News

Contact:
Greg Peckham, Executive Director, Cleveland Public Art, gpeckham@clevelandpublicart.org or 216.621.5330

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2010

CLEVELAND: On June 19th, Cleveland Public Art will construct a 20-foot tall sculpture composed of 100 chloroprene weather balloons across the façade of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original 1916 building for the museum’s Solstice Party. The artwork is a collaborative venture of Cleveland Public Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Institute of Art.

The installation, entitled White Cloud, is the creation of New York-based artist Mark Reigelman. Reigelman, a 2006 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, was inspired by clouds as objects that provide beautiful and effective shields from the harsh summer sun on the year’s longest day. The sculpture will extend more that 100 feet across the museum grounds and hover 20 feet above the event. It will provide a playful complement to the building’s formality. Locally-based Vincent Lighting Systems is collaborating with the artist to create dramatic lighting installations that will change throughout the evening.

“Cleveland Public Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Institute of Art are three of the most dominant creative cultural institutions in the region. Although each has its own mission, all three are invested in the cultivation of exceptional art and design,” Reigelman said. “Having the opportunity to come back to Cleveland and work with such significant organizations is an incredible experience.”

The Solstice Party is an all-night event welcoming the museum’s newest galleries, showcasing Ancient Near East, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, Medieval and African art. The event runs from 5:30pm until 2am, with music, entertainment, food and a few surprises along the way. For a complete listing of the performances and activities happening at the party, and to purchase tickets, go to www.clevelandart.org.

Cleveland Public Art thanks the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Art for their partnership and assistance on this project.

About Mark Reigelman
Mark A. Reigelman II is a New York-based conceptual designer. His portfolio covers a wide range of work from one-off and limited-edition objects to site-specific installations, public art, and urban design, all of which are intended to create new purposes for conventional objects and spaces. By questioning expected qualities and identities, Reigelman’s work is able to convey ideas, generate conversation, and promote novel, yet enduring, engagements with its audiences. Visit www.markreigelman.comfor more details.

About Cleveland Public Art
Cleveland Public Art, an independent, nonprofit organization, works to improve public spaces through art and design. CPA is Ohio’s premier organization for the identification and evaluation of public art opportunities, bringing expertise to the selection of artists and the implementation of public art projects. CPA makes art accessible to the entire community by bringing it into the neighborhoods, green spaces, and public places that are part of everyday life in Cleveland.

Cleveland Public Art is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the Ohio Arts Council (a state agency that supports public programs in the arts), arts employment support from the Ohio Arts Council made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts through funds allocated from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, The Cleveland Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, and our individual donors. For more information visit www.clevelandpublicart.org.

About the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes over 40,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Currently undergoing a multi-phase renovation and expansion project, it is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, performing arts, and art education. Admission to the museum has been free since its founding charter.

The Cleveland Museum of Art has a membership of nearly 25,000 households and is supported by a broad range of individuals, foundations, and businesses in Cleveland and Northeastern Ohio. The museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Additional support comes from the Ohio Arts Council, which helps fund the museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. For more information on the museum, its holdings, programs, and events, visit www.clevelandart.org or call 1.888.CMA.0033.

About The Cleveland Institute of Art
Founded in 1882, The Cleveland Institute of Art is an independent college of art and design committed to leadership and vision in all forms of visual arts education. The Cleveland Institute of Art is located at 11141 East Boulevard in Cleveland. For more information visit www.cia.edu or call 216.421.7000.