Thu 8/20 @ 7pm
Sat 8/22 @ 10am – noon
Collaboration is a beautiful thing, especially when it involves two entities dealing in really awesome things — art and bicycles. When their worlds collide, we all win.
In Cleveland Heights, Heights Bicycle Coalition and Heights Arts have joined forces to present a summer bicycle ride that is part bike ride, part public art tour. But instead of trying to combine lecturing and riding — an often arduous and hard-to-hear — the organizations have created a dynamic duo of events.
First up on Thursday is an illustrated public art talk at Heights Arts at their new renovated gallery.
Then, on Saturday, grab your helmet (they’re mandatory) and join a separate but related bicycle tour.
Public art is booming in Cleveland Heights, so rest assured there will be plenty to see — and discuss. In the past 15 years, Heights Arts helped facilitate the installation of 11 permanent public art projects and four temporary installations, mostly in the business districts.
“Part of Heights Arts’ mission statement was to make the creativity of our residents visible,” said Heights Arts former executive director Peggy Spaeth in a press release. She helped establish the nonprofit community arts organization in 2000.
“We knew we had a lot of artists in the community, and felt that the city itself should tangibly reflect the creativity of its residents. Public art was just one of the initiatives, along with streetscapes, signage, and the gallery on Lee Road.”
The illustrated talk will touch on permanent and temporary public art in Cleveland Heights and give visitors a chance to check out the new gallery.
The ride will take you to several public art sites in the neighborhood — visiting murals, streetscapes and sculptures created between 2000 and 2015 and discussing the artist’s work. The ride promises to be a pleasant ride through the Coventry and Cedar Fairmount neighborhoods. The ride will meet at the mini park adjacent to the Heights Arts gallery on Lee Rd.
Attend one event — or both. Call 216-371-3457 to RSVP for the lecture since space is limited. Spend time with two organizations that actually work to make Cleveland Heights — and Northeast Ohio in general — a better place to be.
Cool Cleveland correspondent Sarah Valek studied art and writing at Ithaca College. After graduation, she came back to Cle and served two years as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. She can be found on all sides of the city in pursuit of homeschooling activities for her son and the perfect soy latte. Contact her at CoolEditor@CoolCleveland.com or via Twitter.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118