HGR, Inc.: "Local Artists Transform Used Industrial Equipment Into Unique Chairs"

Clevelanders Share in the Story as Chairs Become Public Art

CLEVELAND, June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HGR seeks talented local artists to participate in the First Annual Chair&Tell.  In partnership with local public art recipients, the event showcases the creative reuse of materials from HGR's warehouse as localCleveland artists are invited to build a stunning and unique chair out of industrial surplus equipment.  With over 12 acres of items to choose from at the HGR showroom in Euclid, OH, the artists will select up to $300 worth of materials that they will transform into a chair iconic of industrial equipment.  

"I like to think of myself as a chair guy," says Kevin Busta, Artist and Chair&Tell participant. "Walking around HGR is inspirational...Sometimes I'm pulled to a certain angle of a piece."  

But Chair&Tell is not just about innovative design—it is also about the process behind it.  Artists will document the transformation through photos and videos.  The images will be displayed on the Chair&Tell website and at the kick-off Chair&Tell event this fall at Tower City where artists will be available to tell the story of the transformation.

Aidan Cho, HGR's CMO and creator of Chair&Tell, explains, "Chair&Tell was conceived from the idea that surplus equipment can have multiple lives, and in each life there is a story.  A city built on the promise of industrial manufacturing is the perfect setting in which we can inspire people to reinvent and give used industrial equipment a new life."

The finished chairs will remain on display at Tower City for several weeks following the event, and will then be moved to other public art spaces throughout Cleveland.

Interested artists should submit an application by July 1st via www.chairandtell.com.  Accepted applicants will receive a $500stipend and have the opportunity to have their chair displayed as public art throughout Cleveland.  HGR also seeks public art chair recipients interested in temporary, permanent, fixed or rotating displays.

For more information about Chair&Tell, visit www.chairandtell.com.

What is HGR?

HGR, Inc. specializes in buying and selling industrial surplus equipment.  We purchase equipment from manufacturers around the country, and resell the items to a wide variety of customers around the world.  Some of our customers are in the manufacturing industry.  Some of them are hobbyists.  Others are just looking for something off the beaten path for their next creation.  Visit www.hgrinc.com for more information.

Why Chair&Tell?

We believe in sustainability, creativity and the limitless possibilities of surplus equipment. We also believe public art revitalizes communities and engages residents in the creative afterlife of the materials. Chair&Tell is an opportunity to transform industrial equipment into works of art. The chairs breathe new life into the surplus items, and Clevelanders get to share in the story.

SOURCE HGR, Inc.

CIFF Ex Dir Marcie Goodman Wins Robert Bergman Prize

From cleveland.com:

Winners of 2011 Cleveland Arts Prize announced

Published: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 12:56 PM     Updated: Tuesday, May 03, 2011, 10:36 AM

 By Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer 

Peggy Turbett, The Plain DealerJohn Paul Miller

John Paul Miller won the first Cleveland Arts Prize for the visual arts in 1961. Half a century later, the celebrated 93-year-old Cleveland goldsmith is the special honoree of the 2011 Cleveland Arts Prize.

Winners of the arts prize, announced Thursday, will be honored at the 51st annual awards event on Tuesday, June 28, in Gartner Auditorium at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

This year's Mid-Career awards were won by Paula McLain (literature), Robert Maschke (design), Yolanda Kondonassis (music and dance) and Barry Underwood (visual arts).

Marcie Goodman, executive director of the Cleveland International Film Festival, is winner of the Robert Bergman Prize, named for the late director of the Cleveland museum.

COMING UP

Cleveland Arts Prize
What: The 2011 winners will be honored during the 51st annual awards event.
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 28.
Where: Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland.
Tickets (available starting Sunday):$200, patrons ($160 tax-deductible, includes two receptions); $100, donors ($60 tax-deductible, includes two re ceptions); and $50, general ($40 tax-deductible, includes dessert reception). Go to clevelandartsprize.org.
Information: Call executive director Marcie Bergman at 216-321-7278 or email marciebergman@gmail.com.

A. Grace Lee Mims, admired for 35 years as host and producer of "The Black Arts" radio program on WCLV 104.9/FM; Natalie Epstein, longtime supporter of theater programs at Case Western Reserve University; Tom Hinson, recently retired associate curator of modern and contemporary art at the Cleveland Museum of Art; and Marsha Dobrzynski, executive director of Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio, have been named Martha Joseph Prize winners.

The Emerging Artist award goes to Michael Oatman, only the second playright-in-residence in the 100-year history of Karamu House. (The first was Langston Hughes.)

Winners of Lifetime Achievement Awards are Brinsley Tyrrell, sculptor and emeritus professor of art at Kent State University; and David Cerone, president of the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1985 to 2008.

The awards event June 28 will begin at 6 p.m. WCPN arts commentator Dee Perry will host the evening, which will include performances and a video tribute to Miller.

"The State of Our Arts" - 2011

In 2006, voters enacted a 10-year tobacco tax specifically to support arts and culture in Cuyahoga County.  With that action, county residents created dedicated public support that could make a real difference. 

As CAC enters its fourth year of public investment in arts and cultural programs across the 59 communities that make up Cuyahoga County, what has happened?  What has been the impact of dedicated public funding for the region's arts & cultural ecosystem?  How has the presence of this important public resource, one of the largest dedicated local sources of arts funding in the nation, helped improve economic development and the quality of life for all County residents?  And what is Cuyahoga Arts & Culture doing to ensure that all residents of the County continue to benefit from public investment in the arts?

On Wednesday, March 30 at Noon, CAC Executive Director Karen Gahl-Mills will explore these questions and share substantive data about the impact of arts and culture on the region, as she addresses "The State of Our Arts" at the City Club of Cleveland.

For more information about the City Club, this event, or learn about how to download a podcast of this event, please visit the City Club's Web site: www.cityclub.org.

Please Note:  This is not an official CAC event; the State of Our Arts is an event of the City Club of Cleveland.  CAC is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, which collects a dedicated tax on cigarettes sold in Cuyahoga County, and reinvests those funds as grants to local nonprofit organizations that focus on arts and culture.  For more information about CAC, visitwww.cacgrants.org

Sherwin Williams Civic Art Proposed for Former "Witness" Site

From Cleveland.com:

Night image of Cleveland to grace wall where LeBron once reigned

 Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer 

Courtesy of the Sherwin-Williams Co.The Sherwin-Williams Co. wants to put this image on the side of its downtown Cleveland headquarters, where passersby long looked up at the iconic "Witness" image of LeBron James tossing chalk. The new banner would be the same size as that of James and would hang from the same mounts over Huron Road and Ontario Street.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The downtown Cleveland building that once featured a huge image of LeBron James could soon display a different civic image: A night view of the Cleveland skyline, courtesy of the Sherwin-Williams Co.

The paint and coatings company is asking city design and planning officials to approve plans for the huge banner, which would cover a wall left empty this summer after James announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

Instead of a basketball player tossing chalk, the banner would show illuminated skyscrapers as seen from the Cuyahoga River. Above them, the words "Our Home Since 1866. Our Pride Forever." In one lower corner is the Sherwin-Williams name and logo.

Sherwin-Williams owns the building, the Landmark Office Towers where the company keeps its headquarters and about 2,000 employees. Since crews tore down James's image in July, the company has been considering options for the blank space, a wall designed to abut another tower than was never built.

  
Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer

Hundreds of onlookers honked, hooted and photographed as the huge LeBron James banner was removed in July.

"As we talked about the opportunity to put something up there, we thought about celebrating Cleveland," said Ellen Moreau, the company's vice president of marketing communications. "There are so many great things about Cleveland, so many reasons to be here. We're just really proud to be in the city."

Moreau said the billboard is not meant to be a jab at James. During the past few months, various advertisements scattered across Cleveland have played on or poked fun at the James billboard and its "Witness" message, which was sponsored by Nike. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a mining company based in Cleveland, launched its own Witness ads showing a coal miner with his arms outstretched, under the tagline "A team that hasn't left in 163 years."

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

A city design review committee is scheduled to discuss the Sherwin-Williams image Thursday. Billboards generally are prohibited downtown, though several decades-old ones linger from before the city changed its zoning code. But the city does allow on-premises advertising by businesses that occupy the buildings or properties where they want to display an ad. And Robert Brown, Cleveland's planning director, said the skyline photograph with the small Sherwin-Williams tag is not necessarily advertising.

"It's really a civic image showing the city of Cleveland," he said. "It could be akin to Sherwin-Williams sponsoring a civic image."

Design and planning officials would need to make an exception for the size of the image, which would hang from the same mounts that held the iconic LeBron banner.

© 2010 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.

Cleveland Artists Launch ART AID Auction for Haiti Appeal - dBusinessNews

Cleveland - ARK in Berea: Cleveland artists are combining with area collectors and galleries to contribute to the Haiti earthquake aid efforts with a rolling online charity auction called ART AID. It is being operated through the eProSellers division of Cache Turn Solutions in North Olmsted, Ohio. This is a unique opportunity for the public to help raise funds for the victims in Haiti, while acquiring a valuable work of art at a fraction of its original price.  The ART AID auction was the idea by David and Renate Jakupca, Founders of the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA). Their aim is to raise as much money as possible for the people of Haiti. The ART AID event will be an opportunity to buy a wide range of art work which will include paintings, prints, photographs, ceramics and cards, at prices to suit every pocket.  "I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Clevelanders to promote conscious sustainable consumerism and to benefit Haiti’s earthquake relief,” Renate expressed in a statement. "I am so grateful for the local support that has been shown for this ART AID fundraising initiative and for the compassion being demonstrated in the Greater Cleveland Area for the plight of so many who have been affected by the tragedy in Haiti," Ms. Jakupca said. The island's catastrophe has been on the minds of many and the outpouring support for Haiti that has emerged from the Greater Cleveland community of artists has been truly moving, and many people have committed themselves to keeping the momentum alive behind the call for ART AID. ART AID project may all so bring all contributing artists together in the 2010 One World Day event at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. One World Day, founded in 1946, is the annual celebration of Cleveland's ethnic diversity. It was the brainchild of Leo Widenthal, a prime force behind the creation of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. “Our hope is that through their experience with iceality, participants will continue to take compassionate action with their talents, becoming donors in the larger shared humanitarian project of promoting a sustainable global culture of peace“. David stated. Details about the Cleveland ART AID auction for Haiti may be found at: http://www.TheICEA.Com FAQs:-People can bid on items on: www.eprosellers.com-People can drop off art work c/o ART AID at the eProSellers Store -What if I don't have the money to donate/bid and I want to help out? -PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! Not just about this auction, but also about the relief fund and earthquake in general! -All proceeds will go to UNICEF or American Red Cross for its existing programs of humanitarian work with children in Haiti. eProsellers is your locally owned and operated eBay drop-off store providing a simple, fast and convenient way to sell items for ART AID. Simply bring in the items and we do the rest. eProsellers is located at the corner of Claque and Lorain Rd (Cornerstone Shopping Plaza) in North Olmsted, Ohio. Store hours Monday - Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 10 am - 2pm CLOSED Tuesday and Sunday   eProSellers 23420 Lorain Rd. North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 440-716-8200 http://www.eprosellers.com

Construction on Cleveland's New Bike Station to Start this spring

Reposted from GreenCityBlueLake

                

Art will brighten Cleveland's bike station 

Submitted by Marc Lefkowitz | Last edited January 11, 2010 - 2:43pm

Public art that taps nostalgia and a retro ‘80s palette will liven up the downtown Cleveland bike station. Last Friday, the Cleveland Planning Commission approved Cleveland Institute of Art graduate Mark Reigelman and undergrad Scott Stibich’s idea to adhere hundreds of metallic-blue bike handlebars festooned with green streamers on a blue-painted façade of a city owned garage at E. 2nd Street, just north of The Q. The pair won the design competition hosted by Cleveland Public Art – supported by a grant from local giving circle, Cleveland Colectivo – from 30 eligible submissions.

The station, dubbed The Bike Rack, is on track for a spring 2010 groundbreaking, Cleveland City Planner, Marty Cader, reported, and a summer grand opening. The city is funding the build out of the 6,500 sq. ft. space, which will include indoor rack space for 50 bikes, men’s and women’s shower and locker rooms and a repair shop. Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) will manage the operation and plans to hire a manager whose duties will include individual and corporate membership sales and services.

Companies such as Medical Mutual have expressed interest in buying memberships for employees, Cader said. DCA is considering operating a bike rental program from the station, he added, and has discussed with The Cleveland Indians a bike valet service. At least two other staffers could be hired to manage the front desk and to run the repair shop.

The artists will paint the horizontal decks of the five-story garage in deep blue and then use an industrial strength adhesive tape to affix more than 800 locally milled, recycled aluminum bike handles which will be painted a sky blue and accented with a bright green streamers made of nautical nylon rope. The colors were actually borrowed from the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Summit logo (not Miami Vice).

“When we put hundreds of these on the building, you’ll have a surface that’s in constant motion,” says Reigelman.

The art was inspired by childhood memories of riding a bike for the first time. In addition to improving the drab white façade, the artists developed sign materials. The commission approved the design of The Bike Rack and a ‘b’ inside a circle, which plays off of the universal parking symbol of a ‘P’ inside a circle.

“Is 50 racks enough space to meet demand?” Commission member David Bowen wondered afterwards. Cader responded that University Circle and Cleveland State University are also working on bike station plans, and he suggested that filling the downtown station could lead to more stations.

“Are these stations profitable?” Commission chair Tony Coyne asked. Cader said Cleveland is building on the business model of Chicago’s bike station at Millennium Park, which depends largely on its bike rental income (it also has corporate sponsors including McDonald’s), and Bikestation, a facility located at Union Station in Washington, D.C. reportedly generates income, and includes a bike valet service.

**********

The Planning Commission acknowledged the ongoing conversations between its members and bike and pedestrian advocates to include a bike/ped path on the Innerbelt Bridge. At the end of the meeting, the commission discussed a resolution of support, and decided to explore how a resolution can impact the bridge design-build process. One option being discussed is adding an ‘add alt’ or an additional alternative that would allow the proposals to include non-motorized amenities on the bridge in the RFQ. Sustainable transportation advocates present provided feedback, including a stronger approach may be to include a requirement as part of the main RFQ. The commission will take up the matter again at its next meeting, on Jan. 22 in Room 217 in Cleveland City Hall.

Photos from Ingenuity 2007

Not only did I get the honor of volunteering for the four day technology and arts festival, I got to be part of it as well. And for the third year, I think I have done a decent job of capturing bits (but not all) of each days events. This years location at Playhouse Square and Cleveland State University was the best of the previous two. Hopefully, this collaboration will continue for years to come.

Each photo will take you to the Flickr set for that specific day.

If you are really adventurous, you can visit the Ingenuity group pool where nearly 50 people have contributed over 1,300 pictures dating from the first festival three years ago. The photo pool is located here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ingenuitycleveland/

Opening Day - Thursday: Samba for 1000 Drums

Friday photo set

Saturday photo set

Sunday photo set

Special presentation of the Breuer Tower Design Competition

Cuyahoga Arts + Culture Announces First Grant Program

Cuyahoga Arts + Culture (CAC) today released guidelines and application forms for its General Operating Support (GOS) Grant program and announced locations for a series of grant workshops for organizations to learn about eligibility and the application process.

General Operating Support grants are the first grants to be offered by CAC. Designed to invest public funds in local arts or cultural organizations, GOS grants are awarded for a period of three years, with requisite annual review and evaluation by CAC staff.

“These grants are specifically for arts or cultural organizations located in Cuyahoga County that have a history of quality artistic or cultural programming, professional management, financial stability and long range planning,” said Catherine Boyle, Executive Director of CAC. “The guidelines explain the purpose of the grants, the eligibility requirements and the application process.”

Basic eligibility required by Ohio law and CAC By-laws are that an applicant organization must be not-for-profit, must be located in Cuyahoga County, must have been in existence for at least three years and must have a primary mission to create, produce, present or provide arts or cultural programming to the public.

Those organizations that do not meet GOS eligibility requirements may be eligible to apply for other CAC grants that will be announced later this year. Those organizations that receive GOS support will not be eligible to apply for other CAC grants.

“Using public dollars received from the passage of Issue 18 last November, we are proud CAC is the first regional arts and cultural district in Ohio that has successfully passed, through voter approval, a dedicated revenue stream for arts and culture. Our world-class arts and cultural organizations are a real plus to our region because they help our children grow and succeed, provide thousands of good paying jobs and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to our region,” said Steven Minter, President of the Board of Trustees of CAC.

Eligible organizations interested in applying are strongly encouraged to attend at least one workshop. Additional information, including the General Operating Support Grant guidelines and application forms is available at http://www.cuyahogaartsandculture.org .

The Cuyahoga County Commissioners established Cuyahoga Arts + Culture (CAC), a Regional Arts and Culture District and a political subdivision with the State of Ohio, in June 2005.

In November, 2006, voters in Cuyahoga County approved a tax on cigarettes to fund arts and culture in Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts + Culture. The Cuyahoga County Commissioners appointed a board of three trustees to govern Cuyahoga Arts + Culture, effective April 1, 2007.

By law, all power and authority of CAC is vested in its Board of Trustees. Currently serving as the Board of Trustees are: Steven Minter, President; Santina Protopapa, Vice President; and, David Bergholz, Secretary.

A primary purpose of Cuyahoga Arts + Culture, established by the Board of Trustees by adoption of CAC By laws in April 2007, is to make matching grants to support the operating expenses of Cuyahoga County’s arts or cultural organizations whose primary missions are to create, produce, present or provide services to the public.

To continue to receive communications from CAC, please register on the CAC website http://www.cuyahogaartsandculture.org/email.html