Each year, local non-profit Graffiti HeArt awards scholarships for the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Pre-College program to local high school students. You can support the organization and its scholarship fund by attending this weekend’s Graffiti & Grapes Scholarship Benefit at the CLE Urban Winery from 6 to 11 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 19.
“This year’s main Graffiti HeArt scholarship fundraiser is being held at one of its special community partners, CLE Urban Winery on Lee Rd. In Cleveland Heights,” says Graffiti HeArt president and founder Stamy Paul. “Graffiti HeArt has been instrumental in collaborating with local and national artists to install commissioned murals around NEO including the Greetings From Cleveland mural in Ohio City by Victor Ving, as well as collaborations with the Cleveland Public School District, Crocker Park, and the interior of the new CLE Urban Winery where the event will take place on Saturday.”
The event includes an art auction, live art performances by local graffiti artists, raffle, food, wine and more. Local artists featured in the event include: R!ch Cihlar, Bob Peck and the Rust Monster Collective, as well as artwork featured in the auction by Serg Andujar, Eileen Dorsey, Christina Sadowski Rick Sans, Garrett Weider and more. Additional auction items include a two-night stay in the Graffiti Suite of the new Hilton Cleveland.
“The event will include live performances by Alexis Antes and DJ Lee Majors, as well as live art painting by R!ch Cihlar (from the Pop Shop/E11even 2) and the Rust Belt Monster Collective,” says Paul. “Amazing auction and raffle prizes include two nights in the Graffiti Suite at the new Hilton Cleveland, original art by local artists and autographed playwright posters, amongst other items.”
Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $30 and include admission to the event, your first glass of wine created in-house at CLE Urban Winery, appetizers and live music from Alexis Antes and DJ Lee Majors. $25 goes directly towards Graffiti HeArt’s scholarship fund and is 100 percent tax deductible. To purchase tickets, visit http://tinyurl.com/graffitiandgrapes.
“Graffiti HeArt is a 501c3 nonprofit organization operated by volunteers focused on the promotion of commissioned graffiti art projects that in turn help to raise money to fund art education scholarships for underserved youth,” Paul says.”Since 2015, Graffiti HeArt sponsored 6 scholarships for talented Highschool students with financial need. Our goal is to achieve eight scholarships for 2017!”
CLE Urban Winery was founded early this year in Cleveland Heights by Destiny Burns, a Cleveland native, retired Navy officer and volunteer fire fighter. The winery is a renovated former garage space. It is divided into spaces for wine making and wine tasting. Guests can to witness the wine making process through large windows between the spaces. The relationship between Graffiti HeArt began as a discussion between Paul and Burns regarding a philanthropic interest in funding one of Graffiti HeArt’s scholarships for the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Pre-College Program. Paul helped select local graffiti artists to paint murals inside CLE Urban Winery before its opening this summer.
CLE Urban Winery allows customers to create their own wine batches with the help of their winemaker. A batch fills about 28 bottles and includes your own custom label. Burns also promises a Wine Club with discounts, special access to winemaking events and members-only receptions. The winery will host events with special areas for groups of 10 to 35, and the whole winery can be reserved for groups of up to 70.
(CLE Urban Winery) 2180 Lee Rd., Cleveland Hts., 216-417-8313. Cleurbanwinery.com
(Graffiti HeArt) graffitiheart.org
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