***

Comment: You don't know what you got 'til it's gone. And that's the difference between, say, art in San Francisco and art in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland's got an art scene, no question about that-- galleries, art people, creative environments, and artists-- all over town, alive, well, working hard, and irrepressible. The main difference between there and here is that there, you gotta look a little harder, dig a little deeper, drive a little further, walk a little longer, and as an artist, be a little more mindful if you're inclined to explore the limits of whatever you believe has limits that need exploring.

But hey-- artists explore limits, right? Everywhere, all the time. That's what art's about. Explore or stagnate. Sure, limit-less lifestylers don't have it easy; they never do. They gotta contend with those marvelous souls who detest unprecedence, who validate their frightened lives by controlling others, dictating agendas, and regularly engaging in their favorite pastime-- use of force. So what else is new?

Meanwhile back in Cleveland, one huge geographical plus point is that the cost of living there is cheap cheap cheap. As an artist, you can trick out your crib for a fraction of what it costs here. Sure, it's BYOD (Bring Your Own Determination), but that's never bothered the terminally earnest. So what do you say we hop in the car, motor around, chat people up, get a Cleveland feel, and unofficially assess the aesthetic atmospherics?

***

Miller Weitzel Gallery : MaryClare Brzytwa & Antoine Berthiaume .

Comment: Mixed-use art and performance space in an auditorium and meeting hall, formerly part of a church. Tonight they have experimental music, last week was an art opening. I'm too early for the concert, too late for the art opening, but here's what the place looks like...

***

Comment: The Tremont district, near downtown and overlooking the Cuyahoga River, has recently gentrificated itself into an entertainment and culture zone of sorts with restaurants, boutiques, bars, clubs, performance spaces, and around half a dozen art galleries. The Tremont Art Walk is held the second Friday of the month and, according to one gallery owner, attracts between one and two thousand people. Not bad. Unfortunately, I'm gonna miss July's installment, but fortunately, several galleries are getting ready, and I get a preview. But first, the neighborhood...

***

Doubting Thomas Gallery : New American Art.

Comment: Artist and curator William Schwartz is out front gussying the place up for the Art Walk. He tells me the upcoming group show is an artist-eye view of America's love affair with imperialism, military machismo, f**king with other nations' governments, and fun stuff like that.

***

Asterisk Gallery : "19" - A Collective Show of Nineteen of Cleveland's Most Promising Artists.

Comment: Artist and owner Dana L. Depew is loading stuff off the back of his truck, getting ready for the Art Walk (group show featuring 19 artists), but he takes a time out to give the grand tour. Art's on the floors, the walls, hanging from the ceilings, upstairs, downstairs, everywhere. Depew himself makes a variety of art (and lots of it) including odd space age chandeliers with recycled flourishes, and vibrant colorific paintings on thick textured fabrics (like bedspreads and afgans) that have been stretched and mounted on stretcher bars-- some painted in patterns like folky crochet, others mimicking military insignia and awards. The dude works hard.

***

Brandt Gallery : The Dressmaker and the Tailor - Work by Brenda Stumpf.

Comment: Very competent mixed media works in shades of beige incorporate collaged dress patterns and used opened emptied tea bags. The compositions are then painted, then frosted in encaustic. Prices range $275 to $575, exceptionally reasonable considering the quality.

***

Kelly Randall Gallery, 1678 West 14th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113; 216.771.7724: Pete Dell - Photography.

Comment: Respectable varietous array of photographs featuring a healthy selection of Cleveland-centric images. Very affordable with prices starting at about $50 and topping out maybe around $300.

***

More from Tremont...

***

West Side Market : Good Food and Plenty of It.

Comment: No visit to Cleveland is complete without a dalliance at the historic West Side Market featuring an astonishingly ambrosial array of Eastern European style meats like I've never tasted anywhere-- and I'm not even a meat dude. My favorite is this one concession that sells homemade beef, turkey, and chicken jerky-- I mean they call it jerky and it sort of looks like jerky, but whatever it is, it's awesome. Plus there's homemade yogurts, baked goods, and multitudinous additional delicacies of all ilks and essences. You SF/Berkeley foodies have nothing on this place. Check it out.

***

Gallery 324, 1301 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114; 216.363.3936: JoAnn DePolo, Denise Ivey Telep - Collaboration.

Comment: Harp, flute, art, vino, baby tomatoes, and JoAnn DePolo signing copies of her new book, Making It as an Artist . So OK. Quick question. Making what as an artist?

***

Addendum:

***