CoolCleveland continues into our 21st year with one thing in mind: promoting local. And with social media and ubiquitous streaming services encouraging everyone to stay home, plus lingering post-pandemic concerns depressing the numbers of those venturing out, it seems CoolCleveland’s mission of urging our readers to get out and experience the region is more necessary than ever.The Pivot Center for Art, Dance & Expression in the Clark/Fulton neighborhood hosts Arts & Culture Network Night, organized by Neighborhood Connections, Assembly for the Arts and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) to give artists and orgs the chance to meet, network and possibly strike up partnerships. The Maltz Museum hosts poet Michelle R. Smith and her BLAX Museum tribute to Black culture. On the other side of town, Heights Arts offers an evening of jazz, drinks and art. Parma is the home of the largest population of Ukrainians in the state with four Ukrainian Catholic Churches, and this week, the Parma Snow branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library is the site for the debut of the U4U band premiering “Concert For Ukraine” to raise awareness and funds. The Akron Symphony presents Global Circus, drawing on film, art, movement and music with six short pieces exploring global culture.
We can’t bound forward without falling back once in a while. Local arts legend Loren Naji’s epic sculptural time capsule was thoughtlessly dumpstered, and the arts community wants to know why. At CAC’s February board meeting, board members nitpicked, snapped and shouted at each other, while artists are left wondering what’s happening with arts funding. We need to bounce back.
The Cuyahoga County arts tax, first passed in 2006 by the now defunct Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC), was intended to provide money for arts organizations, projects and artists. Now, with a new group called Assembly for the Arts replacing CPAC and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture overseeing resource allocation, the money distribution has confused many people in the arts community.
They wouldn’thave gotten much clarity at CAC’s February board meeting at which board members digressed, nitpicked, snapped and shouted at each other. With a renewal of the tax looming with a new potential funding stream, a big question remains: what about the artists? Bruce Checefsky attended the board meeting and reports on what happened. Read more
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is proud to host “Reflections From the Precipice of Hope,” a virtual presentation by Dr. Edward M. Barksdale Jr., on Thu 2/23 at 6:30PM. Free and open to the public, this event is the latest installment in the Museum’s ongoing DiscoverE series, which explores scientific issues through webinars, workshops, and presentations.
In this virtual presentation, Dr. Barksdale will reflect on the important and interconnected roles of “meds, eds (universities), and museums” in inspiring individuals, addressing social issues, and developing communities.Event information and registration are available at CMNH.org/visit/programs-and-events. Participants must register to receive the event link. Read more.
Local artist Loren Naji’s large, hollow, globular sculpture “They Have Landed” was sitting on a plaza in front of the West 25th/Lorain RTA station since 2011 when it was filled with community mementos and dedicated as a time capsule to be opened in 2050. But last summer during construction of the luxury building next door, the plaza first became a dumping ground—and then the sculpture disappeared. Read more
Tri-C JazzFest’s 44th year, taking place June 22-24 at Playhouse Square, has just announced the lineup for its eight ticketed concerts. They feature artists ranging from legends such as keyboard player Hernie Hancock to 23-year-old vocalist Samara Joy, who just won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Read more
if you live or work in Shaker Heights, or join the Shaker Arts Council, you can submit at design to SAC for the next round of utility boxes to be painted and beautified in the city. Read more
Akron singer/songwriter/guitarist Ryan Humbert debuted his traditional country band, the Shootouts, as a side project in 2015. Since then, the band has expanded its alternative country/roots-rock sound and completely eclipsed anything else Ryan was doing. They released their debut album in 2019 and their second in 2021, which landed them on national bills and radio playlists. They’ve just released their third, Stampede, out this week.
Recorded here in NE Ohio, the album was co-produced by Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson, along with Sam Seifert, and features guest appearances by luminaries such as AATW, Marty Stuart, Buddy Miller, Raul Malo and Jim Lauderdale. And on the day of the release, February 24, the band will make its debut at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. Read more.
MON 2/27 More Music Gaetano Letizia has been around the local music scene for 50 years, playing jazz, rock and blues Now he’s releasing Orange Sunset with his jazz trio, featuring nine new original compositions.
TUE 2/28 Many Years to Celebrate The Beachland kicks off its anniversary week — its 23rd — with a free party in the tavern tonight.
University of California Los Angeles law professor and civil rights attorney Joanna Schwartz has spent most of her legal career studying the ways in which our legal system weighs heavily in favor of the police and against parties who seek redress in the courts for police misconduct. She sets forth the results of her extensive research, investigations and personal experiences in her new book.Our legal system operates on the premise that citizens can only sue the government in certain cases. For example, judges have absolute immunity. You cannot sue the judge if you feel that he or she made a bad decision in your case. In other instances, government workers like police officers can be sued, but on a limited basis. The doctrine is called qualified immunity and balances two important interests — the need to hold police accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly, weighed against a shield to protect them from harassment, distraction and liability when they properly perform their duties. Read more.
