July 2016
Flavorwire review of July 19 events
21/07/16
Make America Cleveland Again: The American Dream(sickle)
In which The American Dream melts slowly into nothingness.
Photo credit: Tatiana Ryckman
Tatiana Ryckman - Flavorwire
As Cleveland — and the rest of the country — released a collective sigh of relief at how peacefully Monday’s convention went, my grandfather fell asleep in California. He was 99 years old and he did not wake up Tuesday morning. This event makes as little sense in the narrative of my life as it does in the narrative of the RNC. But it was the lens through which I viewed Tuesday’s activities. And I wasn’t alone.
While the RNC has been peaceful, five people were killed and 20 people were shot in Cleveland last weekend, including a two-year-old, making it Cleveland’s deadliest weekend of the year. Each one of the victims’ friends and family members have had to negotiate the reality that’s left. My grandfather’s death was far from murder, it didn’t indicate a division between anyone’s ideologies or political leanings, but I was faced with reconciling my sudden lack of interest in what was happening around me with my belief that this is a unique opportunity for engagement.
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In which The American Dream melts slowly into nothingness.
Photo credit: Tatiana Ryckman
Tatiana Ryckman - Flavorwire
As Cleveland — and the rest of the country — released a collective sigh of relief at how peacefully Monday’s convention went, my grandfather fell asleep in California. He was 99 years old and he did not wake up Tuesday morning. This event makes as little sense in the narrative of my life as it does in the narrative of the RNC. But it was the lens through which I viewed Tuesday’s activities. And I wasn’t alone.
While the RNC has been peaceful, five people were killed and 20 people were shot in Cleveland last weekend, including a two-year-old, making it Cleveland’s deadliest weekend of the year. Each one of the victims’ friends and family members have had to negotiate the reality that’s left. My grandfather’s death was far from murder, it didn’t indicate a division between anyone’s ideologies or political leanings, but I was faced with reconciling my sudden lack of interest in what was happening around me with my belief that this is a unique opportunity for engagement.
Read More...
Ohio City Stages Presents Innov Gnawa
20/07/16
Innov Gnawa in Concert Wednesday 07/27/2016 - 7:30pm to 9:00pm at Transformer Station
Innov Gnawa is a young musical collective dedicated to exploring Morocco’s venerable gnawa music tradition in the heart of New York City. Formed in the summer of 2014 by Moroccan expat Samir LanGus, the group draws on the considerable talents and expertise of Hassan Ben Jaafer, a Maâlem, or master gnawa musician, originally from Fes, Morocco. Gnawa music is the ritual trance music of Morocco’s black communities, originally descended from slaves and soldiers once brought to Morocco from Northern Mali and Mauritania. Often called “The Moroccan Blues,” gnawa music has a raw, hypnotic power that has fascinated outsiders as diverse as writer/composer Paul Bowles, jazz giant Randy Weston, and rock god Jimi Hendrix. The music is utterly singular, played on an array of unique instruments—from the lute-like sintir that the Maâlem uses to call the tune, to the metal qarqaba (castinets) with which the kouyos (chorus) keep time and pound out clattering, hypnotic rhythms. Innov Gnawa makes great use of this traditional repertoire, and add their own, contemporary spin with additional African and Latin percussion.
Ohio City Stages is presented by Cleveland Museum of Art. Read More...
Innov Gnawa is a young musical collective dedicated to exploring Morocco’s venerable gnawa music tradition in the heart of New York City. Formed in the summer of 2014 by Moroccan expat Samir LanGus, the group draws on the considerable talents and expertise of Hassan Ben Jaafer, a Maâlem, or master gnawa musician, originally from Fes, Morocco. Gnawa music is the ritual trance music of Morocco’s black communities, originally descended from slaves and soldiers once brought to Morocco from Northern Mali and Mauritania. Often called “The Moroccan Blues,” gnawa music has a raw, hypnotic power that has fascinated outsiders as diverse as writer/composer Paul Bowles, jazz giant Randy Weston, and rock god Jimi Hendrix. The music is utterly singular, played on an array of unique instruments—from the lute-like sintir that the Maâlem uses to call the tune, to the metal qarqaba (castinets) with which the kouyos (chorus) keep time and pound out clattering, hypnotic rhythms. Innov Gnawa makes great use of this traditional repertoire, and add their own, contemporary spin with additional African and Latin percussion.
Ohio City Stages is presented by Cleveland Museum of Art. Read More...
Plain Dealer Coverage July 19
20/07/16
A melting American Dream highlights artistic responses to Republican convention
Laura DeMarco - Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The American Dream was melting Tuesday.
Literally. After all, it was 86 degrees outside. And this American Dream was made of ice.
The 4,000-pound "Melted Away" ice sculpture by New York artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese was a provocative statement on the state of the nation, "highlighting the erosion of opportunity and social equality."
It was one of several thought-provoking artworks created in response to the Republican National Convention on display Tuesday at the Transformer Station gallery in Cleveland's emerging Hingetown neighborhood.
Read More...
Laura DeMarco - Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The American Dream was melting Tuesday.
Literally. After all, it was 86 degrees outside. And this American Dream was made of ice.
The 4,000-pound "Melted Away" ice sculpture by New York artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese was a provocative statement on the state of the nation, "highlighting the erosion of opportunity and social equality."
It was one of several thought-provoking artworks created in response to the Republican National Convention on display Tuesday at the Transformer Station gallery in Cleveland's emerging Hingetown neighborhood.
Read More...
A Day of Art, Politics and the American Dream
15/07/16
On July 19, while the Republican National Convention convenes close by, Transformer Station will be a forum to discuss the role of art and artists in politics.
CLEVELAND- The Transformer Station welcomes artists Kate Sopko, LigoranoReese, Elizabeth Emery and Corrie Slawson, the Cause Collective, and the City Club of Cleveland for a day of art, politics and the American Dream. Read More...
Meet Caitie Moore: Gallery Manager
09/07/16
Caitie Moore joins Transformer Station as Gallery Manager. Danielle Meeker to leave for graduate Studies at Rice University, Houston
We are pleased to welcome Caitie Moore as our new Gallery Manager. Caitie will replace Danielle Meeker, who has been with the museum since it opened in 2013. Danielle leaves us to pursue graduate studies at Rice University, Houston. Caitie, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, comes to the Transformer Station with over five years of experience working in the arts and non-profits. Her background is in photography with a focus on photobooks. Caitie additionally runs a non-traditional photobook store called Nomadic Bookshelf and is passionate about evolving trends in independent publishing. “Fred and Laura’s dedication to their artists and their vision for arts in Cleveland is one that is very dear to my heart. I look forward to advancing the museum’s mission to bring cutting edge arts and cultural events to Cleveland and beyond.” We thank Danielle for her prowess and dedication to the museum and wish her the best of luck with her new venture! Read More...
We are pleased to welcome Caitie Moore as our new Gallery Manager. Caitie will replace Danielle Meeker, who has been with the museum since it opened in 2013. Danielle leaves us to pursue graduate studies at Rice University, Houston. Caitie, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, comes to the Transformer Station with over five years of experience working in the arts and non-profits. Her background is in photography with a focus on photobooks. Caitie additionally runs a non-traditional photobook store called Nomadic Bookshelf and is passionate about evolving trends in independent publishing. “Fred and Laura’s dedication to their artists and their vision for arts in Cleveland is one that is very dear to my heart. I look forward to advancing the museum’s mission to bring cutting edge arts and cultural events to Cleveland and beyond.” We thank Danielle for her prowess and dedication to the museum and wish her the best of luck with her new venture! Read More...