Ingenuity Fest 2008

I came for the Pecka Kucha Night and stayed because the city seemed alive. It isn't very often that the city manages to celebrate the spaces and niches it creates in the corners. Most often the street festivals block off the street, push people to the sides to become spectators and remove the sense of exploration, wonder and control that allow for urban discoveries to be made.

The alleys, the corners, the empty storefronts became spaces, used and celebrated. Full of life and color, all around the citizens mulled, watching and waiting. A sensible hum of white noise, a cacophony of sound and images and the slow shuffle of a herd wanting to take it all in, knowing that in a few short days the experience will be gone and these spaces will again be lost to see, to witness, to touch and claim as our proper heritage.

When a city is alive, when it is truly for the people to experience, then these spaces are used and thought of. They are given a purpose and a meaning and a chance to be related to. How much of our city is hidden behind boarded up windows and locked doors? How much seems dark and unsafe and dirty? Was it really that difficult to make those places programmed? To give them life?

As we stumble with the notion that we can celebrate our population withdrawal perhaps this is our opportunity to take over the niches and pockets to give them personality, to celebrate their shortcuts, their hiddeness, their access to grand spaces and cloisters which becomes more realistic as denizens become more accountable and take ownership of their area.

I don't believe we have to wait though. If anything, Ingenuity showed us that there is a creative culture here, one willing to take control with a firm hand and shake loose the ugliness of the city, or, if the intent so makes it, celebrate the ugliness.

Cleveland felt alive last night and made me a little proud to be part of it.

It was nice to see.