The Observer, April 11, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 24
Carl Pope shows Cleveland has lots on its mind
click to enlarge
We are all witnesses…of violence, construction, community. Carl Pope's collaborative exhibit "The Mind of Cleveland," on display at the Cleveland Institute of Art, exposes the opinions and fears of Cleveland's own residents.
Incited by the question, "What do you think of Cleveland?," thousands of responses poured in over the span of a year to produce a "public conversation" between Cleveland residents. Responses from "It's everything you wish it wasn't," to "I like soup" adorn the walls in an in-your-face manner. Reminiscent of China's Hundred Flowers campaign, many had nothing good to say for their city.
Using common means of communication in urban areas, posters and billboards displayed throughout the city raise awareness of citizens' hope – or lack thereof – for Cleveland. Second graders' words were transformed into letterpress posters pleading others to "Start snitching! Tell about violence!" or, on the other hand, ask, "U got Cleveland. What more U need?"
A large portion of the exhibit was devoted to students and education because, as one Clevelander noted on a billboard located on I-77, "The city will not change until the school system changes." A video on display entitled "On My Block" shows both students and adults speaking freely aboutCleveland's school system and the harsh conditions in which kids must live. Immediately addressed were the cut arts and sports programs. All interviewed students agreed the programs were necessary to help children gain self-esteem in a positive way, rather than proving themselves outside of school on the streets. An individual on the police force notes, "You take arts and sports away and wonder why kids express themselves in violence." One student even attributed her participation in the arts program for her staying in school and remaining focused. The comments all lead to question if it is worth cutting funding for arts and sports programs when the city may ultimately pay for it in increased crime and high school dropouts.
Conceptual artist Carl Pope is known for his use of text in art, normally speaking about the African American community. This time, however, he stated in an interview, "I came here not thinking about what I wanted to say, but to get people to speak out about the city at a point where it's on the brink of a transformation." His project inspired residents to proclaim both inspiring and unhopeful statements such as, "cLEVELand. Let's raise the level!" and "Cleveland. Where ambition is a dirty word." Pope worked as a self-proclaimed "visual disc jockey" on the project in hopes of inspiring social change in Cleveland by raising voices within the city.
In such a contained area of Cleveland, Case's campus is relatively sheltered from the Cleveland that long-term residents see. Construction cones may hinder students' ventures to class, and police sirens and gunshots may be heard from a distance, but students rarely watch their friends get shot, as one interviewed individual did. In fact, everyone has a different relationship with Cleveland, which is why the exhibit is so interesting at this time in Cleveland's history. While students worry about losing their art programs, others are concerned with "crooked cops," and even more are simply annoyed with terrible traffic during construction season. Tens of thousands gather at Progressive Field watching the Indians at the same time while others anticipate better transportation with the improvements on Euclid Avenue. "The Mind of Cleveland" allows these different views of the city to exhume themselves for others to see.
"The Mind of Cleveland" is on display at CIA's Reinberger Galleries until May 3. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, and the gallery is closed on Monday. For more information on the exhibit, visit themindofcleveland.org, or cia.edu/galleries/galleries.php.
