Cleveland's art community never stops. This weekend includes fast-paced lectures under the stars outside MOCA Cleveland (weather permitting), a retrospective exhibition of a recently deceased Akron artist, and an art auction to benefit the Cleveland Kennel.
This Friday, MOCA Cleveland is hoping to pack Uptown and kick off summer programming on its Toby Devan Lewis Plaza with the 25th installment of PechaKucha Night. The format features 10 presenters using 20 slides, and each slide is limited to 20 seconds. The result is a fast-paced, exciting evening. Topics typically range from visual art and photography to technology, architecture, food, film and furniture design.
"While every PechaKucha is different, the events that take place during the summer are particularly special because we get to take the crowd outside under the stars! Weather permitting of course," explains organizer Michael Christoff.
For this 25th edition, PKN promises some special surprises. Doors open at 7 p.m., presentations begin promptly at 8:30 p.m. and will be over by 10:30 p.m.
At Harris Stanton Gallery's Cleveland location you'll find a very special memorial exhibition of artwork by Akron-based artist P.J. Rogers. Born in 1925, Rogers was an internationally renowned printmaker, with works in museums in Ohio and around the world. She received many awards, including multiple Ohio Art Council individual artists awards.
"PJ sadly passed away about a year and half ago, on Jan. 1, 2014," explains Ellie Kaiser, gallery director of Harris Stanton Gallery's Cleveland location. "While going through her estate, we found amazing works that have never been displayed to the public. This tribute exhibition will be the first time we have had the opportunity to explore the entirety of her career.
"We are also excited to exhibit an oversize digital print ("Layers of Time in the Garden") in a new 30-by-40-inch size," adds Kaiser. "The impressive large scale of the work brings out the three-dimensionality and is simply stunning. She had an amazing capacity for creating a three-dimensional sense on a two-dimensional surface using her expert digital manipulation."
The P.J. Rogers Tribute Exhibition opens with a free, public reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. this Friday. The exhibition runs through June 27.
From 6 to 10 p.m. this Saturday, Red Space at Hotcards World Headquarters hosts the 11th Annual Art Fur Animals Benefit. More than 400 animal and art lovers are expected to attend this fundraiser, which supports the care of animals at the Cleveland Kennel.
General Admission tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door; VIP tickets are also available for $100 (includes 6 p.m. entry). You can find details and purchase tickets at friendsofclevelandkennel.com.
Be sure to make this week's art events a part of your weekend plans, and check back next week for more upcoming, art-related events. We're just getting started.
