Arts & Entertainment

What to wear for photos

The holidays are arriving fast, and we will finally be gathering in person once again. Hurrah!

We know what that means: photographs to mark the occasions with family and friends. At least I hope so, because those photos are probably the only record we keep of our lives, and they are how we pass on our stories.

As a photographer, I have been part of creating those memories for decades. However, I have also seen lots of people hide from the camera, because they say they don’t like the way they look in pictures. I’d like to change that, and help everyone like the way they look on camera. So here are a few suggestions on how you too, can like the way you look in photos, no matter who takes them.

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Volume 13, Issue 22, Posted 10:25 AM, 11.16.2021

Holiday comedy continues Clague Playhouse's season

Clague Playhouse presents the holiday comedy, "Ethan Claymore," by Norm Foster, to continue their 94th season.

It’s a week before Christmas, and struggling egg farmer/artist Ethan Claymore meets a woman who could turn his life around. But things are shaken up when Ethan receives a visit from his estranged, and recently deceased, older brother. The play is directed by Robert Gibb and featured in our cast are Jeff Bartholomew as Ethan Claymore, Kristin Bartholomew as Teresa Pike, Charles Cover as Martin Claymore, Jake Hunter as Young Ethan, Peg Neeson as Dottie McClaren and Rick Schuler as Young Martin.

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Volume 13, Issue 21, Posted 10:27 AM, 11.02.2021

Holiday jewelry sale at Clague Playhouse

Clague Playhouse is open and is happy to announce expanded shopping opportunities for its 12th Annual Jewelry Heist. In addition to being open from Nov. 5 through Dec. 5 during the production of "Ethan Claymore," the sale will also be open Saturday afternoons, Nov. 6 through Dec. 18 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

If you or a friend need sparkly earrings for New Year's Eve, a chunky necklace for that new sweater, or a colorful scarf for last year’s coat, come on over. We have more costume jewelry, scarves, handbags and other accessories this year than ever before, all sorted, cleaned and ready for your shopping pleasure.

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Volume 13, Issue 21, Posted 10:27 AM, 11.02.2021

Westlake Historical Society announces pie contest winner

Janet Gortz was crowned the winner of Westlake Historical Society's 2021 Pie Contest held on Oct. 2. Her winning entry was an old-fashioned apple pie.

Janet said the reason she entered the contest was not only did she want to get her baking skills sharpened for the holidays, but also because it was a fundraiser for the Society. She is a big supporter of the organization, and appreciates what it stands for in the community.

Choosing to enter an apple pie was not hard … as this is the time of year apples are at their best. In preparation to find the perfect pie, Janet baked five pies in seven days and gave samples to friends and neighbors along with a questionnaire. She used the feedback from those questionnaires, as well as her own observations, and the perfect entrant was born!

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Volume 13, Issue 21, Posted 10:23 AM, 11.02.2021

Phantom of the Opera comes to West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church

Get into the Halloween spirit! Join West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church for the classic 1925 silent film "Phantom of the Opera," accompanied by Music Director David Blazer on the organ. You are invited to bring the kids in costume to enjoy this “scary” event on Halloween Sunday, Oct. 31. The movie will start  at 3:30 p.m. so you will have time to get home and get ready for the little goblins to arrive!

This is a  film adaptation of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel “Le Fantôme de l'Opéra,” directed by Rupert Julian. The story follows the disfigured Phantom, played by Lon Chaney, as he causes havoc throughout the Paris Opera House. The destruction and bloodshed are all in the name of love, as The Phantom tries to win the heart of a young opera singer by making her a star.

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Volume 13, Issue 20, Posted 10:21 AM, 10.19.2021

Holtkamp organ rededication concert to feature nationally renowned organist

On Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2:00 p.m., internationally renowned organist Christa Rakich rededicates the 1963 Holtkamp Opus 1769 organ at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River.

The program will feature Three Meditations for Viola and Organ by Adolphus Hailstork, with violist Christopher Jenkins. It will also include works of J.S. Bach and César Franck, as well as works composed by Rakich herself. The church’s prized pipe organ has been newly restored by Chris Holtkamp of Cleveland’s own Holtkamp Organ Company.

Concert and recording artist Christa Rakich performs widely throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. She is Visiting Professor of Organ at Oberlin Conservatory.

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Volume 13, Issue 20, Posted 10:27 AM, 11.02.2021

Clague Playhouse opens 94th season in September

Clague Playhouse is excited to return to the stage for our 94th season!

Plays for the season are the comedy, "Mrs. Mannerly" by Jeffrey Hatcher that runs Sept. 10 to Oct. 3; the holiday comedy, "Ethan Claymore" by Norm Foster that runs Nov. 5 to Dec. 5; the comedy, "Foolish Fishgirls and the Pearl" by Barbara Pease Weber that runs Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, 2022; the dramedy "These Shining Lives" by Melanie Marnich that runs March 11 to April 3, 2022; and the musical comedy, "Failure: A Love Story" by Philip Dawkins that runs May 6-29, 2022.

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Volume 13, Issue 16, Posted 10:14 AM, 08.17.2021

Westlake Art Festival has a colorful return

The Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Club sponsored the return of the Westlake Art Festival on July 25 on the campus of Westlake Porter Public Library.

The much-loved festival, previously held on the St. John Westshore Hospital grounds, found a new home at the library. The well-attended event is expected to  grow in size every year thanks to the stewardship of the local rotary club.

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Volume 13, Issue 15, Posted 10:12 AM, 08.03.2021

Rain or shine, BAYarts brings the fun

During a month where the radar was not to be trusted, when the sun shone when the radar said "rain" and it rained when clear skies were promised, the shows went on.

When a beautiful sunny Thursday Market led to the first-ever westside performance by Groundworks Dance Theatre being curtailed by pounding rain, the audience and dancers quickly adapted. With the side walls of the Fuller House open and the audience cross-legged on the floor or tucked onto benches, a breathtaking performance by the innovative dance group was a night to remember.

Actually, two nights to remember – it rained the second night of the performance as well. But in the end, when the appreciative audience lingered to engage with the dancers before they waded in ankle-deep puddles to their cars, one dancer commented, "This felt very special, intimate and collaborative with the audience."

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Volume 13, Issue 15, Posted 9:57 AM, 08.03.2021

BAYarts welcomes Groundworks Dance Theatre

BAYarts loves nothing more than introducing new and innovative work to our Westshore campus, so when Groundworks Dance Theater, the groundbreaking contemporary dance company, was sidelined by the pandemic shutdown and needed open and outdoor venues to perform, the two organizations connected. Having never visited the campus before, Groundworks Executive Director David Shimotakahara was immediately taken by the beauty of the venue and possibility of creating something "out of the box" to fit the space. For BAYarts, it's a perfect fit for the return of the summer events season.

GroundWorks Dance Theater is a nationally recognized troupe headquartered in Shaker Heights with a mission to engage, educate and enliven communities, right in line with BAYarts' mission. This is the organization's first westside appearance for a night of vibrant and engaging modern dance.

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Volume 13, Issue 12, Posted 10:04 AM, 06.15.2021

BAYarts' Thursday Market returns to evenings

BAYarts' Thursday Market, now in its 7th year, gets bigger and better every year. Last year, due to the restrictions related to the pandemic, and with minimal staff and available hours, the market was held during the day and proved to be a great connector for the community in difficult times. BAYarts' mission is to support local artisans and vendors and the market gave them this opportunity when many other venues were closed. This year, with many restrictions lifted, BAYarts will return to evening hours, 4-7 p.m., beginning June 10.

Many new and familiar vendors will participate including fresh produce, personal care, bakery, and handmade clothing. Food trucks will be back and the new extended patio at Chatty's Pizzeria will serve easy-to-carry fare. New this year: live music from local artists, trying something new, experimenting, getting back in the swing after a year of no gigs, a warm-up to BAYarts' summer concert series which will kick off June 20 with School of Rock. 

The market is free with plenty of on-the-grass parking. Interested vendors can join the market anytime by contacting karen@bayarts.net.

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Volume 13, Issue 11, Posted 10:19 AM, 06.02.2021

WDAB launches Demon Derby online fundraiser

Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters (WDAB) is thrilled to launch the 2021 Demon Derby Online Raffle and Fundraiser. This one-of-a-kind fundraiser offers a huge range of prizes, including an ultimate tailgate party package, a backyard barbecue bounty, sports memorabilia, youth sports camp entries and much more. Minimum bids start as low as $5.

All of the funds raised support Westlake High School and Lee Burneson Middle School sports programs and student athletes. WDAB financially supports these athletics by providing uniforms, field maintenance, awards and trophies, equipment, scholarships and more.

The Demon Derby Online Raffle and Fundraiser runs May 1-19. Please note, some raffle prizes are for adults 21+. Don’t miss the opportunity to bid on championship entries while supporting a very good cause. For more information, visit wdab.rallyup.com/wdab2021.

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Volume 13, Issue 10, Posted 10:14 AM, 05.18.2021

BAYarts' summer of fun returns

Beginning in June, BAYarts' summer events will resume after a year off. Join us for outdoor, family-friendly events on the Cleveland Metroparks campus. With safety in mind, CDC regulations for outdoor events will be observed.

Kicking off the summer on June 10 is the Thursday Night Market, back to its evening hours (4-8 p.m.) through September. Many new vendors and artisans will join community groups, food trucks and live music. Something new will be Pass the Hat concerts, local musicians experimenting with new platforms, with no fee, but they'll pass the hat!

The Summer Concert series resumes on Sunday nights thanks to a brand new stage made possible by Bay Village Kiwanis. This year's line-up includes many favorites including a double header on Aug. 8. Concessions will be served by guests bartenders volunteering their time.

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Volume 13, Issue 10, Posted 10:14 AM, 05.18.2021

Bay Village resident qualifies for national CrossFit semifinals

Jessica Androsik, a 22-year-old from Bay Village, is heading to Las Vegas to compete in the CrossFit Semifinals. Jessica's bracket started out with 70,000 women competing in North America. After several competitions, the semifinals have come down to 120 women, four groups of 30 competitors, and Jessica is one of the 30 women going to Las Vegas. The top five in each group will go onto the CrossFit Games.

Jessica stands 5 feet tall and been training twice a day for months to prepare for this opportunity. Jessica is a force and we are so proud of her accomplishment.

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Volume 13, Issue 9, Posted 10:01 AM, 05.04.2021

Virtual concert features Cleveland Orchestra members

The Rocky River Chamber Music Society will present the last concert of its 62nd season on Monday, May 17. Next season we hope to be presenting concerts that are both virtual and that have a live audience in our fabulous acoustical environment at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. Meanwhile, this season will close with an evening of chamber music for woodwinds and piano in the usual virtual format. We are most grateful for your support and we thank you for bearing with us for over a year.

The players who will be performing at the May 17 virtual concert are avid chamber musicians. Except for pianist Christina Dahl, all are members of The Cleveland Orchestra – flutist Mary Kay Fink, oboist Frank Rosenwein, clarinetist Robert Woolfrey, hornist Richard King, and bassoonist Barrick Stees. We are especially grateful for the support and encouragement of all the members of The Cleveland Orchestra who played with the Rocky River Chamber Music Society this season.

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Volume 13, Issue 9, Posted 10:04 AM, 05.04.2021

Eileen Dorsey and the Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Art Festival

Award-winning artist Eileen Dorsey returns to her roots as the featured artist at the Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Art Festival this July. All look forward to her visit from The Studio inside 78th Street Studios in Gordon Square.

Dorsey is known for her oil landscape paintings. Capturing both local landscapes and fantasy scenes in vibrant hues, Eileen Dorsey paints meditative forests of light and color. Dorsey expresses the energy of the places she visits through impressionistic or expressionistic marks. Emphasizing our connection to nature as a healing and rejuvenating experience, Dorsey’s paintings transcend reality to achieve an emotional impact.

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Volume 13, Issue 7, Posted 10:39 AM, 04.06.2021

BAYarts' Reemergence

Even with the limits imposed by the pandemic, BAYarts staff has been busy planning for the year ahead. The theme, "Reemergence," is the mantra as new and traditional programming is again rolled out: classes, events, exhibitions and more. Following guidelines from Cleveland Metroparks and the CDC, the number one goal is safety. The second goal is fun.

Right now, classes are filling up and the galleries are filled with new works including the return of annual Ceramics Exhibition and Sale (May 16). In the works for this summer, the popular Thursday Market will return to evening hours with dozens of familiar and new vendors, local community groups and of course, plenty of friendly dogs. Chatty’s Pizzeria, the new café, will be expanding the patio for even more safe distancing and great family friendly fare.

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Volume 13, Issue 7, Posted 10:35 AM, 04.06.2021

Liz Maugans displays 'Leftover Casserole' at BAYarts

Bay Village resident Liz Maugans believes our world needs a huge casserole right now. Her large, colorful, mixed media collages at BAYarts, “Leftover Casserole,” are both humorous and meaningful, images of comfort food that sticks to your bones and warms your heart.

“My studio practice is a big kitchen. I use what I have, particularly during the quarantine.” says Maugans. “Like leftovers that go into the casserole, these works are made from my stockpile, my dumping grounds, mixed thoroughly with the world’s unprecedented moment of change.”

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Volume 13, Issue 4, Posted 11:07 AM, 02.16.2021

Saxophone virtuoso to perform in livestream concert

The Rocky River Chamber Music Society will host a virtual concert by Steven Banks, saxophone virtuoso, and Xak Bjerken, pianist, in the outstanding acoustical environment of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. The audience will be at home viewing and listening to the concert on either Facebook Live or YouTube. Access to the concert will be available by using one of the following links shortly before the beginning of the concert on Monday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.: bit.ly/RRCMS_Facebook or bit.ly/RRCMS_YouTube.

Since the saxophone is rarely heard as a solo concert instrument, Mr. Banks and Mr. Bjerken will perform works by Mozart and Schumann that modern artists have arranged specifically for saxophone. In addition, Banks and Bjerken will play works created directly for saxophone by composers Carlos Simon, Saad Haddad and Steven Banks.

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Volume 13, Issue 3, Posted 10:14 AM, 02.02.2021

10 tips for holiday portraits at home

As the holidays arrive, so does the opportunity to capture the magic of the season … especially for those of us with children and grandchildren. If you are not having professional portraits made, I encourage you to take them yourself. Here are my top 10 ways to create the best holiday photos (no matter who takes them):

1. Location: Choose a favorite spot at home: the chair where you read to your children, the fireplace or in front of the tree.

2. Timing: Young children are usually morning people, while teenagers prefer a slightly later time. For a successful session, allow plenty of time and work with their schedules.

3. Clothing: Keep it simple and fun! The choice is yours. You can dress up and go glam, since you may not get a chance to go anywhere fancy this season. Or snuggle up in pajamas, if that has been your uniform for most of this year.

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Volume 12, Issue 23, Posted 10:02 AM, 12.01.2020

Rocky River Chamber Music Society presents 'Nothing but Mozart'

A stellar group of Cleveland Orchestra musicians will be gathering together to perform a concert of chamber music by the ever-ingenious Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Mozart’s works to be performed are his String Quartet No. 19 in C major, and his Clarinet Quintet in A major.

This will be a virtual concert performed by five artists in the outstanding acoustical environment of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. The audience will be at home viewing and listening to the concert on either Facebook Live or YouTube. Access to the concert will be obtained by using one of the following links shortly before the beginning of the concert:

In this its 62nd season, the Rocky River Chamber Music Society remains firmly committed to the presentation of concerts for Northeast Ohio audiences, whether virtual or in person. Donations are always welcome. For more information visit the RRCMS website at www.rrcms.org, or follow RRCMS on Facebook and Twitter.

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Volume 12, Issue 23, Posted 2:46 PM, 12.02.2020

Clague Playhouse holds annual jewelry sale

Many in the community look to our annual holiday Jewelry Heist Sale for interesting and quality jewelry, handbags and accessory items at reasonable prices. We will be holding our 11th Jewelry Heist on Fridays and Saturdays, 1-7 p.m., from Nov. 20 through Dec. 12 in the Clague Playhouse lobby.

By diligently following the following COVID-19 guidelines, we believe we can offer our patrons a comfortable and safe shopping environment. Our staff and volunteers will be checking their temperatures each day and we will follow these protocols: limit of 6 shoppers in the lobby at a time; all to wear proper masks or facial coverings; all to wear gloves when handling jewelry; socially distanced displays; cashier available behind a plexiglass panel; all earrings and some other items carefully pre-cleaned, and bags will be available for wrapping.

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Volume 12, Issue 22, Posted 9:23 AM, 11.17.2020

BAYarts adapts for the holidays

With the cancellation of festivals and holiday bazaars due to COVID, many artists who rely on these events for their income have been struggling to find ways to get their work seen. For decades, BAYarts has provided income for regional artists in the year-round consignment shop and galleries. The annual Holiday Shop alone provides income for hundreds of artists while supporting the local economy. Artists love it for the ease and reward of selling their work. 

“BAYarts does all the heavy lifting – ticketing, marketing, display – I just drop it off,” says Westlake artist Laura Robbins. “I can then spend time in my studio instead of hassling with setting up at a festival with hefty fees that may or may not pan out.”

With COVID mandates for limited capacity and safety, BAYarts has spread out! Wide aisles, timed entrances and multiple checkout points have been implemented. An online shop was launched early this year and private shopping parties have been popular for small “pods.” For more information, visit bayarts.net.

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Volume 12, Issue 22, Posted 9:24 AM, 11.17.2020

Drive-in movie at Bay UMC

Bay United Methodist Church invites you to sit in your car and enjoy "Akeelah and the Bee," an uplifting, family-oriented film, on Saturday, Sept. 26. The parking lot will open at 7:30 p.m. and the feature will begin at 8:00 pm. Bring your own popcorn and soft drinks.

A freewill offering will benefit Africa University which is a private, fully accredited, United Methodist-related university in Zimbabwe. The university offers 50 cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate programs focusing on meeting Africa’s vital needs, including food security, improved public health, and sustainable economic growth to more than 1,200 students from 36 African countries.

Bay UMC is located at 29931 Lake Road.

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Volume 12, Issue 18, Posted 10:23 AM, 09.15.2020

Diamond Brass Quintet to perform virtual concert

The Diamond Brass Quintet is comprised of players who are passionate about brass and have appeared in many local and regional concerts, including their popular annual Christmas concert. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Rocky River Chamber Music Society will present the Quintet's concert virtually. It will include music by Bach, Ewald, Stravinsky, Ewazen and DiLorenzo.

The artists will perform on Monday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the outstanding acoustical environment of West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River. The rest of us will be at home listening and/or viewing on either Facebook Live or YouTube.

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Volume 12, Issue 18, Posted 10:20 AM, 09.15.2020

BAYarts' gardens are a westside destination

Today, in the time of shutdowns, BAYarts' campus has even more meaning and value to the community, providing serene open spaces within its many garden "rooms" to safely social distance, practice yoga or just find a few moments of solitude. Although it may seem like fairies come in the night to tend the gardens, in reality, a devoted and skilled team of volunteers meet weekly to weed, water, plant and prune – all with the kind of joy and community that makes BAYarts unique.

A little history: when BAYarts began to renovate the vast campus spaces for public use back in 2006, it was under the guidance of Bay Village resident Julia Shutt. Julia got her first design clients years before at a Baycrafters fair and has since been devoted to giving back to the community that helped launch her career. With her partner, Byron, their company Maple Leaf Landscaping designed and installed the foundation of the ever-evolving landscape in conjunction with Cleveland Metroparks' sidewalk and lighting improvements and the Fuller House renovation.

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Volume 12, Issue 17, Posted 9:32 AM, 09.01.2020

BAYarts honors the Purdys

BAYarts' Moondance at Home benefit will honor longtime supporters, Westlake residents Linda and Tom Purdy. The Purdys and their extended family has a rich legacy of service – generation after generation volunteering and donating their collective creative spirit to the fabric of the organization.

The Purdy family has been part of the organization since its inception in 1948. Ruth Purdy, married to Tom's brother, George, was one of the first teachers when it was Baycrafters. She also taught for years at Bay Schools and when she retired, she had planned to return to teaching at BAYarts. Sadly, she passed away before that became a reality so her friends, family and students founded the Ruth Purdy Garden on BAYarts campus (adjacent to Vento in front of the caboose). Ruth's mother, Marion Hosler, was one of the original founders of Baycrafters.

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Volume 12, Issue 16, Posted 9:19 AM, 08.18.2020

BAYarts' Thursday Market returns with new hours

Times they are a-changin' – and with new rules for social distancing and safety, BAYarts is making a conscious effort to roll things out slowly this year.

Delayed classes finally began this week and now the Summer Market returns – with new daytime hours, for the time being. Thursday Market will be held every second and fourth Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. beginning July 9.

"With the abundance of visitors to the park this year, we have taken extra precautions for safety and crowd control as we slowly reopen," explained BAYarts Executive Director Nancy Heaton. "We have worked very closely with [landlord] Cleveland Metroparks, following the guidelines of the CDC for during this unusual year."

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Volume 12, Issue 13, Posted 10:10 AM, 07.07.2020

A private concert

Choosing from what must be thousands of memorized pieces of music, violinist Mary Beth Ions created an hour of fun and enjoyable music on Guildord Court in the Woods of Westlake on Sunday, June 28.

From "Baby Shark" for the young ones to "Daisy, Daisy" to "The Phantom of the Opera" to Beethoven's 9th Symphony and patriotic music, she filled the hearts of the audience with her singing violin.

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Volume 12, Issue 13, Posted 10:10 AM, 07.07.2020

The show must go on!

While live performances have been put on hold, at Bay Village Community Theater, the show must go on! Via the technological magic of Zoom, the group will present a free reading of “The Big Sister,” a "Dragnet" radio script from 1955, on Saturday, June 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 21, at 3 p.m.

"I was disappointed that we had to cancel our spring production of 'Bleacher Bums,'" said board president John Hnat. "But we realized that our staged reading series was perfect for this new medium."

The cast has been rehearsing via Zoom from their own homes. Director Judith Mazur noted, “There are different considerations to take into account when performing on Zoom instead of live, so we did a test run with a limited audience last week, so we could get some constructive feedback.”

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Volume 12, Issue 12, Posted 9:47 AM, 06.16.2020

Ode to the Trillium

The gentle three-petal flowers shine brightly low to the earth from which they nudge up each spring. No need to show any grandeur or largesse as daffodils do in their abundance. No colorful display is needed as do the bright red tulips not far away. No, the trillium is simply beauty and as white as the long-departed snow. They last longer and treat us with smiles long after the daffodils have died off and the tulip petals have fallen. Thank you, Trillium, for your simple consistency each year under our river birch.

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Volume 12, Issue 12, Posted 9:54 AM, 06.16.2020

'The Lighter Side': George Kocar at BAYarts

Bay Village native George Kocar takes a look at the lighter side in a new exhibition of his intensely colored and satirical paintings at BAYarts.

"We think this is just what we all need at this time," says BAYarts Artistic Director Karen Petkovic. "You cannot help but feel good when you look at the humor and the wonderful vibrant colors of George's work."   

A professional illustrator for American Greetings for nearly 20 years, Kocar's work has appeared in such publications as Esquire, The New York Times, Playboy and The Washington Post. His work is in many national private and corporate collections. Now retired, he works out of his Bay Village studio and is a prolific participant in local galleries and festivals and shops like BAYarts.

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Volume 12, Issue 12, Posted 9:45 AM, 06.16.2020

BAYarts kicks off summer

In spite of the having to cancel many of BAYarts' signature "stay-cation" summer events, the campus is now open.

"Of course we are biased," says BAYarts General Manager Beth Milli, "but we think BAYarts' campus is the best place in town to reconnect with friends and take in some culture while social distancing."

Typically in summer, the arts campus is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and has thousands of visitors for concerts, festivals and the Thursday market. But while those are on hold and with fewer classes as we slowly reopen, there will be shorter hours and no weekends to start. "We want to make sure we are ready to address the flow of park visitors," says Milli. "We have seen record numbers of pedestrians since the COVID-19 shut downs. It'll be interesting what the summer weather brings."

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Volume 12, Issue 11, Posted 10:39 AM, 06.02.2020

How BAYarts supports artists in the time of COVID

BAYarts' mission to support artists comes in many forms. The Annual Art & Music Festival was conceived as an alternative event to other festivals that often charged large entry fees.

“The intent of this event has always been to make it affordable for artists who make their livings in this short window of summer festivals,” said BAYarts Artistic Director Karen Petkovic, “and also to keep it local and handmade.” Unfortunately, in the current crisis, this event was cancelled for the year.

BAYarts' Sullivan Family and Boldman galleries have always showcased local artists, both emerging and professional. Although BAYarts will continue to feature artists on their walls and through virtual exhibitions; the traditional gallery openings, where hundreds attend and socialize, are on hold.

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Volume 12, Issue 10, Posted 10:45 AM, 05.19.2020

What's happening at BAYarts

Guided by “Wine with DeWine” sessions, BAYarts' staff has been doing what they do best: innovating and finding new ways to engage the community within the new mandates outlined for safety.

BAYarts' popular classes for youth and adult will go on with many new programs rolled out. Although BAYarts has been offering online options, the mission for community and in-person engagement is where the challenge lies. During the closing, Art to Go kits, creative projects for home, have sold out to many grateful families looking for an alternative to online learning at home.

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Volume 12, Issue 9, Posted 9:43 AM, 05.05.2020

Masks for the whole family

In response to COVID-19 and guidelines for safety in social and workplace gatherings, the newest fashion staple is ... ta-da! Face masks! With all kinds of tutorials, do-it-yourselfers and professional sewers are working overtime to supply friends, family and front line workers.

Keeping up with the demand is going to be a challenge. But there is nothing local artists like more than a challenge and you can be sure you will see more variety and choices now that masks will be around for awhile.

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Volume 12, Issue 9, Posted 9:42 AM, 05.05.2020

Chamber music concert to be livestreamed May 18

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the Rocky River Chamber Music Society had to postpone our April 20 concert and change it to a livestreamed event on Monday, May 18, at 7:15 p.m. Also due to the pandemic, our original artists are unable to perform this concert. Instead, we will present five local artists, including two members of The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Freelancers, and faculty members from Baldwin Wallace University. The music to be performed will include works by Max Bruch, Paul Creston, Henry Purcell, Joseph Turrin, and Vittorio Monti.

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Volume 12, Issue 9, Posted 9:43 AM, 05.05.2020

Community is everything at BAYarts

BAYarts' initial (optimistic) response to the COVID-19 news was to remain open – a request by many students and families – even if local schools closed, providing a sanctuary for the community to gather. But of course, as the information about the virus became more grim and restrictions were rolled out, the doors were closed and financial cuts had to be made with the hope that the organization will reopen on solid footing in time for the usual summer “Stay-cation” that locals have come to love.

This is where the true meaning of community shines: everyone, including (unpaid) staff members, faculty, board and volunteers have been devising ways to engage students and keep the community intact.

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Volume 12, Issue 7, Posted 9:44 AM, 04.07.2020

BAYarts announces winners of annual Juried Exhibition

The annual BAYarts Juried Exhibition is once again hung in the Sullivan Family Gallery at BAYarts this March. 

The judges this year were Cleveland artists John W. Carlson and Shari Wilkins.

Part of the BAYarts community for 10 years, John W. Carlson currently teaches Figure Drawing and The Basics and Beyond courses. Prior to judging, he revealed the diversity of the work was exciting. "As in most juried shows, it’s just plain difficult because there is so much good work and limited space in which to show it."

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Volume 12, Issue 6, Posted 9:41 AM, 03.17.2020