40 years later; turning failure into fame

Celebrate: Year of the River

It wasn't that long many years ago that I was explaining to a Missouri denizen that I was from Cleveland, OHIO and not Cleveland, MO hence my funny accent. There was a moment of thought before he honestly asked "Didn't your river catch on fire?". It was an odd moment, to be a third of the way across the country and to know that my hometown wasn't famous for rock and roll (this was 1996, right after the Rock Hall was completed) or Drew Carey's generous grinning face but for the seeming industrial impossibility of water being polluted enough to actually burn.

Not that it was an uncommon practice. Many industrial cities suffered from their main waterways catching on fire as industry and the residents of the cities dumped whatever they wanted into their rivers in an ironic effort to "clean". However our river fire caught the media on a good day and became, well infamous. It is one of those amazing moments where the weakness of a situation evolves into the strength of a city as we are currently poised to delist the Cuyahoga River(or most of it) as a "most polluted river of the Great Lakes"*. The fact that the Cuyahoga River, once infamous for it's ability to burn, has become a thriving navigable and inhabitable waterway, speaks volumes about how public opinion, once swayed to accomplish a seemingly impossible goal, can do so (perhaps with the strong arm of a little federal prodding behind it). Cleveland may still be the butt of stale and old jokes but we have proven that we can make a measurable difference.

Now, as we celebrate 40 years, the EPA and a cleaner river later, we question "How can we take this understanding of actionable ability and harness this accomplishment to change Cleveland's image from a filthy, dirty town to a vibrant and forward looking city?

Happy Anniversary Cuyahoga River. We still have a bit to go.

resources:
Ohio Environmental Law Blog
Ohio History Central
NY Times
Cuyahoga River Recovery

*update - The EPA has not accepted the delisting proposal.

Selvation : Works by Nina Sarnelle

One Night Only:
Friday, June 19th, 2008
Salon de Refuses
1387 East Blvd.
5-10pm


"Modest exercises in eternal damnation. A liturgical undressing. "

Parade the Circle 2009

Parade the Circle 2009
Saturday, June 13th
Wade Oval, University Circle in University Heights, Cleveland Ohio

The Parade, which begins at Noon, incorporates the drama and artistry of colorful floats, puppets, costumes, dancers, and musicians. Circle Village invites visitors onto Wade Oval for an afternoon of activities, live music, and delectable food.

Tons of things to do, check out the website to see a list of the happenings.

Also,
Why not ride your bike to Parade? Ohio City Bicycle Co-op is providing a free, secure bicycle corral at the corner of Bellflower Rd. and East Blvd.

resources:
Parade the Circle 2009 brochure .pdf

Lakewood Artwalk - June 2009

Lakewood Artwalk
Saturday, June 13th, 2009
12-8pm
Various locations in Lakewood, Ohio

In a brilliant maneuver Lakewood is hosting their artwalks the second Saturday of each month which coincides rather nicely with Tremont's second Friday of each month plan. This allows for a fantastic weekend of art/culture/wandering.

The Lakewood Artwalk is broken up into 4 sections along Madison with various shops and artists concentrating in each section. However some shops/artists are only participating in certain Artwalk's so plan accordingly.

Tremont Art Walk - June

Tremont ArtWalk
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tremont Neighborhood of Cleveland Ohio
6-10 pm

Detail - Curve Set 4
Jayce Renner
On display at Brandt Gallery

Cedar Hill Station Public Presentation : Reduction

There was a fine turnout at 1 Montecello in the Cleveland Heights Community Center tonight for the rather well advertised public meeting/unveiling of the new Cedar Hill Red Line and inter-modal station. Most sat rather politely through the introductions and Mehrdad Yazdani's presentation which included collaborative efforts of URS and the myriad of community and city organizations whose voices must all be heard.

The presentation went much better than I had expected, the breadth of the proposal included Cedar Glen Parkway down to MLK and included a complete redesign of the "jug handle" and south side of Cedar as well as the new station. The station proposal itself is a nice conversation on the relating to the site, the program and cost restrictions and an identifiable image to demarcate the area. The most successful component (in my view) was the celebration of the fringes of defined area, the boundary that defines neighborhoods instead of simply using a local vernacular as an applique to force a contextual relationship. Playing with the idea of under/over as it relates to entering the site as well as the structure allows the park to be a grand public space built upon cascading levels as well as defining the experience through the existing conditions of constant passage/threshold.

The public Q/A session went the typical route which is difficult for someone who can read architectural diagrams to sit through but necessary to understand how important it is to be entirely clear to the general public. It seems painful but learning how to communicate to those who are not "trained" as the designer is can mean the difference between a successful project and a complete failure. For all the commotion (around 30 - 45 minutes of public comment, Maribeth Feke (I think that is who it was) ran the meeting with much more patience and understanding than I would have been capable of. Not to say that all the comments brought up were bad, in fact most were rather well thought out and interesting.

If the station can be built near enough the manner as presented it will be a rousing success.

Cedar Hill Rapid Station Public Design Forum

June 9, 2008
Cleveland Heights Community Center
1 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland, OH
7pm


Architect Mehrdad Yazdani will be at the public meeting to discuss his design (which is not complete but still rather impressive) in order to get public reaction and input from users and those who already visit the area. I know, I know, public spaces being put forward for public input and the design is already interesting and not pandering to some sense of false or "borrowed" history? Crazy stuff for Cleveland coming up!

So, if you would like to see an intriguing proposal for Cleveland that may actually get built and doesn't fall prey to Cleveland's usual vernacular of obviously demarcated mix-use or residential scaled mid-rise, and that uses COLOR as well as form to awaken the senses then I implore you to please get out and support design.

Support it!

Happy National Do(ugh)nut Day

National Donut/Doughnut Day is today so celebrate yerself in a manner you find befitting.

Image ganked from American Greetings website somewhere (via the Google), go buy a card from them and support your local (if you are in Cleveland) economy.

Eastman Reading Garden - call for artists

Due: August 14, 2009
5pm
Cleveland Public Arts Office
1951 W 26th St. #101

Call For Entries

See Also is an annual program of the Cleveland Public Library in partnership with Cleveland Public Art that invites artists, designers, and other creative professionals to create temporary public art projects in the Eastman Reading Garden. The program commissions innovative, thought-provoking works of art that add to the Library's already broad range of educational and cultural programming. Each year, one artist or team of artists is selected to exhibit an installation from May until October in this highly visible and beloved space.
Eligibility

See Also is open to both established and emerging artists from the Great Lakes Region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario). Artists may work individually or as part of a team. The program commissions only newly created, site specific artwork. Proposals for the display of existing works of art will not be considered.
Location

The Eastman Reading Garden is located in the heart of downtown Cleveland between the Library's historic Main Building and the new Louis Stokes Wing of the Cleveland Pubic Library.
For additional site photo and background on the garden, click here. to visit the "completed projects" section on this website.
Requirements

Proposals must include the following:
• One presentation board on hard foam core of no less than 11x17 inches and no larger than 24x36 inches which clearly depicts your proposal
• A brief written statement explaining the theme and project intent
• A description of the proposed artwork including recommended location(s) within the garden, materials that will be used, how it will be installed and secured.
• An itemized budget covering materials, installation, transportation, and other project-related expenses. Please keep in mind that the budget for the artwork is $15,000 and the selected artist will receive an additional $3,500 artist fee.
• Up to 10 digital images of your past work or related experience in jpeg format at 72 dpi on a CD

All proposals must be recieved at Cleveland Public Arts office by 5:00pm on Friday, August 14, 2009 (postmarks are not acceptable). Hand deliveries will be accepted.

Please send all proposal materials to:
Cleveland Public Art
See Also
1951 West 26th Street, #101
Cleveland, OH 44113

resources:
official page

Cleveland Public Art Call to Artists: Bike Station Art Competition

Deadline: June 26th, 2009

"Cleveland Public Art in partnership with the City of Cleveland invites interested artists, designers, architects, and other creative professionals to submit design ideas for a permanent public art project that will call attention to and raise the visibility of a new commuter bike facility being constructed in downtown Cleveland. This project is open to local artists, architects, designers, creative professionals, and students of all ages. (Applicants must be a current resident or student of the State of Ohio) Collaborations are welcome."

Call for entries

Vegan Chili Rumble, the things you discover when you wander into other people's yards

Saturday, May 30th 2009
1387 East Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44106
2pm - 5pm
$10 suggested donation, all you can eat until the chili runs out. Free for contestants.
(Rain date June 6th, 2-5pm)


Whilst holding a design charrette for the local chapter of Architecture for Humanity which included a site visit I had the opportunity to visit the gardens of Salon de Refuses along East Blvd and Ashbury Ave. (you have probably seen the sculpture fence discussed here.

For many a months now my commute home has taken me past the garden and each passage has piqued my curiosity, hence when a AFH-er mentioned going over to speak some of the local community adjacent to our current project site it was a great chance to speak to those who had built and occupy such a tremendous and well kept garden. While introductions were being made Nina Sarnelle ran and got us flyers to the Vegan Chili Rumble fundraiser for the Salon de Refuses Gallery which will offer the general public not only delicious chili and cornbread but also an excuse to peruse the gallery and garden.

Cleveland's First Annual VEGAN CHILI RUMBLE

Enter in the rumble, or come pass your astute judgment upon the work of premiere local chefs and restaurants!

Meet creative chilis and all of the great people you don't yet know (but want to know) in Cleveland, amid the peppermint stalks in our lovely community garden. Fresh squeezed lemonade and cornbread will also be provided.

This event is a benefit for the renovation of a new community art space and fine art gallery at 1387 East Blvd. Click here for more information about the gallery project; the gallery will be open for all to tour with information about upcoming events!

$10 suggested donation, all you can eat until the chili runs out. Free for contestants.
Saturday, May 30th 2009 2pm - 5pm (Rain date June 6th, 2-5pm)
1387 East Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44106
Contact Nina Sarnelle for more info or directions (below)
ChiliRumble@gmail.com 517.420.6715

***In addition, there is another amazing event you should know about, happening in our neighborhood on the same day. At 80 years old, Joan Southgate will be completing her 250 mile Underground Railroad walk from St. Catharines, Canada, to Cleveland's Cozad-Bates’ house. At 1pm a celebration will be held there, 11508 Mayfield Rd; visit Restore Cleveland Hope for more details. Please considering attending this historic event before the Chili Rumble!

i think that used to be a restaurant

Billboards are the answer to empty storefronts. It is just like a movie set. The downtown has seemed eerily vacant as of late. Even rush hour traffic is less. Have we been "left behind"?

The first thought I had when I opened the email and saw the image and the sentiment was how far we were from the over-indulged electronic billboards of the Blade Runner futurescape. Since changing jobs I haven't really been downtown much save the occasional trip to take some photos or meetings which isn't the same as the everyday commute where the little nuances of street life start to appear.

How sad though, that the large ground floor windows, once sharing the life of the interior space with the street are now to be covered with adverts for guitar lessons/LASIK eye surgery. I suppose there is some logic to putting this sort of advertising so close to the target demographic, despite their vision problems they can probably read it, but there is something dreadfully sad about the spiraling death of properties with proper street frontage.

I am sure this is just indicative of the current economic times, but that doesn't make me feel much better.

the prime excuse

prime
–adjective
1. of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration: a prime requisite.
2. of the greatest relevance or significance: a prime example.
3. of the highest eminence or rank: the prime authority on Chaucer.
4. of the greatest commercial value: prime building lots.
5. first-rate: This ale is prime!
6. (of meat, esp. of beef) noting or pertaining to the first grade or best quality: prime ribs of beef.
7. first in order of time, existence, or development; earliest; primitive.
8. basic; fundamental: the prime axioms of his philosophy.
9. Mathematics. (of any two or more numbers) having no common divisor except unity: The number 2 is prime to 9.

I just wanted to remind the community in general, Cleveland in specific, about the accurate definition of the word "prime" as it pertains to land. All too often projects in the city are halted, slowed or generally sidetracked due to the consideration that the work about to be done does not fulfill the potential of the site selected (see Med. Mart). Another obvious argument is that land should sit unused, barren, contaminated, filthy and arguably dangerous because to develop it prematurely would devalue the potential value of the site in some distant future (see Howard Johnson Building, Scranton Peninsula, the Flats, Public Square surface parking, etc).

In a booming economy and in an urban context of which there is a large amount of immigration and need for expansion these arguments could be good economic advice, to hold dear with the ability to sell high. In region that is hemorrhaging citizens and jobs holding on to blighted properties with the hope that eventually some sort of windfall profit will be made is not only in poor taste but also actively hindering the ability of adjacent properties to become more appealing, raising in perceived value, increasing property value and spurring further development. With the large amount of undeveloped land in the city, unless a major influx of event occurs to increase the appeal of these sites whether through development, job generation or other, these sites are destined to continuously sit underutilized and unattractive. I can think of a far worse fate for the city then to be short of potential construction sites for various projects, speculative, government or other, especially considering that the infrastructure of the city was designed to handle a much larger population then it currently has to serve. I am not necessarily saying that growth is the only option for the success of Cleveland, rather I would like to argue that good stewardship of properties that may currently be considered excess would greatly increase the beauty and image of our city potentially attracting a stronger population.

So before the word "prime" gets bandied about as an excuse not to act, think on what the other option is.

Architecture for Humanity Cleveland - Community Space I Project

Architecture for Humanity - Cleveland
Thursday, May 21th, 2009
5.30pm to 9pm
East 105th St. and Ashbury Ave.

Site Visit and Brainstorming Session:

AFH Cleveland will be working with the CUDC to design and construct a public space located at the corner of East 105th St. and Ashbury Ave. (once a gas station). The project has already undergone initial conversation with the local community which has asked to be presented with a design solution that can be implemented before the end of summer (so that it can be used this year). The site is currently waiting remediation (to clean the site from its previous use) so any proposal should be understood to be temporary.

Meeting minutes and more information can be found on the AFH-Cleveland Community Space I webpage. This meeting is open to designers (or hard workers) of any discipline interested in helping to build a strong and very public community amenity.

Feel free to contact me (via the contact button or through comments) with any questions.

Resources:
CUDC "Land Labs" .pdf