioan on "Project Runway" was among the 14 contestants that the judges decided definitely would stay until next week's show.  I thought her creation was very unique, a blend of crafty, earthy, organic, couture, and one of the best designs last night. The judges did not have much to say about it, but with all fifteen contestants still in play there probably was not enough time. I particularly liked the effect of the flowering tree branch accessory -- was it part of a purse? The picture above from the "Project Runway" website does not show this element very well. Although an annoying winer, Vincent, and the Stanford/Harvard woman who does not know how to use a sewing machine very well, and got booted, also got the bulk of the camera time this week. Angela seems sure to shine later. Last night she showed creativity, great sewing and design skills, and she seemed to be one of the nicer, more down-to-earth people in the group.

One of my initial reactions to CLOUD GATE was "I have got to photograph this!". I am definitely not a professional photographer, but I do like to record interesting things I see with my digital camera so that I can show them to friends later. CLOUD GATE was definitely the most interesting thing I encountered in Chicago. CLOUD GATE is really fun to photograph, too; with all the interesting reflections created in its curvy mirrored surface. That is why I was totally shocked when I read this blog article about how the city of Chicago had tried to restrict and charge for photographing it. A similar policy to the one Jones Day has about not allowing their building and the sculpture in front to be photographed. Chicago has now put an end to all that silliness though.

 

Don't miss the premiere of the third season of "Project Runway" tonight at 10 pm on Bravo. For those of you who are already fans of the show, now there is more reason to watch than ever; NEO residents can root for fellow Ohioan Angela Keslar. Joanna Connors from the PD wrote about her today : "Ohioan on 'Runway' and Ready for Takeoff" (Arts & Life, Page E6).

Location

 

I spent the past weekend in Chicago -- a city that is in many ways a more fun place to be than Cleveland. One of the reasons why: public art like this! Most people who know it just call it "THE BEAN" but this sculpture is actually titled CLOUD GATE (a much more elegant name). CLOUD GATE is located in Millennium Park, a beautiful formal garden along Michigan Avenue completed a few years late for the celebrations of 2000. On a July Sunday around noon the park was filled with 100s of people out enjoying the warm sunny weather and at least 100 or more of them were constantly gathered around "THE BEAN"staring with wonder . Not surprising at all because this sculpture is absolutely amazing! One of the best things about  CLOUD GATE is how people interact with it. Just walk too close and suddenly you become part of the sculpture. Once you see your reflection you are hooked! Go inside, stand under the arch and look up -- wow! Meer words can't describe the experience! More photos and insight here...

 

Arabella Proffer-Vendetta paints amazing modern gothic mannerist portraits -- some base on actual people others from her imagination. She also designs some very cool art for bands. To see more, visit Arabella's website. Her website is great! She is one of the few artists I know who use technology well to promote their work. Be sure to check out her work at Ingenuity Fest, too. Here is some infomation she sent out in an email:

 

Paul Dacey is a CIA grad originally from Toledo Ohio. He is now living in New York City and exhibiting all over the world. His works defy the boundaries of traditional painting and sculpture and re-present familar and iconic images. Check out Paul Dacey's website.

I am really appreciative, this morning. After posting what was certainly the saddest news I can imagine, about the hardship my staff has suffered as a result of a lack of appreciation from my former business associate, Peter Holmes, I opened up this week's CoolCleveland and found that their crew had featured TWO postings from REALNEO. I am very touched and thankful to Thomas and his team for noticing REALNEO and taking an interest in the thoughts posted here - thank you. Please show appreciation back to CoolCleveland... if you are not a member, see what you've been missing... subscribe at CoolCleveland - all free - this is a real NEO must,  and send feedback to CoolCleveland letters at the links below, and supporting the upcoming CoolCleveland/Tech/Ingenuity party at Fat Fish Blue, July 13, and the Ingenuity Festival, as described below... but first, here's the nice write-up about REALNEO from CoolCleveland today, July 5, 2006:

 

Rafala Green's labyrinths are a good follow up to the art of the Shaman. I first met Rafala Green and saw her labyrinths this past winter at an open house at the Hodge School artists's community. Her labyrinths are absolutely magical! They transcend the boundaries of typical painting and drawing. As your eye follows the path, the labyrinth takes you on a spiritual journey.  See Rafala Green's website to learn more about her labyrinths and community art projects.

 

Robert Banks: local filmmaker, photographer, CIA professor/film instructor, one of the cool residents of the Tower Press Building. I tend to think of film as a less artistic medium than painting or sculpture. It may be wrong of me to make such a generalization about a medium, but I have never questioned the level of artistic merit in Robert's films -- his films are like painterly collages.  I know I forgot to post an "Art of the Day" for Sunday, so Robert can be the "Art of the Day" artist for Sunday and Monday.

 

Spaces Gallery is having an exhibition of this artist's work.

 

 

I found out about this on Brewed Fresh Daily: last year, when I saw Natalie Lanese's work for the first time at her one-woman show at Buzz Gallery (formerly on W. 25th) -- my favorite gallery in Cleveland while it existed. I immediately loved Natalie's collages and sculptures (not all of her collages are so racy). I even bought one of her cakes (sculptures). Then, she was a young CIA grad and Buzz intern with a lot of talent and promise. This morning I was just wondering what she's doing now and by chance it happens there is an exhibition of her work opening July 6th at Bridget Ginley's new gallery, AIV. Natalie is now a grad student at Pratt. The show opens on Thursday b/c that's the only day she can appear in person. Check out her website -- it has a great look.

 

Prehistoric monoliths in Cleveland? Almost -- made of quarried sandstone with concrete and an earth mound, this sculpture has become one with its natural environment since it was installed in 1982. Located at the top of a hill, in a secluded spot with many large old trees, on a site that was once a grand estate; this environmental sculpture is a peaceful place to escape where you can escape from the city., rest and reflect. Do you know where this work is located and who estate this once was? Check back tomorrow.

 

Pamela Dodds recently moved to Cleveland and has become very active in the arts community here. Her paintings, drawings, prints and photographs often depict figures and convey a powerful emotional energy. Though PRICKLY PEAR NOCTURNE is more a landscape, or a still-life within a landscape, the way Pamela situates herself in the scene, holding the jewel-like fruit before the mountain the viewer feels initiated in some  supernatural  occurrence. Please visit Pamela Dodds's website to see more of her work. 

 

You may know him better as the most famous architect to ever come out of Cleveland, but in the 90s he enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to create a sculpture for Cleveland and the Putnam Sculpture Collection of Case Western Reserve University. TURNING POINT has a great visual dialog going with the Peter B. Lewis Building by Frank Gehry (just a few hundred feet away). It is also an incredibly accessible sculpture. It is located in the center of Case campus, just south of CIA's Gund building, in a spot where paths intersect that has historically been called "the turning point." Whether you like abstract sculpture or not, this work has become an icon for Case and the Putnam Collection. If you have never walked through TURNING POINT put it on your "to-do-list" for this summer!

Location

Tue Jun 27 , 7 pm
Gallery talk and slide presentation

SPACES World Artists Program artist-in-residence Pavel Kopriva will be giving a gallery talk and slide presentation of life in the Czech Republic, and its impact on his work.

Location

Are you a sculptor or do you know one? The following is a great opportunity for NEO sculptors -- but you need to act fast! Please pass this information on to anyone you know who may be interested in submitting their work.

 

This work is in the Putnam Sculpture Collection at Case Western Reserve University. It was purchased recently from a show at the Sculpture Center but It is not on display yet -- so very few people have seen it. This work is only a few inches tall but it has a monumental quality. The color of the stone is very beautiful. The form, which is similar in shape to a human heart, is very sensuous and organic. I Believe it is one of Kiderman's best works. She creates both abstract and figurative sculptures. Visit Alice Kiderman's website to see more of her sculptures.

 

Each of Keri Mortimer's paintings presents a simple story. In it the present is more important than the past, but the lonely, iconic elements (the house, the factory) do allude to a human presence and activity that took place in the past. Mortimer's paintings are also about her fears, though she says "growing up in the comfortable Midwest, my subconscious had to go out of its way to find things to be afraid of."

 

Architect, painter, sculptor -- Tony Smith was all three. Sometimes his sculptures are grouped with Minimalism, though they don't really belong in that stylistic catagory. As the title suggests, there is some humor to this piece, and, if you could walk around it and see it from all sides, you would notice it has an anthropomorphic quality. As a child, Tony Smith contracted TB and was quarantined in a tiny building in his family's backyard.  During this lonely time he developed an interest in the geometric elements of architecture -- an interest that remained with him throughout his life.