Fri 5/23
The launch party for the two-year-old Collective Arts Network Journal’s summer issue began inauspiciously. Artists, art lovers, gallery directors, and members of area arts organizations filtered into Loren Naji’s gallery on West 25th Street.
They picked up copies of the new issue of the quarterly magazine, toting out cartons to bring back to their own spaces. And they enjoyed soft drinks, pizza, veggies, and cookie while getting a final look at Naji’s current show, Undercurrents, featuring the work of Bob Peck, Ron Copeland, and Steve Ehret, which was having its closing night.
An hour and a half into the event, CAN Journal publisher/editor Michael Gill mounted a stack of cartons in the middle of the gallery to make a few announcements. After thanking the assembled group for its support during the journal’s formative years and announcing its upcoming benefit at the Morgan Conservatory on July 25, Gill announced that everyone had to leave. It seems that a fire marshal had arrived to shut down the event.
It was the second time in three weeks, following a raid on the gallery during the show’s May 2 opening. That time, the state liquor police shooed everyone out and confiscated all the alcohol. This time there was no alcohol, but a complainant had called about the fact that Naji had no occupancy permit allowing such public gatherings to take place in his space. He had applied for the permit and had been assured by councilman Joe Cimperman that he could hold an event while waiting for the permit to arrive.
Gill suggested that the crowd move over to the 1point618 Gallery in Gordon Square. Here are some photos of this dangerous art event that apparently put Cleveland’s safety in jeopardy on a peaceful Friday evening.
View the PHOTOSTREAM facebook.com/Loren-Naji-Studio-Gallery/
One Response to “Photostream: CAN Journal Summer Issue Launch Party at Naji Gallery”
Monica
It’s clear to me that some pathetic “you kids get off my lawn”character is really uncomfortable with other people having fun and he also doesn’t know what’s good for his own neighborhood. It makes the city seem unsophisticated. My sympathies to Mr. Naji and kudos for his efforts.