Arts + Culture

Illustrating Little Italy: Artist depicts neighborhood history, life, in mural and Art Walk
Cartoonist, illustrator, and graphic designer Tara Seibel has been creating collectible posters for the Little Italy Art Walk since 2014. Last December she completed the mural "Happy Feast" in Presti's Bakery and will host several artists in her gallery above the bakery to kick off this year's Art Walk, running May 31 through June 2.
Signs of life: Artists, volunteers prepare for Parade the Circle
The giant white tent has gone up in University Circle—indicating it's almost time for the Cleveland Museum of Art's 32nd annual Parade the Circle! The University Circle Inc. institutions and groups like Hildebrandt Artist Collective, Inlet Dance Theatre, Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Samba da Cidade, as well as volunteers, vendors, and other groups, are getting ready for a day of Visions of Harmony.
Curtain call: John Ewing reflects on his illustrious career at helm of Cleveland Cinematheque
After 38 years at the helm of Cleveland Cinematheque, co-founder and director John Ewing will step down from his post on June 30, with Bilgesu Sisman taking over. Ewing takes a moment to reflect on nearly five decades of uplifting classic, foreign, and independent films at Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and ultimately at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He is spending his final months at Cinematheque showing some his favorite films in his “Unfinished Business/Parting Glances” and "Movie Crazy" series.
Conversations with Amy Tan: Author visits CMNH to discuss her new book, birdwatching, and drawing
Renowned author Amy Tan visited the Cleveland Museum of Natural History last week to talk about her newest book, "The Backyard Bird Chronicles"—about Tan’s ventures into backyard birding, nature journaling, and drawing. Before the event, Tan sat down with FreshWater Cleveland to talk about her inspiration and motivation to write and draw about birds, instead of the fiction she is usually known for.
Worlds of fun: AsiaTown prepares for 15th annual Cleveland Asian Festival
The two-day Cleveland Asian Festival gets going later this month in AsiaTown, with plenty of food, music, dancing, demonstrations, and other fun! Festival admission and parking are free, too!
Exploring grief: CIA student copes with loss through her paintings
Maddie Cantrell a painting major and rising senior at the Cleveland Institute of Art, lost both of her grandparents suddenly. This week, she opens her exhibit "Living with Grief” at Hospice of the Western Reserve's bereavement center as part of a project through the CIA Creativity Works—a self-initiated internship for visual art and craft + design majors designed to support professional development.
Korean flair: K-pop and Korean couture merge at Art Museum’s new exhibit, monthly MIX
Earlier this week, the 'Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution' exhibit opened at the Cleveland Museum of Art, showcasing more than 30 historical and modern Korean fashion pieces. Tomorrow, MIX: K-pop will keep the theme going with a dance party, featuring DJ Big Sana and K-pop dance group PinkSoda.
Fine art for sale: Print Club hosts Fine Print Fair at Art Museum this weekend
The Print Club of Cleveland will host a free Fine Print Fair this weekend at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Shop one of the country's most comprehensive displays of fine prints and learn prints through this benefit for CMA's Print Collection.
Art for Earth Day: Local artists turning trash into treasure
Local artist and muralist Tessa LeBaron has curated an exhibit, "Art for Earth Day," in which 19 local artists have created works made entirely from trash or upcycled materials. The exhibit opens this Saturday, April 27 at Negative Space Gallery with a free reception, and continues through May 27.
Why is everyone doing 'The Prom?'
From the Near West Theatre in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and Chagrin Valley Little Theater in Chagrin Falls, to Akron, Medina, and Ashtabula, "The Prom" musical is flourishing with audiences and actors alike. Ken Schneck, editor of "The Buckeye Flame" and Baldwin Wallace University professor, decided to find out why.
Sacred works: CMA’s international loan exhibit ‘Africa & Byzantium’ examines early empires
Experience nearly 160 works of secular and sacred art from across geographies and faiths in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, Africa & Byzantium, running through Sunday, July 21 in conjunction with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit explores the great civilizations that created their own unique arts while also building a shared visual culture across the regions linked by the Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Nile River, and the Sahara Desert.
CIFF lights up Playhouse Square: Opening night highlights, what to catch this week
The 48th annual Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) lifted the curtain to a packed house last Thursday, April 4 in Playhouse Square's Connor Palace Theatre with the unveiling of the annual CIFF trailer and a screening of the action/comedy “Thelma.” Read about opening night and learn what to catch this week at CIFF.
Gift of darkness: Literary Cleveland names winners of eclipse-themed blackout poetry contest
Literary Cleveland last week published an online special issue of blackout poetry tied to the solar eclipse in its literary journal “Gordon Square Review.” After receiving more than 150 submissions for the Blackout Poetry Contest, 15 finalists were published. Lisa Turner was named the winner, with Sarah Ferrato and Sarah Nichols named as runners up.
Our CIFF48 picks: Two films with local connections
With hundreds of feature and short films to choose from at the upcoming Cleveland International Film Festival, We chose two films with Cleveland ties to highlight: "What's Next?," the story of a 101-year-old physician, and "American Delivery," a documentary on the vital work of nurses in addressing the country's maternal mortality epidemic. The MetroHealth System is featured and Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing worked on the film's advisory team.
From darkness to light: Photographer Jason Toth uses art as a therapeutic comeback
Jason Toth's 2022 photo of a willow tree at Edgewater Beach sparked a transformative journey as he dealt with his POTS diagnosis. Two years later the former marketing exec has a booming career in Photographic Pop Art with J Toth Art in City Goods, and currently has an exhibit at Kaiser Gallery in Hingetown.
Slam Dunk: CMNH hosts summer exhibit on Cleveland’s favorite large fossil
For a limited time, visitors to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History can view the "Discovering Dunkleosteus terrelli" exhibit and the learn the story behind the discovery of the armored fish that lived about 360 million years ago and is affectionately known as "Dunk."
Call for artists: Shaker Arts Council wants submissions to Celebrating Shaker Artists exhibit
To celebrate its 21st anniversary, Shaker Arts Council is hosting a fundraiser and family fun day in May at Edwin's Too. To celebrate Shaker Heights' dedication to the arts, the organization has opened a call to artists for submissions.
Cosmic Glow: CVNP Conservancy, Museum of Creative Human Art launch eclipse-inspired exhibit
The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Museum of Creative Human Art announced a partnership, and the first exhibit, Cosmic Glow, opens March 30 and features the works of five NEO artists inspired by the transformative potential of the upcoming total solar eclipse.
‘Eve:' CMNH hosts author Cat Bohannon in honor of Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) will host researcher, scholar, and bestselling author Dr. Cat Bohannon on Wednesday, March 20 to discuss of her book, “Eve” and how modern medicine, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, and feminism are all undermined when research focuses primarily on the male body.
Literary thrill: Explore Cuyahoga County Public Library's Writers Center Stage this spring
Cuyahoga County Public Library launched the second half of its Writer Center Stage Series last week with author Hernan Diaz. Attendees can look forward to hearing the stories of Rebecca Makkai, Kiese Laymon, and Imani Perry later this spring.