Ceramic artists from Cleveland Institute of Art, Kent State University, and the University of Akron explore clay as a sculptural and architectural medium, rather than functional vessels in The Sculpture Center's new exhibit, "Surface and Structure: Contemporary Ceramics at the Edge of Form."

The Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa) Cleveland opens its new season this week with four exhibitions that explore humanity's relationship with the natural world through diverse artistic lenses. The exhibits resist simple narratives about environmental crises to offer various perspectives on trauma, responsibility, and repair of ecosystems.

FreshWater writer Jill Sell is inspired by one of the memorial benches established by the Toni Morrison Society's "Bench By The Road" project. Sitting in the winter cold, Sell reflects Morrison's powerful characters and themes while connecting them to personal memories of childhood discrimination.

Cleveland Public Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Test Flight series with six productions by local playwrights, choreographers, and directors over three weekends. Test Flight offers development of works-in-progress while showcasing diverse voices in CPT, Teatro Público de Cleveland, and Masrah Cleveland Al Arabi.

The Silk Road Cultural Collective preserves the cultural heritage of the ancient trade routes spanning from Asia to Europe with interactive, hands-on experiences. Founded by Cleveland filmmaker Johnny K. Wu, the organization encourages participants to touch, wear, and experience historical artifacts while learning about the diverse cultures along the Silk Road from the 5th to 17th centuries.

FreshWater's Reuben Kutash was curious about Western Reserve Historical Society's Murder Mystery series, so last week he stopped by the Cleveland History Center to participate in "Municipal Murder: The Final Pitch." Read Reuben's take on the interactive whodunit based on 1940s Cleveland baseball, see his photos, and find out how you can get tickets to the next installment.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 24, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., people of all talents and abilities are invited to Waterloo Arts for a Brite Winter workshop to fill in life-sized figures with Day Glo paint  for Cleveland's winter arts and music festival. Brite Winter debuts in its new location in the Waterloo Arts District on February 21.

The Western Reserve Historical Society is about to launch its latest murder mystery event, "Municipal Murder: The Final Pitch," set in the 1948 Cleveland baseball scene. Now in its third year, the immersive series has become a seasonal favorite, offering participants the chance to solve historically-rooted mysteries while learning about different eras of Cleveland's past.

In 1854, Frederick Douglass delivered his only commencement address at Western Reserve College in Hudson, challenging scientific racism and calling for moral courage. Student filmmakers have revived this piece of history through the award-winning documentary "Just and Perfect," just in time for Douglass' great-great-great grandson to visit the campus where the original speech was delivered.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day this Monday, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Museum of Art, and CMA's Community Arts Center, will offer free admission and programming to celebrate Dr. King's legacy. The celebrations feature  activities ranging from planetarium shows and wildlife encounters to art-making workshops, live performances, and storytelling sessions. Several other University Circle institutions are also participating, with University Circle Inc. providing free CircleLink shuttle service to all locations.

On Feb. 18, Literary Cleveland and Ohio Humanities will lead organizations throughout Ohio in yearlong celebration honoring Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. The celebration will feature more than 40 events, exploring Morrison's life, literature, and impact on American culture.

As we head into the peak of the holiday season, Downtown Cleveland is the place to be for festive lights, decorations, and winter celebrations.

Danielle McGough, a professional gingerbread house designer who has created holiday structures for major retailers, launched the Jolly Gingerbread Makery Pop-Up Workshop in 78th Street Studios this holiday season. Participants decorate hand-baked gingerbread houses with access to a variety of decorations and optional add-ons like LED lights and edible windows.

For more than 40 years, photojournalist Roger Mastroianni has chronicled Cleveland's arts, healthcare, and corporate landscapes—capturing everything from Cleveland Orchestra performances to hospital operating rooms. Mastroianni's work is a living archive of Cleveland's cultural history and the evolution of photojournalism itself.

"One Art One Community," an art exhibit at Case Western Reserve University's Wade Park Community Engagement Center, showcases 46 works by 16 incarcerated artists from Grafton Correctional Institution. The exhibit is meant to create meaningful connections between inmates and Cleveland community members. with Community Voice labels written by people impacted by incarceration.

The Shaker Arts Council and Craft Kinship will present a Holiday Art Market at Van Aken District on Saturday, Dec. 13, featuring works by Cleveland Institute of Art students, alumni, and emerging artists. The one-day event will offer handmade glass, ceramics, jewelry, and other crafts, with 20% of proceeds supporting the Shaker Arts Council.

The Cavaliers have unveiled their 2025-26 City Edition uniforms, featuring orange and yellow hues inspired by autumn sunsets at Edgewater Beach and across the trails on Cleveland Metroparks' 25,000 acres.

Last Saturday, thousands gathered in the Gordon Square Arts District for the 21st annual Día de Muertos celebration, presented by Cleveland Public Theatre and Día de Muertos Ohio. Costumed celebrants in elaborate makeup and colorful adornments—moved down Detroit Avenue to honor and remember their loved ones in the Procession of Skulls and Skeletons. Photographer Reuben Kutash joined the procession to document that day.

CAN Journal will host its annual Buy Art, Buy Ohio benefit this Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Hall at St. James in Lakewood. The event features an immersive projection-mapped installation that showcases work from more than 30 regional artists and is edited by Cleveland artist Jason Toth. Proceeds support CAN Journal's work while guests can celebrate local artists, enjoy music, an auction, and kick off their holiday shopping with local goods and art.

Eleven years after 12-year-old Tamir Rice was fatally shot by Cleveland police, his mother, Samaria Rice, and playwright and former Karamu House artistic director Terence Spivey are reprising the 2016 theatrical production "Objectively/Reasonable: A Community Response to the Shooting of Tamir Rice, 11/22/14." The Saturday, Nov. 8 staging at Near West Theatre will raise funds for the Tamir Rice Afro-Centric Cultural Center.