Bringing Art to Empty Places: Collinwood’s Project Pop-Up Galleries

Whether we like it or not, abandoned buildings are part of our cityscape. But, just because buildings are abandoned doesn’t mean we must leave them vacant. Why not open up these mysterious spaces for a little urban exploration… and art?

Project Pop-Up Galleries is doing just that — bringing art to empty places. Project Pop-Up Galleries transforms abandoned residential and commercial properties in Collinwood into temporary art galleries. The Project is the brainchild of Ivana Medukic who was inspired by the “pop-up” art scene of NYC and Cleveland’s burgeoning underground art scene. The goal is two-fold: Increase awareness of available housing and business opportunities in Collinwood and help fuel Collinwood’s emerging artist community.

“Collinwood has a great art community with a sense of togetherness amongst artists — they feed off of each others’ ideas and really pull together,” says Medukic. “The general consensus amongst artists is that Collinwood has a little more of a progressive art scene. Me, I just really like the neighborhood.”

Project’s next exhibit, “Transformation,” opens on Sat 2/12 with a wine and cheese reception at 6PM in the old Key Bank Building at 15619 Waterloo Rd. Cleveland-based artists will bring life to the building’s 14 rooms. Forget entering a formal white-walled gallery space — here you’ll meaner through what appears to be a former dentist’s office, complete with old X-ray machines, a creepy examining chair, lots of wood paneling and loud flowered curtains straight out of the ’60s. Everything from the hallways to the examining rooms and the nooks and crannies in between will be filled with art. The place is a complete relic… which makes it all the more intriguing.

Says Medukic, “The locations are chosen based on what mood or setting we think the theme for that particular exhibit would be most successful and which setting most intimately engages the viewer. The pre-renovated spaces we leave pretty much as is; the experience is a little more raw and organic and moves away from the white walled gallery setting.”

Each exhibit is housed in a different vacant space owned by Northeast Shores Development Corp. Their first exhibit, “Transition,” was housed in a vacant residential property on E. 157th St. and reflected the “current interval stage that the neighborhood of Collinwood is undergoing” along with the transition from fall to winter.

Just like the locations vary, so does the artwork. Project Pop-Up Galleries accepts art of any medium and discipline. No stale artwork or stifling limitations here. It doesn’t matter if you’re a formal artist, student or art world newbie — anyone living in the Cle area can submit work. However, there is a formal submission process. All accepted artists score an affordable and unconventional place to showcase their work in a neighborhood bubbling over with creative energy.

“Transformation” will feature the work of Brian W. Matz, Chad Kimes, Greg Ruffing, Jonah Jacobs, Sue Riha and other local artists. Also featured: performance artist Brandon Miller and music by Kevin Conaway, Peter Niro and members of traditional Bosnian folk group Kraljica Katarina. There will also be a screening of the Art21 documentary Transformation (fitting, no?) featuring artists Yinka Shonibare MBE, Cindy Sherman and Paul McCarthy.

You gotta check out “Transformation,” Project Pop-Up Galleries’ second exhibition opening on Sat 2/12 at 6PM @ the Key Bank Building – 15619 Waterloo Rd. in Cle. The exhibit is also open on Sun 2/13 from 12 – 5PM and will run until its closing reception on Fri 3/4. http://Facebook.com/pages/Project-Pop-up-Galleries.