Fri 1/19 @ 5-9PM
It’s time for the 78th Street Studios’ first First Friday of 2024, and there’s lots of change in the air —new businesses, new artists, new projects, new shows opening.
ARTneo, located on the Ramp level, has changed its name back to its original name Cleveland Artist’s Foundation, while continuing its mission of collecting and sharing work from throughout northeast Ohio art’s history. That’s not the only change. Recently its seems as if its shows have all been planned at the last minute, or they get held over while they figure out what to do next. Now, according to Henry Adams at CAN Journal, “It’s recently been reorganized, with a new board and a new infusion of financial support.” And a new show paying tribute to the genesis of Cleveland’s art scene, From Kokoon to Butterfly: 100 Years of Remarkable Cleveland Art. It starts with the Kokoon Club, an assemblage of artist formed in 1911 to explore modernist styles, and continues to the present.
There’ll be plenty of other new shows to check out too. Liz Maugans’ new work will be on view at HEDGE Gallery in Life is Brutiful. (Read more here.) Pop art-focused E11even2 gallery opens Never Ending Cycles: A Laundromat Soap Opera in which 16 regional artists, curated by Celeste Stauber, focus on the dreary chore of doing laundry. Gallery 202 introduces the fund-object assemblage work of Annie Becker and Amber McElreath. Derek Brennan celebrates the grand opening of his studio in Suite 007 with music by the Andrew McManus Trio from 6-8pm. And artist Eric Rippert will be previewing some of the work that will be in his upcoming show at Chicago’s Water Street Studios in his studio this month. (See above).
There are lots of new businesses to check out, replacing those that moved out in the last half of 2023, and lots of new work by longtime resident artists.
As usual, North Coast Promotions will have guest vendors set up in the event spaces, Local West will be offering food on the first floor and BARneo will be selling beverages on the Ramp level to benefit the Cleveland Artist’s Foundation.
As usual, it’s free and open to all.
Cleveland, OH 44102