Arts District: Scene's Arts Blog

Until fairly recently, Harvey Pekar says, he “always had a lot of trouble” getting artists to illustrate his stories. “I had to work with some people who were not that good. It was either that or nothing.”

That’s not the case anymore, as one look at his new online project and real-world gallery exhibit proves. The Pekar Project is a web comic series published by SMITH magazine, edited by Jeff Newelt. It’s a multifaceted adventure in the real-life stories of Harvey. New comics are published every other week at smithmag.net, along with interviews, artist spotlights and other material. Artists include New Yorkers Rick Parker and Sean Pryor, Los Angelino Joseph Remnant and Clevelander Tara Seibel.

“I met Tara at a workshop at Lakeland [Community College],” says Pekar. “The other three came to me from Jeff, who just sent me people he thought were real good. They were really anxious to work with me, even though they weren’t getting paid.”

Not getting paid is not unusual in the world of storytelling and comics, especially online. Pekar is hopeful that the Pekar Project will attract the interest of a print publisher.

For the first Project, Seibel depicted a conversation Pekar had with comic-book colleague R. Crumb. They talked about contemporary artists’ and musicians’ struggle to find an audience, which was a key concept in the opera Leave Me Alone, for which Pekar wrote the libretto.

The stories he’s currently writing for the project are about his trip to and from a speaking engagement in Muncie, Indiana. Once he’s “run into” a story, Pekar writes it in the format of a comic strip, with word balloons and stick figures. “No matter how many times I copy, it’s always messy and sloppy,” he says.
“If nothing ever comes of [the Pekar Project], it wouldn’t be a big huge loss. It’s not like I’ve been chiseling away at a big block of stone to make a sculpture or something.”

And whether the Pekar Project sees print or not, the Pennello Gallery (12407 Mayfield Rd., 216.707.9390) will show original art from the series in an exhibit called The Pekar Project Live: From Web to Walls. It opens with a reception from 7-11 p.m. Friday, October 3, and continues through October 9. — Michael Gill

When a conductor like Franz Welser-Möst leads the Cleveland Orchestra through a piece of music that’s as great and as familiar as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, you expect more than just refinement; you expect grand ideas and attitude. The orchestra’s most famous music directors — George Szell, Christoph von Dohnonyi and Welser-Möst — have all released recordings of the work. Welser-Möst takes it up once again as part of the orchestra’s season-opening benefit concert tonight. Tenor Frank Lopardo returns from the 2007 CD, but all the other voices are new: soprano Twyla Robinson, mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens and bass Raymond Aceto. The big question questions: Will the audience hear a straightforward textbook reading of the piece? Or will Welser-Möst find ways to make it fresh? Will he keep it under tight control? Or blow the roof off the place with an exuberant finale? Find out for yourself at 8:30 p.m. at Severance Hall (11001 Euclid Ave., 216.231.1111). Tickets: $68-$159. — Michael Gill

Cleveland Orchestra music director Franz Welser-Möst opens the orchestra’s family season with an introduction to his ensemble today. He’ll lead them through music selections that showcase each section so kids can get a feel for the sounds of the different string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. You can show up an hour before the concert for free interactive activities, including an up-close introduction to the instruments. It starts at 2 p.m. at Severance Hall (11001 Euclid Ave, 216.231.1111). Tickets: $10-$23. — Michael Gill

To help Dobama Theatre celebrate its 50th anniversary and its first season in its new home, we asked readers to send in essays about 10 minutes in Cleveland that changed their lives. We received a wide range of entries, including some that adhered closely to the guidelines and some that took liberties but still made for good reads. All three winning entries will be read by actors following an upcoming performance of 10 More Minutes from Cleveland, by local playwright Eric Coble (who also helped choose the winners). Here's one:

FIRE AND ICE
By George Radak

It was raining. Not your rock and roll thunderstorm, just a cool, steady downpour, something to knock the leaves off the trees on a quiet October night. The year was 1983 and I was sitting at the bar of a strip club on Clark off West 44th next to the firehouse. I was working for the RTA back then and had been sent over to the west side to see if the weather would break so we could perform some needed track work. Standard operating procedure was to wait one hour, then call the boss for his instructions. In those prehistoric, pre-cell phone days this involved using the nearest land line. Mine just happened to be in a place where girls did acrobatics they’d never learned in gym class. After the third call my boss said, “Forget it. Go home.” I liked that idea because three beers was my limit and I was already on number seven.

Driving east on Clark I stopped at West 25th (silently cursing the city for demolishing the Clark bridge), I turned south to Harvard then east again through Newburgh Heights and on to 77 South. I had just crested the hill that led down to Independence when … OK, here comes my ten minutes.

I saw the semi first. It was parked in the middle lane with its four-way flashers glaring. Adjacent to the big rig was a pickup truck that had pulled off the highway. Directly in front of me were three figures in my lane facing south. The object of their attention was a late ’70s model Chevy Malibu that was about a hundred yards further downhill. The Chevy was in pieces, the largest of which was on fire.

I got out and approached the trio. Not a scratch on ’em. That didn’t jibe with the scene in front of me so I asked the obvious question: “Where’s the driver of that car?” Maybe they were in shock because they just looked at each other but didn’t say a word. I figured I had my answer so I started running towards the car to find out for myself.

They say conscience doth make cowards of us all. If by conscience Shakespeare meant thinking, he got that right because just when I was within fifty feet of my objective my mind dredged up this fun fact: One gallon of gasoline is equal to the explosive power of five sticks of dynamite. I stopped dead. Fear had me shivering and the rain didn’t help. I didn’t stand there long. I had a moment of clarity. Someone was hurt and needed help and there damned sure weren’t going to get it from the Greek chorus I’d left behind. I started for the car again but this time I walked.

To help Dobama Theatre celebrate its 50th anniversary and its first season in its new home, we asked readers to send in essays about 10 minutes in Cleveland that changed their lives. We received a wide range of entries, including some that adhered closely to the guidelines and some that took liberties but still made for good reads. All three winning entries will be read by actors following an upcoming performance of 10 More Minutes from Cleveland, by local playwright Eric Coble (who also helped choose the winners). Here's one:

YOU GOTTA BEREAVE
By “Simply Tim”

Ten minutes from Cleveland that changed my life? Yeah, I got ’em. Not 10 consecutive minutes — that would be too easy. And we don’t do things easy in Cleveland. But if you add up all the individual moments, like the shiny pennies that they are, they equal 10 minutes, 10 of the most glorious minutes of my life. Even if, uh, Dad did almost die. Let’s have a look, shall we?

Crowd noise fades in, growing louder and louder in volume. Yelling, cheering. Lights come up on TWO FIGURES seated in old stadium seats — TIM and HIS FATHER.

It all started that wondrous day when my father took me to my very first football game — the 1964 NFL Championship. Cleveland Municipal Stadium, December 27, the underdog Browns versus the dreaded 12-2, Johnny-Unitas-led Baltimore Colts! And although I didn't know it at the time, that was the greatest Browns' game I would ever see.

Over the crowd noise, we hear an ANNOUNCER: And there’s the gun! That’s the end of the first half between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Colts as the teams head back to their locker rooms …

Tim's father excitedly jumps out of his seat and points.

FATHER: Look at that scoreboard, son — what's that say?
TIM: Zero-zero?
FATHER: Zero-zero! You know what they call that?
TIM: What?
FATHER: A tie! They call that a "zero-zero" tie. And you know what that means?
TIM: What, Dad?
FATHER: Means we're not gonna get our asses beat as bad as I thought! I figured the Colts were gonna wipe the field with us, 60-0. Ha! Only gonna be 30-0 now. Man, I'll take that any day. The Browns are looking good. Whatta say, let’s give 'em a cheer.
FATHER and TIM: Go-o-o-o-o-o, Browns!

Lights go down. The voice of the Announcer is heard.

ANNOUNCER: Now the teams line up. They await the snap.

The lights come back as Tim and his Father stare intently at the field.

ANNOUNCER: Ball’s down. Groza hits it. End over end, got the distance, and it … is … good! Groza’s field goal is good and the Browns take a 3-0 lead!

Crowd noise goes off the chart. Tim’s Father jumps out of his seat, ecstatic.

FATHER: Lou the Toe, yeah! You know what this means?
TIM: What, Dad?
FATHER: Means no shutout! “Colts Win Championship, But Can't Shut Out Browns.” Yeah! Colts 30, Browns 3. I'll take that. Whatta you say, Tim?
FATHER and TIM: Go-o-o-o-o-o, Browns!
ANNOUNCER: Ryan back to throw. Deep to Collins. He’s got it! Collins has it, runs it in, and touchdown, Browns!

Crowd noise is thunderous now as Tim's Father stares in quiet disbelief.

To help Dobama Theatre celebrate its 50th anniversary and its first season in its new home, we asked readers to send in essays about 10 minutes in Cleveland that changed their lives. We received a wide range of entries, including some that adhered closely to the guidelines and some that took liberties but still made for good reads. All three winning entries will be read by actors following an upcoming performance of 10 More Minutes from Cleveland, by local playwright Eric Coble (who also helped choose the winners). Here's one:

HOW I MET YOUR FATHER
By Kathy Sazdanoff

I grew up in Norwalk, which is a small town about an hour west. When I was younger I would always escape to Cleveland for a night of fun. But Never did I think that I would meet the love of my life on the streets of Cleveland.

It was mid-summer 2004, I had just gotten back from visiting family in the European country Macedonia. My friend had taken me out to go dancing at the Pirate’s Cove for ’80s night. I had a lot to drink that night so my friend offered to drive me home. As she was trying to navigate out of the city, we ended up in Public Square, which was completely out of the way. As we were at a stoplight, we looked over to the car next to us and it had two guys our age inside. The guy in the passenger seat started blowing kisses at me. If I were sober I probably would’ve thought that was a creepy, but at the time I thought it was oddly cute.

They started streaming, “Hey!” to my guy friend that was in my backseat. Apparently they knew each other. “Where you guys headed?” asked one of the boys. My guy friend replied, “We’re going to My Friends to eat.”

So the two guys followed us. We arrived at My Friends and the guy that was blowing me kisses sat next to me. I told him how we went the wrong way and ended up on Public Square. He admitted that they had gotten lost too. After a few minutes of talking, I had realized that we had spoken online before.
I asked, “Are you Mikey from Elyria?”

“Ya, how did you know that?” he asked.

“I think we talked online before, I’m Kathy from OnlyUndiesClub.com. I think I tried to get you to come out to my parties.”

“Oh yeah? I don’t remember you. If we’ve talked online before, how come we haven’t fucked yet?”

I was floored. I thought, “Who does this scummy guy think he is?” But I wasn’t sure whether to be completely appalled or oddly attracted to this guy. We ended up parting ways after a few hours of chatting at the restaurant.

The next day he messaged me on Myspace and said he remembered who I was and that he’s always had a huge crush on me. For about two weeks I played hard to get, which I usually don’t do. He tried to get me to come out and see him but I always put it off. But he was persistent so I decided to give him a chance.
After spending time with him, I saw that he wasn’t the scummy guy I thought him to be at the restaurant. That was just his odd sense of inappropriate humor that I have come to love. We both had a collection of ticket stubs from shows we’ve seen in Cleveland. We discovered that we had been to all of the same shows and knew a lot of the same people, but have never crossed paths before.

Here we are, five years later, happily married with two puppies and a kitty, living in a house we just bought in West Park. If it weren’t for that random crazy night getting lost in Cleveland, we most likely would have never met.

The other winning entries are here and here.

Life can change in a heartbeat. One minute you’re crossing Euclid texting your BFF about hooking up for drinks, the next you’re in an ambulance being driven from the scene where you were run down by an RTA driver on her cell phone. One minute you’re sitting alone in the bleachers watching the Tribe lose yet again, the next you’re talking to the beer vendor you’ll spend the next 38 years married to. Cleveland’s like that.

In honor of Dobama Theatre’s upcoming 50th anniversary and its move into a brand-new facility, Scene and Dobama are sponsoring a contest. The kick-off play of Dobama’s season is 10 More Minutes From Cleveland, a collection of 10 short plays by local playwright Eric Coble about how fast life can change in our fair city. We'll hear his take on it starting September 25, but right now, we want your stories. Write us a short essay (up to 1,000 words) about 10 minutes in which your life changed while in Cleveland. The story can be tragic, hilarious, touching or weird, but it must be true.

Winners will be published at clevescene.com (and possibly in print) on September 23 and will be read by actors following a performance of 10 More Minutes From Cleveland. And what the hell, we'll throw in free tickets to the show.

The deadline is noon, Friday, September 11. E-mail entries as Word or RTF documents to flewis@clevescene.com. Please include “Scene/Dobama Contest” in the subject line.