John G. Saves Cleveland

This just in from The Monastery (aka John G's artistic HQ):

I know everybody's got the bleeding heart for Haiti right now. It's horrific what's been happening there. I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the insurmountable amount of strife and hardships that the people of Haiti are facing. If you haven't seen it yet, you owe it to yourself and the sake of humanity to look at Keith Marlowe's photography for LIFE Magazine. It's staggering.

Focusing slightly closer to home for my Heart's Blood, I'm offering a limited print for sale to benefit the Clevelanders displaced by that explosion on West 83rd Street last Monday (Jan 25, 2010). Turns out that house was possibly blown up by one of the neighbors, but knowing that doesn't really solve the problem that now there's a bunch of families that lost their homes.

The print - which John has titled "CLEVELYN PREVAILS" - will be produced as an 18 x 24 art style print in a limited quantity (only as many as John received pre-orders for) for a mere $20. Don't sleep on this offer, which will only be good through Februry 12th. John notes:

Feel free to use the paypal button at the bottom of this page. If you don't want to use paypal, please feel free to email me to arrange the order.

Clevelanders, I will arrange a way to drop off the print to you personally, or you can stop by The Monastery downtown and pick it up. If you're not in Cleveland, I will pay shipping costs within the U.S.

I'm going to limit the edition to only as many prints as are ordered. So if 6 people order this, you will get 1 of 6. If 85 people order this, you will get 1 of 85. If enough people order it, I'll get them screen printed. If it's few enough that I can handle it, I'll print them myself.

Proper Noun of the Week #30: R.A. Washington

R.A. 'Rafeeq' Washington. Now where have I heard that name before ...

Man, if you are anything like me, you have heard that name everywhere, because that's where Mr. Washington seems to be. From visual art to spoken word to hip hop to dance clubs, Rafeeq's deft cultural touch is all over this city and residents of the CLE are all the better for it.

Most recently, folks at the PD took notice of one of Washington's biggest ventures, his experimental hip hop label Cleveland Tapes.

By the time you read this, though, you'll likely be hearing his name for yet another reason, this time as the event architect behind Wednesday's upcoming Art for Haiti benefit auction at Arts Collinwood. The event is being held to help raise funds for the Haiti Emergency Village Project, and event planners will use combined revenues from an art live auction - presided over by Washington's fellow CB Proper Noun Lawrence Daniel Caswell and featuring the work of artists including Keith Marlowe, Dan Tranberg, Dana Depew, Bridget Caswell, Sunia Boneham, and Jacob Wesley Lang (among many more) - and a silent auction for goods donated by local businesses like Mac's Backs, the Beachland, Visible Voice, House of Blues, and many others.

A few days ago, Washington found a few moments in his unimaginable schedule to participate in my Proper Noun question time exercise. Check out what he has to say below.


1) How long have you been in Cleveland? And if you didn't grow up in Cleveland, where'd you relocate here from?

I've been in Cleveland for about 20 years, but I'm originally from El Paso, TX.

2) What is your favorite Cleveland memory?

My favorite Cleveland memory, too many to pick just one - but if i had to it would be the first time I saw Lives of the Saints.

3) How does (if at all) Cleveland influence your work and/or art?

It does not really influence the actual work per se, but it tempers how I distribute it.

4) If it was your birthday and you decided to have a Cleveland-centric blow-out bash, how would you celebrate? That is, what would you do, where would you do it, etc.?

Thats funny, cuz tomorrow is my actual birthday! And Saturday at Touch Supper Club This Moment In Black History is djing my birthday party. The Cleveland Bachelor should come, maybe meet someone.

5) Say you had a friend coming in for 24 hours and had never been to Cleveland before. What would you make sure they saw and did?

Go to a show at Now That's Class, go record hunting.

6) What is something from another city you wish you could import to Cleveland?

Hope

7) If you had the undivided attention of the mayor, city council, and county commissioners, what would be the one thing you'd ask for or tell them?

Hey guys, we are a port city! Let's act like it, and while you are at it - annex these stupid suburb cities!


To meet Rafeeq, stop by Arts Collinwood on WEDNESDAY for the Art for Haiti Benefit Auction. For more information on the event, click here. Arts Collinwood is located at 15601 Waterloo Road in Cleveland.

And if you found this post interesting, check out previous Proper Noun of the Week conversations about Cleveland and culture with the following interesting folks: Frank Revy, Bill Rupnik, Mina Hoyle, Brendan Walton, Leia Alligator, Arabella Proffer, Becca Riker, Greg Ruffing, Mallorie Freeman, Dave Desimone, J.R. Bennett, Jeff & Mike from CLE Clothing Co, Paulius Nasvytis, Lawrence Daniel Caswell, Curtis Thompson, John Ewing, Shannon Okey, John G, Sean Bilovecky, Dana Depew, Fred Wright, Amanda Montague, Ryan Weitzel, Garrett Komyati, Vince Slusarz, Jonah Jacobs, Jacob Wesley Lang, and Kevin Neudecker & Melanie Hershberger.

Celluloid Bachelor #54: The Kissaway Trail "SDP"

If you asked me before viewing this video whether it would be possible to take a 6+ minute track that doesn't seem to have all that much fat on it and edit it into a 3-odd minute video that doesn't seem to miss a beat, I'd say something along the lines of "unlikely."

The recent video for The Kissaway Trail's "SDP" proves me wrong.

Or, rather, it proves hypothetical retrospective me wrong. But you get the point.

Cleveland: Scene One, Take One

Let's hear it for the Cleveland film community! Over the last few months, I've interviewed several filmmakers from across the country and when I get their response to my closing question (What can Cleveland do to make itself more film industry friendly?), I'm always left a little dismayed and hopeless.

After reading this article, which led me to this press release, however, I was pleased to see that even if the tax breaks Ohio offers aren't as generous as other states and even though our industrial infrastructure isn't as developed as competitor cities, we are still moving forward.

Between that and the building recognition of institutions like the Cleveland International Film Festival and the CIA Cinematheque, as well as growing festival success for films like The Taqwacores (Sundance) and El Voyage Maximo (Bangkok International) that have a deep Cleveland connection, it makes the outlook for 2010 and beyond a lot brighter.

The week ahead: 2/7-2/13 (CB's Bundling Up edition)

Baby, it is cold outside. As much as seeing those mid-Atlantic punks get buried in snow warms my heart, it does little to warm my toes. Instead, I've been in multi-blanket nap mode, cuddling with my pups and dreaming strange dreams, for a couple days now. That can't last forever, though, and by tomorrow it'll be time to get off the mat and start being a human again. Below is my list of things to consider when you plan your own week.

Sunday, 2/7 - With the blustery cold, there is only one thing to do: chill and watch a movie. Fortunately, today brings you three good selections: Holy Land Hardball at the Mandel Jewish Community Center and Wild River and The Wedding Song at the CIA Cinematheque. Check out my month in film guide here for more information.

Monday, 2/8 - tba

Tuesday, 2/9 - tba

Wednesday, 2/10 - There's only one place you should be this Wednesday night, and that's at Arts Collinwood. The Waterloo Road non-profit is playing host to the Art for Haiti Benefit, which includes a live art auction from top local and national artists, food, cocktails and live jazz music. Proceeds will go directly to the Haiti Emergency Village Project. The auctioneer for the night is none other than Mr. Lawrence Daniel Caswell. Check out this link for more information about the evening.


Thursday, 2/11 - The CSU Vikings play host to conference rival Valpo tonight in what should be a heckuva game. The Vikes got beat by 7 when they visited Valparaiso in January, but between the home court advantage and the growing team confidence as they ride a now four-game winning streak (and a 7-2 record since starting conference play in earnest), things should be a little more friendly for the home team this time around. After the CSU fans storm the court following this hopeful W, head to the CIA Cinematheque for a different kind of Storm, as the finest reperatory theater in the land screens the critically adored political thriller/international court procedural about Bosnian war crimes.

Friday, 2/12 - Assuming the mid-week snow dump I've been hearing about takes place as feared, it is unlikely we'll see much mass migration across the river this weekend. Which is ok, kind of, because there are a pair of good events on either side of the East-West divide. For you westerners, check out the "Sonic Landscapes" exhibit opening at Asterisk Gallery. Featuring work by a half-dozen artists, including CB faves Scott Pickering and Jason Byers, this'll be well worth putting on the winter boots. Eastward, you can have fun while helping out a good cause at the Beachland-hosted Free Clinic Benefit. Headed by Carlos Jones & the PLUS Band (with opening assists by Austin Walkin' Cane, oldboy, and Nights), the $10 event will help fund the non-profit that has provided medical care to so many who wouldn't otherwise be able to get it. There isn't a better place to donate your hard earned dollars these days, folks.

Saturday, 2/13 - With the exception of today's CSU game against Butler (the second this week against a conference rival hailing from that awful state to the west of us), today's another one of those days where you can spend the entire time on Waterloo Road and have a better time than anyone you'll swap stories with on Monday morning. During the day, do some good and check out the UpStage Artisan Alley sale at the Slovenian Workman's Home. Kind of like a smaller scale Bazaar Bizarre, this event will serve as a fundraiser for the UpStage Players, a non-profit children's theatre group run by an all volunteer staff in Northeast Ohio. Later, stick around for Round two of the Mystery of Two residency at Arts Collinwood and then head down the block for one of the best (and beer-soaked) live shows in town when the Whiskey Daredevils take the stage at the Beachland.

Other stuff to keep your eye on the following week:
- 2/14 - Lawrence Daniel Caswell DJs the Beachland Brunch
- 2/14 - Mine screens @ CMA
- 2/14 - Girlyman @ Beachland Tavern
- 2/16 - George Clinton @ House of Blues
- 2/17 - Pretty & Nice in-store @ Blue Arrow Records
- 2/17 - Uncertainty screens @ CIA
- 2/18 - Snoop Dogg @ House of Blues
- 2/18 - Unmade Beds screens @ CIA
- 2/19 - Paradise screens @ CMA
- 2/20 - Mystery of Two residency @ Arts Collinwood (w/ Freedom)
- 2/20 - Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise @ Beachland
- 2/20 - How to Breathe Underwater/Whisper Signal @ bela dubby
- 2/20 - Big Trouble in Little China screens @ Capitol Theater
- 2/20 - CSU vs Toledo ESPNU Bracket-Busters game
- 2/20 - Poet's Haven event @ Blue Arrow Records
- 2/20 - Until the Light Takes Us screens @ CIA
- 2/21 - Found Footage Festival @ Beachland Ballroom
- 2/22 - Supersuckers @ Grog Shop
- 2/23 - Ha Ha Tonka @ Beachland
- 2/23 - Cold Cave/Emeralds/Hair Police @ Grog Shop
- 2/24 - Harmony @ Me screens @ CMA
- 2/24 - Cleveland Bachelor Show of the Month: So Cow/Shiny Penny/The Modern Electric @ Beachland

Tonight in Cleveland (2/6): Mystery of Two Residency @ Arts Collinwood

Local art-punk extraordinaires Mystery of Two kick off a month-long residency at Arts Collinwood tonight. The band plays sets each Saturday in February, hosting a different opening group each time. Tonight's guest opener is Filmstrip, a band getting some buzz lately from its connection with recent Sundance darling, The Taqwacores. Future openers include Buried Wires, Freedom, and Founding Fathers.

As a special treat, attendees tonight will be able to catch the closing night of Terry Durst's recent exhibit, The Carter Excavations, in the gallery.

Tonight in Cleveland (2/5): Melanie's 33 1/3 party @ Music Saves