Canvas – Winter 2020

NORTHEAST OHIO | arts | music | performance

Winter 2020

NOW OPEN! VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR HOURS & TICKETS

FEATURING THE NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR CORE COLLECTION: THE INTERACTIVE BIOGRAPHY OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR STANLEY BERNATH SUN, MON, & TUES, Timed tickets only.

Experience the exciting addition to our permanent collection!

Holocaust Survivor Stanley Bernath, of blessed memory, will come to life again on the Museum’s stage as part of the technological innovation of Dimensions in Testimony from USC Shoah Foundation.

Buy tickets at maltzmuseum.org

2929 RICHMOND ROAD, BEACHWOOD | 216.593.0575 | MALTZMUSEUM.ORG

WINTER BREAK CAMPS 2020

Grades K-8 December 21-23 December 28-31 January 1 •

Eight great new STEM themes

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Designed with your child’s health and safety in mind

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Makes a fun and unique holiday gift!

Register now at GreatScience.com or call 216.621.2400

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6 Editor’s Note

Emerging artists in Northeast Ohio Photographer Da’Shaunae Marisa Jackson, in a self portrait at right, and one of her Instax portrait creations. Photos courtesy of Jackson.

INSIDE

Editor Amanda Koehn discusses the path to this Who’s Next issue

8 On Deck

Noteworthy upcoming openings and events from around Northeast Ohio

22 Sheltering in an artistic place

Cleveland museums grapple with the pandemic

28 The show must go on

When local performing arts organizations go virtual

32 The year of shopping local NORTHEAST OHIO | arts | music | performance

10 ways to support the arts safely this holiday season

Winter 2020

On the cover

34 Curator Corner

Photo courtesy of the artist.

36 Holiday listings

“Dancing with Death” by Davon Brantley (2020). Charcoal on gray toned paper, 70 x 42 inches.

“Mama Can Sing” by Faith Ringgold in Kent State University’s School of Art Collection Find unique gifts by visiting these arts-focused businesses

38 Listings

Local listings for museums, galleries, theaters and more

4 | Canvas | Winter 2020

CanvasCLE.com

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Editor’s Note W

hen Canvas first embarked on its 2020 Who’s Next issue in March, the plan was to visit and photograph each artist in their studio that month. The magazine would publish in April.

Less than a week after we began conducting the interviews, the state shut down and with it, the magazine was postponed.

Needless to say, I’m excited Canvas is back.

In this Who’s Next issue, you will meet four impressive young artists rising in the local creative scene: Cass Penegor, Da’Shaunae Marisa Jackson, Davon Brantley and Juliette Thimmig. When we reconnected with the artists to go forward with the stories this fall, each was gracious with their time and energy to share all they’ve been up to over the past many months.

Although there were certainly challenges with beginning the profiles eight months before they were finished, one nice aspect it provided was an opportunity to see how art and life were going for the artists right before the pandemic, and how they shifted during it.

Despite the exceptional challenges of this time, the artists featured kept busy making new works and have seen new opportunities, some of which were inspired by this time in history and the social justice movements that came to the forefront.

I encourage you to check out the videos that go with their stories at canvascle.com/whos-next. The videos were produced from the March inperson interviews, studio tours the artists compiled themselves and more recent Zoom interviews.

And by the time you read this, our state or county might be shut down again since the pandemic is still out of control after as many months. What another shutdown would mean for local galleries, theaters and museums can’t be good, but I think what’s in this issue will give you hope and perspective about how those institutions have adapted.

In a story about how local museums have altered their schedules and attempt to plan for future exhibits, you’ll find

6 | Canvas | Winter 2020

Editor Amanda Koehn editor@canvascle.com Design Manager Stephen Valentine

President, Publisher & CEO Kevin S. Adelstein Vice President of Sales Adam Mandell Managing Editor - CJN Bob Jacob Controller Tracy DiDomenico Digital Marketing Manager Cheryl Sadler

Editor Amanda Koehn reminds readers to wear their masks at any artistic events in the near future. many have added virtual opportunities to view collections, and those open for in-person visits have appointment systems in place and modified their spacing for distanced viewing. Our feature on performance arts also describes how the industry is exploring new endeavors and the virtual world.

Also in this issue, you’ll read about upcoming shows and openings – both in person and virtual – in our On Deck feature. You will also learn about the best ways to support the arts this holiday season. With that feature, I urge you to make this the year of shopping local. Not only do the local creators desperately need it and will thank you, so will your family and friends.

Although experiencing art is different than ever before, one thing that’s clear is that the art world is certainly not shut down. And, Canvas isn’t either – we fully anticipate bringing you Canvas in 2021, and hope to return our weekly newsletter in the new year as well. Not a subscriber yet? Sign up for free at canvascle.com/signup.

Stay healthy, safe and creative.

Amanda Koehn Editor

Events Manager Gina Lloyd Editorial McKenna Corson Skylar Dubelko Jane Kaufman Becky Raspe Contributing Writers Bob Abelman Carlo Wolff Custom Publishing Manager Paul Bram Sales & Marketing Manager Andy Isaacs Advertising Marilyn Evans Ron Greenbaum Adam Jacob Nell V. Kirman Sherry Tilson Yocheved Wylen Designers Jessica Simon Ricki Urban Digital Content Producer Alyssa Schmitt Business & Circulation Tammie Crawford Abby Royer Display Advertising 216-342-5191 advertising@canvascle.com Canvas is published by the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Beachwood, OH 44122. For general questions, call 216-454-8300 or email info@cjn.org.

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NOV. 2020

WE CAN’T SHOW YOU any ore of

THIS PAINTING. IT HASN’T BEEN EXHIBITED I N N E AR LY 1 5 Y E A R S .

You can’t see it until November 27. When you do, you’ll never forget it.

Dancing in the Light is an original exhibition of outstanding American Impressionist oil and watercolor paintings, capturing the brilliant effects of light and color in everyday scenes. Many of these paintings are rarely exhibited anywhere — because they’re in private collections.

See renowned masters such as Robert Blum, Ralph Curtis, Childe Hassam, Edward Potthast, John Singer Sargent and more. All too vivid … too spirited … too important to try to describe.

O N L Y A T C M A and O N L Y I F Y O U GET TIMED-ENTRY TICK ETS (o n s a l e O c t o b e r 2 6 )

C A N T O NA R T. O R G

T h i s e x h i b i t i o n i s p r e s e n t e d w i t h g e n e r o u s s u p p o r t i n p a r t f r o m ...

SEE DOWNTOWN CANTON IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT! An animated, immersive light show exhibition presented by ArtsinStark and Visit Canton Coming this January – February 2021 • GET ENLIGHTENED AT CANTONLIGHTFESTIVAL.COM

© 2020 Canton Museum of Art

Drifting with the Tide, Venice, 1884

by Ralph Wormeley Curtis.

This painting is rarely exhibited (but has been seen in Paris, London, Boston, and New York).

ON DECK

Upcoming openings and events from around Northeast Ohio.

Event details provided by the entities featured. Compiled by McKenna Corson.

Left: “A Womb of Her Own (Mistakes Were Made in Development) #14” (2019) by Hernease Davis. Right: “Hot Dogs” (2019) by Dave Jordano. Collection of Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell. Images courtesy of Transformer Station.

TRANSFORMER STATION “ONE: Unique Photo-Based Images” & “Dave Jordano: (Human) Landscapes” | Through Jan. 3, 2021

CLEVELAND PRINT ROOM “El Sueño Americano – The American Dream” | Through Jan. 15, 2021

Through “ONE: Unique Photo-Based Images,” the featured artists challenge traditional photography. Photography is known for its ability to reproduce copies of an image, but in “ONE,” the artists have created unique, handmade photo-based objects through various processes and tools to explore beyond the initial image. Based primarily on works from the Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell collection, it features pieces from Matthew Brandt, Laura Ortiz Vega, Richard Renaldi, Bryan Graf, Chris McCaw, Mariah Robertson, Joseph Minek, Christopher Russell, Kyle Meyer, Wilmer Wilson IV, Sam Falls, Liz Rideal, Lauren Davies, Hernease Davis and Nobutaka Aozaki.

In “(Human) Landscapes” photographer Dave Jordano demonstrates his fascination with the Midwest’s urban industrial cities, especially its places and people. Upon his visit to Cleveland in the summer of 2019, Jordano captured its people and architecture under the moonlight to show the determined struggles of the city. His 14 images depicting human life in Cleveland follow the theme from his 2018 book, “A Detroit Nocturne,” where he photographed city life at night in Detroit. Jordano’s photographs of Cleveland showcase a gritty, post-industrial cityscape where beauty can be found in the hearts of its people.

Transformer Station is at 1460 West 29th Street in Cleveland. Its website is transformerstation.org.

The things people carry can tell a lot about them, especially about a population whose contents in their pockets are all they have.

During his time as a janitor at a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol facility in southern Arizona near the United States/Mexico border,

Right: “Stomata #1” (2019) by Jonah Jacobs. Cardboard tubes, paint, dye, oatmeal, sand, plaster, plaster paper, polyfil, cotton swabs and cotton swab sticks, 24 x 24 inches. Image courtesy of YARDS Project.

8 | Canvas | Winter 2020

CanvasCLE.com

Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, museums and galleries may change how exhibitions are able to be seen, and might not allow in-person visitation. Visit their websites for updated information regarding exhibition visitation.

Tom Kiefer intercepted detainees’ personal belongings confiscated by border patrol agents that were headed for the trash. Items like jars of baby food, a plastic toy dinosaur, bars of soap, a weathered wallet holding only a boy’s school photo, a Bible, a scratched blue Samsung cellphone and black combs photographed on vivid, solid colored backgrounds became chapters of Kiefer’s photo essay, “El Sueño Americano – The American Dream.” Each photographed object symbolizes what one person thought was essential to bring with them to start or continue their life in the U.S. Kiefer created the photos as means to explore the humanity of the migrants’ who risk their lives traversing the desert, as well as to help viewers connect to migrants and their fight for a better life.

Cleveland Print Room is at 2550 Superior Ave. in Cleveland. Its website is clevelandprintroom.com.

THE SCULPTURE CENTER “Aimee Lee and Sarah Rose Lejeune: A Consolation of Things” | Through Jan. 16, 2021 Artists Aimee Lee and Sarah Rose Lejeune know that paper is so much more than a thin empty canvas. “Aimee Lee and Sarah Rose Lejeune: A Consolation of Things” explores how each woman finds a deeper meaning behind the handmade material, and how items made of paper can question object functionality.

Lee’s paper sculptures trace her Korean ancestry and hanji, or handmade Korean paper, skills. Using stories of hanji’s many uses since its creation two millennia ago, Lee crafted paper objects including a shoe, teapot, wedding duck and dustpan, giving history a new look. Lejeune’s paper creations use interior space to explore people’s experiences. By taking traditional household items and removing their function, Lejeune urges viewers to see the creations – like doors made of

Above: “Sea Turtle Younomi” (2020) by Dennis Meiners.

Slab built oxidation fired stoneware, 4.5 x 4 x 4 inches.

Photo / Mario Gallucci. cast paper leading nowhere – with an open, imaginative mind.

The Sculpture Center is at 1834 E. 123rd St. in Cleveland. Its website is sculpturecenter.org.

FLORENCE O’DONNELL WASMER GALLERY “The New Masters 2: Women Artists of Northeast Ohio” | Through Jan. 29, 2020 To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Ursuline College’s Florence O’Donnell Wasmer Gallery is celebrating 40 female artists across Northeast Ohio with a special exhibit. Moved to the heart of the college’s campus in the Mullen Building, the exhibit intends to challenge viewers’ thoughts on contemporary women’s issues including race, equity, marriage, motherhood, family, spirituality, rebellion and empowerment. The name “New Masters” hails from the title given to mostly male painters from Europe regarded as the best before 1800, but for its second year, Wasmer Gallery seeks to change the traditional bias and promote female artists as the new masters instead.

The gallery is located on the lower level of Ursuline College’s Mullen Building, 2550 Lander Road, in Pepper Pike. Its website is ursuline.edu/wasmer-gallery.

“Teapot” (2014) by Aimee Lee. Lacquer on hanji, 7.25 x 7 inches.

Image courtesy of The Sculpture Center

Above: “Shoelaces” by Tom Kiefer. Similar to belts, shoelaces are stripped from shoes by border agents because they are considered lethal and could be used to harm detainees or others. Detainees subsequently move through the U.S. court system and are deported with no belt for their pants or shoelaces for their shoes. Photo courtesy of Cleveland Print Room.

@CanvasCLE

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 9

ON DECK

“La Ca’ d’Oro, Venice” (1889) by Robert Blum.

Oil on canvas, 16 x 24 inches. Private collection courtesy of Keny Galleries, on view at Canton Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of Canton Museum of Art.

CANTON MUSEUM OF ART “Ceramics for the Anthropocene: Dennis Meiners Ceramics” & “Dancing in the Light: Masterworks from the Age of American Impressionism” | Through March 7, 2021 Ceramic artist Dennis Meiners discovered that upon altering his artistic process to reduce his studio’s carbon footprint, he created something amazing. Drawings started appearing on his work after he switched from firing his ceramics with electricity instead of fuel, and he realized the multiplied images were telling a story. He continued to make pieces depicting the effects of human influence on the ecosystems shared between humans and animals, using a drawing technique called Mishima, where he incises drawings in the wet clay and then lays a dark slip into those lines. His take on traditional Mishima using thin washes of slip allows Meiners to create rich grays necessary for animals’ fur, feathers and scales a part of the collection.

While many are familiar with the work created by French Impressionists of the late 19th century, Monet, Degas and Renoir weren’t the only ones to advance the Impressionist movement.

“Dancing in the Light: Masterworks from the Age of American Impressionism” celebrates American Impressionism with a focus on the uniquely American medium of watercolor created between 1878 and 1930. The pieces follow American Impressionism’s movement from France to the U.S. and how the movement can be argued as one of the finest artistic periods still to this day. The featured exhibition serves as the Canton Museum of Art’s 85th anniversary celebration, and it showcases pieces borrowed from private collections, and national and Ohio museums. Many of the private collection pieces have rarely been seen by the public.

The museum is located at 1001 Market Avenue N., in Canton. Its website is cantonart.org.

MANIC ON MAIN “Artists of Wadsworth” | Dec. 5 – 31 In the chaos of today’s times and with the barrage of content coming at us from all angles on the internet, sometimes it’s easy to overlook the artistic talent in your own community. To highlight local artists, Manic on Main in Wadsworth will host a show featuring the

10 | Canvas | Winter 2020

works of Wadsworth’s most skilled creators. The show, including photography, paintings and ceramics, will open in the gallery and gift shop’s main gallery Dec. 5, and will be open for public viewing.

Manic on Main is at 136 Main St., in Wadsworth. Its website is maniconmain.com.

YARDS PROJECTS “Trippy Trip” | Jan. 8 - Feb. 27, 2021 Following inspiration from “Three’s Company’s” Jack Tripper, a character constantly tripping over his words and surroundings, and the vibrant colored, psychedelic experience of the 1970s, “Trippy Trip” takes the viewer on a transcendent journey. The exhibit’s pieces are composed of eye-popping depictions of alchemy, primordial Boschian landscapes and non-sensical obstacles. Together, “Trippy Trip” paints a fractured world of unexplainable paranormal stories in between states and trapdoors, taking viewers on a “trip.” Featured artists include: Steve Ehret, Chad Fedorovich, Angelica Pozo, Ed Raffel, Casey Vogt, Sean Jason Kelly, Joyce Morrow Jones, Kasumi, Rita Montlack, Mark Brabant, Evie Zimmer, Sean Wheeler, Will Sanchez and Catherine Butler.

The gallery is at 725 Johnson Court in Cleveland. Its website is yardsproject.com.

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL The 45th Cleveland International Film Festival | April 7 - 20, 2021 For film buffs looking to safely enjoy hundreds of diverse flicks, look no further than the Cleveland International Film Festival. The 45th year of the film fest will be completely virtual to promote the health and safety of those involved, as well as to best match the current state of the film, theater and event industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. CIFF45 will feature hundreds of films, post-film conversations and Q&As with filmmakers, balloting, awards and other activities. The 14-day festival includes two extra days for extended viewing and engagement opportunities, and the festival’s podcast, CIFF Speaks, will return with episodes lasting the festival’s duration.

CIFF45 will announce its programing in March 2021. For more information, visit clevelandfilm.org.

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Advertisement

Creativity Takes Center Stage at Hawken Given that Hawken School has always been a haven for creative minds, it’s no surprise that opportunities for students to participate in the arts abound. While many other schools are forced to cut funding for the arts, Hawken’s programming continues to grow and thrive, enabling students to participate at various levels no matter what their age or experience.

A designated arts wing on Hawken’s Lower and Middle School campus featuring four classrooms designed for exploration, creation and performance represents a physical manifestation of Hawken’s commitment to the arts. Beginning in early childhood, music educators work with students to reinforce a love of music and to provide a basis for the development of musical concepts and skills. In third grade, students are introduced to the soprano recorder; in fourth and fifth grade, students select a string, woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument for musical study; and from third through fifth grade, students can opt to participate in Lower School Choir, which presents an annual musical production. In the Middle School, chorus, strings and band are offered as part of the curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to be part of the Jr. Hawken Players’ Society through participation in the annual musical either on stage, behind-the-scenes, or in the pit orchestra.

At Hawken’s Upper School, students can select from a wide variety of music, dance and theater courses including Acting Fundamentals, Advanced Acting, Chorale, Concert Band, Creative Movement, Jazz Band, Global Rhythms, Stage Craft and String Ensemble. Outside of the academic day, small performing groups like Hawken Harmony provide additional opportunities for students interested in musical performance.

One of the most popular clubs at Hawken is The Hawken Players’ Society (HPS), which produces at least one play and one musical each year. Open to all students regardless of prior experience, HPS productions are largely student-driven. Under the guidance of adult mentors, students are given the latitude, tools and responsibility to take full ownership of their role as an artist, whether in set design and construction; props, costumes or makeup; marketing and graphic design; acting, singing, dancing; and even assistant directing. During the COVID pandemic, HPS presented Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing: A Covid-Safe Multimedia Film Adaptation – showcasing once again the school’s ability to innovate not only in the academic realm but in the performing arts arena. Auditions were held via Zoom, and the stage crew went about their typical work on set design and stagecraft, costumes, props, etc. while maintaining COVID safety protocols.

Hawken School also places great value on the visual arts, often in collaboration with the performing arts department. An annual Early Childhood Art Show, a Visiting Artists Program, the annual Evening of Art and Music, the creation of artwork to accompany the fourth and fifth grade musical, middle school set design, and the Biomimicry Art and Science Forum mark just a number of the many highlights of visual arts programming on Hawken’s Lyndhurst campus.

Visual Arts offerings for Upper School students include Art Fundamentals, Art and Design Principles, Graphic Design, Drawing and Painting, History of Western Art, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, AP Studio Art, Animation, as well as several advanced courses in these subjects.

The recent opening of Stirn Hall, with its Media and Communications Lab and Fabrication Lab, has opened up a whole new world of creative, interdisciplinary possibilities. The Creative Movement class has worked with Groundworks Dance Company on a collaborative project, which took students to Playhouse Square to perform. In addition, numerous classes including the Design and Engineering and Comedy classes have utilized the new spaces for creative, hands-on projects. The Goldberg Innovation Lab on the Lyndhurst campus provides even our youngest students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the art of creative design.

Visit hawken.edu to learn more about the full menu of arts options available at Hawken. To learn more about visiting our campus, go to hawken.edu/admission or call 440-423-2955.

Nurturing Positivity and Strength

Artists Donald Black Jr. and Dareece Walker explore the role of Black Fathers in America Jan. 21 – Mar. 13, 2021

KSU Downtown Gallery

141 E. Main St., Kent, Ohio

galleries.kent.edu Image: Daddy’s Girl by Donald Black Jr.

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classes | gallery | gift shop Classes for all ages, abilities, and mediums.

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12 | Canvas | Winter 2020

“Ge a uga Countie s Pre mie r Ga lle r y”

a r t isa n sc o r n e r g a l le r y .c o m CanvasCLE.com

Emerging artists in Northeast Ohio @CanvasCLE

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 13

Amanda Koehn

DAVON BRANTLEY Years 25 • Lives and creates Cleveland Heights • Learned BFA from Cleveland Institute of Art

By Amanda Koehn

D

avon Brantley’s portraits can draw in a passing viewer with just three elements: their polish, precise colors and unique textures.

It only takes seconds to see there is so much more going on.

A striking combination of mythological and Christian imagery, and complex psychological narratives make it hard to look away.

For the 25-year-old artist who creates out of his Cleveland Heights home, ideas come from personal history and trauma.

“Where I start is, usually I recount back my childhood – especially the trauma that I experienced,” he says. “When I recount those experiences, I go into my family book which has just general family photos and that kind of stuff, and I’ll pick out which ones have a vibrant or interesting color scheme, and I’ll choose ones that have a great composition – where the people are communicating with each other or they are interacting with each other in a specific way.”

Then, he recreates the photos to express his vision, mood and feelings. He draws from a psychiatric term, dissociative identity disorder, which refers to a mental disorder experienced overwhelmingly by people who have experienced trauma and who psychologically separate into different identities. Thus, some pieces take on a manic, happy personality, while others depict depressive episodes and others, a more neutral, yet hopeless romantic character.

“I see them inside myself, so I manifest it into paintings and drawings,” he says. “But I also see these (identities) as not necessarily a problem, but something that’s common among others as well.”

Brantley says he loved art as a kid growing up mostly in the

14 | Canvas | Winter 2020

eastern Cleveland suburbs. He jokes about getting into “a little bit of trouble” as a high schooler, selling his art inside school.

Wanting to “ace every subject though to get a good GPA to get into a good college,” he seriously gravitated toward art during his senior year. He sought a mentor in an art teacher who helped him develop his portfolio, despite him never taking a formal art class.

When he first got to the Cleveland Institute of Art, his work was “surface level,” he says. Dealing with and talking about traumatic childhood experiences, he began to work through them in his artwork.

“I think that I really grew as an artist when I started to discover myself, and I started seeing a therapist about all these problems and just made art my modality,” Brantley says, adding that he sees studying and working in art therapy in his future.

Two years after graduating from CIA, the pandemic has

ON VIEW

• Brantley’s work will be on view through Dec. 6 at Mahall’s Museum of Creative Human Art, 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood.

• “About Body | About Face,” which features Brantley and Ohio artists Lawrence Baker, Jacques P. Jackson, Amanda D. King, Yvonne Palkowitsh, LaSaundra Robinson and Tony Williams, will be on view through Jan. 16, 2021 at Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, 1834 E. 123rd St., Cleveland.

Virtual artist talks will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, with more information at artistsarchives.org.

CanvasCLE.com

To view a video of Brantley, view his profile at canvascle.com/whos-next.

Right: “ON SIGHT” (2020). Sepia conte, pastel and charcoal on sepia toned paper, 70 x 42 inches. The piece was also made into a hoodie. | Photo courtesy of the artist. been a time of creative inspiration and productivity for the artist. In response to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement that aims to reckon with and reform our country’s long history of systemic racism and racist violence by law enforcement, Brantley saw several opportunities to create commissioned murals. He was among a group of local artists, organized by Graffiti HeArt and Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere, in June that painted a “Black Lives Matter” mural on East 93rd Street in Cleveland.

From that, more mural opportunities came to Brantley, including at the West Side Catholic Center in Cleveland and on a wall along the railroad tracks in Bedford, the latter of which invoked the history of the Underground Railroad in Bedford and was also organized by Graffiti HeArt. “Then since the murals – that was kind of like a new thing for me – I already had certain exhibitions set up that couldn’t happen when the pandemic started,” he says.

“And so after the murals and during the murals, those organizations opened back up their galleries.”

Since, he’s shown his work at the Waterloo Arts DayGlo show in Cleveland, Mahall’s in Lakewood and Artists Archives of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. He also has solo shows planned for Young’s Art Center in Fairview Park in January and BAYarts in Bay Village in August.

His current work is increasingly focused on experiences of racism, colorism, contemplating life and death, “and how being a Black man … kind of gives you a different perspective on how to handle those issues.”

“I’ve created a lot of stuff that deals with those topics, kind of showing people what I actually feel as an African American male, the injustices that I see and I deal with on a day-to-day basis,” he says.

He says some of that work has focused on the idea of “subverting a lot of the dark fantasies” stereotypically attributed to people of color. For example, he points to a painting with themes of lust and greed – but not what one may commonly associate with those words.

“It will be more so about someone’s lust for care, life and having a heart and emotion, and trying to protect that at all costs, even though it seems like it’s pouring out of them at an exponential rate,” he says.

He shows another piece – a 7-foot drawing of himself, made into a hoodie Brantley wears – inspired by religious Renaissance era work. A red dot encircles the subject’s head, which could resemble either a halo or the red target one sees when looking down the barrel of a gun – reflecting how Black Americans are targeted by law enforcement.

A black square surrounds his body, as a nod to the “blackout” social media trend to shift attention to Black voices and pain. But in the drawing, “I made the Black body visible, so you had no choice but to see it.”

“And I drew myself in kind of a more classical pose – I’m sitting upright and everything, and it kind of just makes you think about the absence of African Americans in Renaissance paintings, Baroque paintings, art history and in general the lack of the stories being told about us,” he says.

@CanvasCLE

“Some artists are really concerned with being trendy with their work.

Davon’s not like that. He’s really emotionally raw and real. He’s constantly leaning into his work both in terms of how he makes it and in terms of putting it into the world. His work telegraphs out a very human experience. You don’t meet many artists that are just that forthright. His work is so satisfying to spend time with.”

Lane Cooper, associate professor, painting department, Cleveland Institute of Art

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 15

Da’Shaunae Marisa Jackson Years 24 • Lives and creates Cleveland

By Amanda Koehn

D

a’Shaunae Marisa Jackson’s intimate, bright photos are a product of her ability to capture people in their true, relaxed forms. With each photoshoot, her aim is to make her subjects comfortable and open, allowing them to give more of themselves to the viewer.

“And by giving me more,” she says of her subjects, “I’m just showing their true selves in their most happy or peaceful moments. And I think that says something, I really do. I don’t want people to be uncomfortable when I’m photographing them, I want them to be themselves.”

While many of her photos evoke a sense of peace and lightness, it’s not because the subjects necessarily look happy or any specific way: it’s because you feel you are getting a snapshot into the life of someone new. That feeling of connectedness to a stranger brings about a sense of satisfaction that Jackson makes easy for the viewer.

Growing up in Cleveland and its suburbs, Jackson says when she was a child, her mother could always be found with disposable Kodak point-and-shoot cameras to snap family pictures. Her mother would send off Jackson to special days of school, like the first day or field day, with a disposable camera of her own.

“I was used to taking pictures that way of my friends,” Jackson says. “And I enjoyed it, I really did, but I didn’t think of it as a career until later in my life.”

After graduating from Garfield Heights High School, she attended Cuyahoga Community College but didn’t finish after an internship helped her get enough freelance work to make a go of it as a photographer. In addition to doing photoshoots, teaching and assisting other photographers, she also creates

16 | Canvas | Winter 2020

Above: “You Are the Standard of Beauty” by Da’Shaunae Marisa Jackson. Clothing by William Frederick of Cleveland. Top: Self portrait by the artist. installations from her photos.

A special opportunity came last year when she was one of more than 20 mostly local photographers who documented Cleveland and its residents for exhibit “Cleveland 20/20: A Photographic Exploration of Cleveland.” The project, a partnership between Cleveland Public Library and Cleveland Print Room, sought to capture the diversity and everyday happenings in the city. The photos have been on display at Cleveland Public Library’s main branch in downtown

CanvasCLE.com

To view a video of Jackson, view her profile at canvascle.com/whos-next.

Above: Maryam for “You Are the Standard of Beauty.” The photoshoot was made into a mural in Public Square earlier this year. Right: Kent State University basketball player Kalin Bennett for an Instax portrait. Photos courtesy of Da’Shaunae Marisa Jackson.

Cleveland since early this year and will be cataloged there.

She says “Cleveland 20/20” was, “a very big rediscovering of what’s here,” that came at the perfect time. It allowed photographers to “fully experience Cleveland,” capturing a moment in history of people at community festivals and gatherings, right before gathering was no longer permitted or wise after COVID-19 hit.

During the pandemic, Jackson has been busy taking portraits and has been hired by national news outlets like The New York Times to take photos in Cleveland and surrounding areas. Her first Times assignment was in the spring, and the demand for her craft grew from there.

“It’s been nice to talk to more people that live here and see what they’ve been going through throughout this time,” she says of her work for news publications.

She’s also created a series called Instax portraits. For Instax, or instant camera stills, she’ll cut portraits taken at various angles of the same person into pieces. She combines them into one re-imagined collage, depicting the individual in a new form.

“I take different options based on my sketches so it comes to life,” she says of the Instax portraits. “I’ll expand from that first piece and then it just blossoms from there, whatever ideas I add onto it or materials.”

Jackson has developed a wealth of YouTube videos of her creating the Instax portraits, which can be viewed on her channel, DaShaunae Marisa, as part of an ongoing project to capture her friends in their natural states. She also teaches instax and digital photography at the Cleveland Print Room in Cleveland.

ON VIEW

“Cleveland 20/20: A Photographic Exploration of Cleveland,” will be on view through Spring 2021 at Cleveland Public Library, Main Library, Brett Hall, 325 Superior Ave., in Cleveland. For more information, visit cpl.org/eventsclasses/exhibits. The project can also be viewed online at bit.ly/3kxPKfv.

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Another ongoing project involves her own family photos, for which she received a grant from the Cleveland Foundation to create an exhibit at the Cleveland Print Room early next year. The project began as a way to document her family and its dynamics, and morphed after her mother passed away this year.

“It will be interesting, that’s all I can say,” she says of the project. “(It’s) something I believe everyone can relate to, and I hope that a lot of other people will be able to understand and take something from this project.”

One challenge during the pandemic has been the inability to get people together for shoots, which is part of the reason Jackson has gravitated toward Instax – it only requires her and one other person. Moreover, the events of the past several months have refocused Jackson’s mind on the many issues facing our world and communities, and how she can document them as a photographer.

“I have the ability to really show what those problems are in different ways through the people that are actually experiencing them,” she says. “It’s encouraging me to follow through with the projects that I want to, which mostly have to do with health, basic human rights – all of that stuff – and human connection and being able to connect with your neighbor, because we are all human and we are all going through this together.”

“Da’Shaunae’s work really resonates with me. At the heart of her diverse body of work is the documentation of the world around her, inspired with curiosity in the search of others’ individual stories.”

Shari Wilkins, executive director, Cleveland Print Room

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 17

CASS PENEGOR

Amanda Koehn

Years 22 • Hometown Westlake • Creates Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Learns BFA in drawing and printmaking from Cleveland Institute of Art; Expected MFA from Cranbrook

By Amanda Koehn

T

he natural-looking forms Cass Penegor creates are familiar, like something you saw in a science textbook, but can’t quite name.

Using gouache, acrylic and water-based inks on paper and making drawings, prints and low-relief installations, the artist relies on repetitive movements. Using their brush or scissors with a machine-like method, the aim isn’t to define the “organic friends,” as Penegor describes them – maybe a cell, virus, geologic matter or even a bubble – but rather to draw you in and reflect on how you might connect to the smaller beings that make up our bodies and earth.

“Some people see bacteria, or something maybe even like a virus, cells under a microscope,” Penegor says. “And those are all the right answers, because they are not any one thing – they are all of the things. It’s really about unity and connectedness between us and nature, how we are a part of these things and they are a part of us, and really taking the time to notice and appreciate that and spend time with the things.”

Penegor started becoming interested in biomorphic art – where sculpture, painting or other media are used to create abstract depictions of natural forms like plants, cells, organisms and body parts – a few years ago during their sophomore year at the Cleveland Institute of Art. “It was something that I couldn’t get away from, it was always in my mind and I was always drawing these organic biomorphic forms,” Penegor says.

Although they had an interest in science and nature previously as a high schooler in Westlake, Penegor says they didn’t

18 | Canvas | Winter 2020

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To view a video of Penegor, view their profile at canvascle.com/whos-next. do so well in those subjects at the time. Instead, they gravitated toward theater and visual arts, and ultimately decided on the latter after getting into CIA. A spring 2020 graduate of CIA, Penegor began a print media master’s program at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., in September.

Penegor’s work often takes on a blue, moody and intricate palate with patterns similar to a tree ring, yet occasionally will take on a bright color scheme and more circular or unique shapes. The colors and careful shapes have a quality that gives the viewer a sense of satisfaction they can’t quite place.

When Canvas first met Penegor at their CIA studio in March, the artist described a potential interpretation of their organic creations as a “virus.” Just one week later, the entire state shut down due to a deadly virus that eight months later continues to devastate. Now, Penegor says that although viruses’ structures have an intriguing look, it might now be healthier, mentally, to think of their work differently.

“After that, I had to put that out of my brain and focus on some of the other ways that my work is read and interpreted,” Penegor says.

When the pandemic hit, Penegor says the shift to learning and working remotely – while completing their BFA thesis – was a challenge.

“It was extremely stressful, especially as a printmaker and someone who was planning on making a lot of print work for my thesis, I could no longer do that because I can’t make litho prints at home,” Penegor says.

Instead, Penegor ended up shifting toward making more gouache paintings and working on a large installation, which is now up in their studio. The focus of the project was on the biomorphic forms that are, “things that feel familiar, but they’re not directly representing something, so you can’t really name them.”

Over their years at CIA, Penegor had several opportunities to show work in spaces like Cain Park’s Feinberg Art Gallery in Cleveland Heights, Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, Eastern Michigan University’s Ford Gallery in Ypsilanti, Mich., and CIA’s Student Independent Exhibition. Penegor also was selected to be a student curator for the sixth annual Cain Park Collaborative Exhibition at the Feinberg Gallery – in conjunction with CIA – this past summer. However, the exhibit was canceled due to the pandemic.

Penegor says one of their biggest successes as an artist this early in their career has been having the opportunity to be a part of several shows – many of which CIA connections helped facilitate. Among challenges, Penegor points to narrowing their focus and dealing with mental health challenges. They also write poems and personal essays, and their experiences with obsessive compulsive disorder sometimes plays a role in developing creative works.

“OCD is a large part of my work a lot of the time, and the kinds of compulsions to be doing certain things, that can be challenging – and like channeling that into making these things,” Penegor says.

At Cranbrook, the curriculum resembles more of a residency than a normal college program – there are no real classes, students are mostly “in the studio, doing your own thing,” Penegor says, with meetings and critiques interspersed. Penegor says they have also become interested in exploring more video and audio work during their first few months there.

On breaks at home in Westlake, Penegor teaches at a

@CanvasCLE

Above: “Cranbrook Friend” (2020). Hand-cut paper, gouache, digital print, ink, marker, monoprints, spray paint, acrylic paint, desk, folding chair, paper tube, cloth bin and portfolios. Photo courtesy of the artist. Opposite page: “Agate (4)” (2020). Gouache, 22 x 30 inches.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

KinderCare day care center, and hopes to stay connected to the Northeast Ohio art scene. For example, they hope to become an alumni ambassador at CIA. “Hopefully that happens because I’d really like to stay connected,” Penegor says.

“They are passionate about finding themself as an emerging maker and artist, and interested in connecting different groups of people. I think sometimes artists and especially students, they are interested in putting their work out there. I think what Cass was interested in was connecting this group from their life over here, and this group from their life over there, and then this group of artists that they met through school, and they were interested in building bridges. And they did that with their internship project and then they did that again more recently after they graduated.”

Maggie Denk-Leigh, chair of printmaking department, Cleveland Institute of Art

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 19

Amber Ford

JULIETTE THIMMIG Years 26 • Lives and creates Cleveland’s AsiaTown • Learned Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Ore.

By Jane Kaufman

F

or printmaker and painter Juliette Thimmig, the artistic process often starts with a walk to uninhabited spaces within Cleveland’s AsiaTown.

She carries a sketchbook with her, along with pencils, pens and sometimes watercolors, using them to make drawings and notes about the slices of the world she observes.

“It’s so quiet down here,” Thimmig says. “There are so many pockets that are seemingly city that don’t feel city at all once you’re standing in them.”

Thimmig’s portfolio includes prints, mostly bold black woodcuts that speak to the state of the world and the environment, and colorful paintings with a powerful use of black, referencing that opaque woodcut style.

Thimmig grew up in Bainbridge Township on the Auburn line.

As a child, she found herself drawn to both animals and nature. It was then that she first did observational drawings.

“I really liked growing up in rural Ohio,” she recalls. “It’s beautiful. It’s quiet, lots of frog sounds. And there was plenty to draw.”

Thimmig, who works as a shop technician and shop manager at Zygote Press also in AsiaTown, says it was her grandmother, Heidi Stull, who inculcated her interest in and appreciation for the making of art.

Stull, a native of Germany, opened a gallery in her Bainbridge Township home in 1988 through the early 1990s, introducing friends and neighbors to the works of European artists. Later, when Stull hosted Thimmig and her three siblings on visits, she encouraged them to produce works of art while they were with her – be it pottery, watercolor or prints.

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“Rear View Mirage” (2019). Woodcut, 36 x 48 inches. | Image courtesy of the artist

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To view a video of Thimmig, view her profile at canvascle.com/whos-next.

“She really made it a point and made it a priority to make something with our hands,” Thimmig says. “So she kind of gave us the confidence that, if we make something, it’s worth something in the world.”

Thimmig attended Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Ore., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in intermedia. She is largely a self-taught painter.

As well as giving her a grounding in her art and craft, living in Portland shifted Thimmig’s experience of living in rural versus urban settings.

“I think in the country, it’s easy to feel safe when you’re there,” she says. “And then when you move to a city and you’re surrounded by people, you feel even safer for some reason.”

She says AsiaTown is “insanely quiet.”

“It’s so comforting. The people, the food, the energy, the sounds,” she says. “It’s home for sure.”

After her walks, Thimmig spends time in her studio and plays music while she practices her craft: swamp pop, swamp blues, Motown, funk, blues, Thelonius Monk and Nina Simone.

“It plays a big part in my studio practice,” she says. “It kind of generates the mood and the intention.”

With eight presses available to her at Zygote Press, Thimmig has decisions to make – both about process and technique.

“It’s really wonderful in some ways, but if you are someone that has the attributes of, ‘I really love to learn, I love process, I love labor,’ I tend to try everything and like everything,” she says. “So it turns into a little bit of an indecision sort of situation.”

Eventually, though, Thimmig will settle on a process and begin creating, sometimes with a plan in mind.

“And sometimes that doesn’t even work to try and organize those things,” she says. “Sometimes it’s just a very emotional pull. ... So just listen to my intuition, put on some music and get going.”

She said working during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging as an artist. While there has been plenty of material to work with, there has also been what Thimmig describes as a

ON VIEW

• View Thimmig’s work in Zygote Press’ virtual letterpress exhibition, “Make Ready for the Revolution!” on view through Nov. 30 at makereadyfortherevolution.tilda.ws.

@CanvasCLE

Above: “Parallels” (detail), 2019. Acrylic on canvas, 36 x 60 inches. Left: “We’ve Forgiven One Another” (2019). Acrylic and chalk on canvas, 24 x 24 inches. | Images courtesy of the artist heaviness in the air.

“It’s a really odd sort of time because you would think it would be perfect for an artist that is an introvert and wants to be in the studio making things constantly and not worry about … social gatherings and things like that, but I think it takes a toll,” she says.

Thimmig, whose prints particularly say a lot about the state of the world, says she sees art and politics as intertwined.

“Even if you’re making landscape paintings and it feels irrelevant, it’s very much a political statement in my eyes,” she says.

“It’s a pause from capitalism. It’s referencing the environment, so it’s got a lot underlying that is political in a sense. … Words right now are really polarizing. So I feel like images, in a sense, are sort of a way to disseminate information a little more broadly and bring people back together.”

“Juliette is a rare gem, and like a well-cut diamond, she brings this same integrity and dedication to her craft.

This clarity shines in her paintings and prints. Her work deals with difficult themes through the perspective of the millennial generation, where her message is not particularly hopeful.

In her painting, she delves deep into depictions of global warming outcomes and manufactured disasters in industrial wastelands like Cleveland. Her vivid relief prints, in contrast, explore cheerier landscapes but with a more uplifting curiosity.

Her relief prints explore off-road escape routes through strawberry fields filled with carefully cut botanicals that take you on timeless road trips. Juliette has an innocence and appetite, much like Dana Schutz does, in discovering the stories and narratives of her time.”

Liz Maugans, co-founder and former executive director of Zygote Press, and curator of the Dalad Collection and director of YARDS Projects at Worthington Yards

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 21

SHELTERING

in an artistic place Cleveland museums grapple with the pandemic

M

By Carlo Wolff

useums in greater Cleveland are doing far more than adjusting to the coronavirus pandemic that has upended life since midMarch. They are putting on a brave face, improvising, and, as they always have, planning for the future.

There is more than bravado to their efforts. There is a growing sense of community among cultural institutions accustomed to going it on their own, an approach that doesn’t seem to be working today and likely won’t for the foreseeable future – at least not until COVID-19 loosens its grip.

At the same time, representatives of

the institutions interviewed by Canvas expressed confidence that no matter the form, art remains a draw, a necessity and a balm. “People are in need of inspiration,” says Nwaka Onwusa, chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. “Music does that. Museum patrons worldwide feel strongly about that

connection.”

“Art heals,” says William Griswold, director and president of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. “More than ever, our role in the community is to embody optimism, encourage reflection, foster learning and creativity, and help people to connect with art, as well as with others. We know this is important and continue to put our all into serving the community through this challenging time.”

CMA, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood and the rock hall weighed in. Scrappiness and inventiveness, along with increased emphasis on the digital and the virtual, were common citations. So was confidence.

Educational outreach also has been a focus. “The digital piece that’s really remarkable is online educational content for teachers and parents,” says Greg Harris, the rock hall’s president and CEO. “Last year, we averaged about 45 teachers a day using it and this year we’ve had days of 1,000 teachers using it. It’s content that parents can also use; those parents helping teach at home can access and use it as well.”

The rock hall, which reopened in June, is attracting almost 40% of what it attracted last year, but its digital reach has never been greater, “so we’re reaching more people than ever,” Harris says. “That said, it’s still financially a big challenge in ticketing and revenue.

Above: The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland opened the late Margaret Kilgallen’s “that’s where the beauty is” exhibit before the pandemic early this year. The exhibit was extended and will remain on view until the end of the year. | Photo / Amanda Koehn. Opposite page: “Untitled” (Jua Kali series, 2014) by Tahir Carl Karmali (Kenyan, born 1987). Archival pigment print; 45.7 x 30.5 cm., on view in the Cleveland Museum of Art exhibit “Second Careers: Two Tributaries in African Art,” through March 14, 2021, in the Julia and Larry Pollock Focus Gallery. | Photo / Tahir Carl Karmali / CMA

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Griswold

Harris

We’re down from last year but we’re pleased with where we are and we are continuing to grow and finding strong visitation from local and regional visitors.”

RETHINKING, RECONFIGURING The pandemic has changed how museums present art, and dealing with it has altered exhibit planning.

Social distancing requirements like stringent sanitation, mandating 6 feet between attendees, timed ticketing and attendance limits rule the spaces.

“For us, the key has been to revisit installation designs, and consider how the capacity of a given gallery is affected by that combination,” says CMA’s Griswold. “In some cases, we have shifted the architectural planning to allow for broader vistas, and in others we have simplified installations to make for a very legible experience.”

Onwusa Travel restrictions have affected the Maltz’s ability to install and reinstall its traveling exhibits, and it temporarily ended group tours and field trips. Maltz Museum Managing Director David Schafer tries to plan exhibits two or three years out, he says.

“Every museum is experiencing the same situation, and for the most part have been reasonable in working within the museum world to adjust things,” Schafer says. “We’re all in this together and there’s been great flexibility in switching around scheduling.”

At CMA, curatorial work and planning for major international loan exhibitions can start five or six years prior to their presentation.

While CMA has extended some exhibitions and canceled others, it has particularly high hopes for “Stories from Storage,” which is set to run from Feb. 7, 2021 to May 16. The museum’s

This photo of the late Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia riding an elephant in India in 1994 is featured in the exhibit “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” scheduled to open Feb. 21, 2021 and run through the end of August at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood. | Photo courtesy of Maltz Museum

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Reich

Schafer

17 curators, the chief curator and Griswold will “tell” 19 stories that draw on work in storage, tying their narratives to the pandemic. And Griswold says the highly anticipated “Picasso and Paper” exhibit “is being revisited in terms of scheduling.”

“Some institutions are turning to their collections and thinking through them as a way to work forward, while others are partnering with other institutions to pool resources and collaborate,” says Courtenay Finn, moCa’s chief curator.

MoCa generally plans 18 to 24 months in advance and when the pandemic hit, it decided to extend exhibits that opened in January: the late Margaret Kilgallen’s “that’s where the beauty is,” and “Temporary Spaces of Joy and Freedom.”

“The pandemic … continues to have a big impact on all facets of exhibitionmaking and planning,” says Finn.

“The hardest part was working with the uncertainty of when and how the museum would function. Yet the beauty of working with living artists is that we are all experiencing this moment in time together and we were able to talk with folks about what was feasible, what needed more time and what might be the best foot forward. Together, we decided on a plan that left space for adjustment and that was responsive to the situation we all find ourselves in.”

BE NIMBLE, BE QUICK Being flexible is key. “It’s not just cancellations, but also postponements and extensions that make it difficult to plan,” says the rock hall’s Onwusa.

Fortunately, cooperation among museums helps. “As it relates to the rock hall, our blockbuster exhibit, ‘Play It Loud: The Instruments of Rock & Roll,’ which we co-curated with The Met, was slated to close late spring 2020, (but) due to the pandemic museum closure, we were able to extend that show.” It’s on view until the end of the year.

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Advertisement

The Maltz Museum Adds New Features to its Permanent Collection: The Interactive Biography of Stanley Bernath

T

he Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage is proud to announce an exciting addition to its permanent collection. Holocaust Survivor Stanley Bernath, of blessed memory, has come to life again on the Museum’s stage as part of the technological innovation of Dimensions in Testimony from USC Shoah Foundation.

For more than 70 years, Holocaust survivors have recounted their stories to people all over the world, providing invaluable insights that shape and inform perspective. USC Shoah Foundation’s Dimensions in Testimony has revolutionized the concept of oral history by integrating advanced filmmaking techniques, specialized display technologies, and next-generation natural language processing to provide an intimate and unique experience. Each specially recorded interview enables visitors to ask questions of the survivor about their life experiences, and hear responses in real-time, lifelike conversation. Questions are answered naturally, as if the survivor is in the room, and through artificial intelligence, the more questions asked, the better the technology becomes.

Stanley Bernath spent over forty years recounting his harrowing story of survival with students and adults across Northeast Ohio.

When speaking at the Maltz Museum, he captured the hearts and minds of hundreds, if not thousands, of young people. After hearing his message of resilience and hope, students would often approach him with requests for photos and hugs.

“So many people in our community felt such tremendous loss upon Stanley’s passing,” shared David Schafer, Managing Director of the Maltz Museum. “But, we were comforted knowing we’d see him again. Although nothing in this world can replace having him with us in person, we knew that his story would continue being told in our theatre as an interactive biography. We are pleased that we could re-open the Museum with Stanley here.”

While the Museum’s doors have re-opened after being shuttered March through August due to COVID-19, and guests are enjoying their socially distanced experiences, the Museum also had to re-imagine how to stay connected with audiences who are more comfortable at home.

“We released a series of online options,” said Dahlia Fisher, director of external relations. “All of our Zoom programs are either free or low-cost. And the education portal (LEARN. maltzmuseum.org) is totally free.”

Anyone, anywhere can now explore a Stop the Hate digital tour through the Museum’s education portal, and schools can register for free Stop the Hate classroom workshops with partners, Lake Erie Ink and Roots of American Music, as part of the annual Stop the Hate contest that annually awards $100,000 in scholarships and prizes to Northeast Ohio student upstanders for penning original essays and songs.

All are invited to visit its website to learn more about visiting in person or experiencing the Museum online through digital tours and programs.

Tickets are by advance reservation only and can be made via the Museum website, maltzmuseum.org or by calling 216-593-0575.

Guests read panels on the newest addition to the Maltz Museum’s core collection.

A Maltz Museum guest watches The Interactive Biography of Stanley Bernath.

The Maltz’s Schafer says “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” an exhibit about the late Supreme Court justice, is scheduled to open Feb. 21, 2021 and run through the end of August. On loan from the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, it will be followed by “Stories of Survival: Object.

Image. Memory,” a display of objects belonging to Holocaust survivors, along with photographs by documentarian Jim Lommasson. That comes to the Maltz from the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie. Each exhibit will be both actual and virtual.

“People view museums as a trusted information source,” Schafer says. “The Maltz is a history museum, and (I’m) happy for it to serve as a resource in these uncertain times.”

Never discount the in-person experience, however. “On-site exhibitions at CMA are still very much a part of our program, and are absolutely worth seeing in person,” says Griswold. “We continue to bring forward thoughtful shows of work from our own collection, as well as loan shows. Two favorites for the fall/winter are ‘Second Careers: Two Tributaries in African Art,’ and ‘Fashioning Identity: Mola Textiles from Panama.’ These are two shows with broad world views, and really compelling works of art, both historical and contemporary.”

CMA also has focused on the virtual, providing free, online access to its collection via cma.org, its ArtLens app, AI and Slack-software-based programming.

“We continue to innovate through this work and our on-site exhibitions are presented in line with how individuals walk through galleries and explore and learn,” says Griswold. “Two examples of how we measure success include tracking attendance and usage, and collect feedback from guests on-site and online through surveys.” The museum’s virtual programs at times draw “even more attendance than we might see at an on-site event in a non-COVID context, and we look forward to continuing this work into the future,” Griswold adds.

Tom Poole, moCa’s creative director, says people are being more selective “in their virtual content. … What we create has to be meaningful.”

“We also are deeply aware of and attentive to the digital divide in Cleveland, and developing strategies to provide delivery-based, tangible activities and engagement to the community so that those who do not have reliable

26 | Canvas | Winter 2020

digital access can still be in meaningful connection with the museum,” adds Megan Lykins Reich, moCa’s interim executive director.

BANDING TOGETHER The pandemic has changed how museums present and how many people they allow in at a time. It also has motivated them to find and share answers to the question of how to survive – the term “thrive” no longer applies, at least for now – a disease that forces us all inside.

Collegiality is crucial, be it on the international or local level.

“CMA partners with major museums in the U.S. and abroad,” says Griswold.

“The field is very collegial, and there is a lot of colleague-to-colleague conversation about the status of the pandemic, and how it has impacted each of us. It is a complex and supportive network.

The conversation is ongoing – some museums have not yet reopened in their communities, so the ways we help one another varies, depending on need.”

A few years ago, the rock hall’s Harris started quarterly museum directors’ meetings, social and working sessions. “When the pandemic hit, it required making decisions about our future,” he says, “so we shifted from monthly in-person to Zoom or

(Microsoft) Teams meetings weekly to share information and make decisions as a body; we even all work together on health and safety.

“First, we all worked together to close and announce that; the key is we did some things as a body. We all agreed to remain closed and then we agreed on reopening protocols that exceeded all other state and public standards. That meant we required masks at all locations before they were required by the state.

These sessions through the pandemic also evolved into strategic business sessions, (where) we all shared openly what we were doing on the business end, whether it was staff furloughs or how to secure CARES Act support.”

Besides the institutions cited in this story, these virtual meetings have included representatives of the Holden Arboretum, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Cleveland History Center and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

“We’re all leading these important institutions through a transformational period, and having open collaboration and sharing with this group has been incredibly helpful to all,” says Harris.

“In this challenging time, there’s far more collaboration than competition. In this whole sector, we are all chartered for the public good.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices Of Rage, Hope & Empowerment” exhibition on the intersection of rock and roll and social justice was opened this summer based on national dialogue, says Greg Harris, president and CEO of the rock hall. Amid the pandemic, it also opened an online version after opening the physical exhibit. | Photo courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

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20-0931

THE SHOW MUST GO ON:

By Bob Abelman

When local arts organizations go virtual “Dear Artists, I’ve been wanting to write you all. Clearly, the most important thing at this moment is taking care of each other – putting our health care and essential workers in the best possible position to be safe and to help those directly affected by the virus. But it’s natural to also be thinking of what this moment means for the future of our industry and community.”

So begins artistic director Nathan Motta’s mid-May letter to those who have and were about to make art in the Dobama Theatre performance space in Cleveland Heights before stages were shuttered due to the pandemic. His words are personal, but they so eloquently express the shared sentiments of a loving, caring Cleveland arts community in crisis.

Recent research published by the Brookings Institution reports that the performing arts have been the most at risk and the hardest hit by COVID-19 of all the creative arts industries.

It was estimated that, nationwide, almost 1.4 million jobs and $42.5 billion in sales have been lost to date. Locally, Cleveland’s Playhouse Square expects to lose nearly $4 million and layoff or furlough nearly 200 employees between March, when its theaters were closed, and the end of

28 | Canvas | Winter 2020

the calendar year. In theaters, concert halls and arenas across the region, thousands of live performances have been canceled or indefinitely postponed.

“I hope one positive thing that has emerged through all of this,” says Motta in his letter, “is the importance of the work of artists like you in our world.”

Another positive is the creative retooling and forwardthinking that has recently taken place, as many arts organizations seek an audience among those in isolation and find virtue in going virtual.

LES DÉLICES ‘EMBRACING CHANGE’ Les Délices is a Shaker Heights-based, nonprofit chamber ensemble emerging as a leader in providing virtual

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programming in the COVID-19 era and keeping music artists engaged and employed.

In August, Les Délices launched SalonEra, a live-streamed music-focused variety show designed as a salon experience for the 21st century. Programs for this interactive series are produced and streamed on YouTube twice monthly and run through December. In October, Les Délices opened its allvirtual, hour-long Concert Series titled “Embracing Change” with the baroque-infused “Bewitched,” which featured risingstar soprano Hannah De Priest in a bone-chilling cantata by Colin de Blamont, Pancrace Royer’s riveting harpsichord solo “Vertigo,” and François Couperin’s trio sonata “La Françoise.”

In moving the concert series to an online platform, Les Délices hopes not only to broaden its audience base but also to reimagine the concert experience.

“I’ve long dreamed of performing concerts in the round and with other elements that would enable a more immersive experience,” says Debra Nagy, Les Délices founder, artistic director and baroque oboist, “but there are always limitations with venues.”

In pivoting to video – with potential for creative camera work, high-quality audio, and the ability to interpolate notes on the program, artist interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and on-screen translations – Nagy sees lots of room to experiment.

Of course, there are risks involved.

“It’s a risk not knowing whether traditional audiences will respond similarly to the online content. And we’ve had to rethink and transform our working routines and models on every level. But from the beginning, I felt that smaller organizations (like us) would have the greatest possibility to be versatile,” she says.

SILVER LININGS AT CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE When Raymond Bobgan took over as executive artistic director at Cleveland Public Theatre in the Gordon Square Arts District of Cleveland in 2006, he told his colleagues, “Let’s stop trying to compete with the LORT (League of Resident Theatres) houses in town – the Cleveland Play House, Great Lakes Theater – and let’s be good at what we do … work that nobody else in Cleveland is doing” that is rooted in a vision of urban revitalization. “And, a critical component of what we do facilitates a sense of community gathering,” he said. It is this same mission that is getting the CPT through the pandemic.

Canceled were two plays in production – an all-Spanish language production of José Rivera’s “Marisol” and the world premiere of Nikkole Salter’s “Breakout Session” – as well as the upcoming production of India Nicole Burton’s “Panther Women,” which has been in development for over a year.

Nina Domingue’s solo piece, “The Absolutely Amazing and True Adventures of Ms. Joan Southgate,” and Bobgan’s own “Candlelight Hypothesis” were also canceled.

But moving forward, CPT is navigating in the internet world while still creating a sense of audience intimacy and making work that continues to be community-rooted. “And we are adamant,” says Bobgan “about keeping everything live rather than recorded.”

Among the new initiatives is a Zoom sharing of the pieces and parts of “Candlelight Hypothesis,” which is being performed by Bobgan and fellow artists Holly Holsinger and Faye Hargate. There’s also a virtual restaging of “Frankenstein’s Wake,” the critically acclaimed adaptation of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece that revives the tour-de-force performance by Holsinger.

“Though we cannot gather in person,” states the CPT Fall

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Season brochure, “we can come together as a community to experience and celebrate the power of live art.”

KARAMU HOUSE TURNS LEMONS INTO LEMONADE Since 2015 – upon taking over as president and CEO of Karamu House, Inc., America’s oldest, producing African American theater – Tony F. Sias has turned obstacles into opportunities. But in light of the current pandemic, some tough decisions had to be made first.

Karamu, located in the Fairfax neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, immediately canceled what remained of its 2019-2020 main stage season, which included the regional premiere of Katori Hall’s “Hoodoo Love” and its production of Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s “Next to Normal.” Forty-eight freelance artist contracts were annulled, though artists received compensation for the work that had been done to date. All educational programming on site was suspended.

On to the opportunities.

Since June, Karamu House has been producing and streaming on social media – including Facebook and YouTube, as well as video platforms like Vimeo, Roku and Fire TV – an original theatrical series called “Freedom on Juneteenth.”

The show, written by local playwright Latecia Delores Wilson and directed and produced by Sias, was created in response to current issues associated with social justice faced by Black

Above: Holly Holsinger in “Frankenstein’s Wake” at Cleveland Public Theatre. | Photo / Steve Wagner.

Opposite page: Brianna Janae performs “Save Your Stigma Ft. Erotic Laborers” at Maelstrom Collaborative Arts’ “Activate: Storefront Window Residencies.” | Photo / Kaitlin K. Walsh

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Above: Mary-Frances Miller, left, and Sheffia Randall Dooley in “Freedom on Juneteenth” at Karamu House. | Photo / Kayla Lupean Americans. To date, the series has reached more than 100,000 households across the country. A third episode was launched on Oct. 29 and focused on the importance of the Black vote, and a fourth episode is to come.

“We are a celebrated, historical, legendary organization,” says Sias. “As such, we have always asked ourselves ‘how do we not just survive but thrive?’ And the answer has always been and continues to be innovation and resourcefulness.”

MAELSTROM TURNS ART INTO A ‘THEME PARK RIDE’ Maelstrom Collaborative Arts in Cleveland is dedicated to serving the growth of innovative artists at the borders of diverse genres, disciplines and media. And, during the pandemic, it has been finding ways to bring together audience members and artists in a live experience – without actually being together.

This summer, MCA orchestrated “Activate: Storefront Window Residencies,” a six-week-long series of free physically distant and socially relevant performances and art shows that placed artists behind window glass and before an outdoor public at the company’s storefront headquarters in Cleveland’s Gordon Square.

This autumn, MCA created “The Wandering,” an immersive, interactive pseudo-performance that tells the story of a group of strangers brought together under mysterious circumstances that was experienced one patron at a time.

“Our compromise,” says Executive Artistic Director Jeremy Paul when referring to COVID-19, “is a kind of art-gallery that is structured in a theatrical way, almost like a theme park ride or haunted house. We’re working with over 30 artists – some visual artists, some performers, some writers and filmmakers – to lead the audience through a shared

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dreamscape that explores themes of connection/disconnection, individualism vs. collectivism, resilience, mourning, and use of artistic metaphor to reframe our lives.”

Connectivity director Marcia Custer adds that “we also began coordinating pen pal letter exchanges, artist potlucks and creative meet-ups on Zoom, where artists can continue to connect and support one another.”

CPH RELIES ON TEAMWORK, COMMUNITY Playwright George Brant’s comedy “Into the Breeches!” takes place during World War II and is inspired by how the Cleveland Play House refused to discontinue production so to keep the theater up and running. How ironic that Brant’s wife, Laura Kepley – who is the artistic director for the Tony Awardwinning theater – is working hard to do the same in the face of the current crisis.

“On Thursday, March 12,” she recalls, “the senior staff and I sat in the conference room and watched on television as the governor announced the closing of the schools – we have a staff of 25 full-time theater educators who work in 16 different schools – and then the banning of public gatherings. It was the most surreal, unsettling, gut-wrenching time of my professional career.”

The CPH was just ending its second week of rehearsals for “Antigone” in downtown Cleveland’s Outcalt Theatre, which involved local actors and those from around the country.

The set was built and loaded into the theater space and the costumes were half-completed. The show, along with other enterprises, was canceled.

Several things have proven to be the theater’s salvation.

Over 80% of the theater’s loyal subscribers have refused a refund for the season. The theater’s team of educators

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A SELECTION OF UPCOMING VIRTUAL PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS • The third Thursday of each month “Theatre Thursdays” is streamed on Zoom by Cleveland Play House. Cost: Pay what you can, starting at $5. Tickets: Visit clevelandplayhouse. com/theatre-thursday.

• Through Nov. 29: Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood presents its first virtual production, “Fully Committed.” The one-person comedy by Becky Mode is performed by Nick Koesters, who plays an out-of-work actor who runs the red-hot reservation line at Manhattan’s highest reviewed restaurant.

Visit beckcenter.org for more information.

• Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.: Les Délices’ SolonEra: “Unwritten Traditions.” Masters of improvisation Robert Mealy, Shira Kammen, Priscilla Herreid and Mark Edwards talk about their work and inspiration in reconstructing lost musical traditions from Medieval to Baroque. Visit lesdelices.org/event/solnera for more information.

• Dec. 2, 3, 10, 11, 17 and 19, at 8 p.m.: Cleveland Public Theatre presents “The Loush Sister’s Pay Per View.” Created

by Liz Conway, Michael Seevers Jr., and Beth Wood, and performed by Conway and Wood, this “bawdy, boozy, overthe-top holiday celebration” features Holly and Jolly Loush in their deeply anticipated return after months of isolation.

Visit to cptonline.org for more information.

• Through Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.: “The Cleveland Orchestra: In Focus,” an original series of digital concerts performed at Severance Hall that music-lovers will have the ability to video stream on-demand. These concert programs were curated to showcase the intimate and transparent chamber music qualities of The Cleveland Orchestra and include musical selections by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and others.

Call 216-231-1111 or visit clevelandorchestra.com for more information.

immediately pivoted its instruction to online learning without missing a beat. And, in October, an online fundraiser was held – a reunion of the cast of CPH’s box-office hit “Clue: A New Comedy,” who performed their favorite Broadway show tunes – to support the theater’s artistic and educational programs during its 105th season.

And the CPH has been active in staying in contact with theatergoers and theater artists through its e-newsletters, by offering webinars featuring performers from its canceled productions, and generating interactive virtual web conversations called “Theatre Thursday” that are hosted

by Kepley and CPH artistic director fellow Stori Ayers, and feature local actors and designers.

DOBAMA THEATRE TAKES AN INTERMISSION As for Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights, it has declared the 2020-2021 season the “Year of Intermission, Transition and Transformation.” Beginning this fall, the theater company released online to its members a series of short films produced by Brian Devers called “The Soliloquy Project,” which feature the performance of memorable monologues by notable contemporary playwrights from previous Dobama productions. And coming in March 2021, there will be the online launch of a filmed version of Greg Vovos’ “How to Be a Respectable Junkie,” a one-person play starring Christopher Bohan that was developed and received its World Premiere production at Dobama in 2017.

Motta’s letter ends with: “We will do all we can to emerge from this difficult situation a more focused and centered arts organization.” That seems to be the shared sentiment across Northeast Ohio’s creative community.

• Dec. 14, 2 to 6 p.m.: “WINTERTIDE at Gordon Square,” presented by Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization in collaboration with Cleveland Public Theatre.

This free, all-ages, arts-infused festival is presented virtually this year and features local businesses paired with neighborhood arts organizations presenting live performances, mixing holiday merriment with artistic wonder. Visit dscdo.org/event-calendar/ wintertide-at-gordon-square for more information.

• Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m.: Les Délices’ SolonEra: “Medieval Christmas.” Members of Blue Heron (Scott Metcalfe, director) and Trobàr (featuring Elena Mullins and Allison Monroe) deliver “a captivating mix of mysticism and merriment.” Visit lesdelices.org/event/solnera for more information.

• Dec. 2020 – April 2021: Apollo’s Fire 29th season. The Baroque Orchestra will be performing its concerts live and virtually. Visit apollosfire.org for more information.

• May 2021: Cleveland Play House’s New Ground Theatre Festival. CPH’s annual celebration of new works will highlight commissions by George Brant, Vichet Chum, Jessica Dickey, Chelsea Marcantel and Charly Evon Simpson. Visit clevelandplayhouse.com/ngtf for more information.

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Loganberry Books Annex Gallery

13015 Larchmere Blvd  Shaker Heights, OH 44120 www.loganberrybooks.com gallery@logan.com  216.795.9800

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2020 – THE YEAR OF SHOPPING LOCAL? 10 ways to support the arts safely this holiday season

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By Becky Raspe

eing a patron of the arts is a little different this year. With no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, many opportunities to consume art are either unavailable or changed to keep artists and the public alike safe.

So, how do you show your love for your favorite makers during the holidays, and buy for those on your list? Claudia Berlinski, director of the McDonough Museum of Art in Youngstown; Monica Glasscock, manager and framer at Artisans’ Corner Gallery in Newbury; and Lee Heinen, owner and artist at Lee Heinen Studio in Cleveland, say you can still show your support and stay safe. many art collectives and organizations dedicated to encouraging creativity in the community. Think the Cleveland Art Collective, Graffiti HeArt, the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s Collective Arts Network, Heights Arts, SPACES or numerous other organizations.

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Artisans’ Corner 1. Visit art galleries on a safe basis.

For smaller galleries like Artisans’ Corner Gallery, visitors are reduced to a maximum of 10 people in the space at a time, Glasscock says. “We’re observing those basic safety precautions, wear your mask and look with your eyes and not your hands,” she says. “I do know that art makes people happy and we have a lot of people that stop in just to get their fill without having to go to larger galleries.”

2. Donate to local artist organizations and collectives.

To support the arts this season, consider donating in your name or someone else’s name as a gift. Northeast Ohio has

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3. Pay to attend virtual exhibits, shows or plays.

Many museums, orchestras, artists, bands and theater groups are still holding events – just online. Look around social media and check in with your favorite groups – whether that is the Cleveland Orchestra, Playhouse Square or your favorite local band’s streamed concerts.

You can still get the live experience from the comfort and safety of your own home.

4. Purchase a membership to your local museum – either for you or a friend.

Berlinski explains since the McDonough Museum of Art has free admission, supporting the museum by purchasing a membership can go a long way in making sure similar establishments stay around. “Since we don’t have a gift shop or admission fee, a membership is the perfect way to support us,” she says. “That money goes to keep our admission free and our events at a

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low cost. It helps us keep maintaining the way we provide programming to the community.”

5. Give directly to an artist’s virtual tip jar or commission a piece.

Maybe your favorite artist doesn’t have anything that catches your eye at the moment but you still want to give them some love – enter the virtual tip jar. With apps like PayPal, Venmo and CashApp, you can give directly to the artists you love. Sometimes, artists will use websites like Ko-fi, where you can make donations and commission a piece directly from the source. Talk about a personalized gift or addition to your home.

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6. Talk about your favorite artists.

Sharing your experience at a studio or gallery goes a long way in supporting the arts, Heinen says. Even saying how much or why you like a certain artist can get new eyes on their work. “Media is important to artists,” she says. “We want to get the word out. I am a little less inclined to use social media, but it is a prominent game in town. So, be sure to share your favorite artists online too. We want all of these different arts opportunities to be around when this is all over.”

7. Plan to attend the virtual 2021 Cleveland International Film Festival.

Slated for April 7 to April 20, 2021, the 45th annual Cleveland International Film Festival is going online. Buy tickets for the whole family, be prepared to grab the popcorn and take a seat on the couch for some varied offerings – from full length to shorts. For more information on next year’s film fest, visit clevelandfilm.org. While you’re there, check out the festival’s own merchandise to show further support.

8. Buy books by local authors, at local bookstores.

Find some good new reading material for those on your list, and support local writers and bookstores while doing so. For example, local writer McDonough Museum of Art

and comic book artist John “Derf” Backderf released his new comic book, “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio,” on Sept. 8, 2020, published by Harry N. Abrams. Known for his other works “Trashed” and “My Friend Dahmer,” Backderf writes about the Ohio National Guard shooting students on the Kent State University campus on May 4, 1970 during an anti-war protest, killing four, and describes his experiences during that time. The comic book uses interviews conducted by Backderf to explore the lives of the victims and the events surrounding the shooting. It’s available for $24.99 at Mac’s Backs, 1820 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights, or online at macsbacks.com, as well as at other local bookstores.

9. Shop small and directly from artists Purchasing local art from local galleries and artists can go a long way to help makers feel supported. And that has been a popular method to show your love for the art community, Glasscock says. “People are spending more time at home and they want to surround themselves with things they enjoy that are beautiful,” she says. “Supporting local artists is supporting your neighbor.

A lot of our artists are from Ohio. It’s nice to know the work you’re getting is handmade and someone just down

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the road from you made it, instead of it being mass produced. It’s unique.”

10. Create your own art.

While supporting local makers and galleries is the best way to make sure art survives well past the pandemic, sometimes people just don’t have the money to financially support their favorite creators. Making your own art and sharing it with others keeps the dream and the idea alive.

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Artisans’ Corner

A. “White Birch in Fall Encaustic” by Jeanne Fashempour, 6x6, $145 B. “Not Always”* C. “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio” by Derf Backderf, author of “My Friend Dahmer”; $24.99 (hardcover) at Mac’s Backs in Cleveland Heights, and available at other locally owned booksellers. Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Sept. 8, 2020.

D. “Locust in the Wind” by Lauren Baker, 2020. Airbrush and acrylic paint, foil tape, gypsum, polyurethane foam, resin, pom poms and wood. On display in Gallery B at the McDonough Museum of Art. E. “Spin Again AKA Southfield 6” by

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McDonough Museum of Art Christine McCullough, 2020. Acrylic on board. On display in Gallery A at the McDonough Museum of Art. F. “Cleveland Skies” by Kristin Pierre. Oil on canvas. 48x24x1.5, $800 G. “Pieced Together”* *Lee Heinen Studio’s COVID-19 series reflecting various states of mind. All pieces are 16 x 16 inches oil on canvas. $800 each.

Lee Heinen Studio

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CURATOR CORNER

“Mama Can Sing” by Faith Ringgold | Story by Amanda Koehn

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n “Mama Can Sing” by Faith Ringgold, a viewer can perceive a sense of excitement and a connection to the jazz scene. The screenprint zeros in on a singer with big hoop earrings and elongated eyelashes, whose dramatic, excited expression is contagious.

The work happened to be a perfect fit for Kent State University’s School of Art Collection in Kent, as the gallery aims to collect and promote artwork by artists of color and women. Anderson Turner, director of the School of Art Collection & Galleries at Kent State’s Center for Visual Arts, shared further background and insight about the piece.

CANVAS: What makes this piece noteworthy?

What stands out to you, and what should viewers note when they see it at Kent State University’s School of Art Collection?

TURNER: This work was created as part of Faith Ringgold’s “Jazz Stories 2004: Mama Can Sing, Papa Can Blow” and was printed by Curlee Raven Holton, director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute (note: Holton has now retired) at Lafayette College (in Easton, Pa.). Holton is Ringgold’s long-time collaborator and principal printmaker.

The thing that makes this piece stand out is how it captures Ringgold’s overall style in a small and focused way. Bold colors, patterns and shapes help define the visual textures this artist creates along with her unique storytelling capabilities.

CANVAS: What’s noteworthy about the materials the artist used or process she employed for this piece?

“Mama Can Sing”

Size: 30 x 22 inches

Image courtesy of Kent State Artist: Faith Ringgold TURNER: Ringgold is an acclaimed painter, University School of Art printmaker and sculptor best known for her signature Medium: Screenprint Collection “story quilts” that combine narrative paintings with Year: 2004 quilted borders and text. For this screen print, she worked with her principal printmaker and longtime collaborator Holton to create it. Originally, the piece was part The Kent State School of Art Collection is a teaching of an etching and aquatint diptych, “Mama Can Sing, Papa collection composed of over 4,000 objects in a variety of Can Blow.” media. The curatorial mission of the School of Art Collection is to collect and promote artwork by artists of color and CANVAS: How does this piece fit into the artist’s women. We work to support artistic research in an equitable larger body of work? Where was she in her career way, while at the same time collecting pieces in the different when this was created? types of media that reflect the research happening within the TURNER: Ringgold is a leading American painter, sculptor School of Art. and printmaker, as well as an award-winning children’s book author. She has made a valuable and unique contribution to CANVAS: Where may readers view it? the history of art by using different techniques and materials TURNER: As a teaching collection, the bulk of our objects that build on her heritage as a woman artist of color. This are for students’ study and even touch so that they can particular piece was created for a show in 2004 at ACA understand them better for a class or for their own artistic Galleries in New York. research. We have a permanent gallery located on the second floor of the Kent State Library (The Michener Gallery) that CANVAS: When did the School of Art Collection exhibits only works from the School of Art Collection. Further, acquire the piece? the collection also has rotating displays inside the collection TURNER: The School of Art Collection acquired this work room itself as the entire collection room can be viewed through in 2017. It was part of a larger gift of several works donated a glass wall. We also loan objects from the School of Art by noted artist and alumnus Holton.

Collection to different institutions around the world.

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Winter 2020 | Canvas | 35

Holiday Gift Guide

Presented by:

ARTISTS JOHN W. CARLSON 2570 Superior Ave., Cleveland P: 440-812-4681 : johncarlsonstudio.com : @johnwcarlson John W. Carlson often combines traditional oils with alkyd, charcoal and graphite.

Working mostly on large canvases, he applies his medium without sacrificing subtle emotional details. This method allows him to control the negative space, which is vital to the ambiguity that runs through all of the work.

John has been accepted into the prestigious Butler Midyear Show at The Butler Museum of American Art. In 2017, “Visitation” entered into the Massillon Museum’s permanent collection. Enjoy my website and if anything interests you, please email me for pricing. Or, a socially distanced, masked studio visit may be possible to view work not on the website.

“Ghosteen” (2020) by John W. Carlson.

Charcoal, oil, fabric and paper on canvas, 24 x 36 inches.

MUSEUMS ARTISTS ARCHIVES OF THE WESTERN RESERVE 1834 East 123rd St., Cleveland P: 216-721-9020 : ArtistsArchives.org : facebook.com/ ArtistsArchivesoftheWesternReserve November 19, 2020 – January 16, 2021, the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (AAWR) presents “About Body | About Face,” a figurative exhibition which examines the representation of African American bodies in art and culture. Featuring Lawrence Baker, Davon Brantley, Jacques P. Jackson, Amanda D. King, Yvonne Palkowitsh, LaSaundra Robinson and Tony Williams, the show includes large scale paintings, drawings, photography, mosaics and textiles, creating a compelling display which is both a meditation on and celebration of black identity. Join us for virtual Art Bites Studio Tours Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

DAVIS SCULPTURE FOUNDATION E: info@davissculpturefoundation.org : davissculpturefoundation.org : @davissculpturefoundation Located on the Davis Arts Campus at E. 123rd and Euclid, the Davis Sculpture Foundation preserves the legacy of Cleveland modernist sculptor David E. Davis. His beautiful studio gallery and sculpture garden courtyard are open by appointment for personal tours. Hundreds of sculptures created between 1968 and 2002 are on display in the historic space where they were made. You can also visit The Sculpture Center and Artists Archives of the Western Reserve located on our same campus (check their listings for their current exhibits and hours). Contact us via email to arrange a tour of the Davis Studio Galleries!

MASSILLON MUSEUM 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon P: 330-833-4061 : massillonmuseum.org : facebook.com/massillonmuseum A cultural hub where art and history come together! Annual “Stark County Artists Exhibition” (through Jan.17, 2021); “Corrie Slawson: Endangered” (through Jan. 3, 2021); “Charles Mintz: Lustron Stories” ( Jan. 9, 2021 through Feb. 28, 2021); “Paul Brown’s Pro Teams: A History of the Browns and Bengals” (through Feb.14, 2021); Paul Brown/Tiger Timeline; local history, fine and decorative arts, photography galleries; and the Immel Circus. Free admission. The Museum shop is stocked with work by local artists and history- and art-inspired books. Paint sets and activity kits for all ages can be creative stocking stuffers or gifts.

“Gloria” (2020) by LaSaundra Robinson.

Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18 inches.

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Holiday Gift Guide

Presented by:

GALLERIES ARTISANS’ CORNER GALLERY 11110 Kinsman Road, Newbury P: 440-739-4128 : artisanscornergallery.com : facebook.com/artisanscornergallery Artisans’ Corner Gallery is Geauga County’s premier gallery featuring Ohio artists and craftsmen.

This spacious gallery is only minutes east of Cleveland on SR 87, Kinsman Road in Newbury, Ohio, near Punderson State Park. We host 3,200 square feet of original artwork, jewelry, woodwork, pottery and so much more. Be assured you can shop in a beautiful, safe and stress- free environment.

Special holiday hours Dec. 6, 13 and 20, the gallery will open Sundays noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment for your convenience. For additional information or an appointment, call 440-739-4128.

Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

EILEEN DORSEY STUDIO 1305 West 80th St., Suite 105, Cleveland E: eileen@eileendorsey.com : eileendorsey.com : @eileen_dorsey_studio Capture it perfectly.

The Eileen Dorsey Studio creates custom paintings and murals.

Her studio/gallery will be open during special hours in December. Stop by with your friends and family for a fun and safe experience this holiday season. The Eileen Dorsey Studio, now in its 11th year, was named “Best Artist” by Cleveland Magazine for the past two years! Her colorful landscape paintings can be found in the collections of the ArtNeo Museum, cArta and more. This gallery features paintings, prints and jewelry.

Saturdays in December: December 5th, 12th and 19th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and December 22nd and 23rd from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Masks are required.

KOEHN SCULPTORS’/ SANCTUARY ON GREEN 1936 S. Green Road, South Euclid P: 216-691-1936 : sanctuaryongreen.com : facebook.com/sanctuaryongreen We are Northeast Ohio’s destination gift shop showcasing sculptures from our studio and gifts from around the world, offering an unparalleled shopping experience.

Celebrating our 41st Annual Christmas Open House from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Thursdays through Sundays, through Dec. 27.

We feature: exquisite ornaments of wood, blown glass and metal; German nutcrackers, smokers and pyramids; candles; giftware; toys; handmade jewelry, scarves and purses; nativities, angels and more ... everything imaginable for the holidays. Year ‘round you’ll find jewelry, clothing, purses, cards and stationery, yard decor and distinctive handcarved sculptures ... everything thoughtfully created. We specialize in a personalized shopping experience in our century home.

“Transitioning Light” by Eileen Dorsey.

Oil on canvas, 50 x 46 inches.

“Frog” by Norbert & Victoria Koehn.

Catalpa wood.

LEE HEINEN STUDIO 12402 Mayfield Road, Cleveland P: 216-921-4088, 216-469-3288 : leeheinen.com : facebook.com/leeheinen Lee Heinen paints in oil. Her current body of work represents a whole new direction, moving from suggesting a story through body language to an exploration of what may be going on in peoples’ heads as they cope with our collective dilemma in uncertain times. These paintings invite the viewer to bring their experience to the work, to make it about themselves. This is a working studio in Little Italy, so it’s best to call before visiting to be sure someone is there.

Lee Heinen was awarded an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award FY 2017.

TRICIA KAMAN STUDIO/ GALLERY 2026 Murray Hill Road, #202, Little Italy P: 216-559-6478 : triciakaman.com : facebook.com/ TriciaKamanArtStudioAndGallery Tricia Kaman Note Card Packs. Give the gift of note cards, “A Beautiful Way to Stay Connected.” Let people know you care this Holiday Season.

Three Note Card Pack – $10 (The Blessing Cup, Assorted Floral, Marblehead Lighthouse and Our Lady). Nine Note Card Pack – $20 (Assorted Floral).

Giclee prints also available for purchase.

Contact us at 216-559-6478 or email triciak@kamansart.com.

“Ophelia” by Lee Heinen. Oil on canvas, 16 x 16 inches.

“The Blessing Cup” Giclee Prints by Tricia Kaman.

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UNCOMMON ART 134 N. Main St., Hudson P. 234-284-9019 : uncommonarthudson.com : facebook.com/uncommonarthudson Uncommon Art offers a unique blend of art gallery, studios, classes and events on historic Main Street in Hudson, Ohio. Two artists create jewelry and mixed media art on site. The gallery shows their work alongside ceramics, wood, glass, collage, jewelry, prints, handmade books and hand-painted scarves from an uncommon collection of Northeast Ohio artists. Visitors are welcome! Come browse the artwork and choose a unique treasure to take home. We also offer a convenient online store, curbside pickup and private shopping appointments. Virtual art classes will begin in January. Holiday hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays until 8 p.m.; and Sundays noon to 4 p.m.

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LISTINGS MUSEUMS AKRON ART MUSEUM 1 S. High St., Akron P: 330-376-9185 : akronartmuseum.org

ALLEN MEMORIAL ART MUSEUM 87 N. Main St., Oberlin P: 440-775-8665 : oberlin.edu/amam

ARTISTS ARCHIVES OF THE WESTERN RESERVE 1834 E. 123rd St., Cleveland P: 216-721-9020 : ArtistsArchives.org : facebook.com/ArtistsArchivesoftheWesternReserve

THE BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown P: 330-743-1107 : butlerart.com

CANTON MUSEUM OF ART 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton P: 330-453-7666 : cantonart.org

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF CLEVELAND 3813 Euclid Ave., Cleveland P: 216-791-7114 : cmcleveland.org

CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland P: 216-721-1600 : cbgarden.org

CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland P: 216-721-5722 : wrhs.org

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland P: 216-421-7340 : clevelandart.org

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland P: 216-694-2000 : greatscience.com

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM Rockwell Hall, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent P: 330-672-3450 : kent.edu/museum

LAKE VIEW CEMETERY

12316 Euclid Ave., Cleveland P: 216-421-2665 : lakeviewcemetery.com

MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood P: 216-593-0575 : maltzmuseum.org

The Maltz Museum introduces visitors to the beauty and diversity of that heritage in the context of the American experience. It promotes an understanding of Jewish history, religion and culture, and builds bridges of appreciation and understanding with those of other religions, races, cultures and ethnicities. It’s an educational resource for Northeast Ohio’s Jewish and general communities.

MASSILLON MUSEUM

121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon P: 330-833-4061 : massillonmuseum.org : facebook.com/massillonmuseum

MCDONOUGH MUSEUM OF ART 525 Wick Ave., Youngstown P: 330-941-1400 : ysu.edu/mcdonough-museum

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CLEVELAND 11400 Euclid Ave., Cleveland P: 216-421-8671 : mocacleveland.org

THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., Cleveland P: 216-781-ROCK (7625) : rockhall.com

THE SCULPTURE CENTER

1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland P: 216-231-4600 : cmnh.org

1834 E. 123rd St., Cleveland P: 216-229-6527 : sculpturecenter.org : facebook.com/TheScupltureCenter

COLLEGE OF WOOSTER ART MUSEUM

THE SHAKER HISTORICAL MUSEUM

1220 Beall Ave., Wooster P: 330-263-2495 : wooster.edu/arts/museum

16740 South Park Blvd., Shaker Heights P: 216-921-1201 : shakerhistory.org

CRAWFORD AUTO AVIATION COLLECTION The History Center in University Circle 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland P: 216-721-5722 : wrhs.org

Listings are provided by advertisers and as a courtesy to readers.

38 | Canvas | Winter 2020

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LISTINGS GALLERIES KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ART GALLERIES AND COLLECTION

325 Terrace Dr./141 E. Main St., Kent P: 330-672-1379 : galleries.kent.edu : @ksuartgalleries

“Black Fathers Matter series III”

by Dareece Walker.

LOGANBERRY

“Nurturing Positively and Strength” opening on Jan. 21, 2021 at the KSU Downtown Gallery, features artists Donald Black Jr. and Dareece Walker exploring the role of Black fathers in America. On-campus galleries will feature the Biennial Faculty Show (Jan. 26 to March 4) and “Into the Wind, the Veils” by SPACES resident Mehdi-Georges Lahlou (Jan. 22 to Feb. 26).

13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights P: 216-795-9800 : loganberrybooks.com

Loganberry Books Annex Gallery features a monthly rotation of local artist exhibitions, and its holiday bazaar, Otis’ Old Curiosity Shop, featured in November and December.

VALLEY ART CENTER

P: 440-247-7507 : valleyartcenter.org

The hub of the visual arts in the Chagrin Valley, providing local communities with art classes, exhibits and fine art shopping for almost 50 years. Each year, we offer more than 400 classes, workshops and summer camps for students, from children to seniors, beginner to seasoned professional.

MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS Beck Center for the Arts produces the video on demand theatrical production of “Fully Committed,” a hilarious one person comedy The New York Times calls “immensely entertaining.” Beck Center continues to offer in-person and virtual arts education classes for all ages and all abilities. For tickets or class information, please visit BeckCenter.org or call 216-521-2540 x 10.

FRIENDS OF CANVAS

2020 Holiday Happenings Markets | Art Walks | Bazaars Nov. 27

• Black Friday at 78th Street Studios: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1300 West 78th St., Cleveland, 78thstreetstudios.com Nov. 27-Nov. 29

• Larchmere Holiday Stroll: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 27 and Nov. 28; some shops open Nov. 29 until 5 p.m. Larchmere district of Cleveland, larchmere.com Nov. 27-Dec. 24

• Coventry Village and Made Cleveland extended holiday pop-up shop: 1854 A Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, madecleveland.com Nov. 28

• Small Business Saturday at Screw Factory Artists Lofts: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood, bit.ly/2I8ntP6 • Small Business Saturday at 78th Street Studios: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1300 West 78th St., Cleveland, 78thstreetstudios.com • Small Business Saturday at Manic on Main: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 136 Main St., Wadsworth, maniconmain.com Nov. 28-Nov. 29

• Shop Holiday Handmade by Cleveland Bazaar, I Made It! Market and Crafty Mart: 9 a.m. Nov. 28 to 5 p.m. Nov. 29, all online, bit.ly/3eriFAB Through Nov. 29

• The 12 Days of Crafty Mart: Through 11:45 p.m. Nov. 29, all online, bit.ly/2Gth8O3 Dec. 5

• North Union Farmers Market Holiday Market: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Van Aken District, 3401 Tuttle Road, Shaker Heights, northunionfarmersmarket.org and thevanakendistrict.com Dec. 5-Dec. 6

• Christmas in Zoar: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 5; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6; Historic Zoar Village, bit.ly/3erDHPz Dec. 6

• 2020 Avon Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Emerald Event Center, 33040 Just Imagine Drive in Avon, avantgardeshows.com

CLEVELAND ISRAEL ARTS CONNECTION

Dec. 12

Cleveland Israel Arts Connection – we bring Israeli arts and culture to Cleveland by working with the finest local arts organizations and institutions. We celebrate experiences that deepen our Jewish identity and share the beauty of Israel with everyone, exploring the human condition through dance, film, music, literature, theater and the visual arts.

Dec. 18- Dec. 20

Jewish Federation of Cleveland E: israelarts@jcfcleve.org : jewishcleveland.org/israelarts

Listings are provided by advertisers and as a courtesy to readers.

@CanvasCLE

Presented by:

• North Union Farmers Market Holiday Market: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Van Aken District, 3401 Tuttle Road, Shaker Heights, northunionfarmersmarket.org and thevanakendistrict.com • WINTERTIDE at Gordon Square: noon to 6 p.m., Gordon Square arts district, dscdo.org • Holiday Market at the Screw Factory: 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 20; 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood, bit.ly/36byWWR Visit CanvasCLE.com for Holiday Happenings details

Winter 2020 | Canvas | 39

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SCHOOL REDEFINED Get ready to learn more!

On-campus and virtual tours are available.

We are offering in-person individual family tours and virtual tours for all campuses.

To schedule, call 440.423.2950 (Lower & Middle School), 216.251.2321 (Birchwood School), 440.423.2955 (Upper School), or 440.423.8801 (Mastery School).

COEDUCATIONAL, TODDLER – GRADE 12 Lyndhurst

hawken.edu

Cleveland–West

Gates Mills

University Circle