Opportunity Corridor Public Art Plan (12_16_16 final draft)

O P P O R T U N I

T Y

C O R R

I D O R

PUBLIC ART PLAN

“We Are Here” is a documentary poem by local writer Ali McClain

We Are Here Do not consider us forgotten.

We are here.

We are here with strength & beauty.

Can’t you hear us?

Don’t you see us?

These are our homes.

We live here.

We plant our gardens here.

We drive our kids to school here.

We bend towards the light of the sun here.

We thrive here.

We work here.

We are here.

“Public art helps the community express itself – it

creates art that is meaningful and can connect the community to the past and the future...”

- Marlane Weslian, Neighborhood Development Officer

at Slavic Village Development Corporation

Introduction

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Opening Statement................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Opportunity Corridor Context Map.....................................................................................................................................3 What is Public Art?................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The Benefits of Public Art....................................................................................................................................................... 7

Poetry as Part of the Plan........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Where the Opportunity Corridor Meets Citywide Goals..................................................................................................11

Neighborhood Arts and Cultural Assets

Connecting to Local Arts and Culture..................................................................................................................................15 Fundraising and Strategies.................................................................................................................................................... 17 Neighborhood Cultural Assets Matrix..................................................................................................................................19 Neighborhood Culutral Assets Map.................................................................................................................................. 23

Themes

Section Overview: Embracing Neighborhood Narratives and Values..........................................................................27 Building on Cultural Foundations........................................................................................................................................ 29 The Importance of Cultural Assembly..................................................................................................................................33 Arts and the Faith Community.............................................................................................................................................. 34 Acknowledging Grief and Cross Generational Empowerment......................................................................................35 A Selection of poems by Ali McClain....................................................................................................................................38

Typologies

Walls........................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Gateways................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Plazas......................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Streetscapes............................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Medians.................................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Bridges and Underpasses..................................................................................................................................................... 55 Programming........................................................................................................................................................................... 58

Opportunity Corridor Art Zones

Public Art Enhancement Zones Map...................................................................................................................................61 Slavic Village Entryway Zone..................................................................................................................................................63 Kingsbury Run Zone................................................................................................................................................................64 Northfolk Southern Railroad Underpass..............................................................................................................................65 Buckeye Woodland Zone.......................................................................................................................................................66 Fairfax Zone...............................................................................................................................................................................67 University Circle and Fairfax Entryway Zone....................................................................................................................... 68

Conclusion

71

Image Sources

75

Acknowlegements and Resources

73

Left and right columns show existing neighborhood scenes, middle column shows precendent public art and programming projects.

INTRODUCTION

OPENING STATEMENT LAND studio was engaged by the Opportunity Corridor Partnership to

develop a plan for public art along the Opportunity Corridor, a proposed

three-mile roadway connecting I-490 at East 55th Street to University Circle.

This $330M project is being constructed by the Ohio Department of

Transportation and includes financial support from the City of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Opportunity Corridor will run through several of Cleveland’s most

disadvantaged neighborhoods, an area known as the “Forgotten Triangle.”

As of this writing, Phase 1, which includes widening East 105th Street, is

underway. Future phases of the project, however, include building a road through neighborhoods with a history of disinvestment. Because much

of the road does not yet exist, developing an art plan for it comes with a

particular set of challenges. For starters, where the road will go and what it will ultimately look like is difficult to imagine. From East 55th Street to

Quincy Avenue, the road will run roughly parallel to the Greater Cleveland

Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) tracks. Throughout large areas around the

future road, there is significant vacancy, blight, and abandonment, though a handful of residential and commercial properties were acquired during the planning process.

In order to understand the perspectives of people living within the

neighborhoods impacted by the Opportunity Corridor, LAND studio

conducted a series of interviews with neighborhood representatives and took tours of the Opportunity Corridor project area. While talking with

people living in the areas affected by the roadway, it became clear that this

project is not having an effect on how people perceive their communities—

either positively or negatively. Most people are resigned to the fact that this project is an inevitability which will not, for the most part, affect day-to-day living.

This is not to say that people are unfamiliar with the project. A more direct

link to University Circle has existed in some form for decades. To some, this project is simply viewed as a different iteration of the ill-fated 1963 Clark,

Lee and Heights Freeways proposal. A product of mid-20th century Urban

Renewal planning, the proposed freeway project was ultimately abandoned

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Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

due to a surge in grassroots protest. The scale of the Opporunity Corridor

project has changed from a highway to a boulevard over the years, but for

many people, there is a “I’ll believe it when I see it” mentality surrounding the current construction plans.

In order to ensure that investments in the arts along Opportunity Corridor have a positive impact, the process by which the art is created will be as

important as the final product. A common refrain heard from community members was appreciation for being asked their thoughts on public art

planning and dismay over feeling disenfranchised from community projects in general. People within these communities are tired of outsiders doing

things “for” them. They want to be part of the conversation and the solution around the future of where they live.

Many people, however, are striving to improve both their own and their

neighbors’ quality of life. These are neighborhoods comprised of people

who have been marginalized, victimized, and stereotyped for decades. There are serious wounds that need to be addressed in how members of these

communities are treated by the powers that be and there must be avenues for allowing residents to tell their stories in their own words.

There is an opportunity in these neighborhoods to reframe the roadway—at least as it is related to the arts—as an impetus to ensure that the arts are

integrated into broader revitalization strategies. Rather than focus exclusively on artwork along the Opportunity Corridor project itself, the communities could see greater benefit if the arts were infused into the neighborhoods which the roadway crosses. The arts can help people see themselves in a

different light, bring people together, and provide a platform for new voices and visions to emerge.

Photos show a variety of precendent public art and programming projects.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 2

OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR CORRIDOR CONTEXT MAP NEIGHBORHOODS blocks general ColorColor blocks showshow general areasareas of of City of Cleveland neighborhoods City of Cleveland neighborhoods that

thatOpportunity border the Opportunity Corridor. boarder Corridor. The

Phase 1 of the road is currently under road is currently under construction. construction.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITY

CORRIDOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR BUILDING FOOTPRINTS

BUILDING FOOTPRINTS ROADS ROADS

CENTRAL

SLAVIC VILLAGE

3

1/2 mile 1/2 mile

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

FAIRFAX

BUCKEYE

KINSMAN

WHAT IS PUBLIC ART? Public art is different from other art forms in that it usually exists in the

public realm and is thus continuously accessible to anyone. It can consist

of a freestanding artwork or come in the form of an artist-designed or artist enhanced element, such as a bench, bike rack, or utility cabinet that serves

an additional practical function. It can be temporary or permanent, formally commissioned or generated casually. It can emerge from a public artist

residency or an appointed committee of citizens. The roles of public art are many and vary from place to place.

Public art can beautify, provide comfort, promote a neighborhood, set

forth a challenge, or alter a perspective. In a community that may appear

indistinguishable from other similar places, public art can begin to create

an identity for that community as a specific place, or, in a place degraded

by disinvestment or disaster, provide a sign of commitment to the future or hope for renewed vitality.

This plan enumerates a handful of opportunities for major public art

installations, which would involve significant budgets and require months or years of preparation, and also encourages smaller-scale projects, whether

temporary or permanent, that could be undertaken with limited budgets or

within the scope of other capital projects, such as streetscape improvements.

This plan also seeks to encourage informal public art installations and

ongoing programming on the part of local artists, residents, and community groups.

Reference: land-studio.org/files/projects/kentpublicartmasterplanweb.pdf

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Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Photo to the right shows Fresh Camp, a Cleveland-based community-focused youth hiphop group, preforming in downtown Cleveland during the summer of 2016.

THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC ART ART ATTRACTS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES The existence of arts organizations and prevalence of arts may play a role in

attracting residents and businesses to relocate to a community by improving its image and making it more appealing. This is especially true for attracting highly skilled, high-wage residents, who will have a larger economic impact than less-skilled people. Businesses, including those that employ highly

trained mobile personnel, may consider the presence of art venues when

making relocation decisions. The presence of the arts (and thus an improved image of an area) may work to enhance the impact of tax incentives for business location decisions along the Opportunity Corridor.

ART ATTRACTS INVESTMENTS By improving a community’s image, people may feel more confident about investing in that community. So, for example, people might be more likely

to buy property in an area that they feel is “up-and-coming” because of the

presence of the arts, banks may be more likely to lend to businesses in areas perceived as more secure and stable, and so on.

ART IMPROVES INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING Engaging in creative activities appears to improve physical health. This

could be due in part to its ability to relieve stress. Arts engagement widens and strengthens social bonds, which also improves health, even on a

physiological level. Attending arts events may be stimulating and relieve

stress, hence leading to improved happiness and life satisfaction. In addition, active participation in the arts may lead to improved self-concept and sense of control over one’s life.

ART IMPROVES SKILLS, CULTURAL CAPITAL, AND CREATIVITY Individuals directly involved in creating or organizing artistic activity may

learn skills that they did not previously have and may demonstrate greater creativity. On the whole, education studies show that children engaged

in an arts class will do better in other subjects and that an arts-integrated

curriculum improves school performance. The basic reason for this may be that children find learning through artistic and creative activity much more enjoyable, and so they have an easier time engaging with the material.

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Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

ART INCREASES SOCIAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY COHESION Art engagement creates a venue that draws people together who would otherwise not be engaged in constructive social activity. In turn, trust is

fostered between participants and thereby increases their generalized trust of others. Arts events may be a source of pride for residents (participants and non-participants alike), increasing their sense of connection to their community, and providing an experience of collective efficacy and civic engagement, which spurs participants to further collective action.

ART HELPS CREATE WALKABLE CITIES Developed in Europe, traffic calming is a system of design and management strategies that aim to balance traffic on streets with other uses. It was

founded on the idea that streets should help create and preserve a sense of place, that their purpose is for people to walk, stroll, look, gaze, meet,

play, shop and even work alongside cars – but not be dominated by them.

Public art can be used as an important tool in the traffic calming toolkit

to take a different approach from treating the street only as a conduit for

vehicles passing through at the greatest possible speed. Well-designed and

integrated public art can lessen the impact of motor vehicle traffic by slowing it down, or literally “calming” it. This helps build human-scale places and an environment friendly to people on foot.

ARTS STIMULATES LOCAL ECONOMY Tourists may visit a community primarily in order to attend an arts event

(alternatively, tourists may prolong a trip in order to attend an arts event).

They will spend directly on the arts event and may also shop, eat at a local restaurant, and stay at a hotel in the community. To the extent that these tourist dollars are spent by the arts organization – as well as the stores,

restaurants and hotels – on local goods and services, the dollars brought in

to the community for an arts event will have indirect multiplier effects on the local economy.

Reference for The Benefits of Public Art section: www.princeton.edu/~artspol/workpap/WP20%20-%20Guetzkow. pdf. Additional reference for Art Helps Create Walkable Cities paragraph: pps.org/reference/livememtraffic/ Photos show a variety of precendent public art and programming projects. The top image shows an interactive art installation at the Tate St Ives that invited visitors to have their height added to the walls of a gallery. The center image shows a giant mural project

by HENSE, who was commissioned to paint four massive grain silos in Northam, Western Australia. The bottom image shows The Public Wish Box, a project installed in Covent Garden in Central London that aimed to provide a fun and playful experience for everyday people by inviting anyone to submit his or her wishes into a the box.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 8

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Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

POETRY AS PART OF THIS PLAN To give community members a forum for sharing their feelings about

their neighborhoods and the Opportunity Corridor project, LAND studio

engaged poet and performer Ali McClain to be part of the planning process for this project. Ms. McClain conducted several poetry writing workshops

in various community venues to provide an outlet for people to document their lives through creative writing. Ms. McClain taught participants about

“documentary poetry” and encouraged them to share their ideas through

this literary medium. Documentary poetry combines journalism and primary source materials with verse, resulting in written and performative activism.

Poems written by both Ms. McClain and members of the community, as

well as insights and perspectives from various interviews and conversations, are woven into this plan—allowing for the voices of these communities to

be directly seen and heard side by side with recommended strategies for community betterment through the arts.

The main conclusions from LAND studio’s and Ms. McClain’s engagement within these communities are:

•

There is an existing base of cultural assets that needs to be activated

and better utilized in these neighborhoods. The Opportunity Corridor project can help to achieve this goal.

•

People need a voice. They want to be part of the process that results in

•

The process for creating future artworks is just as important as the final

positive changes to their neighborhoods.

product. This process must include community engagement and result in empowered residents in order to be successful.

Photos to the left show people living and working in the Opportunity Corridor neighborhoods. Ali McClain is pictured in the top right photo.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 10

WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR MEETS CITYWIDE GOALS In 2005, the City of Cleveland launched a master planning initiative called the Connecting Cleveland 2020 Plan which outlined policies and strategies surrounding topics of citywide and neighborhood significance

such as housing, retail, economic development, education, recreation, safety, and arts and culture. The plan

laid out specific objectives pertaining to arts development with the overarching goal of enriching the lives of Clevelanders and strengthening economic vitality by establishing Cleveland as a center for the arts.

Images from neighborhoods in Cleveland.

11 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

In April 2015, with participation of community representatives and the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Cleveland City Planning Commission (CPC) developed The Opportunity Corridor Aesthetic Enhancements Manual which outlined a comprehensive design concept for the Opportunity Corridor. The manual attempts

to reflect the character and values of the communities along the corridor through various design treatments of roadway infrastructure.

The comprehensive list of the city’s arts and culture priorities outlined below, along with CPC’s aesthetic manual, provide a useful framework in addressing the challenges of creating and implementing arts-based initiatives, projects and programming. Opportunity Corridor could become a test case in achieving the city’s goals in concert with ongoing development in these neighborhoods.

ARTS AND THE NEW ECONOMY Support and market the arts as a magnet to attract creative and entrepreneurial individuals to the Cleveland region, thereby generating economic activity and jobs.

ARTS DISTRICTS Establish and market “arts districts” as an approach to revitalizing neighborhoods where galleries and other arts venues are concentrated.

CATALYSTS Capitalize on the presence of theaters, museums and other major arts venues as catalysts for neighborhood and regional development.

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE ARTS Create local mechanisms for permanent and predictable public

funding for a diversity of arts endeavors in the Cleveland region, supplementing private and other governmental funding sources.

PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS Strengthen the City of Cleveland’s Public Art Program and work with other

governments, developers and corporations to incorporate public art as a standard component of development projects throughout the city.

NEIGHBORHOOD PLACEMAKING Use public art to strengthen the sense of place and highlight the heritage and character of each Cleveland neighborhood.

LIVE-WORK DISTRICTS Create supportive environments for local artists by establishing live-work districts, where obsolete industrial buildings are transformed into residences and studios through use of financial incentives and innovative zoning.

ACCESSIBILITY Ensure that the arts are accessible and affordable to residents of all neighborhoods, income levels and ages, including arts programming in the public schools, and expanded publicity and outreach.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY Ensure that the arts fully reflect and represent the cultural and demographic diversity of the Cleveland community.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 12

Images show existing Opportunity Corridor neighborhood scenes.

NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS AND CULTURE ASSETS

CONNECTING TO LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE There are arts and cultural assets within the neighborhoods along the

Opportunity Corridor that provide a variety of services and programming.

These assets greatly contribute to the identity and vibrancy of these

communities. From performance halls, schools, community centers,

libraries, and places of worship, these institutions serve as anchors within

each neighborhood by bringing people together through the exchange of

ideas, the celebration of cultural expression, and a diversity of programmed activities catering to people of all ages.

A key resource in connecting to the arts in many neighborhoods are

community development corporations (CDCs). CDCs originally came into prominence in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement and functioned

as advocates for residents in a geographically defined area, addressing

issues such as affordable housing, crime prevention, and neighborhood beautification. Today, CDCs assume many different shapes and forms.

Some hold true to their grassroots origins, while others have shifted focus to economic development, city planning, real estate development, and other pursuits.

CDCs are useful in the Opportunity Corridor neightborhoods because they would be to harness existing community engagement and participation.

CDCs bridge the gap between the business community and the residents, addressing concerns ranging from design principles to trash removal and

street lighting. CDCs also acquire funding to install and maintain works of public art within their neighborhoods.

One of the opportunities that the roadway project affords is a chance to

better connect the cultural assets located in close proximity to the corridor to both their own communities and communities across this region. Linkages in resources and collaborations could be formed between CDCs, arts-related

organizations, and community centers along the Opportunity Corridor route to create more robust programming and cross-cultural exchange.

Reference: Kent Public Art Plan

15 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Photos to the right show a variety of precendent public art and programming projects. For example, the top left image shows Yardhouse, an collaborative workplace building designed by Assemble for community members in east London. The designers used the project to demonstrate how areas with short-term vacancies can be used to provide temporary workplaces, which can easily be demounted and reassembled elsewhere if the land is needed for a new use.

FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES There are several national grants available that focus on “creative

placemaking” efforts. The National Endowment for the Arts currently has several opportunities:

•

The Our Town program, which requires an arts organization to partner

•

The Art Works program, which focuses on either planning or design

•

The Creativity Connects program, which pairs the arts with

with municipal government

projects

nontraditional sectors

More information about each of these programs can be found at nea.gov.

The Ohio Arts Council has several programs that could be used for implementing some of the projects suggested in this plan:

•

The ArtsNEXT program provides grants of $5,000-$20,000 for

bold, groundbreaking projects that will be undertaken by nonprofit organizations

•

The Bridging Cultural Diversity program grants $1,000-$3,000 for

•

The Capacity Building program grants $1,000-$5,000 to organizations

projects and organizations that represent culturally diverse populations

that are looking to expand their knowledge of working with the arts

These grants are highly competitive. Successful projects bring together strong and unique collaborations to achieve community improvement.

17 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

The city of Lucerne, Switzerland has designed a campaign to motivate citizens to keep the city streets clean and free of trash. The city has coordinated 16 games used to inspired citizens to do their part in keeping the city clean.

More locally, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture is considering a shift in how it funds individual artists. Future grants will be made to artists and organizations who are working with diverse and emerging artists on projects that are aimed at

community outreach and engagement. While the details of this shift are still underway, this is an opportunity that organizations and artists living in the

neighborhoods along the future Opportunity Corridor should continue to pay attention to.

Additionally, Cleveland is one of only a handful of cities in the country

that has a Foundation Center, which is a staffed library targeted at helping organizations find grants. There are many opportunities for artistic

engagement in these neighborhoods. Staff are available at the Foundation Center, located at 1422 Euclid Avenue, to help with specific requests.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 18

NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL ASSETS MATRIX The following is a listing of some of the neighborhood cultural assets in proximity to the proposed Opportunity Corridor. This list is by no means exhaustive and is intended to highlight the diverse arts offerings and the

potential linkages that exist. Among these assets are dedicated arts and cultural organizations, educational

institutions such as schools and libraries which offer a variety of arts programming opportunities, and CDCs

which typically connect residents to cultural resources and arts-related programs within a given neighborhood.

CENTRAL

KINSMAN

SLAVIC VILLAGE

INSTITUTION

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

Slavic Village Development (SVD)

CDC

SVD is a non-profit CDC serving the North and South Broadw

Bohemian National Hall/Czech Cultural Center

Cultural Center

Houses many activities of Sokol Greater Cleveland and is a co

University Settlement

Social Service Agency

University Settlement is a nonprofit social service agency serv

Broadway School of Music and the Arts

Arts and Music

A community arts center featuring music instruction, group a

Morgana Run Trail

Arts and Recreation

Completed in 2007, the trail runs along a former rail corridor including murals and sculpture.

St. Hyacinth Neighborhood

Arts District

The Hyacinth Lofts make up a live-work building with 51 uniq fields, but targets those in film and music.

Burten, Bell Carr (BBC) Development, Inc.

CDC

BBC is a non-profit neighborhood development organization

CornUcopia Place

Community Center

CornUcopia Place is a community facility providing nutrition purpose space available for private events.

Garden Valley Neighborhood House (GVNH)

Community Center

GVNH is a non-profit community center and food pantry serv

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)

Government Agency

CMHA owns and manages property and administers rent sub persons good, safe, affordable housing.

Anton Grdina Elementary School

Elementary School

Anton Grdina is one of the most popular CMSD Invaestmen place to address the needs of every child.

Cleveland State University (CSU)

Higher Education

Established in 1964, CSU is a public university with more than programs.

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) Metro Campus

Higher Education

Founded in 1962, Tri-C is the oldest, and largest community

Friendly Inn Settlement Corporation

Social Service Agency

Founded in 1874, services target families and individuals who Planning Areas.

Foluke Cultural ARTS

Arts and Music

Foluke’s mission is to offer instruction and exposure to the ar race, religious affiliation, or economic background.

Cleveland Public Library – Woodland Branch

Library

George Washington Carver STEM

Elementary School

19 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Woodland Branch Library is a public library affiliated with Cle

The school is focused on an applied science curriculum. Cor Studies.

ARTS PROJECTS/RESOURCES

way neighborhoods.

Artist/Makers initiatives, Cycle of Arches, Newburgh Park, Rooms to Let

ommunity event hall.

Sokol Greater Cleveland, gymnastics, special events, exhibitions, dinners, concerts, classes

ving the Broadway/Slavic Village.

Youth and family services, adult wellness programs, workforce skills development, arts and culture offerings

arts classes, and year round public concert series.

Youth music classes, private music lessons, community outreach, concerts and events

r through Slavic Village. The trail features public art

RotaFlora, Pixelating Morgana, multi-purpose trail for bikers, hikers, etc., Ohio & Erie Canal Tow Path Trail

que suites. It is home to many artists from various

Arts community, housing and studio space for artists and makers

n serving Central and Kinsman neighborhoods.

Urban Agriculture Zone, Box Spot, housing and economic development, health and wellness programs, master planning

education, cooking demos, an open multi-

Nutrition classes, radio station, Bridgeport Café, farmers market, community meetings and events

vicing Garden Valley.

Vocational training, youth programming, music and performance, exercise and dance classes

bsidy programs to provide eligible low-income

Community centers, GED classes, theater programs, after-school programs, clinics, youth programs, senior programs

nt Schools where targeted academic supports are in

Arts, music, media, athletics, Boy Scouts of America

n 120,000 alumni and offers over 200 academic

Waetjen Auditorium, Allen Theatre, Drinko Recital Hall, The Galleries at CSU, Poetry Center, Playhouse Square

college in Ohio with an enrollment of over 30,000.

Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame archive, JazzFest, art galleries, performing arts facilities, Creative Arts Academy

o reside in Central, Fairfax, and Downtown Social

Youth programs, early childhood, senior services, health services

rts and arts education for all ages, regardless of

Dance, drama and voice training, music and arts education. Focus on at-risk youth

eveland Public Library.

“America Reads” tutoring program, computer classes, community resources

re subjects include ELA, Math, Science, and Social

Sports programs, choir, 4 – H agriculture program, library reading club

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 20

NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL ASSETS (CONTINUED)

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

FAIRFAX

BUCKEYE

INSTITUTION

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

Saint Luke’s Foundation (SLF)

Community Foundation

Neighborhood foundation dedicated to improving the health within its service area.

Cleveland Public Library – Rice Branch

Public Library

Located in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood, Rice is surroun

Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation (BSSDC)

CDC

BSSDC is the CDC that serves the Buckeye, Larchmere, Shake

East End Neighborhood House (EENH)

Community Center

EENH is 102-year neighborhood based center providing mult the history of Settlement House Movement.

Larchmere Arts District

Arts District

Larchmere Arts District is home to a collection of art, antique

Kenneth L. Johnson Recreation Center

Rec Center

Recreational center serving the Buckeye neighborhood.

Neighborhood Connections

Community Resource

Neighborhood Connections is the community-building prog 2003. The organization invests in citizen-led neighborhood p

Karamu House

Arts and Music

Karamu House is the oldest African-American theater in the c

Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation (FRDC)

CDC

FRDC is the CDC whose mission is to improve and enhance community development.

PNC Fairfax Connection

Community Resource Center

This center is a hub connecting the Fairfax community to ser Cleveland.

Fairfax Recreation Center

Rec Center

Recreational center servicing the Fairfax neighborhood.

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center (CCJJC)

Government Agency

The CCJJC facility accommodates the Juvenile Court system and detention activities for youth aged 10 – 18.

University Circle Inc.

CDC

UCI serves as University Circle’s chamber of commerce, prov functions for the area, including security, transportation admi

Cleveland School of the Arts (CSA)

High School

CSA is a specialty arts school in the Cleveland Municipal Sch into its teaching approach.

The Music Settlement (TMS)

Music School

TMS offers music therapy, early childhood education, and m experience in Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA)

Art Museum

CMA houses a diverse permanent collection of more than 45

Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA)

Arts College

CIA is one of the nation’s leading accredited independent co

21 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

ARTS PROJECTS/RESOURCES

h and well-being of individuals, families, communities

Family services, neighborhood placemaking initiatives, health programs, community programming and events

nded by an active arts community.

Arts gallery, performance and events space, tutoring, community resource center

er-Square and Woodland Hills neighborhoods.

Cultural arts and entertainment programming, strategic investments, civic and community building initiatives

lti-services for children, families and seniors based on

Family services, individual learning center, youth services, senior services, foster grandparent program, AA program

e and auction galleries, shops, and restaurants.

Art gallery and studios, clothing, retail, boutiques, design, arts classes Sports and fitness programs, meeting room

gram of the Cleveland Foundation established in projects.

Workshops, community building activities, NeighborUp Network, health initiatives, place-based projects

country.

Theater performances, arts education courses (acting, dancing, music)

e the Fairfax neighborhood through comprehensive

rvices and cultural events throughout greater

m for the County and administers all court related

Health and wellness, community building initiatives, parks and art-integrated green spaces Arts and culture workshops and classes, career advancement, financial education, health and nutrition, technology Sports and fitness programs, meeting room Intervention, rehabilitation, education services for youth offender. Various outreach programs

viding many administrative and quasi-governmental inistration, and marketing.

Museums, galleries, music, performance, film, parks, gardens, universities, libraries, places of worship, shopping, retail, dining, historical landmarks

hool District that incorporates all aspects of the arts

Dance and theater, music and voice, painting and drawing, photography, poetry, playwriting, short fiction and screenwriting

music instruction to people of all ages and levels of

Music therapy, music classes, early childhood and preschool, dance, camps, private lessons, BOP STOP and music performance

5,000 works of art from around the world.

Education programs and classes, family guides and art projects, art studios, research, early learning initiative, future connections

olleges of art and design.

Graphic design, photography, visual arts, continuing education and community outreach, young artist classes

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 22

NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL ASSETS CULTURAL MAP ASSETS

The following is a map showing some The following is a map showing some of the key neighborhood cultural assets of the key neighborhood cultural within close proximity of the proposed assets within close proximity of the Opportunity Corridor roadway. This proposed Opportunity Corridor list is by no means exhaustive and is roadway. This list is by no means intended to highlight the diverse arts exhaustive and is intended to offerings and the potential connections highlight the diverse arts offerings and that exist. the potential linkages that exist.

CHES Neighborhood Connections

CSU

BUILDING FOOTPRINTS BUILDING FOOTPRINTS

ARTSARTS AND AND CULTURE CULTURE

CEDA

CENTRAL

ROADS ROADS ASSETS ASSETS

CARN

Foluke Cultural ARTS

FUTURE OPPORTUNITY FUTURE OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR CORRIDOR

EUCL

Friendly Inn

Tri-C

George Washington Carver STEM

SCHOOLS SCHOOLS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LIBRARIES RECREATION OTHER COMMUNITY CENTER OTHER

WOO D

LAND

AVE

Cleveland Public Library Woodland Branch

I-77

Garden Va Neighbor House

University Settlement

SLAVIC VILLAGE Bohemian National Hall/Czech Cultural Center

23

1/2 1/2 milemile

St. Hyacinth Neighborho

Music Settlement

UCI

Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland Museum of Art

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

STER AVE

LID AVE Cleveland School for the Arts

PNC Fairfax Connections

NEGIE AVE

AR AVE

S KE

O ST VD BL

Fairfax Rec Center Karamu House

QUINCY AVE

alley rhood

h ood

Juvenile Justice Center

FAIRFAX

Ken Johnson Rec Center

E. 79 ST

E. 75 ST

MLK JR DR

FRDC

East End Neighborhood House The Rid-All Green Partnership

BBC/Cornucopia Place Anton Grdina Elementary School

KI

NS

MA

N

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

RD

KINSMAN

FAIRH IL

L BLVD

Larchmere Arts District

WOODLAND AVE Harvey Rice Elementary School and Cleveland Public Library Rice Branch

Saint Luke’s Foundation

BUCKEYE

BSSDC

E. 116TH ST

CENTRAL AVE

Left and right columns show existing neighborhood scenes, middle column shows precendent public art and programming projects.

THEMES

SECTION OVERVIEW: EMBRACING NEIGHBORHOOD NARRATIVES AND VALUES Based on conversations with community residents and stakeholders, several themes emerged which could provide inspiration for the content of future artworks.

These themes vary, but at their core, they are about recognizing, embracing, and sharing the values of the people who live in the neighborhoods that the Opportunity Corridor will traverse. For many people, they have felt

invisible or seen as lesser than by others in the broader Greater Cleveland community.

Providing a platform for individuals to be celebrated, have their voices heard, and make their lives and contributions visible could be a victory for this

roadway. Shining a spotlight on a place and helping people understand it makes it real—not an abstract location on a map.

The themes provided in this section embrace hope, resiliency, connection

to each other, and a celebration of diversity. They are starting points that can provide a spark of inspiration for the artists who create public artworks in the future.

27 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Photo shows one of Danish artist Jeppe Hein’s modified benches which invites residents to interact with the benches and question the nature of social behavior in urban spaces.

BUILDING ON CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS Each neighborhood that Opportunity Corridor runs through has its own

identity and cultural assets. It is important that public artwork that comes

from this process reflects these unique histories and builds on the existing

arts organizations and programs that are already active in each community.

SLAVIC VILLAGE Slavic Village has combated the negative impacts from the financial and housing crash nearly a decade ago by repositioning itself as a national

leader in reimagining urban land use to meet 21st century quality standards.1 Slavic Village showcases the community’s Czech and Polish

MORGANA RUN TRAIL IN S

history by investing in cultural programming and community centers

including the Broadway School of the Arts, Bohemian Hall, and Czech Cultural Center.

Residential pockets around St. Hyacinth, Broadway, E.55th Street, and Fleet Avenue are places where Slavic Village is working to and attract the artist and maker communities. In addition to new parks and green space that are home to numerous concerts, festivals and a Farmer’s Market, Slavic

Village Development (SVD) opened the Morgana Run Bike Trail in 2006,

which connects to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath and has five public art installations, including the iconic 35-foot tall Rotaflora sculpture and the

600-foot-long Pixelating Morgana mural. The “Cycle of Arches” sculpture, also known as the Broadway Arch, spans Broadway Avenue near the

intersection of East 49th Street. The arch serves as a gateway that welcomes residents and visitors into the Slavic Village neighborhood.

BEGINNING OF THE SEASO THE URBAN AGRICULTURE

Since 2009, over $50 million in projects have been completed or are

currently under construction, including the $10 million new Mound School, the $6 million Stefanski Stadium and the $9 million E. 55th RTA Rapid station.2 ¹ www.slavicvillage.org/visit/our-community/culture-and-history/ ² www.slavicvillage.org/visit/our-community/culture-and-history/

KINSMAN Garden Valley Neighborhood House and CornuCopia Place have

become key community anchors along the Kinsman Road corridor and

provide access to the arts and educational opportunities. Burten, Bell, Carr 29 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

NEW-CONSTRUCTION HOM NEAR EAST 39TH STREET

SLAVIC VILLAGE

ON AT THE KINSMAN FARM IN INNOVATION ZONE

Development, Inc. (BBC), the CDC servicing Central, Kinsman, and Garden Valley, is located directly next door to the CornuCopia Place community

facility. Once a 28-acre swath of vacant land, the Urban Agricultural Zone features one of the largest and most innovative urban agriculture districts in the country, housing Rid-All Partnership and Ohio State University

Extension programming, as well as a Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) demonstration green infrastructure site.1 BBC is also looking to operate a radio station from CornuCopia Place and develop a mixed-use

development at the corner of E.81st Street and Kinsman Road called the Box Stop which will complement the entrance of the Urban Agricultural Zone.

BBC has focused its efforts on restoring the residential fabric of the

neighborhoods it serves by facilitating strategic services in combating blight through new housing construction, a free paint program, youth recreation

and education programs, and community security programs. The CDC also provides technical assistance to residents and community groups engaged in neighborhood planning activities.2 ¹ http://www.bbcdevelopment.org/development/social-enterprise/urban-agricultural-innovation-zone/# ² http://www.bbcdevelopment.org/about/mission-history/

CENTRAL Two decades ago, the Central neighborhood contained Cleveland’s most dilapidated, lowest value housing.1 Since then, new housing has

been developed to link existing low- and middle-income residents to the

adjacent business districts of Uptown, Health Tech Corridor, Campus District, Playhouse Square, and downtown Cleveland. As investment and enrollment rise at Cleveland State University’s main campus, the increasing number

of students and professionals has created a strong demand for viable alternative housing.2 The neighborhood is well-poised to capture the spill-

over market of the current inward migration to downtown Cleveland and the nearby business districts proximate to this area.3 Once hub of community activity, Cedar Avenue has been hollowed out from years of disinvestment. Commercial development along Cedar, Central and parts of Woodland Avenues is positioning itself to capitalize on the recent growth of downtown and University Circle.

¹ “Building Stronger Neighborhoods: Kinsman & Central Neighborhood Plan.” Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. March 2018, pg. 11. ² “Building Stronger Neighborhoods: Kinsman & Central Neighborhood Plan.” Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. March 2018, pg. 11. ³ “Building Stronger Neighborhoods: Kinsman & Central Neighborhood Plan.” Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. March 2018, pg. 13.

MES ON CENTRAL AVENUE Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 30

BUCKEYE

Buckeye boasts of a similarly rich, ethnically diverse history in relation to

the neighboring communities of Slavic Village and Fairfax. While much of its former Hungarian population no longer exists, the historic legacy and

architectural character remain. Larchmere and Shaker Square have become hubs of cultural and artistic interaction, hosting popular annual events such as Porchfest, Garlic Festival, and Art and Soul of Buckeye.

The Buckeye community still faces challenges in addressing crime, blight, and stagnant economic growth. Buckeye Road, however, seems poised

to capitalize on recent infrastructure investments from RTA and NEORSD, as well as major investments in community programming, public and

green space development and health initiatives through the Saint Luke’s

NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL BUCKEYE PARK ON BUCKE

Foundation.

FAIRFAX Fairfax is located between downtown Cleveland and University Circle, affording access to many of the city’s attractions and businesses. The

neighborhood is also is home to some of Cleveland’s most important

cultural and economic institutions, including the Cleveland Clinic and Karamu House.1 Established in 1917, Karamu House was a neighborhood settlement that became nationally known for its dedication to interracial theater and the arts.2 Fairfax was also home to several notable African American icons including Langston Hughes, Jesse Owens, Dorothy Dandridge, and Bobby Womack.3

The faith community also plays a pivotal role in Fairfax. Many of the city’s most impressive religious architectural landmarks are located in Fairfax.4 These landmarks have been spiritual centers for many different faiths

THE 249 VOLENTEERS WHO KABOOM PLAYGROUND IN

over the decades including Liberty Hill Baptist Church, St. James African

Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, True Holiness Temple, Antioch Baptist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Mormon church, and Masjid Bilal.5 Some

6,000 to 8,000 churchgoers gather in Fairfax for weekend services, bringing in people from around the region.6 Great opportunity exists to leverage adjacent development of the Cleveland

Clinic and University Circle with the strategic planning efforts to create an art, culture, and innovation district centered around Karamu and redevelopment of former commercial districts on E.83rd Street, and Cedar and Quincy avenues. Plans are in the works for the creation of Innovation Square, a

31 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

WADE OVAL WENESDAY IN

L AT THE ART AND SOUL OF EYE AVE.

O HELPED TO BUILD N FAIRFAX (SUMMER 2016)

N UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

mixed-income, mixed-use urban community between East 100th and105th Streets. The project consists of executive rental housing, apartments, retail

and existing housing. The goal is to develop a compact, pedestrian-friendly,

mixed-use neighborhood. IBM Corporation is also targeting the land at East 105th Street and Cedar Avenue, next to the Clinic’s main campus, for a twostory building that could be finished late-2017.7 ¹ http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=F8 ² http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=KH ³ http://fairfaxrenaissance.org/historyneighborhood.html 4 http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=F8 5 http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=F8 6 Interview with Denise VanLeer 7http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/08/ibm_eyes_new_office_building_o.html

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

University Circle is Cleveland’s major cultural, educational, and health care center and one of the foremost clusters of institutions of its kind in the

world.¹ Boasting world-class architecture and a rich history of philanthropic

investment, University Circle provides the region with more than 30,000 jobs, and attracts 13,000 students and approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.² As University Circle continues to attract major development and its

institutions expand, there has been a recognition among developers and institutions, who haven’t always been the most welcoming neighbors

to adjacent communities, to forge more meaningful relationships and to remove previous physical and perceived barriers of entry through neighborhood programming and community outreach.

The Greater University Circle Initiative, formed in 2005, looked to address the specific challenges of some of the Cleveland’s most disinvested

neighborhoods while instructing socially responsive redevelopment strategies through institutional partnership, physical development,

community engagement and economic inclusion. Future investment will

focus on the adjacent neighborhoods of Hough, Glenville, Upper Chester, St. Clair Superior, and Buckeye to ensure all enjoy equitable access to

the same economic and social benefits that University Circle’s growth has spurred.

¹ http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=UC ² https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Circle

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 32

THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL ASSEMBLY Art represents the open exchange of ideas and culture. In many ways,

Karamu House has embodied these ideals for generations. Karamu, centrally located along the Opportunity Corridor route, has been considered a

nucleus of art, culture, and inclusion since its inception. The name ‘Karamu’ comes from the Swahili phrase meaning ‘a place of joyful meeting.’¹ In

Karamu, art was used as means of social integration and assembly, with its programming reaching a wide variety of people, experiences and tastes. Historically, Karamu directly engaged three distinctly different

neighborhoods: Fairfax, Central, and Slavic Village. Over the past few

decades, the organization fell on difficult times in attempting to redefine itself in the face of shifting demographics. New leadership, however, is

working toward reviving this treasured institution and has recommitted

itself to building trust in the community, providing a variety of offerings to

spark intergenerational engagement, and facilitating communication across boundaries.² The time seems right to convene the community around this local, regional and nationally significant asset.

Other places of assembly such as schools, libraries, and community centers are places where ideas and beliefs are exchanged in a safe and open

environment and are crucial to communities’ health and sustainability. ¹http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=KH ²Interview with Tony Sias

33 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Images from Opportunity Corridor neighbo

orhoods.

ARTS AND THE FAITH COMMUNITY In terms of a broader assembly already taking place on a weekly basis,

hundreds of religious institutions throughout the Opportunity Corridor neighborhoods play an important role in their communities and attract

thousands of churchgoers weekly. Many of these communities , however,

lack the basic amenities of access to quality schools, open space, local food offerings, and infrastructure to attract and keep families in the areas where

they worship. Varied religious programming from music and performance, youth engagement, ministry, outreach and social services provide great

opportunities for the faith community to connect to the places where these religious centers reside.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 34

ACKNOWLEDGING GRIEF AND CROSS GENERATIONAL EMPOWERMENT Decades of racial tensions, political disinvestment and broken promises,

and the indifference of those with the means to leave, have left generations of disenfranchised residents with little reason to believe that their situation will change or that even a project like the Opportunity Corridor has the

communities’ best interests at heart. Community activists balk at the idea of having their neighborhood tied to a particular place and time which does not exist anymore. While history and legacy are prevalent forces that have

shaped the physical landscape, the harsh realities of crumbling infrastructure, social, economic, and health disparities take up much of the communities’ immediate time and energy.

As neighborhoods grapple with their past, CDCs and community groups

look to leverage legacy with future potential. There is a strong belief that all generations must be involved in this reimagining and that the involvement and investment of the Opportunity Corridor roadway must come from everyone, not just a trickle down from top to bottom.1 The youth from

these hard-hit neighborhoods need outlets for their energies. Investment in

tutoring, discipline, cooperation and teamwork have all been cited as ways of better involving youth in their community.2 More robust youth programming involving children from early childhood throughout high school are being

promoted at the community level through local schools and social programs provided by Garden Valley Neighborhood House, Saint Luke’s Foundation,

and the various CDCs. Churches can also help bridge the generational gap,

involving families and people of all ages in community ministry and ongoing outreach efforts.

¹ Interview with Gwen Garth ² Interview with Jan Ridgeway

35 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

The Crosswalkabout Project is a public art initiative that encourages community engagement through art in North Adams, MA. Led by artist Phil Sellars and organized by artists and community members, the project invites residents to help repaint the crosswalks of North Adams into bright, colorful artworks.

The history of neglect and disinvestment that took place in Cleveland and

most major industrial cities during the mid-20th century is well-documented.

Well-populated ethnic neighborhoods were decimated as a result of racially motivated upheaval which swept the country, leaving a disproportionate

amount of African American communities to endure the ravages of poverty, blight, and socioeconomic disparity that would plague these communities for decades. The current statistics of negative health impacts which

neighborhoods adjacent to Opportunity Corridor face on a daily basis from infant mortality, to crime, to lead poisoning, and obesity are staggering.1 Communities throughout the east side of Cleveland, in particular Garden

Valley, face some of the highest rates of violent crimes, domestic violence,

HIV/AIDS, and incarceration in the city.² Complicated feelings of grief, loss, pain and frustration still linger in neighborhoods throughout Cleveland.

There is a skepticism that exists, particularly among seniors3, about

Opportunity Corridor’s potential impacts in these communities. ‘Wellintentioned’ plans have come and gone throughout the years, mostly

conducted on, and not in collaboration with, residents. Some have also

expressed a sense of helplessness among younger generations who feel under-represented or unheard4. However, there is hope that Opportunity

Corridor could become more than just a pass-through and a space which

compels people to stop and see each other for who they are, where they are.5 Art is seen as one way to help engage and empower the community

in giving voice to the issues community members face each and every day, while providing an avenue for neighborhoods to explore, address, and attempt to heal feelings of hurt and pain spanning generations.

¹ http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2015/10/dismal_screening_for_lead_pois.html • https://www.clevelandhealth.org/assets/documents/health/health_statistics/2013_Annual_HIVAIDS_ Surveillance_Report_final_revised.pdf • http://places.findthehome.com/l/71618/Cuyahoga-County-OH?utm_source=viz&utm_medium=viz. referral&utm_campaign=viz.ref.4430&utm_viz_id=dhDkOGDQN5r&utm_abt=text&utm_ pubreferrer=wpcomwidgets.com%2F • http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2015/08/ohio_ranks_45th_nationally_on.html • http://www.saintlukesfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/databrieffinalobesity2112v8.pdf • http://www.acluohio.org/blog-posts/a-new-prisoners-report-how-does-ohio-compare ² Interview with Jan Ridgeway ³ Interview with Jan Ridgeway 4 Interview with Jan Ridgeway 5 Interview with Tony Sias

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 36

A SELECTION OF POEMS

BY ALI MCCLAIN To capture and illustrate some elements of the communal feelings that many

residents of the neighborhoods along the future Opportunity Corridor deal with, Ali McClain, a documentary poet, conducted several workshops with residents to discuss their feelings about community.

Ms. McClain uses real-life events, stories, and conversations to capture the

emotions of a moment in time. In her poetry sessions, she often asked participants to describe their neighborhoods through one of the five senses. Sometimes she

heard people describe their homes not by what they have, but by what they don’t have. Using news stories, interviews, and work produced in her writing sessions,

Ms. McClain wrote the following poems as a way of showing some of the feelings that residents of the Opportunity Corridor neighborhoods expressed. Her work demonstrates that there is still grief to recognize and work through among

residents, which is something that art and artists are particularly suited to address.

Black Anthropologist Tell her to forget universities.

Tell her knowledge is in Cleveland.

Back in the heather grey

Hoodies that Black boys wear.

Back in Nike shoeboxes

Void of Jordans & full of Polaroids.

Tell her to study the faces, the swoosh in the eyes.

Do the work.

Document.

Say, remember.

Open memory.

Open Cleveland

Where street intel hangs

At Marathon gas pumps.

Forget universities

and turnpikes and I-90: Roads that detach her from home,

from memory.

Tell her to remember

Shannon, Joyce, Calvin and Gail.

Tell her we need her home To get the stories Keep the stories

Write the stories

And study the stories.

Remembrance All that is left is helium, flowers, wax, glass,

cardstock, cotton and fur.

All this pressure

placed on a bear is heavy.

Their shoe-button eyes have to freeze moments of death.

It takes a collection of courage to face the public.

These are the only eyes

brave enough to stand as evidence

that this corner is a square root of pain.

Visiting the Boys Locked Up I visit the boys locked up.

Could you visit the boys locked up?

Could you listen to the boys locked up?

Could you watch them write down their pain?

I visit the boys locked up.

I watch them pretend to smile.

I hear them talk to the guards.

I hear their bellies fret.

I see their eyes tear.

I watch them long for home.

We Are Here Do not consider us forgotten.

We are here.

We are here with strength & beauty.

Can’t you hear us?

Don’t you see us?

These are our homes.

We live here.

We plant our gardens here.

We drive our kids to school here.

We bend towards the light of the sun here.

We thrive here.

We work here.

We are here.

Images show precendent public art and programming projects.

TYPOLOGIES

There are several types of public art projects that could work in different locations along Opportunity Corridor. These are not

location-specific recommendations, but are treatments which

could be considered as funding is raised or community interest grows.

WALLS There are a number of retaining walls, underpass façades,

and building walls that could become locations for public

art investments. Architectural murals, which respond to the

shape and size of the building they are on, can be relatively inexpensive and are excellent opportunities for community engagement.

Walls with intact, flat surfaces are well-suited to both paint and vinyl applications. For painting, the walls would need to be

prepared with an exterior-grade paint before artwork is applied.

For heat-applied vinyl, an image could be created digitally, printed on vinyl, and then applied to a retaining wall or

building façade using a tool that melts the vinyl onto the surface. This method works especially well on a wall that

has historic features (such as raw brick) which should not be permanently altered.

In general, but on roadways in particular, using the full wall or a large portion of the wall results in artwork that seems more integrated into its surroundings. Many outdoor artworks,

particularly those created by public agencies, tend to have

artwork applied to panels which are hung similarly to how art is hung in a gallery. In the public realm, ensuring proper scale is key to creating a strong impact.

When a wall is damaged or not flat, hanging sculptural twodimensional pieces of art can be a cost-effective option to

ensure that funds are not depleted solely on preparing the

surface. Along Opportunity Corridor, there are building walls that face the road which could be good candidates for a treatment of this type.

45 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Los Angeles artist Audrey Kawasaki looks on to her mural titled “Fragile” as part of the 2016 POW! WOW! Hawaii street art festival. Large scale murals are a relative low-cost way to transform giant blank surfaces into major works of art. A series of murals in a concentrated area can create the feeling of an outdoor art gallery and is an easy way to bring color, illustration, and design to overlooked corners of a neighborhood.

GATEWAYS Along Opportunity Corridor, there are several locations

which can be considered gateways from one neighborhood to the next or a key connection from the roadway into a

neighborhood. Gateways can be recognized in a variety of

different ways—from a simple neighborhood “welcome” sign to a signature artwork.

When considering gateways, it’s important to get the scale of

the artwork right and make sure it is in a place that makes sense both geographically and in the visual landscape. You want to

know where you are, what you are entering, and ensure that the gateway is inviting.

Other ways to consider gateway elements are to highlight the existing architecture nearby. A prominent building structure, large nearby tree, entrance to a neighborhood amenity, or

other interesting elements can all serve as gateways if treated the right way.

Broadway Arch, a gateway into Slavic Village that spans Broadway near its intersection with East 49th Street. The artwork is designed by Jonathan Kurtz and refers to the city’s street grid and connects an adjacent former gasstation site now being reclaimed as parkland

by Slavic Village Development.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 48

PLAZAS There are several areas along the Opportunity Corridor

where plazas will be built at major intersections. ODOT has currently budgeted $1.3M for 13 of these plazas along the

roadway. These plazas can be places where signage, sculpture, landscaping, and public programming are incorporated.

Because the road is so long, it would be best to make sure

that each plaza is developed appropriately for its surrounding

environment. A one-size-fits-all approach to plaza design along

the corridor would make the roadway feel more like a suburban street than an urban boulevard.

Working with an artist or landscape architect on the plaza

designs can be a way of taking advantage of the greenscape along the road and making it feel inviting to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

Plazas can also be treated as green gateways from the

Opportunity Corridor into the neighborhoods where the road travels. Landscaping, shade trees, fruit trees, bird houses, and

pop-up stages are all tools that can be used to activate a plaza, making it feel like a place instead of land without another purpose.

49 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Photos show precedent plaza and public space projects.

Bottom left images is of “La Cinteca�, a public plaza designed for recreation and managed by the community. The project has encouraged the residents to get to know one another through shared experiences in a communal space.

STREETSCAPES One of the most practical ways to integrate public art into

communities is to focus on streetscape elements that would already be part of the project. For example, most streets

will have tree grates, garbage cans, seating, and bike racks

installed as part of their construction. If stakeholders are able to aggregate those funds and add some additional money for an artist fee, an artist can customize these standard street fixtures to create something unique.

Another simple approach would be to focus on one element of the streetscape and make it special. Artist-designed

streetscape components can add liveliness and a sense of place.

Selecting particular stretches of the Opportunity Corridor

roadway where investment is most likely to concentrated can

be a strategy for incorporating streetscape elements in places that will have the best visibility. It is also a way to spend small amounts of money at a time in a smart, interesting way.

Precedent streetscape and public art projects. These types of projects can help to enhance the character of the area and define a neighborhood’s personality.

Unique paving, street furniture, lighting, and color can also signify to motorists the need to slow down and watch for pedestrians.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 52

MEDIANS The medians that will run down the center of the road through most of the Opportinity Corridor present an

opportunity to bring color, whimsy, and neighborhood character to residents and passersby. Including artistic elements such as tall sunflowers, pinwheels, or even

colorful vertical posts can bring continuity to the entire corridor, linking it through its medians.

53 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Precedent streetscape and public art projects. Top and middle images show FUNNEL TUNNEL by Patrick Renner, comissioned by Art League Houston. Bottom image shows CO2LED, a light sculpture by Jack Sanders, Robert Gay, and Butch Anthony in the median outside downtown Arlington, VA.

Sheep, a 2009 installation by Franรงois-Xavier Lalanne on Park Avenue by the New York city parks public arts program in conjunction with Paul Kasmin Gallery.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 61

BRIDGES AND UNDERPASSES Bridges, underpasses, and other infrastructural space along the Opportunity Corridor can serve as points

of departure for a comprehensive strategy to create distinctive places along the project’s entire path.

Strategies to mitigate imposing, monolithic forms can be combined with streetscaping and other design

elements, playing off existing neighborhood assets to

improve way-finding, increase permeability, and amplify the character of surrounding communities.

Best-choice interventions will consider the nature of

interchange between the Opportunity Corridor and

surrounding neighborhoods in terms of fast-flowing and slow-pooling. Tunnels and traffic bridges require bold visual strategies, while transit stations and pedestrian bridges can be places for more human-scaled approaches.

Activation can be centered around interchanges and

can spread out along sidewalks and key overlooks along the road and trail.

Light Rails is a light installation in downtown Birmingham by artist Bill FitzGibbons. The work enhances existing architechture and provides an inviting, safe space to pedestrians, cyclists, and others.

55 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

PROGRAMMING During the interim period between when the roadway is still

being planned and when it has reached its goal of attracting people and businesses to nearby neighborhoods, there is a fairly long period of time in which people will be deciding what the road is, how they access it, and figuring out what

type of place it will be. Public programming in the form of

community events, music, theater, arts, movies, and pop-up

temporary programs and art projects would be fantastic ways

to add vitality, visual interest, and employ local artists along the Opportunity Corridor.

Programming can be a wonderful tool for helping people

discover a place they have never been or reframing a space for different future uses. It is also relatively inexpensive, has a low barrier to entry, allows neighbors to interact with each other, and brings positive use into public spaces.

Other ideas could be to have neighborhood charrettes in

which the community envisions a design and use for a plaza,

has conversations about community development, or plans a

future artwork. In a place that does not exist yet, programming can be one of the strongest and best tools in the public art

toolkit for adding a sense of place and encouraging people to reframe their associations with it.

Programming and events from a variety of neighborhoods in Cleveland. Ongoing programming and events help connect residents to parks and public spaces in new ways.

Even a well-designed public space can fail if there is not a consistancy of activities bringing people to the space.

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 58

Images show Opportunity Corridor neighborhood scenes.

OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR ART ZONES

PUBLIC ART

NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT CULTURAL ZONES MAP ASSETS

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CHES

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ROADS

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NEGIE AVE

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S KE

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QUINCY AVE

Buckeye Woodland Zone

FAIRFAX

5 4

MLK JR DR

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VD BL

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E. 79 ST

3 Norfolk Southern Railroad Underpass

Kingsbury Run Zone

KI

NS

MA

N

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1

SLAVIC VILLAGE ENTRYWAY ZONE

The sweeping retaining wall that separates the

neighborhood from the Opportunity Corridor roadway presents a chance to set the tone for drivers as they

exit the freeway or enter the roadway from the northern portion of East 55th Street. A mural that takes up the

entire wall would be a bold way to depict people and

places along the corridor and visually tell a story about the community, including who lives here and what matters to them.

Proposed rendering (above)

This wall sweeps the corner, moving onto the Corridor

itself. A local precedent for a very long mural is currently being implemented on Washington Avenue, directly

across from Lakeview Terrace in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. For decades, residents have faced a

gray, concrete retaining wall which supports the Main Avenue Bridge. An artist is painting the entire façade

with faces from the community, symbols, patterns, and

scenes of neighborly engagement. The artist has been working with the community to develop designs so residents will feel connected to the artwork.

Expanding access into the St. Hyacinth community from the East 55th Street and I-490 interchange can create a great opportunity to carry the gateway and artistic

elements through to Elizabeth Baptist Church and the surrounding residential area around Francis Avenue directly to the south.

Precedent projects (above two images)

Budget: $100,000 - $150,000 Approximate location along Opportunity Corridor

Partners: ODOT, Slavic Village Development

Corporation, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit

Authority, Boys & Girls Club, Broadway School of Music and the Arts

63 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

2

KINGSBURY RUN ZONE

Kingsbury Run has a unique history, and a great deal of community effort is being spent to revitalize this neglected asset. While Kingsbury Run is currently culverted, the Burten Bell Carr CDC is working to

change the narrative by developing a greenspace

concept called ‘Gateway to Nature’ that is accessible

to the public. In addition, the historic Sidaway Bridge

remains a treasured architectural artifact. Providing views of the Kingsbury Run valley and the Sidaway Bridge, along with information about these areas could be

highlights for people interested in cultural tourism and Sidaway Bridge current condition (above image)

neighborhood history.

Additionally, there has been a lot of focus from

neighborhood groups to demonstrate that the

Opportunity Corridor is not just a means of traveling from point A to B. Instead, it can provide stronger

linkages into the rich work that community development organizations have been facilitating in these neighborhoods.

Budget: $50,000 - $250,000 (depending on

architecture of overlooks versus signage-only) Partners: ODOT, Burten Bell Carr CDC, Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland Metroparks

Approximate location along Opportunity Corridor

Precedent projects (above two images)

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 64

3

NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD UNDERPASS

Beneath the newly reconstructed walls of the Norfolk

Southern Railroad, there is an opportunity to create a

mural that extends the full expanse of this underpass.

Underpasses can be dividing lines along roads. Using art and lighting to make the experience of traveling through this underpass feel safe, comfortable, and inviting can transform something that divides into

Proposed condition (above)

something that connects.

Budget: $40,000 - $70,000 mural only

$100,000 - $200,000 for lighting Partners: ODOT, CPP, CDCs, Karamu House

Approximate location along Opportunity Corridor

65 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Precedent projects (above two images)

4

BUCKEYE WOODLAND ZONE

A plaza is being constructed at the northwest corner of Woodland Avenue where it intersects with the

Opportunity Corridor. This is a location where there

will be a pedestrian bridge from the corridor into the neighborhood. Since this will be a location where Proposed rendering (above)

people will make a transition from the roadway deeper into the community, it would be a great location for an interactive artwork that allows passersby to engage.

People tend to enjoy leaving their mark on projects.

This could be as simple as writing something in chalk, moving words around to tell a new story, or other

interactive features that encourage people to engage

with their surroundings and leave something behind for the next person.

Budget: $50,000 - $75,000 Partners: ODOT, CDCs, Karamu House, Garden Valley Neighborhood House, Cleveland Public Library

Approximate location along Opportunity Corridor

Precedent projects (above two images)

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 66

5

FAIRFAX ZONE

The Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) is one of the tallest

buildings between downtown and University Circle and can be viewed from all directions. There is a way to play off of this scale and create something that resonates with the mission of this building and the thousands

of youth, families, and case workers that come inside each year. In addition, an exterior treatment of this

building can reflect a positive message within the Fairfax community.

The JJC was also identified in a plan for artwork along

the RTA rapid transit lines that run roughly parallel to the Opportunity Corridor. A large-scale mural that responds

Current condition (above)

to the building’s architecture and makes an emotional

connection with the county’s youth who are involved in

the criminal justice system can be a powerful statement for this governmental building.

Budget: $75,000 Partners: Cuyahoga County, FRDC, Karamu House, City of Cleveland

Approximate location along Opportunity Corridor

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Precedent project (above image)

6

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE/ FAIRFAX ENTRYWAY ZONE

University Circle provides employment, services, and cultural experiences for thousands of residents who

live along the future Opportunity Corridor. However, when entering University Circle from the south and

Fairfax from the north along Opportunity Corridor, it

feels like one is entering a shopping plaza from its rear entrance. The Cleveland Clinic buildings along this

stretch appear to be oriented away from the roadway.

This southern entrance into University Circle lacks the Current condition at Cedar intersection (above)

drama that Rockefeller Park and the Viktor Schrekengost sculptures at the northern end provide. However,

Adding simple signage or artwork that symbolizes both entry and inclusion into the district can help address

the invisible barrier between University Circle and the neighborhoods to the west.

Budget: $50,000 - $200,000 Partners: City of Cleveland, ODOT, UCI, Cleveland Clinic, CDCs, Karamu House, FRDC

Approximate location along Opportunity Corridor

Precedent projects (above two images)

Opportunity Corridor Art Plan 68

Precedent public art and programming projects.

CONCLUSION

THE TIME FOR ENGAGEMENT IS NOW The Opportunity Corridor is a public investment that has been in the works for a long time. While phase one of the roadway project is currently under construction and plans for future

phases are being finalized, the time to begin planning for and engaging the impacted communities around future public art investments is now.

By starting with small, manageable temporary projects and programming, the groundwork can be laid for community

participation in future arts initiatives. The arts can be used as a tool for bringing people together by encouraging open dialogue and collaboration across many boundaries. In

reaching out to the community and creating venues for people to talk about their lives, the places where they live, work, and

congregate, and their hopes, fears, and dreams, arts activities

can build stronger, more lasting relationships and forge greater connections among neighborhoods that can manifest social benefits now and in the future. .

71 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

Precedent public art and programming projects.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special and heartfelt thanks to all who participated in the interview and evaluation process for this plan:

Marlane Weslian, Neighborhood Development Officer, Slavic Village Development Jan Ridgeway, Director, Garden Valley Neighborhood House Denise VanLeer, Executive Director, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation Catondra Noye, Assistant Executive Director, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation Gwen Garth, Founder and Director, The Art Palace Debbie Berry, VP of Community Development, University Circle, Inc. Matt Provolt, Planning and Design Associate, University Circle, Inc. Elise Yablonsky, Planning Manager, University Circle, Inc. Freddy Collier Jr., Director, City Planning Commission Jennifer Coleman, Senior Program Officer of the Arts, Gund Foundation Joy Johnson, Associate Director, Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. Tony Sias, President & CEO, Karamu House Marie Kittredge, Executive Director, Opportunity Corridor Partnership Office Chris Urban, Senior Manager, Physical Development, Greater Cleveland Partnership LAND studio Project Team: Greg Peckham, Managing Director Tiffany Graham, Project Director David Wilson, Project Manager Erin Guido, Project Manager Megan Jones, Director of Special Events and Annual Giving Ali McClain, Poet and Writer Vince Reddy, Project Manager Anna Barchick-Suter, Intern Lydia Bednarski, Intern Chris Ford, Intern Katie Kelleher, Intern Olivia Lu-Hill, Intern Christian Roadman, Intern Lucia Sidler, Intern 73 Opportunity Corridor Art Plan

RESOURCES LAND researched several precedent documents, studies, and informational resources which helped inform this plan including:

Connecting Cleveland 2020 Plan Proposed Opportunity Corridor Alignment Map (October 2014) The Cleveland Opportunity Corridor Project: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (August 2013) Building Stronger Neighborhoods: Kinsman & Central Neighborhood Plan (March 2016) Fairfax Strategic Investment Plan 2014 – 2019 (January 2014) Buckeye Larchmere Shaker Square Woodland Hills Transformation Vision Plan (2013) Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Incorporated (http://www.bbcdevelopment.org/) Broadway Slavic Village Development (http://slavicvillage.org/) Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation (http://buckeyeshaker.org/) University Circle, Inc. (http://www.universitycircle.org/) The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History (https://ech.cwru.edu/index.html) The Cleveland Memory Project (http://www.clevelandmemory.org/) Live Cleveland! (http://livecleveland.org/)

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IMAGE SOURCES Unlisted images courtesy of LAND studio 6: Left column - Bottom image is from www.oursidewalk.com/buckeye/. Center column (top to bottom) - 1st New Orleans–based artist Candy Chang’s “Looking for Love Again” is a public chalkboard on the abandoned Polaris Building in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, that allowed passersby to record their memories of the structure and hopes for its future. Photo found on www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2015/07/23/street_messages_by_ nicholas_ganz_is_a_global_survey_of_street_artists_whose.html, 2nd School Play by Ronan McCrea, a Per Cent for Art Scheme commissioned work by Castleknock Educate Together School, a primary school in Dublin 15. The project consists of two elements including a design for a schoolyard, which is the permanent installation of a series of painted circles and arcs, and a series of colored photographs which capture children at play with the installation.

4th Scotch Hoppers, a project that filled Glasgow’s Parnie Street with reimagined versions of traditional street games, from brightly-coloured spots that you jump on, to pieces of wood that you stack on top of each other, to careful wooden installations that you set up and then knock over. Photo from http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/how-we-got-glasgow-playing-streets-again?utm_source=Design%20Council%20Newsletter&utm_ campaign=895e64a221-Pinged42_26_06_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a2748d9827-895e64a221. Right column - 2nd from top image is from www.oursidewalk.com/buckeye/.

8-9: Top to bottom:1st Before I die project by New Orleans-based artist Candy Chang. Photo from candychang.com/work/before-i-die-in-nola/. 2nd Mural in Detroit, MI. Image from www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/community-outreach-and-engagement/community-public-arts-detroit. 3rd Viachroma at Dandenong Station (2009-2011) by Rowena Martinich, Photo from thedesignfiles.net/2011/08/interview-public-artist-rowena-martinich/. 4th Career Path, temporary project made with spray chalk, chalk on a concrete path. 250’ x 8’. Another project by Candy Chang. Installed in Turku, Finland in 2011. Photo from http://candychang.com/work/career-path/ 12-13: Left column (top to bottom) - 1st and 2nd images are from www.oursidewalk.com/buckeye/. Center column - 1st and 4th images are from www. oursidewalk.com/buckeye/ , Right column - 1st image from 16-17: Top to bottom: 18: Left column - LAND studio, Center column - , Right column 20: Left column - LAND studio, Center column - , Right column 24-25: The city of Lucerne, Switzerland has designed a campaign to motivate citizens to keep the city streets clean and free of trash. Image and imformation from www.trendhunter.com/trends/lucerne-switzerland-uses-games-to-inspired-citizens-to-keep-the-city-clean 28-29: Map by LAND studio 30: Left column - LAND studio, Center column - , Right column 32-33: Image from 34-35: Top to bottom 36-37: Top to bottom 38-39: Top to bottom 48: Left column - LAND studio, Center column - , Right column 50-51: Image from 54-55: Top left - Top right - Bottom left - Bottom right 56-57: Top left - Top right - Bottom left - Bottom right 58: Top to bottom 59: Image from 60-61: Image from 66-67: Map by LAND studio 68: Top to bottom Rendering image by Opportunity Corridor Partnership 69: Top to bottom Rendering image by Opportunity Corridor Partnership 70: Top to bottom 71: Top to bottom 72: Top to bottom 73: Top to bottom 74: Left column - LAND studio, Center column - , Right column 76-77: Top left - Top right - Bottom left - Bottom right

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