Agapito Labios (Mexican, 1898-1996) Portait of a Boy,
oil on canvas, signed lower right, h: 16 x w: 12 ins. estimates $400-600

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New Silver/Health Line Bus Stop at E. 9th and Euclid - detail - Ameritrust Building in background

Public Art is site specific, so designing public art for a five-mile site - a bus line - must be quite a challenge. Now, as the "Euclid Corridor" "Silver Line" "HealthLine" street improvements, light fixtures, bus stops, signage, green spaces, trees, grass and technologies are becoming apparent, I think much of what has been assembled works for most of the sites I've seen... despite basically wiping out the city, and costing over a $billion, retooling of an existing bus line. Whether the infrastructure and facilities will prove very functional, I have my doubts... we'll know after the first winter of full service. But the form of the bus station, designed by Robert P. Madison International, and light fixture shown in this picture of the East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue "Breuer Stop" works astoundingly well for this important site... one of the most important on the line. In this case, it appears the art was well conceived for the surroundings.

As part of a professional membership application I need to provide a sample estate appraisal/Fair Market Value appraisal. To qualify for my application the appraised property must be American paintings, prints, sculpture or furniture (any time period), and preferably 20 items or more.

Catch the Wave!  Eco-Fashion Show and Party.  Enjoy gourmet local organic eats, cash bar, and an Eco-Friendly fashion show featuring Cleveland’s green fashion entrepreneurs! $15 per person.  (free for Bioneers conference attendees)

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ATTENTION ARTISTS!!

ArtSpace-Cleveland*, along with other artists, is forming a group to explore ownership of an affordable live/work studio in the city of Cleveland.

Are you interested?

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Pity the poor smokers.

The latest calculations out of County Auditor Frank Russo’s office show that cigarette smokers have contributed $28 million to the Arts & Culture Tax (at least this one was voted upon). That’s since February. And that's a lot of money.

The Cleveland Auction Company promises great deals and exciting items in their upcoming auction. The "Discovery Auction" is an absolute auction -- meaning no reserves and the buyer's premium is only 10% (very low for a buyer's premium). This auction is only live (no Internet bidding) and I don't think it has been well advertised. There are approximately 400 lots - including furniture, paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. Check out their website for a few photos of the hightlights, but there is not a catalog on line. Preview begins 12 noon Wednesday, auction day. The auction begins at 6 pm.

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Work at To Masumi exhibiton featuring sunflower seeds

I've always loved sunflowers, but the bright, sunny blooms glowing in our front yard this Summer are special. The seeds were from the work of art below, in the "To Masumi" memorial exhibition, held last October, in celebration of the everlasting, peaceful, sunny spirit of Masumi Hayashi, the great photographer killed a year earlier, in Cleveland, with other great Cleveland artist John Jackson. The Masumi Sunflower seeds distributed in Tremont may have been planted anywhere on Earth, and I wonder where else such Masumi Sunflowers are growing today, from this one showing of love for love and art received and lost.

Always a fun time, the Lakewood Arts Festival has alot of local flair even though artist exhibitors may come from all over the country. A great place to shop ahead for Christmas gifts. And, this is a popular garage sale date for those living in Lakewood on the streets between Belle and Elmwood. Last year I bought a rain barrel at one these garage sales for $5!

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Northeast Ohio has some of the dirtiest water and beaches in the world, because we have some of the dirtiest leadership in the world, and that is very poor for Cleveland's image and economy. Fortunately, it seems the region is now positioned to clean up at least one of our messes.

"Read More" public art in the Cleveland Flats... perhaps by The Sign Guy

Recently I received a parking ticket while parked at a meter in University Circle. In some ways  this was nothing unusual for me. I often park at meters when I drive to University Circle for work or entertainment (usually several times a week). Like most people I know, I accept that once in a while I will get delayed or loose track of time and get a ticket. I have always paid my tickets without a complaint.

The nearly completed Richard Fleischman addition to the Putnam Collection, in University Circle, Cleveland, Ohio - photos by Evelyn Kiefer - Logo by Norm Roulet - 07/17/08

Fleischman Sculpture Pan Logo on REALNEO, July 18, 2008, by Evelyn Kiefer

The Mildred Andrews Putnam Sculpture Park by Richard Fleischman is the newest work in the Putnam Sculpture Collection. The blue steel elements (almost Wedgewood Blue) rise out of the soil like monumental blades of some exotic grass and stand 40 feet tall. The installation also includes an elegant line of birch trees, a sculptural concrete seating/theater area and path and artistic lighting. The park is intended for the use of Case Western Reserve University  and the surrounding  community. A beautiful place for people to study, play or gather, it is located at a strategic gateway to University Circle and an exciting site of reinvestment and development.

I was thrilled to receive news today that one of my favorite NEO artists, Pamela Dodds, a REALNEO artist of the Day, has been awarded a $25,000 Individual Support Grant from the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation. The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation was established by American artist Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974) and his wife Esther.  The foundation provides large grants to ‘serious, fully-committed artists,' ‘regardless of their level of commercial success.'  This year the foundation received 482 applications from which twelve artists were selected to receive awards. I'm proud to say Evelyn and I have one of Pamela's inspiring and impressive linoleum cut prints in our collection... "Drift", above... perhaps it is time for more area collectors to seek out her work... website here!

When people wonder what is the value of a local daily newspaper, I must point to the story of Shaw High School Band, which was invited to China to perform but could not afford to do that. The Plain Dealer article "Bang a Drum, Proudly", by Connie Schulz, raised enough attention and funding to get them there, from where they just returned in triumph (nicely covered in the PD here, today)... a $500,000 whirlwind phenomenon all occurring in less than 6 months!

I love art, and much in the Cleveland Museum's collection, and the old and newish CMA, but I am not convinced the current reengineering of the museum is economically positive for the region, and I am very displeased with their new slogan "art is back" as shallow and disrespectful to the real NEO arts community, which has never left. The museum needs to better explore its identity and role here, as so many arts organizations, our population and economy transition, and the CMA takes a proportionately larger share of the arts funding pie. If CMA is spending $100s millions constructing new edifices for old mold and cobwebs, I will be very disappointed. I'm waiting to see Rub put his shine on anything, other than proclaiming art is back in a place it never left. What do you think... did art leave?

This Saturday celebrate the first day of Summer with two great arts and shopping events on the Westside, both within walking distance of each other: Gray's Auctioneers June Emporium Auction and  the Clifton Arts and Music Fest. The Clifton Arts and Music Fest is from 10am - 6pm, located on Clifton Boulevard between W. 112th & W. 117th Streets, walk Clifton Boulevard early, see some great art and then walk or drive up to Detroit Avenue and cool off in Gray's Auctioneer's air conditioned gallery.

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Two people reported to be HEK and MAK were reportedly arrested, May 30th, 2008. Jeff Buster and I have had a great interest in the work known all around NEO as HEK, and we both seem to wonder if there is really anyone to "arrest" as HEK, for HEK, as HEK seems the identity of many... the voice of many... and is today's Art of the Day.

Chiefs meeting in Cleveland