Fri 9/1 @ 3PM
The Cleveland Photo Fest was founded in early 2019 by three local photographers: noted veteran photographer Herbert Ascherman, plus two younger fine art photographers Laura D’Alessandro and Jim Szudy. In the fall of 2019 it had its first event at multiple galleries around the area.
In its subsequent iterations, it’s landed a one primary location: the Bostwick Design Art Initiative (formerly the William Busta Gallery) on Prospect next to the inner belt. That’s where it returns for its 4th annual festival September 1-30 It opens with a free, public reception on Friday September 1, featuring food & refreshments, music by Shawn Mishak of Kid Tested, and a talk from 6-7pm by exhibiting artist Suber Huang, whose exhibit See and Be Seen is one of a half dozen on view in the Bostwick’s multiple galleries. The galleries open at 3pm.
In addition to Suber Huang’s See and Be Seen, inspired by his work in vision research, shows include Joan Lederer’s Diary of a Congolese Asylum Seeker and His Family, based on ten months spent following the refugee family; Jon Passow’s The West: Pinhole Color Landscapes, five large-format photos of the American West; and a group of self-portraits called Adentro (Inside) by Mexican-born photographer Jimena Horta. Jazz photographer/Cleveland Metropolitan School District educator Randy Norfus will have a space devoted to work by his students, while another will have the second annual Volunteer Appreciation Show, with work by the many photographers who have contributed to the event’s production.
Also on view will be the Cleveland Open, which features photos by the community who brought their submissions to the gallery, along with $10 a piece last weekend, with all submissions hung on the wall. So the subject matter, styles and sizes will encompass a wide range. Anything goes! And at the opening reception, visitors will get a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice Award with $100 going to the winning photographer.
The gallery will host a series of programs throughout September. Lederer and her refugee family subject will talk on Friday September 8 @ 7-8pm. Horta will talk about her work from 7-8pm on Friday September 15. Nihil Omnia, an “audio visual noiseadelic sludge” project by Jim Szudy and Shawn Slowburn, takes over the gallery on Friday September 22 @ 8-9pm. The festival closes with a reception from 3-9pm on Friday September 29 @ 3-9pm. Admission to the gallery and all events is free.
For more information go to clevelandphotofest.org.