ARTIST STATEMENT

My attraction to the flesh (the physicality of the human body as contrasted with the mind or soul) comes from my interest in the primordial urges that drive us to consume. The sensations that surround these primitive drives are what I aim to evoke. I want to arouse a sensual response: the feel, smell, and taste. I choose to paint meat because of its associations with the corporeal, and I connect the sensual experience of painting to that of the image I am depicting. I paint form photographs of still lifesI construct. I arrange and place the meat to allow it t be cropped and enlarged so the viewer can see its subtleties and focus on the tactility and physicality of both both the paint and the object.

Did you see the great Waterloo Arts District feature in Plain Dealer’s Friday magazine today? Thank you to PD writer John Petkovic for the story and to PD illustrator Ted Crowe for the beautiful illustration of the street.

We hope this will make the crowd at the Waterloo Arts Fest this weekend even bigger, as people from all over the area come to see our growing neighborhood scene!

The 8th Annual Fest was a huge success! Check out the photo gallery here.

Artis Jake Kelly

The middle and high school students from Arts Collinwood’s Portfolio Project are definitely going to leave their mark for the entire city to see! Inspired by the artwork and concepts that Portfolio Project students created this spring in their arts intensive at Arts Collinwood Gallery, the students chose artist Jake Kelly to transform their work into a mural entitled

“Collinwood Picture Book.”

Jake is known for his iconic concert flyers and awe-inspiring murals at The Grog Shop music venue, and both Melt Bar & Grilled restaurants. The mural is located on the north wall of the Arts Collinwood Community Center, and will act as a visible symbol of the value the students believe the arts have in their community.

Bruno Casiano has wowed galleries with his vibrant palette and exceptional vision for years now, and we are pleased to present his work in our cafe. Join Bruno this Friday, June 11 from 6-8pm as we celebrate his artwork, and enjoy the opening kick off for the Ohio Independent Film Festival to be held at Beachland Ballroom the entire weekend. (see our website post for festival details.)

Below is Mr. Casiano’s artist statement -

As a child growing up in the Island of Puerto Rico, I encountered the wild rural life of a small town called Juana Diaz. Since, this has been the motivating factor of my artwork, composed of sub-conscience interpretations of mountains, mangos, ceiba trees, caves and the awareness of being on an island. This is the key part of the process of my work, which dips into these memories seen through the eyes of a young kid, where depth of a brilliant sky becomes entangled with leaves, branches, water, colors, forms and high contrast.

This euphoria of the creative process finds the measuring place in the tangible material. Two parallels, man and material interact concurrent to such objective, called art. The complexity of its continuous resurrection repeats itself in many stages throughout the entire existence in which materials are being manipulated. By these undetermined or determined allusions, composed by the surreal and real, singular and plural thoughts which constantly recall stages of  my human experience.

This subjectivity and visual pursuit for the “truth” is which gives birth to the process and creation, and continues to break esthetic interpretations, which results into my final art work. Saludos a mis hermanitos en Juana Diaz, al Joemoro, al Baby, al Ramiro Dasilva, el Pedroco, al Red y al Marioco, y al Monkey man que se encuentra en Dallas. Su amigo el El Brunaco.

FREE SUNDAY CONCERTS

A shady garden. A blanket on the grass. Soft music playing. Or lively improv theater. Or a wailing clarinet.

On three summer Sundays, in the sculpture garden adjoining the Zaller Building at 16006 Waterloo, you can enjoy this relaxing mix of music and nature (with a little art thrown in). Free admission (but performers may pass the hat). Bring lawn chairs, blankets, children, picnics. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

In case of rain, concerts will move to the Arts Collinwood Community Center, 397 E156 St. For information, call Arts Collinwood at 216-692-9500.

Sunday, June 6, 2-4 pm:  A string quartet playing very new music by Timothy Mauthe as well as their favorite classics.

The program:

Haydn String Quartet No. 56 in E Major, Op. 71, No. 3

Mauthe String Quartet No. 3

Intermission (10-15 minutes)

Schubert String Quintet in C Major, Op. 163 (D. 956)

Greta Mutlu, violin

Micah Ringham, violin

John Ward, viola

Erica Snowden, cello

Carlos Javier, cello

Sunday, July 11, 2-4 pm: UpStage Theater’s improv troupe

August 8, 2-4 pm: The Four Corners Clarinet Quartet with a program of blues, classics, pops, jazz and movie music.

Check out the great new line-up of classes being offered this summer. Complete information and registration forms availabel here.

Lots of local folks—and plenty from outside the area—have already visited the Arts Collinwood Center at the corner of E. 156th and Waterloo. But if you haven’t yet, we’re offering you a good reason to come visit now. Arts Collinwood has taken over operating the cafe in our building, as another way to support arts programs in our community. Now, every time you grab a sandwich or a coffee, you can be helping make after school programs, gallery exhibits and community events possible here in Collinwood. And you’ll love the new menu!  We’re here Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Besides soups and sandwiches, you can also pick up registration forms, event information and flyers on all the latest arts happenings. Other good reasons to stop in soon:

• When the Cafe is open, so is the gallery next door!
• Every Thursday evening you can try your hand at life drawing, or maybe a little yoga on a Sunday afternoon.
• Plus live music, poetry and lots more.

Keep your eyes open for the announcement of this year’s Weekends on Waterloo holiday happenings and catch up on the great things going on in our own thriving arts district. We’ll keep the coffee hot for you.