Sat 5/16 @ 3-8PM

Street art, which emerged from the graffiti art movement, has diverged in many directions. There are still tags on train cars (box cars are better than tankers, and intermodal containers are the worst) but many artists who started tagging have evolved into other areas. Supporting these artists at all stages of growth has been the mission of Cleveland nonprofit Graffiti HeArt since it was founded more than a decade ago. It provides scholarships for younger artists to develop their skills and paid opportunities for artists further along in their artistic growth.

So it’s an appropriate location this this year’s Street HeArt Jam which debuted last August one street over on St. Clair, and offers an indoor location for an art show as well as outdoor space for a street festival. Outside. Across from Graffiti HeArt’s building, there’ll be a 300-foot-long canvas where twenty top-flight local and national artists, including graffiti legend Mike Giant (whose artwork is above) and members of the Worldwide XMEN Crew, will be painting throughout the event so you can hang out and soak up their process.

There will be food from OG Street Eatz and drinks available for purchase (or wander up the street and get some at the Cleveland Asian Festival from 11am-7pm), live DJs, and vendors with original handmade items. And you can create your own art, painting stencils with artist R!ch Cihlar from 3-6pm

Inside the rainbow-painted Graffiti HeArt building, in its gallery, the Shaken Not Stirred show, curated by artist Bob Peck, will be on view, featuring more than 30 artists, many of whom you wouldn’t associate with street art, but all of whom produced work incorporating spray paint. Peck’s own work will join that of such noted locals as muralist Dayz Whun, Billy the Robot, Loren Naji, Tom Megalis, Tim Switalski and Tessa LeBaron and fashion designer Jacci Hammer.

On the second floor of the building, they’ll be screening Jay Kool’s Legends of the Land hip hop documentary, and there’ll be a well-stocked cash bar. Vinyl squares and full pieces from last year’s StreetJam will be available for sale to benefit Graffiti HeArt programs.

The event is free and open to all, and kids are most definitely welcome if accompanied by an adult. Go here for more information.