Opening Fri 2/1 @ 6pm
Artist talk: Thu 2/7 @ 7pm
Rust Belt Chic is on display in Arts Collinwood’s next exhibition: Pretty Vacant.
Check it: The rustbelt region is full of reminders of a more prosperous past. A significant loss of manufacturing jobs, coupled with massive population decline, eroding infrastructure and political ineffectiveness has left the region ravaged and depressed. Cleveland and cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Gary, Detroit and Flint have all experienced the “shrinking city” phenomenon with mixed results.
This phenomenon has left the region vacant. Empty residential and commercial space has left neighborhoods like Collinwood exposed and vulnerable to a myriad of social and economic hardships. However, with this vacancy comes an opportunity to start anew, to rebuild and begin again.
Five regional artists — Joseph Carl Close (Canton), Ron Copeland (Pittsburgh), Dana Depew (Cleveland), Dave Desimone (Cleveland), and Greg Ruffing (Chicago) — have spent the past decade exploring decaying neighborhoods, and these experiences have bled into their artwork. “We take inspiration from these places and embrace decay as part of the natural cycle of life,” says Desimone.
Also, check out the artist talk on Thu 2/7: “With What They Left Us: The Beauty of Decay.” On view through 2/23.