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UID:1509@coolcleveland.com
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York;VALUE=DATE:20250823
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York;VALUE=DATE:20250825
DTSTAMP:20260402T065945Z
URL:https://coolcleveland.com/events/quest-for-the-fests-interactive-i-sta
 nd-for-event-at-spaces-focuses-on-what-we-want-to-preserve/
SUMMARY:Quest for the Fest's Interactive "I Stand For" Event at SPACES Focu
 ses on What We Want to Preserve
DESCRIPTION:\nSat 8/23 @ noon-5PM\nSun 8/24 @ 1-4PM\nEarly last year\, a gr
 oup of area artists came together for a series of monthly meeting\, spurre
 d by the cancellation of the FRONT and CAN Triennials. Conveners Liz Mauga
 ns and David King invited anyone interested to participate to toss around 
 ideas for possible events that could replace them under the banner of “Q
 uest for the Fest.” Ideas came and went\, and many promising ideas stall
 ed or were put on the back burner.\n\nAfter floundering for much of 2024\,
  things started to come together with a presentation at last year’s Inge
 nuity Festival. But they really hit their stride when two area arts suppor
 ters\, Stormy Sweitzer and Darl Schaaff\, proposed a one-night event calle
 d Wonderquest that took place in January at the Brownhoist\, where people 
 from various artistic disciplines came together to meet\, talk and engage 
 in projects organized by different members of the group. It was a hit and 
 created a lot of energy.\n\nNow that energy has surged with an upcoming ev
 ent called the "I Stand For _____ Fest\,” which came about when the new 
 leadership of SPACES in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood was looking f
 or new events to activate its somewhat moribund gallery and approached the
  Questers. That’s resulted in a two-day event at SPACES\, described as 
 “a Community Celebration of Creativity and Care\,” led by a team of Qu
 esters including Linda Wood\, Juan Quirarte\, Tom Berger\, Gina Washington
 \, Stephen Calhoun\, Stormy Sweitzer and “Liz Maugans\, the queen of all
  fests\,” says Wood\, who shared with us some of the activities that wil
 l happen over the weekend.\n\n‘This started because of so much we were p
 rotesting personally against in this challenging climate\, as we individua
 lly created hand-painted signs or letters or different forms of protest\,
 ” says Wood. “Liz decided that maybe we should focus on what we stand 
 FOR and do something constructive. Not that that protesting wasn’t produ
 ctive\, but we needed to shift our focus\, bringing our energy together an
 d build something positive.”\n\n "This festival invites us to ask: What
  do we stand for? What values do we hold dear? And\, how can we support ea
 ch other through creativity and connection?" Maugans explains.\n\nThe even
 t features elements created by participating artists and non-artists. For 
 instance\, there was an open call for anyone who wanted to decorate an ima
 ge of canning-type jar with things they felt were of value that they wante
 d to preserve. Tech wizard Ross Bochnek created  a projected digital inst
 allation of submitted photos and videos that will screen throughout the ev
 ent. There will be storytelling\, poetry\, music\, talks and other perform
 ances.\n\n\n\n“Liz created the canning jar\, used to preserve fruits and
  vegetables\,” explains Wood. “The First segment was what do you want 
 to see preserved in this culture. People put their names on them and send 
 them in and we’re going to hang them in a big grid.  The second element
  is a big 3D jars\, we’re going to put under the grid. It’s about pres
 erving our culture.\n\nBut just as important\, “I Stand For” will fore
 ground creation taking place AT the event\, with activities such as local 
 artists creating instant portraits of festival visitors to create a mosaic
  of local faces\, the chance to create a poster or decorate a T-shirt or s
 ticker. Wood and Washington are bringing actual jars and upcycled material
 s and inviting people to build little dioramas inside the jars which they 
 can keep or add to the exhibit. There’ll b plenty to see and do for peop
 le of all ages and interests.\n\nOnce the two-day event at SPACES is over\
 , the organizers are planning to bring it to the Brownhoist in September\,
  followed by reinstalling it at the Ingenuity Festival September 26-28\, a
 n ideal place to engage people with interactive art.\n\n“It’s all abou
 t standing for what you believe in\, says Wood. “If you just fight again
 st what is happening\, it won’t necessarily feed your soul. I painted pr
 otest signs and I was exhausted. I spent the last two months painting jars
  for what I want preserved. We hope this will feed your soul and energize 
 you.”\n\nThe event is free\, family-friendly and open to all. Get more i
 nformation here.\n[mappress mapid="3922"]
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://coolcleveland.com/wp-content/uploads/202
 5/08/Quest.jpg
CATEGORIES:Performance,Workshop,Literary,Music: Jazz /
 Blues,RSS,Free,Preview,Anastasia Pantsios,Music:
 Popular,----WRITERS----,Visual Arts,Film,college,Festival,Civic
 Affairs,History,Entrepreneurialism,Technology,Education,Culture,Photograph
 y,Spirituality,Kids,Teen
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