Opening Fri 4/5 @ 6-9pm
Das Wird Sich Alles Finden (Everything Will Turn Out All Right) opens at Arts Collinwood this Fri 4/5 from 6-9pm as part of Collinwood’s monthly Walk All Over Waterloo event. This blockbuster show is a traveling exhibition of work by 16 artists from about half a dozen countries.
The real story, however, is how this exhibition, originally scheduled for Germany, wound up in Cleveland after first stopping in Sheffield, England. This is a story of how artists from half a dozen countries worked together to recontextualize lemons into lemonade.
Das Wird Sich Alles Finden is co-curated by local curator and art writer Christopher Richards and local artist Mark Keffer, whose work is featured in the exhibition. Keffer had a solo exhibition at Arts Collinwood in 2011 and has since become part of their gallery committee.
Keffer originally became involved when he submitted work to an international call for entries out of Germany for a vaguely themed group show simply titled “The Berlin Project.” Initially, he was excited to be accepted along with about 30 other artists from about eight countries.
After he was accepted, the “Curatorial Program” selecting the show (which turned out to be one guy) informed the artists that more work was accepted than expected and a new, bigger venue was needed. The artists were excited, as this change would allow them to show several pieces each.
However, as time went on, difficulties arose and eventually the organizer was never heard from again. It is uncertain how many entries were received but each artist paid an application fee of 25 Euros (about $37 at the time) and the money was never returned.
For the most part, the artists don’t believe that the show began as a scam, because their names and websites were listed on the official webpage. When it became clear that the curator had disappeared, the artists decided to turn their frustration and anger into productivity and opportunity.
The artists, led by Keffer, began working together to organize the exhibition themselves and secure venues for it. Lesley Guy of Sheffield, England secured the first venue, Bloc Projects, in his hometown while Keffer began looking for a venue in Cleveland. They hope to finally take the show to Berlin soon and are currently working to secure a venue.
“The show is now an open-ended affair,” said Keffer. “There are a number of different directions among the media and intentions involved, but somehow the show’s history adds an additional layer of meaning. It also brings up questions regarding the essence of what a group show really is…Should the direction of a show be tightly controlled or can loosening the reins allow for unexpected and appealing relationships to develop amongst the work?”
Artists include Kayde Anobile (London), Elia Bettaglio (New York City), Patricia Casey (Sydney, Australia), Yoonsuk Choi (London), Amanda Crozat (Paris), Niall Dooley (Dublin, Ireland), Lesley Joan Guy (Sheffield, England), Mark Keffer (Cleveland), Robert Lang (Bristol, England), Krystel Marios (Berlin), Jonathan McFadden (Minnesota), Haroob Mullick (London), Lydia Panas (Pennsylvania), Julia Schmid (Berlin), Mercedes Teixido (California) and Margeret Withers (New York City).
The work is created using a wide variety of media and techniques. In addition to paintings, drawings and prints there are three photographers, two artists doing video work, an artist combining photography, embroidery, and handmade lace, and one artist using altered newspapers in unique ways that are difficult to classify.
The moral of this story is sometimes life takes us down some unforeseeable paths, but sometimes opportunities are disguised as obstacles in the moment. With all do respect to the talented artists and their accomplished work, the true “art” of this exhibition is the process by which all these artists took a negative and turned it into a positive.
This will be your first (and quite possibly last) chance to see many of these talented national and international artists in Cleveland. Don’t miss it! This exhibition is free and open to the public.
[Pictured: Margaret Withers, Blushing Eastward Where Blue Earth is Gathered, 2012, watercolor, ink and enamel on paper 30”x22.”]
Das Wird Sich Alles Finden (Everything Will Turn Out All Right) opens @ Arts Collinwood Fri 4/5 from 6 – 9pm and runs ’til Sat 4/27. Arts Collinwood is located at 15605 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland, OH 44110. (216) 692-9500. ArtsCollinwood.org
Josh Usmani is a 27 year old local artist, curator and writer. Since 2008, his work has been featured in over 50 local and regional exhibitions.
Cleveland, OH 44110