“The underlying values of a culture and its ethics shape and inform the ways we speak and act. A love ethic presupposes that everyone has the right to be free, live fully and well. To bring a love ethic to every dimension of our lives, our society would need to embrace change.”
—bell hooks (All About Love: New Visions, 87)

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Love Is Resistance is an urgent exhibition of art and music centering love as a radical form of resistance and an expression of community support. Developed by Cleveland Institute of Art | College of Art + Design (CIA) faculty and gallery staff in partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art, this exhibition features artwork by CIA students, alumni, and faculty as well as opening-night performances by musicians Private Prisons, Minority Threat, Kill the Hippies, Ritual Sin, and John Wiese.

Inspired by social critic bell hooks’s definition of love as “a combination of care, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust,” artists from the CIA community—working across disciplines and at different stages of their careers—were invited to create artwork that responds to the present moment. Artists were encouraged to connect their work to objects from the museum’s collection that engage with resistance and love from an art historical perspective. Through mining the lessons of art history and applying present-day perspectives, artists continue to create transformative new visions that resist systems of oppression rooted in hate, fear, division, and injustice.

OPENING NIGHT

An opening reception will celebrate the art in Love is Resistance with live musical performances from regional artists amplifying the exhibition’s themes. This event—free and open to the public—will take place from 4 to 10:30pm Friday, February 14 at Transformer Station. 

• 4–6pm: Open house hours during which guests can come and go as they please. No registration is required during this time.
• 6–10:30pm: Registration is required due to Transformer Station capacity restrictions. Attendees must present their ticket to gain entry. If registration is sold out, walk-ups will be accepted on a limited basis in accordance with Transformer Station capacity limits.

MUSICIAN SCHEDULE

• 7–7:30pm: Ritual Sin
• 7:45–8:15pm: Private Prisons
• 8:30–9pm: Kill the Hippies
• 9:15–9:45pm: Minority Threat
• John Wiese will perform at various times throughout the event.

PARKING

Nearby street and garage parking is limited. Attendees are encouraged to consider public transportation and rideshare services.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Rowan Booth '27
Zoe Brester-Pennings
Jamie Brinker '25
Ashton Burton '26
Gwendolyn Canfield '26
Yiyun Chen '15
Nicole Condon-Shih
Lane Cooper
Dan Cuffaro '91
Maggie Denk-Leigh
Rachel Ferber
Emily Fontana '26
Steven Girdner '27
Joey Goergen '18
Frank Hadzima '23
Allison Hall
Alex Heard '20
Daly Horton '24
Mei Huang '28
Tony Ingrisano
Sarah Kabot
Amber Kempthorn
Natalie Lanese '05
Charles Lee
Jace Lee '21
Angus Luke '15
Laura Medina
Mike Meier '10
William Moore '84
Arianna Papai '26
Sarah Paul
Maxmillian Peralta '21
Theadis Reagins '26
Katy Richards '11
Jordi Rowe '23
James Schaffer '25
Thomas Smith '23
Intermedia Students
3D-Design Students
Alicia Telzerow '20
Alex Vlasov '23
Camron Wright '26

EXHIBITION DATES + HOURS

Love is Resistance will be on view from Friday, February 14 through Sunday, April 6.

Transformer Station is open Thursdays through Sundays from 3 to 9pm beginning February 15. A limited bar and light snacks will be available for guests after 5pm beginning February 15.

Cover art: "WHAT NEXT" by Angus Luke Walser '15; Digital frame animation.

Partner

Love is Resistance is being presented in partnership with Transformer Station and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Sponsors

Reinberger Gallery programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County, through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Our exhibitions are also generously supported by CIA's Community Partners.