Disruptive Technologies?

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Thomas@Mulready.com

“The original architects of this city ignored Lake Erie and the sinuous Cuyahoga River and chose a town-square architecture suited to the middle of nowhere. Factories appropriated the city’s image as an industrial city built on a river that became so polluted that it once caught fire. Now an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art offers a new take on this identity…” is how the New York Times starts off their arts review of the exhibition A City Seen; Photographs from the George Gund Collection, on view thru 1/26. Don’t miss this show, especially Douglas Lucaks’ dreamscapes shot with an oatmeal box pinhole camera. You mean art can help us change the identity of a city? And isn’t it great how the Gund Foundation commissioned these 12 photographers to illustrate their annual reports since 1990? What else can art do? 
See New York Times

Defined as “technologies that bring radical change to business by disrupting the status quo,” new tools such as Macintosh’s OS X (mature, rock-stable and best-of-breed), the Open Source movement (free non-proprietary software collaboratively created by hundreds developers via the Internet, such as Linux), Self-Service CRM (real-time customer relationship management allowing buyers to perfectly schedule raw material purchases) and Wi-Fi (fast wireless connection to the Internet) can be viewed as metaphors for the type of change our region could benefit from. Can the implementation of some of these technologies (happening now at CWRU & elsewhere) assist our region in building community? Or, can people who care about Cleveland learn something from the way these technologies disrupt the existing paradigm? 
See 1/6 issue of InfoWorld

Ask British designer James Dyson who came up with the idea for bagless vacuum cleaners. His own company (he owned 1/3) wouldn’t fund his idea, telling him, “if there really was a better type of vacuum cleaner, then surely one of the big manufacturers would be making it.” So he started Dyson Appliances, which has grossed $2 billion and captured a 50% market share. He ignored focus groups that told him not to leave the dust bin clear. Dyson: “Industry needs to give more power to designers because they know the things people want to buy and they know how to make them too,” adding that designers are not used properly by manufacturers. “More often than not they are asked to repackage old technology to make it look new again. Design is not just about how something looks, but how it works.” Next design for Dyson: a robot vacuum, currently in trials. Check the article, Dyson Fills A Vacuum in the magazine @issue:. 
@issue: volume 8, number 1

Unique stores rather than national chains? Cleveland-based retailers? “Stores that offer merchandise that you can’t get anywhere else”? The new owners of the Galleria and Tower at Erieview (bargain price: $30 million) have been drinking the same kool-aid as many who feel we’ve had enough chain store crap: “We are looking for local tenants that are uniquely Cleveland.” One of the first new tenants: the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum Gift Shop. I’m not lying, read it for yourself: 
www.Cleveland.com

It’s a new group intent on “building a city that attracts and retains young and creative people.” Local media says, “Move over Chamber of Commerce. Stand aside Cincinnati Business Committee. A new development organization has been launched—Cincinnati Tomorrow—and it’s not your father’s city development group.” First up, they will inaugurate a weekly series of “Downtown After 5 Walks,” every Thursday that “will bring people together every week to patronize and learn about the various storefronts, restaurants, and theatres that call downtown home.” The first walk features a performance at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club; in the coming weeks, they will attend theatre performances, frequent art galleries, and see local bands play live. Cincinnati Tomorrow founder Nicholas Spencer has it right: “One of our real goals is to get local artists in the same room as young professionals from Procter & Gamble; to get college students talking to local musicians. This will help, in a small way, to make Cincinnati a more open and diverse place. We need to stop talking about it, and start doing it. We ask people to give us one night of their week–in return, they’re going to experience all our city has to offer.” The group has started four “action teams:” activity & awareness, development, arts & entertainment, and diversity & human rights. Next, they unveil their New City plan to business, gov’t and the public at a nightclub downtown on 2/20.
Cincinnati Tomorrow

They’ve taken a lot of hits lately, mostly for the disreputable actions of their owners, Village Voice Media, who apparently colluded with competitor New Times Media to close the Free Timesand a competing paper in LA in order to reduce competition in both markets (depositions were taken last week by the Department of Justice from advertisers and Free Times staff, some lasting up to 10 hours). See the much better California coverage here and here. Most Clevelanders are sore that their beloved Free Times (featuring the indomitable voice of Roldo Bartimole, Cleveland’s stalwart political muckraker) has been disappeared. And now Scene fires theatre critic Keith Joseph, a refreshing, intelligent, informed and experienced cultural voice. But they have hit a couple out of the park recently, i.e. the scathing contrarian eulogy of Cleveland’s most generous philanthropist, Al Lerner, here, in a story you just wouldn’t find in the PD; a focus on the East Side Organizing Project here; profiles of people like the self-righteous David Zanotti here; and Laura Putre’s lament for the whitewashed Temple of Lost Love here. And they have a working search engine. And their photos pop up with their articles. And their archives work for longer than 2 weeks. Still, they waste our time on topics like mate-swapping and Art Modell loser awards. The ridiculous decision to print Martin Kuz’s sophomoric Confessions of a Virgin Protestor, here, almost six weeks ago, is still rankling readers. And Scene editor Pete Kotz’ gloating, revisionist screed, kicking the corpse of their departed competitor, then blaming their corporate death penalty on the Free Times’ ineptitude, was simply laughable, here. Why aren’t more people writing toScene demanding they cover the arts in Cleveland? 
Click here to send a letter to the editors of Scene

The steady drumbeat of support for some kind of public funding for the arts in Cleveland is getting louder. Apparently tired of being the largest city of its size without an arts council, community leaders like Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora (re-elected by a huge 72% vote last fall) feels that the political climate may be right in 2003 since none of the commissioners, the Mayor nor the 21 city councilpersons are up for re-election this year. Correctly noting that residents of the region have always supported the arts, Dimora suggested that a levy could raise $10 million per year for the arts. While many similar cities have a regional hotel-motel tax for the arts paid by tourists and business travelers, Cleveland’s county-wide tobacco and liquor tax goes to support millionaire baseball and basketball teams. 
See the Akron Beacon-Journal

to Cleve artist Jeff Chiplis for his show of neon sculpture, excited inert gases, opening at New York’s White Box Gallery on Thu 1/9 212-714-2347. Word is that he may get a write up in Art in America next. 
White Box Gallery

is a new program from the Cleveland Foundation offering grant support to boost the quality of life in 11 Cleveland neighborhoods. Check out this grantseeker orientation on Thu 1/9 6:30-8PM at Cleveland Public Library, Mt. Pleasant Branch, 14000 Kinsman to learn how to apply for grants ranging from $500-$5000. Or, on Wed 1/15 at Kathryn R. Tyler Neighborhood Center, 900 E. 105th Street, 861-3810, with more to follow. 
Neighborhood Connections

Curated by Christa Donner of SPACES and Chris Conti of the Wexner Center in Columbus, check out work from over 100 artists working in the fertile field of self-published comics, one-of-a-kind handmade books and ‘zines. by artists like Clevelanders Derf, Harvey Pekar, Steven B. Smith, Beth Wolfe, and others from across the US. Thru 2/21. Also: Land Laid Bare by Ethan Murrow in SPACElab. Opening Fri 1/10 5-9PM SPACES, 2220 Superior Viaduct, 621-2314 
SPACES

Some have raised his name as a dark horse candidate for Prez in 2004 (more nationally than around here, interestingly), and maybe the coming war will give him a platform. Come hear this talk by Rep. Dennis Kucinich at 7PM Fri 1/10 at the St. Joseph Center, 3430 Rocky River Drive, 252-0440

describes her sculptural work this way: “…once upon a time there was a world: whimsical, humorous, synthetic, girly, intimate, alien, glittering, sexy, soft, innocent, explicit, humming and obscure…” at the Sculpture Center thru 2/7. Opening Fri 1/10 5-7PM, 1834 E. 123rd St, 229-6527
The Sculpture Center

a jazz play about the life of Ella Fitzgerald that integrates music and drama, three actress/singers, biographical stories, a few songs and a lot of scat singing, starring Rasheryl McCreary, Fri 1/10 thru Sun 1/12 Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave, 631-2727
Cleveland Public Theatre

follows the travels of Russ Forster, editor of 8-Track Mind magazine, in search of the disestablishmentarianism of the underground trackers who score 8-tracks and give the middle finger to consumerism. Fri 1/10 7:50PM and Sat 1/11 9:30PM Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd, 421-7450
Cinematheque

is less about the subculture that collects LPs, albums, singles and other vinyl masterpieces, than about how obsession fills the void of empty lives. Fri 1/10 9:40PM and Sat 1/11 7:20PM Cinematheque, 11141 East Blvd, 421-7450
Cinematheque

is the simple title of the new show at Mosaic, The Gallery, featuring work by Joe Outlaw, Scott Roberts, Erin Gee, Gloria Wilder, Travis Yokum, Nicholas Sutfin, Bonnie & Megan Zeiger, and Douglas Hupfer, 16860 Lorain at Kamms’s Corners, 252-2099. Opening Fri 1/10 6-10PM 

by artist and arts activist Suzie Frazier Mueller who uses organic materials and explores the self-organizing qualities of nature, at Bockrath Gallery, 2026 Murray Hill 721-5990. Opening Fri 1/10 6-9PM. Also listen to Around Noon on 90.3FM WCPN on Thu 1/9 at noon while Dee Perry talks with the artist. 
www.SuzieFrazierArt.com

If you don’t end up staying out too late drinking free wine at all the art openings Friday night, check out the city of Cleveland’s first CTO (Chief Technology Officer), Cleveland native Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, PhD., who was also the first black female CIO in the health care industry when she served at Beth Israel Medical Center. This groundbreaking lady will speak on The Future of IT in the City of Cleveland. Sat 9/11 9:30AM to noon, International Conference Center, UC1, University Center, lower level, CSU, 2121 Euclid, 
Greater Cleveland PC Users Group

“No single group will be more tragically impacted by this unnecessary and immoral war than America’s Black citizens,” says Rev. Marvin McMickle, pastor of Antioch Church, or as The Rev. Marting Luter King, Jr. said, “Poverty, urban problems and social progress are generally ignored when the guns of war become a national obsession.” Confirmed speakers include Rev. McMickle; Rev. Dr. Otis Joss, Jr., pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church; John Ryan, Executive Secretary, AFL-CIO Federation of Labor; and Amir Khalid Samad of the Greater Cleveland Council of Mosques. Sun 1/12 5:30PM, Antioch Baptist Church, E. 89th & Cedar. And it looks like other religious groups are lining up to speak out (finally), saying “not in our name” here.
Antioch Baptist Church

a show exploring the physical through formal elements that are charged with lush, tactile sensibilities using materials such as linen, thread and human hair, at the B.K. Smith Gallery at Lake Erie College in Painsville 440-639-4755 thru 3/8. Opening Tues 10/14 6-9PM. 
B.K. Smith Gallery

In a nice collaboration between the Cleveland Film Society, The Madstone Centrum Theatre and MoCA Cleveland, artist James Casebere, whose exhibition Picture Show is on exhibit at MoCA currently, has selected the film noir classic A Man Escaped by Robert Bresson, to honor the noir lighting and architecture that influences his work. Wed 1/15 7PM MoCA, 8501 Carnegie 421-8671 
MoCA Cleveland

(SAFMOD) featuring movement artist Young Park and percussionist extrordinare Neil Chastain, do Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre at Tri-C’s Showtime at High Noon for free at noon onWed 1/15. If you didn’t catch some of their members at last month’s Art/Tech/Dance party, do yourself a favor and catch this most brilliant Cleveland ensemble. 987-2512. 
SAFMOD

is a networking group of “Cleveland entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, attorneys, accountants, consultants and others interested in developing technology.” Usually its just an excuse for drinks with the younger old-boy network-in-training, but tonight the featured speaker is Craig James, whose Connection Series has been bringing together surprisingly spirited and tenacious ad-hoc groups of teams working on ways to promote Cleveland business within and without the region. Hyatt 1890 at the (old) Arcade, 420 Superior Wed 1/15 5:30-7:30PM. 
Register here

On how Ohio State University is redeveloping parts of High Street near campus:
“Regarding the “Columbus takes advantage of OSU” article: You mentioned how CSU could change Euclid avenue if they embarked on a similar project. However, don’t forget about what a change University Circle could bring to its eastern edge if it decided to do something similar between Ford Dr./Mayfield Dr. and East 120th Street. This area even has the advantages of already having apartment buildings (The Triangle), an RTA rapid station (Red Line’s stop at 120th) and being the proposed space for future residential dorms for CWRU students.” 

“Happy New Year and thanks for your very positive efforts. This city really needs you and more people like you. Keep it up. I like the idea of the get togethers. Perhaps quarterly would work best for busy folks.”

“I really enjoy getting this and reading it–it’s one of very few newsletters I make time to read. I also pass it along to various and sundry friends on the fringes of the art community. They find it interesting as well.”

“I’m getting it and I like it!!! My only criticism is the ongoing Cleveland bashing. While I know there are areas where we need to improvement, I believe Cleveland has a lot to offer (including this Jan 6 winter storm) and I tire of the negative comparisons to other locations. I most enjoy your news and reviews of what’s up and coming and going on in town. You find the lesser known activities (Chareton Players) and make them known. It’s great. Thanks.”

“I am always glad to get your email! I love to print it out and read what I want over coffee, it’s better than the Plain Dealer and New Herald!….. it’s also nice to keep in touch with what’s going on downtown. I appreciate the work you do!”

“enjoyed reading your letter. do keep me posted. i am in the process of building a green home in ohio city and am interested in anything and everything that helps put the city on the map. two thoughts: 1. we need to subsidize housing for artists and gay couples as well as 2. make city neighborhoods like ohio city and tremont more kid friendly. how about a monthly gathering at the carnegie library and other neighborhood libraries. after work tea?”

“Great job on developing this infomative communication vehical (e-newsletter). We are pleased to pass your words to our network of business leaders, designers and engineers. We had a great time at the newCat Christmas Party. You might need a bigger place because we are bringing more people next time. Keep letting us know what you need.”

“Keep up the great work! The news letter is a cool way to stay in touch with the happenings!” +++ “Great job you are doing” +++ “LOVE the newsletter….I think that it is a great boon to all who receive it.” +++ “Tom, you’re doing what all of us should be attempting…….good for you!” +++ “I enjoy your e-zine and hope you’ll be able to continue and/or expand in the future. Thank you for taking the time to create this.”

“One of my favorite things to do is to take out of towners to the Great Lakes Brewery for dinner and then catch one of the hourly free tours afterward. Second would be a walk around either Coventry or Shaker Square.”

“Rock hall, Shaker Square, Ohio City, Geary Building, Museum of Art, and running through Shaker Lakes – they were duly impressed (coming from San Francisco)”

“West Side Market/Market 25/Cedar Lee for a movie/Coventry for lunch”

“Took them to Mus. of Nat. Hist. incl. planetarium show; Clev Mus of Art; Nighttown; Farenheit; Spaces; Lucky’s Cafe.”

“Your survey for this week: I took family/friends on a walking tour down Euclid Avenue. I walked them through the galleries at the Colonial Marketplace, the Hanna building, Playhouse Square, Pickwick and Frolic, and the Arcade where we enjoyed a live performance by Inlet. The most frequently uttered comment: “I didn’t know all of this was down here.” ”

“The Rain Forrest at the Cleveland Zoo. Our guests were “wowed!” by this impressive place and also the size of Cleveland’s zoo!”

“West Side Market! Great Lakes Brewery, Coventry (then again I live there) – Pacific East, la Cave and the few retail stores that remain, Cleve Museum of Art”

“My wonderful home neighborhood of Tremont of course!!! Dinner at Lola and then onto Hotz Café and the Clark Bar (true neighborhood honkytonks!) for drinks. But don’t tell anyone, we want to keep those places a secret! ”

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Does the new year offer us new hope, or is it just another day?

–Thomas Mulready thomas@mulready.com