Editorial By Josh Usmani
A week has passed and the dust still hasn’t settled in the wake of the ridiculous police “raid” on Loren Naji’s Ohio City gallery. While Naji is still working with local politicians and developers (stay tuned for an update soon), last Friday organizers of Tremont’s Art Walk decided to host what may be the first dry art walk in the country. Earlier this week, the artists and art professionals of 78th Street Studios held a meeting to discuss their alcohol policy.
I hope I don’t get anyone in trouble when I say that almost every gallery and studio in the region usually has free (alcoholic) refreshments available for their guests. It certainly wasn’t a secret in the past. For years, guests have enjoyed free food and drinks without a single incident. In fact, 78th Street Studios is a major reason for Gordon Square’s recent success — it is an asset to our community that we should be very grateful to have in our backyard.
Every Third Friday seems to get bigger and better, and the crowds keep growing without so much as a hiccup. At the meeting, 78th Street’s studios and galleries agreed to have a dry Third Friday for the first time in their history.
Some well-intentioned people were quick to advise galleries to obtain a permit through a 501c3 nonprofit gallery. This is a completely absurd “solution.” First of all, each nonprofit organization only qualifies for 10 permits per year (6 of one kind; 4 of another — forgive me for not being more specific, but I’m not a lawyer). That means that in order for a gallery to provide alcohol at a reception once a month (the minimum necessary to stay relevant in the art community), each gallery needs at least two 501c3 nonprofit organizations – provided each is willing to give up six permits each per year.
Additionally, most galleries in Cleveland are “not for profit” – at least unintentionally. Sure, they’re not registered 501c3s, but they might as well be. Gallery owners are motivated by passion. If they were motivated by money, they would have never entered the gallery business to begin with. Outside of commercial art dealers, most galleries in Cleveland are lucky to break even financially after each exhibition. It’s no secret that art isn’t exactly flying off the walls of the local art galleries.
Theoretically, the galleries would have to pay for the permit (approximately $150 a month or $1,800 per year). Call me an idealist, but it shouldn’t cost nearly $2,000 a year to obey the law and avoid a possible (maximum) $1,000 fine (plus the possibility of 6 months in jail) for the first-degree misdemeanor that Naji was cited with.
However, Cleveland still has the region’s fastest growing and most dynamic arts community. How is this possible if most galleries and artists are struggling? The answer is simple – COMMUNITY. The art openings serve as a networking opportunity for both artists and the general public. The “party” atmosphere is ideal for mingling and social interaction “ice breakers.” The events bring together people from all backgrounds and demographics, and give them something to talk about. The art and the atmosphere encourage guests to aim high and dream big. Creativity is contagious. The art community and its events provide an important service to the community-at-large: inspiration.
For years, community developers all over Northeast Ohio have been using artists to gentrify poor, desolate communities like Tremont, Ohio City, Collinwood and (soon) Slavic Village. Thanks to Richard Florida’s decade-old The Rise of the Creative Class, developers across the country now recognize the role creatives can play as engines of gentrification – generating millions of dollars in economic stimulation out of thin air. Not through art sales, but through the neighborhoods they create and stimulate. Neighborhoods that would not be possible without the social interaction that happens at galleries every weekend. Obviously, there are many other factors that benefit neighborhoods (and their residents), but the role of the arts has been especially important to Northeast Ohio over the past decade.
Like Tremont, eventually the neighborhood becomes desirable for 30-something business professionals, and landlords begin to raise the rent – outpricing the artists and galleries that made the area cool to begin with. Don’t believe me? Count the galleries in Tremont – the real galleries with rotating exhibitions, not the boutiques, bars/restaurants and businesses masquerading as galleries. You can do it on one hand…and still hold a cup of coffee. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to bother most in Tremont — rent continues to rise as more people move there every day.
As a fellow (occasional) curator and friend to many of the city’s art professionals, I empathize with their current predicament. However, it’s important to stay true to your beliefs. If you truly believe that you should have the right to provide alcohol to your guests, then you should continue to do so. If you don’t believe you’re doing anything wrong, you shouldn’t live in fear of being punished.
We must ask ourselves: do we live in a society where we allow fear to keep us from doing what we know in our heart is right? Sometimes progress takes a little civil disobedience. I’m not telling you to start a riot, just drink a glass of wine (if you’re over 21, of course), check out some art and act like a gentleman or lady. The most important thing is to support the artists and galleries who are being affected — buy some art! You’re bound to find something you love at Third Friday.
Cheers.
Josh Usmani is a 27 year old local artist, curator and writer. Since 2008, his work has been featured in over 50 local and regional exhibitions.
2 Responses to “A Dry Third Friday @78thStStudios ?”
Bob Peck
I dunno’…I feel like everybody backing down like this is letting “him” get the upper hand. I understand the potential risks involved but where would any of us be without risks?
I can’t believe that one sad, lonely old man has created such a ripple.
I say, stand up for yourselves, keep business going as usual, and show him that he has no real power.
As I said before, I understand that there’s potential risks and fines involved. But, I know first hand about this and I can tell you that even if you do face these, you deal with them and keep moving forward.
The more they push, the more the focus can shift on how this is being scrutinized while real crimes are happening within arms reach of all of these locations.
Bob Peck
Furthermore, even if you did want to “comply”. Paying $150 a month is more than some galleries take in during some openings.
I’ve seen PLENTY of shows where nothing sells on opening night. Guess what? This isn’t New York…These galleries are usually open the night of the show and by appointment only. This means, if nothing sold on opening night, there’s a good chance that not much is selling for the rest of the month.