Cleveland Fusion launches Waterways to Waterways aimed at sharing Cleveland's lessons in how to reimagine a river
Cleveland Foundation projects celebrate the art of rebirth
An article in Crain’s Cleveland Business by Michael Von Glahn.
Praxis Fiber Workshop is pairing Venezuelan artists Eduardo Portillo and Mariá Eugenia Dávila with Cleveland's Tony Williams (shown) and Rowland Ricketts of Bloomington, Ind., to create banners made entirely of fabric dyed with natural indigo grown.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 fire on the Cuyahoga and the river's restoration, this year's Cleveland Fusion program is called Waterways to Waterways and its projects aim to encourage ongoing progress here and around the world, while sharing Cleveland's lessons in how to reimagine a river.
“When we were considering how our artist residency program could have an impact in 2019, we thought the Cuyahoga River and environmental justice would be a perfect fit,” said Lillian Kuri, Cleveland Foundation vice president for strategic grantmaking, arts and urban design initiatives, in a news release. “The Cuyahoga River Valley, clean water and Cleveland’s role in environmental protection are important focal points for the local and international artists to share ideas, reflect and innovate together.”
It's hoped all the projects will be in place on or near June 22, the anniversary of the blaze, although some will continue throughout 2019.
Waterways to Waterways also is part of Cuyahoga50, an array of more than 40 community programs throughout the year to mark the anniversary of the fire and celebrate how far the river, the city and our attitudes have come.
The U.K.-based design collective Squidsoup plans an installation called "Cuyahoga Flow," comprising about 8,000 points of light arranged in an organic, flowing form, for the eastern end of the Detroit-Superior Bridge.
Sudanese designer Malaz Elgemiabby is partnering with LAND studio to convert a former community center at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's Riverview Terrace into a welcome center in Ohio City.
"Our Creative Fusion: Waterways to Waterways cohort is really shaping up to be a robust collection of public events and innovative projects," Kuri said in an email. "This work is going to be celebratory, while both respecting Cleveland’s history and presenting forward-thinking ideas that demonstrate a real commitment to the future of water in our region."
Read the full article at Crain’s Cleveland Business.