While it seems many Clevelanders seem to think the height of style is a browns jersey or an Indians cap, believe it or not Cleveland has a fashion week that is said to be one of the best in the midwest.  Certainly it doesn’t rival those in Europe or even in New York, but it does give some emerging desiners the opportunity to strut their stuff. 

If you are interested in finding out what fashion week means in Cleveland check out some of the following events the first week of May:

May 3rd is the kick-off party @ Sinergy Lounge.  the event is hosted by SpotCleveland and begins at 8:00. 

The events continue Friday May 4th with the Latino Fashio show, “Ultra Moda”.  Thie event is $15, and will be held at the Galleria.  DJ race will be spinning tunes for the show, while a cash bar and appetizers will be available to guests as they watch the show.

 ”Unclothed: A Mixed Media Runway Event” is at 8:00 at the Galleria on May 6th.  This event promises to present guests with a runway show of avant garde, wearable art and coture.  $20 admission required.

 On May 6th you can board the Nautica Queen for “Celebrity Style Cleveland”  Play like the Paparazzi and catch our local celebs modeling fashions from area boutiques.  $35 includes a lake and river cruise, buffet dinner and the fashion show.

 The Grand Finale is actually the next week on May 12th at Eton Chagrin Boulevard.  The Black Tie Gala will feature the Bravo network’s Wendy Pepper (of Project Runway fame).  The VIP event is $95, which includes runway seating, drinks, a vip lounge and begins at 8:00p.m. General admission is $35 beginning at 9:00 p.m.

You can buy tickets through the Fashion Week Cleveland web-site at http://fashionweekcleveland.com/THE_EVENT-BUY_TICKETS/14.htm

Mark your calendars to support Cleveland Public Theater on May 5th!  (which I must say offers us so much in the way of theater, art poerty, perfromance art and music!)

From 7:00 to 8:00 for $50 admission you can attend the martini preview party for the silent art auction and curated art sale.  It’s not  a bad deal when you consider $35 of that is tax deductible, and there is an open martini bar, wine, beer, food and entertainment. 

If $50 is a little steep for you, come at 8:00 and general admission is only $15.  The Free Times award-winning best world/ethnic band Mifune will be performing, and you can check out an possibly bid on art while munching free hors d’oeuvres (no more free martinis however, but a cash bar will be available).

There’s dozens of artists whose work you can buy or bid on so I won’t list them all but check out http://www.cptonline.org for more details. 

Cleveland Public Theater is a home for many local Cleveland artists, has hosted numerous dance companies, groundbreaking theatrical performances, and educational programs. CPT gives so much to the community, it’s your chance to give back by giving them operating support through this event. 

Cleveland will soon be host to a brand new art gallery. June 1stwill be the grand opening of the Level Three Gallery on Perkins Ave. in Cleveland. The opening will be from 6-10 p.m. and feature the artwork of Marlene Forst, Gina DeSantis, Bob Peck, Peter Krajcovic, Bridget Ginley, and Rich Cihlar. The new gallery will be run anc curated by Marlene Forst (who also owned and managed the Forst gallery at Great Northern Mall if the name rings a bell), and Gina DeSantis whom some might recognize from ArtHouse. Marlene and Gina hope to “represent a balance” of both fine art and fine craft in the gallery.

Visit them online at http://levelthreegallery.blogspot.com/

The Gallery will be located at 3535 Perkins Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114. Artists who are interested in submitting a portfolio should contact Gina at artzy_grl@yahoo.com

The latest interview is with Jennifer Nesbitt, creator of JMN Pottery.  Her pieces include a variety of texture and color, so there is sure to be something to please everyone.

1.Please give a little background about yourself.

I was born in Cleveland and raised in Akron. I married my high school sweetheart.We have an 8 yr old little boy, who wants to be a penguin trainer when he grows up

2.How did JMN pottery come to be?

 I was introduced to ceramics in 2001. I went to a craft show and saw a potter demonstrating his craft and I was hooked! I went out that week, bought a used wheel and 50lbs of clay. I went to library and took out a few books on throwing and went to town. After a year of getting myself familiar with the wheeI, I took an advanced  throwing and glazing class at a local art museum. I switched to the kick wheel and have been creating ever since. I’m really looking forward to starting Raku soon.
The name JMN Pottery(my initials) came from my husband who was leaning towards Jamm’in pottery(I like the radio cranked) so we decided if you say JMN fast enough it sounds like Jamm’in

3. What is the inspiration for your art?

I try to make things that I would want in my own house. I LOVE a lot of color!  I also try to think of what the piece will be used for , what would I plant in this pot.

4. What do you find most exciting about what you do?

Opening the kiln! It  brings me back to Christmas as a kid. I love not knowing exactly what I will find.  It feels great to take an awesome   piece out of the kiln and think “I can’t believe I made that!”

5. Where can fans find your work for purchase?

Most of my pottery can be found at www.jmnpottery.com and
Found, a handmade boutique in Wilmington North Carolina

6. What have you found to be the benefits of an online presence?

Customers from around the world. When I first started making pottery, I never imagined that someone in China or Italy would have a piece of my pottery in their home.

Its a great feeling, when you put your heart into something and someone out there appreciates it

7. Are there other artists whose work you admire (local or national)?
I really love Diana Bjel’s ceramic masks, she is so talented! ( don’t know her personally

8. What do you think is the most important aspect of the Cleveland Arts Scene?
I’ve just dipped my toe into the art scene up in Cleveland, but it’s exciting to meet and talk to so many creative people.

9. What are some of your other interests?

I love spending time with my family. We spend a lot of time at the zoo and hiking.

And of course since everyone I interview gets a silly question:
10. If you could travel anywhere in the world for a month where would you go?
Italy!

Caught a review of Bela Dubby posted by clevelandada and I figured I’d pass it along since it pertains to the subject matter often covered here. It’s a place I’ve been meaning to check out myself as well.Clevelandada’s review of Bela Dubby

Money is needed in order for the Coventry Street Arts Fairs to continue in 2007.  You can support by attending the “Taste of Coventry” on April 28th at the B Side Lounge (2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard, Cleveland Heights)  Tickets are $20 in advance  and may be bought at area businesses such as City Buddha, Tommy’s, Mac’s Backs and other local merchants or are $25 the day of the event. The event starts at 7:00 p.m. and will feature foods from Coventry area restaurants.

In the past the street fairs have featured live performers, music, a farmers market, sales at area businesses and more!  Help them continue!

I stumbled across the sign guy on myspace (Yes, sigh I too am on that site far too frequently) and had to drop him a message since I found it way too fun that he has stuck artwork all over the city. Not only that, the selection and placement of some of the pieces reflected a lot of wit. For example, a painting of a “sold” sign over a neighborhood “for rent” sigh and “use your tools” on a blank wood wall. While these are the pieces that originally caught my eye, with the tongue-in-cheek humor, I noticed that he had a variety of pieces including more cartoonish characters, and some darker images. He was one of the artists to respond to my call for interviews. I’m posting the interview here (Though I really should have posted his recent myspace bulletin post “40 Secrets About Yourself”. Now that would have be more revealing!)
Describe your style of artwork
URBAN STREET ART.
When did you begin creating your art?
HUMMM I BELIEVE AROUND WINTER OF 2005.
What is your inspiration?
AT FIRST IT WAS A OTHER FORM OF GETING UP AROUND THE AREA…that and i needed 2 stop my last art habit..
Where can your work be found for fans or those who may be interested in making a purchase?
AS OF RIGHT NOW APRIL -11TH STREET GALLERY IN TREMOUNT,LA BODEGA @ 869 JEFFERSON AVE IN TREMOUNT AND A FEW AT NICKS DINER ON LORAIN
8. Who are your favorite local/national artists and why? Ryan jenky and Paul rogers I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THERE STREET ART. way before it was ever in gallery’s
9. What are some of your favorite Cleveland arts venues? asterisk,spaces,1300
And a few silly questions just for fun:
What’s your lucky #? 36 AND 666
Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? COKE
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take? FOOD,WATER,RAMBO KNIFE
Are you an early bird or a night owl? BOTH
Coffee or Tea? COFFEE WHEN IM HUNG OVER
If you could make any other kind of art what would it be? GLASS WORK
Brunette, Blonde or Redhead? ALL THE ABOVE
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? A BIRD SO I COULD FLY!Myspace junkies check him out @http://www.myspace.com/6990860

This is one example of The Sign Guy’s artwork, a little darker than the street signs you may see all over town.

    I’m amazed that this is only the first benefit to be thrown by the Pop Shop Gallery.  I’m not surprised to see a benefit being thrown however, considering the gallery seems really forward-thinking.  April 21st from 6-9 pm is your one shot to check out donated artwork by local artists, and participate in plenty of raffles and silent auctions (Though it’s hard to think of the Pop Shop as being able to have a “silent” raffle.  Don’t they mean raffle surrounded by music? ;P )

Anyhow, to quote The Pop Shop’s own event invitation, here’s the whole reason for the benefit: “ This show in part with the Debra foundation (www.debra.org) will house many donated pieces by many up and coming artists to raise money for families dealing with epidermolysis bullosa. The name of the show is inspired by the nickname of the disease which is known as the butterfly disease
The Debra foundation is dedicated in finding a cure for Epidermolysis bullosa.
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disease characterized by the presence of extremely fragile skin and recurrent blister formation, resulting from minor mechanical friction or trauma. This condition is not contagious. An estimated 1 out of every 50,000 live births are affected with some type of EB. The disorder occurs in every racial and ethnic group throughout the world and affects both sexes equally. “

 You can find The Pop Shop at 17020 Madison in Lakewood.

From http://beckcenter.org/news.htm

The Beck Center for the Arts is one of the area’s largest cultural and performing arts organizations and the only institution of its kind on Cleveland’s Westside. Each year we provide professional theater performances and high-quality arts education for tens of thousands of patrons in Northeast Ohio.
We are currently seeking art submissions to be considered for exhibition during our 2007-2008 theater season which runs from September though August. Exhibits are needed for the Jean Bulicek Galleria in the Beck Center’s Main lobby, the Galleria located in the waiting area of the center’s Music Armory Building, and for other possible exhibit areas. Exhibits typically last for four to six weeks, and are promoted to the community through press releases, website posting, newsletters, postcards, and other means of communication.
Rules for exhibiting at Beck Center:
1) We accept all media that can be publicly displayed
2) Artists are responsible for installing and dismantling their exhibits
3) All works must be properly matted, framed, and include appropriate hanging apparatus
4) All works must be of appropriate subject matter as this is a center frequented by families. We have the right to not accept inappropriate artwork. No nudes as subject matter are accepted for exhibit.
5) Exhibited works may be offered for sale. The Beck Center collects 20% commission on works sold in its galleries, and all works must remain on display until the close of the exhibit.

How to enter:
Please send your submissions to:
The Beck Center for the Arts
Attn: John Coyne - Gallery
17801 Detroit Ave
Lakewood, OH 44107
Submissions should include the following:

• 5 – 10 images of your work. Digital files are preferred, either by disc or by electronic transfer. Slides are also acceptable. (no nudes as subject matter, please)
• An artist statement
• A bio sheet or resume which details your exhibit history

Submission deadline is June 1, 2007

Note: there is no fee for submitting your work. Images submitted for exhibit will not be returned to the artist, but will be treated as proprietary and confidential.
Selection Process
A panel of artists, instructors, and administrators will review submissions and build a gallery schedule for the entire season. Artists will be notified of Beck Center’s intent to exhibit their work by August 1, 2007
Thank you for you interest in our exhibit opportunities. We look forward to receiving your submissions! Please feel free to contact with any questions: Email: jcoyne@beckcenter.org. Phone: 216-521-2540 ext 236.

    It’s time to celebrate the opening of another art gallery in Cleveland! The Wooltex Gallery will be celebrating it’s inaugural exhibition with an opening reception on Friday April 20th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. The first exhibit entitled “come closer” is centered around the idea that art does not have to be enormous to be important and all the art selections are one square foot or less.  Take this opportunity to take a “close-up” look at what some of our local area artists are doing and support a brand new gallery.
There are projects from the following artists: Amathin, Victoria Anders, Yvonne Bakale, Amy Casey, Susan Danko, Michael Greenwald, Artemis Herber, John Howitt, Jeffrey Cortland Jones, Kate Kisicki, Misha Kligman, Krisztina Lazar, Liz Maugans, Susie Frazier Mueller, Dana Oldfather, Jen Omaitz, Meghann Snow, Susan Squires, Brenda Stumpf, Paul Sydorenko, Ron Tucker, Douglas Max Utter, and Erica Weiss.

This exhibit will run from April 20-June1. Visit @

The Wooltex Gallery