by Josh Usmani
On Fri 5/23, Loren Naji and the artists of Undercurrents experienced a bad case of déjà vu as the closing reception of Undercurrents and launch party for the Summer Issue of CAN Journal was abruptly shut down by the Cleveland Fire Marshall. Early in the evening on Fri 5/23, Naji’s gallery was filled with CAN’s members, sponsors and readers – a “who’s who” of Cleveland’s art community. Ironically, CAN Journal’s Summer Issue features an article about the raid on Naji’s gallery earlier in the month on Fri 5/2.
Let’s back up a bit. Earlier this month, after the 5/2 undercover raid of the opening reception of Undercurrents, Naji explained to me that he was recently informed by city officials that he had failed to follow the necessary measures to obtain an occupancy permit for his gallery. This may be surprising to many, because Loren has been using the building as his studio and gallery for years without any issues.
Shortly following tonight’s events, Naji informed me that he had spoken with Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman earlier in the week. Cimperman assured Naji that he could proceed with his scheduled events for this weekend (CAN Journal Launch tonight and Drawn and Quartered VI tomorrow, Sat 5/24), because he was in the process of getting a permit. As of earlier this evening, Naji had not spoken to Cimperman about tonight’s events, but we will update you on the status of tomorrow night’s event as soon as possible.
The Beachland Ballroom’s owner, Cindy Barber, spoke with Cimperman tonight. “I found out from Cimperman that he is helping Loren get a proper permit. An application is in process and was supposed to hold off this type of action”
Everyone I’ve spoken with has been pointing to Henry Senyak as the reason for the Fire Marshall’s visit (and the raid earlier this month). “Senyak is not concerned about the safety of the patrons,” says Undercurrents artist Bob Peck. “This is strictly a thinly-veiled vendetta without any initial cause. This second attack shows it clearly, and I’m confident that the art community and creatives alike will let their voices be heard.”
For now, no one is allowed to enter Loren Naji Studio Gallery until an occupancy permit is approved. CAN Journal’s launch party was moved to 1point618, and Undercurrents ended early – again and for good, it appears. If you missed the show, it was one of the best in town recently. Ron Copeland, Steve Ehret and Bob Peck collectively raised the bar. It’s a tragedy that the art has been so overshadowed by all of this nonsense.
There was no need for this overly dramatic scene (or the one earlier this month). Naji is a very reasonable person. He’s been in constant contact with city officials for the past three weeks. Tonight’s event wasn’t a secret or private event. Naji and CAN’s editor Michael Gill decided to make it a dry event, proactively attempting to avoid this kind of incident.
Tomorrow night’s Drawn and Quartered VI is a competitive, live drawing event featuring collectives of local artists competing against each other (and the clock) by drawing live models right out of the crowd. The event turns art into a spectator sport. If the event is canceled, it will affect dozens of local artists and potentially hundreds of guests (over 2,000 are currently invited on the event’s Facebook page). Councilman Cimperman has been working with Naji for the past few weeks to obtain a permit to serve alcohol at tomorrow’s event, but it could all be for nothing at this point.
It is time to say “enough is enough” before this gets any further out of hand. The overly dramatic actions are ridiculously absurd and unnecessary. The community’s response to the first incident was overwhelming. However, it appears that officials were not listening. Feel free to chime in with your comments below. Better yet — send Cimperman, Mayor Frank Jackson, etc. emails and call their offices to voice your frustration.
I genuinely love this city. I was born here, and I’ve spent (almost) my whole life here. I’m a big supporter of the local arts community, and I do my best to promote the hard work of the region’s passionate, dedicated residents. I truly believe we have one of the most underrated art communities anywhere. However, it’s difficult to feel very proud of my city tonight. These actions don’t represent the Cleveland I’m working hard to be a part of, and something needs to change…fast.
In the name of full discretion, I consider Loren, as well as many of the affected artists to be friends. This past December Loren hosted my latest solo exhibition, Funny Money, in his space at 78th Street Studios.
Photos courtesy of Kat Francis (top) and Bob Peck (all others).
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.
14 Responses to “Loren Naji’s Gallery Shut Down By Authorities For Second Time In 3 Weeks”
Chase
Sounds like a bad case of revenge of the nerds. Repressed human worms infect our communities’ power structures and wield our collective energies so that they can relive their childhood conflicts and finally feel like big boys.
David Ellison
In Cleveland, it is unnecessarily HARDER THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, but it is not impossible.
Chris Hoyle
I would like to direct my comments on the issue of the Occupancy Permit to Mr. Naji and my fellow Clevelanders.
When I opened my business in Cleveland many, many years ago, there was a business operating in the space, but in checking out all the things that you do as a new business owner, I learned that the place did NOT have an occupancy permit! So I knew that I had to get one.
So what I did was contact the City of Cleveland to learn what I needed to do in order to obtain an occupancy permit. I had to make sure that the premises was safe to be occupied, issues had to be addressed /fixed such as entrances and exits, handicap accessibility, fire surpression, parking, etc.
These are the things that you expect to do when you open a business ( and as you can imagine, it’s not cheap). That’s why people don’t expect to run a cafeteria out of their home or an art gallery out of their garage. I may not agree with all the things that we have to do as a business owner in Cleveland, but they are required. And of course they make the city money, but they also really do protect the owner and the customer. So long story short, and how it pertains to this situation, is that I did not open my business until I obtained the certificate of occupancy.
I am very confident that Mr. Naji knew that he would need to obtain an occupancy permit if he was open to the public on any occasion. I am not aware of any other businesses in Ohio City that open for business first and then obtain one later, but of course that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen. Cleveland requires Patio permits and even Permits for the “sandwich board” signs many businesses have out front. These things are just the cost of doing business in a great city. The Price you pay for doing business, I might add. Art is great, but art is business as well. Once you open your gallery on 25th to the public you are a business and should expect to be treated as such. That’s just the way it is.
So, In no way do I believe that Mr. Naji is being vilified here. Nor does Cleveland look stupid, nor should the art community feel enraged. There are many other very, very wonderful galleries with wonderful artists and exhibits and they are operating legally. I read that Mr. Naji’s gallery has been operating for years without an occupancy permit and I wonder why he did not take the steps to obtain one.
It is an unfortunate situation because it could have been so easily avoided by doing what is required by a business owner in Cleveland. Ask any business owner in Cleveland and they will tell you about the permits that they have to get, renew, etc. We don’t like it, but we do it. Why should Mr. Naji’s business be any different.? The fact is, it shouldn’t be.
I wish Mr.Naji the best of luck in obtaining the permits that he needs and I feel badly for the artists and those that were unable to enjoy the event due to his lack of foresight.
bob
BASICALLY Mr.Hoyle is spot on…. WILL SAY THIS…WAS the bar RIGHT NEXT door to art gallery…GONE!…the old white painted bldg…THAT poo thing had a real upsy downsy bad history all the time and I knew some households NEAR there where LESS then thrilled with bar crew…LITERALLY parking where had a SHOOTING… to cred of last bar owner THEY TRIED but…JUST never could quite get a ‘break’. ALWAYS up for rent,etc. SUSPECT owner finally said blank it and use space for OTHER more viable venues… THAT poor old bldg got broke into more times then care to… PAST OWNER had a WOOD kitchen door with SINGLE ACTUAL glass panes IN the door…
Far as Mr.Najiif? NO idea if HE &/or others bungled paperwork,etc.or didnt go to effort of permits and NOW CITY felt obliged before SOMETHING HAPPENS like a fire,etc.and 11 people die and all H breaks loose,etc.
LOT of wild,wooly,funky chunky going on and under the table stuff and all that…STILL…. HAVE to have THE BASICS… SOMETHING goes down WHO WANTS to go down for CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE and authorities TRY and pin MURDER wrap on something cuz of way situation is or was…REAL murky turf… GET INTO LOT of crap….
bob
ALL the posters are correct…to be HONEST…GO WITH READY MADE FACILITIES…DONT try and rehab ANYTHING IF ABSOLUTELY can avoid it…toooo much trouble,money,time,etc.involved…NOT worth it….GET by with EASIEST simplest can do…. quite frankly I DONT think art crew all THAT… WARPED say way MZ.DUMM SAID as much in the end of HER comment…. SAD irony…NOT suprising. STILL lot of Homies,hoodies,cokeheads,scrappers,etc.running around….Way it is…SOON as sun goes down SO SHOULD YOUR biz….TRUST ME….
QUITE frankly the TORN DOWN white bar building…AVOID property taxes,etc. OR ‘someone’ got TIRED of all the BS and did a NUMBER for ‘owner’. NOT first time SOMETHING like THAT ever done…NOT condoning it…HAS happened…. quite frankly WHERE the gallery is NOW… WAS this wood work shop….SOON as BUILDING OWNERSHIP changed hands that was that…suspect Great Recession of 2008 helped DO HIM in toooo….BEFORE MRN previous owners just couldnt quite capitalize on all that…NO idea the exact issues,problems,etc. SUSPECT PAST owners TOOK one look and said blank it and SOLD OUT when money good enough…. was in fam LONG time BUT FINALLY….
bob
BLESS You Mr.Ellison….PS…HE was FIRST Cuyahoga COUNTY EXEC ‘candidate’ back in 2010…if THAT Mr.Ellison which from HIS monicker SURE sounds like it…ONE OF OUR local eco greenies…. NATURALLY didnt stand a ghosts chance in blank of winning but got up to like 8%…. DOES say SOMETHING about the process…. EXPLAINS LOT of reason for LOT of stuff…. PART of problem…PEOPLE think THE YUPPIES ARE COMING THE YUPPIES are COMING the….with ALL THAT entails…and quite frankly OTHER then big FRIDAY,weekend rushes just NOT all THAT…. PART of it is me and maybe NOT being streetie ENOUGH to SOMEHOW ride,control all this….LIKE I said…SOON as SUN goes down CLOSE the doors,pull the shades… LOT of quiet CLOSED clubs,etc.
FINALLY when sell a place or OTHER reason THEN have to meet ‘code’…..or insurer gets all weird,etc.
bob
THAT funky 6 ft high mega layer sliced lacquered wood ball sitting in front of ABBEY RTA rapid station HAS a moveable top can can climb in?…ONLY ONE I KNOW of that looks ANYTHING like LOREN N’s FB website pic suggests….
bob
IF can believe good ol LN’s FB page looks like hodgepodge of indy rock meets art meets… IS NOVEL funky looking art…sorta love that one dayglo love seat with all the words all over up against the wall in THAT pic with CFD fire inspector… ONCE those wheels starte turning and System involved…. INSURERS to rest get involved..ULTIMATELY up to Mr.LN to answer for it all…. ANY official could slip in AT ANY time to check out ANYTHING and will or would… TALKING a HOT for now entertaino Yuppie zone and SURE last thing want is issues,BAD PR and all that… NOT sure if fears of “GreatWhite” bar fire or what…. in my other posts? SOME get some good ideas,THINK can make go of it til hit with all kinds of BS…. semi continuous battles with Homies n crackhoes getting shoved around AND DOWN the street but occasionally poking back around….PART of it toooo as they say….
Far as good ol LOREN and the wood ball….SURE a CLIMB to get IN AND OUT of THAT ‘thing’….go roll THAT around with SOMEONE inside til whutever happens…..
bob
TIME will tell if OTHER venues had a hand in…. TRY proving any of that thou THEY had,have to ‘comply’ toooo…..
bob
LUV the CFD inspectors look….Coool check out that funky *$@*….CYA time…
bob
SUPRISED CFD allowed HIS pic to be taken…..then again IS HE willing to get into OWN bizarre fistacuffs altercation over WHAT again exactly WHERE and LOSE how much pay,job or even potentially freedom,etc. NO idea if good old CPD tagged along or not…. THAT can be a real upsy downsy whutever DEPENDING on WHO is THERE at the time…got some tough machismo ax to grind blank or old timer who is like hey…. coool….
bob
GOOD ART actually!…. pc ABOVE NEON footstool…any corporate would luv to have THAT pc in their offices….
bob
POLITICALLY?! SORTA feel for Cimperman….’going to bat’ for WHO where what again? SURE FEARS of a MODA and other such going thru HIS mind and Im SURE HE really tried to find out WHAT dealing with….
EVERYONE …well LOT of politicos,NGOs,TRYING to chase YUPPIE hipchic nirvana thing and all that entails but TALKING bout some small tiny bowling alley length old storefront peddling FUNKY graffiti guru art…
HOW much wannabe NEW building efforts cattycorner RIGHT over in DUCK ISLANDland on Lorain/Abby Rd. area is affecting THIS is anyones guess and maybe tooo much of a ‘stretch’….
bob
I CANT believe taking THIS long to get a permit for THIS place… got multitesters that check for current to JUST flush the freaking tiolet and see if have a issue to check breaker boxes…HARDLY a 33 story office tower or other big facility….