Caroline Merk: Art Galleries, Walks & Events

Caroline Merk is one of EA’s expert Northeast Ohio Guides. She has lived in New York City, Brussels, Paris, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, and Richmond, VA. She’s an avid traveler with an incredible knowledge of all things arts and culture. Caroline is also EA’s resident art expert! She was kind enough to share her insights on the Northeast Ohio art scene.

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“It is a well-known fact that Cleveland has a thriving and diverse arts scene. For newcomers, it may not be obvious where to go to check out local art. A great place to start is by attending one of the monthly Third Friday openings at 78th Street Studios. Located in the Detroit-Shoreway Neighborhood, the building has three floors of galleries and studios. It’s a lively scene with food trucks, music and libations.  Another destination for art aficionados is Cleveland’s Little Italy Neighborhood. The area probably has as many art galleries as it does Italian restaurants! There are three “Art Walks” in Little Italy each year: the first weekend of June, October and December.

 
The Cleveland Institute of Art and the Galleries at Cleveland State University both host public openings, featuring the work of students and/or faculty. These shows are interesting, sometimes provocative, and always well-attended. They provide an opportunity invest in emerging artists at a reasonable cost.
Few professional artists have the luxury of having both a studio and a gallery space to showcase their work. Therefore, most artists rely on commercial galleries to represent them. In order to assist those wishing to see and procure local art, a list has been compiled of the best commercial galleries in our area. Input was given by arts consultant, Teresa DeChant, and Christina Vassallo, executive director of SPACES.”

Gallery Hubs
78th Street Studios (W. 78^th St. off Detroit Rd.)
Little Italy (Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads)
Commercial Galleries – Paintings
The Bonfoey Gallery (Euclid Ave. in Downtown)

Harris Stanton Gallery (Warehouse District in Cleveland and W. Market St. in Akron)
Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art (Downtown)

The Galleries at Cleveland State University (Downtown)
Wolfs Fine Paintings and Sculpture (Larchmere Blvd.)
Paul Duda Gallery and Robert Hartshorn Studio (Tremont)
Contessa Gallery (Legacy Village)
1point618 (Detroit Rd. in Gordon Square Arts District)
Patti Corna Gallery (Ohio Design Center)
Commercial Galleries – Art Glass


Thomas R. Riley Galleries (Eton in Woodmere)
Ohio City Glass (W. 25^th St.)
Gift Galleries (various media)

BAYarts (Lake Rd. in Bay Village)
Heights Arts (Lee Rd. in Cleveland Hts.)
Still Point Gallery (Cedar Rd. in Cleveland Hts.)

Don Drumm Studios & Gallery (Akron)
Zeber Martell Gallery (Akron)

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Additional Resources for Visual Arts Fans
Canvas
Collective Arts Network Cleveland
Front
New York Times: A Cleveland Arts District Hustles and Rebounds
New York Times: Culture Blooms in Cleveland
Executive Arrangements’ staffers are true Northeast Ohio experts and love sharing their insights with your company’s recruits and new hires. Our talent attraction and retention services can help you fill important positions with the right people and ensure that they are happy with their decision to relocate to Northeast Ohio. Call us at 216.231.9311.