Between all of this, I was able to make a great deal of progress on the mural that will be painted at Mr. E's Inn on Pearl Road. Hal and Della Esterwood, the owners of the bar, asked if I could do something with their 60-foot wall that faces the Mexico Lindo restaurant near Memphis Avenue. (It used to be the old Theos restaurant). You may remember our Case student artist, Ben Meck, who wanted to get involved in the project.

Ben's art professor, Tim Shuckerow, had wanted Ben to do something simple so it could translate well on the old masonry wall that lines the street near Pearl and Memphis. I asked Ben to do something that depicts Old Brooklyn in the old days, when dirt roads, farmland, and greenhouses were part of the fabric of our neighborhood. Our hope is to have others in the community take what Ben has begun and make it a piece we can all be proud of.

That wall is a BIG wall, so we had a lot of work to do over the summer to get this project rolling. On June 12, the Summer Fellows from the Case Western Reserve University Center for Civic Engagement and Learning traveled to Old Brooklyn to powerwash the wall and scrape it, to get rid of all the peeling paint that had collected over the years. (A special shout out to Mike T. who let me borrow his power washer for this project.) I returned a few days later to spackle all the holes and finish scraping the wall.

Then, on June 27, the fellows returned to Old Brooklyn to condition the wall and seal it so we could cover the wall with acrylic paint. (Thanks to the folks over at Sherwin Williams who are guiding me in my efforts to choose the right paint!) We had 14 students that day, and half of them traveled to Brooklyn Centre to do some landscaping and painting at the Brooklyn Memorial United Methodist Church. Hal and Della fed us and the folks at Brooklyn Memorial gave us some homemade cookies to munch on.

On July 8, I attended a meeting with Tom Collins of the OBCDC and the Near West Design and Review Committee to present the mural project, along with the Esterwoods. I was happy to see that the committee loved our idea, and in fact, asked us to make it bigger! They also suggested that we add a tribute wall with artist signatures and handprints.

So a few weeks after the meeting, I returned to the wall to paint it a nice light shade of blue, a color that will match the sky in Ben's design. Special thanks to Old Brooklyn resident Kevin Dial, who spotted me working on the wall while he was drinking his morning cup of coffee. Kevin came over, introduced himself, and picked up a brush to help me finish the work in the hot sun. He returned the next day to help finish the first coat for me, then I went back to give it a second coat a week later. (Thanks CJ, for helping me paint those hard-to-reach spots at the very top of that wall.) I also sat down with Old Brooklyn artists Andre Holt and Carolyn Anderson to get their ideas on how to tackle the painting and projecting.

We are ready to get started on the next phase, and I could really use your help. We will soon set up a digital projector to project the image on the wall and start tracing it. Please contact me if you would like to help out and have some fun. I really want this to be a community effort and Ben has given us a nice start. E-mail me at maria.dimengo@case.edu if you want to paint or trace some of the image. My goal is to have the wall completed before the winter sets in ... dare I even mention the word "winter" in one breath?

P.S. - Did you know? One month after we added art to vacant storefronts back in March, three of the five buildings were rented within a month.

P.P.S. - Interesting thing about one of the Case students who got involved in our mural project. Not only does she attend Case, but her father owns Mexico Lindo, the restaurant that is located directly across from where the mural wall is being painted. Small world, don't ya think?

Cupcake 1 | Cupcake 2 | Cupcake 3

After the cupcake party, I finally got a chance to collect my thoughts and put together some photos from our Saturday of Service event in Old Brooklyn. All I can say is wow everybody - thanks for a wonderful turnout!

We were blessed with warm sunny weather and 59 degrees in Cleveland that day. (It was hard to believe it came and went, then we were looking at snow the following week.) But more than three dozen community members stopped by, in addition to 15 Case students. Cleveland City Councilmen Brian Cummings and Kevin Kelley (a Case Law School graduate) both dropped by to help. It was great to have them there supporting our efforts.

In addition to hanging art, neighbors picked up trash and cleaned along the intersection of Pearl and Broadview Roads. The food was especially good and we made sure to highlight the flavors of Old Brooklyn. Marge Dambrowski made four dozen pierogis and Joey Pepperoni supplied the veggie and pepperoni breads. Anne Smith and Joe Christensen from Caroline Green's Catering donated bags of sweet popcorn and tasty wraps. My sister made all the desserts, and Connie Ewazen offered a donation toward the food fund.

We couldn't have done it without Jack Amburgey because the Gavin Lee Party Center was the perfect spot. We added some art to Name Brand Paints and Wholesale Furniture. Then we hung some art in storefronts owned by Tom Pavlica, Jim O'Donnell, Mike Cottrell, and Efty Simakis. We especially loved the hubcap art and the cake and pie artwork that now adorns the windows of Slices pastry shop. Many thanks to Carla Haas for finding that old wooden door that had been tossed in the trash and forgotten about. It made a perfect display for Carol Lade's watercolor art.

Thanks for taking a chance on our creativity everyone -- we hope our continued efforts will only get better!

And what can I say about the brilliant pieces on loan from Amy Kreiger? Each time we completed a window with Amy's art, we couldn't help but stand back and admire her awesome work.

All the artists and students really did so much for us, and we have several students planning to do more. For example, Case student Ben Meck will be working with Hal Esterwood, the owner of Mr. E's Inn on Pearl Road, to design a mural for the building. Plus, we have art teachers who are planning to work together on future projects, so stay tuned.

As for me, I plan to take a little time off and enjoy my spring and summer. I hope to see you around Old Brooklyn!

A group of us will be meeting up at the Gavin Lee Party Center near Broadview and Pearl Roads in Old Brooklyn on Saturday, March 28. Stop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and you can help us wash windows and display some of the art we've been creating all winter.

For the past two months, we've been working with students from Michael R. White Elementary School to create some colorful art from recycled cardboard, hubcaps, and other materials.

I also started collaborating with folks from the Case recycling center. That's where I'm finding all the cardboard and colored paper we're able to use for some of our art projects. Special thanks to Eugene Matthews, Linda Robson, and Danny Merritt for giving me an opportunity to dig through their recycle bins. Ditto for the guys at Case Printing Services, who have graciously allowed me to pick through all their recycled paper from time to time.

We also held an event at Case on February 28 and students created nearly three dozen pieces of art. Special thanks to Alex Galante and Pyone Thi who organized this Greek service event. In addition to creating art for my project, students assisted several other non-profits on that day.

Two weeks later, I met up with Erin Mason, the art teacher at William Cullen Bryant School in Old Brooklyn. She let me raid the school's art gallery, so I now have a bunch of art created by WCB elementary school students.

I've been receiving a great deal of support from all over Cleveland. The same day I met with Erin, I met with Jill Riegelmayer, a resident of Ward 15 who works at the Southwest Activity Center, which is affiliated with the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. She introduced me to Danny Tinarello, a wonderful artist who creates essays and amazing art that is sold through Cleveland's HeARTworks. I will be working with Danny and his art teacher, Craig Sullivan, who also volunteers over at Art House, Inc., a non-profit organization in Brooklyn Centre.

Two hours after I met with Jill and Danny, I drove out to Garfield Heights to pick up 10 beautifully painted pieces that was loaned to us by Amy Kreiger. We are thrilled at Amy's generosity and her art is truly one-of-a-kind.

On top of all this, I just learned that one of our Case students, Ben Meck, will be working with locals to design a mural at Mr. E's Inn on Pearl Road. Ben will be stopping by on March 28 to meet with the owner, Hal Esterwood.

With all the redistricting chaos that's going on in the city, I'm looking forward to the 28th, when we can all come together as a community to celebrate Old Brooklyn. Please join us, or e-mail me if you have some ideas on how to move this project forward. What a great way to celebrate the spring!

When I first talked to Connie about the Case Cares About Cleveland initiative, she asked if I could create a sign for her building. I asked her about the history of that particular location and she told me it was called "The Heart of Old Brooklyn" because of its prominence right in the center of town.

So I developed a little sign that she could place in her first-floor window which made her push the idea even further. Maybe she could get an artist she knew to display his work. Or perhaps she might encourage a group of artists to rent some of her available studio space and give that "Heart of Old Brooklyn" a second look.

So she mentioned the ideas to a local artist, Bill Conkey, who put together a nice display for folks walking by. That display has only been up a few weeks, and just yesterday, Connie got word that Conkey made his first sale. Sure, one little sale might not be a huge deal to some, but to the folks who believe in Old Brooklyn, it could be the start of something new, something different.

The bottom line is that a lot of people care and want to see Old Brooklyn thrive. Jeff Rhodes, for example, is a school teacher who lives in Old Brooklyn. Jeff is engaging his high school students to design signs that would give a few storefronts a fresh look. Will it work? Will it matter? No one has all the answers, but the energy is something nobody can deny.

I met an artist by the name of Amy Kreiger who has all kinds of artwork we can display. Her work has been on display at the Spaces art gallery since January 30, and she's thrilled to help Old Brooklyn any way she can. Check out her artwork on page 23 of the Spaces "Flash Forward" catalog.

"I'm glad I can be a part of revitalizing Old Brooklyn," Kreiger said. "It means the world to me that I can help through my artwork, because it's what I love. It's refreshing to see that this project is introducing art in a way to help the city because that's part of what I want to do with my work -- make the public happy, or at least to inspire them in doing something good."

Help us hang Amy's artwork in our upcoming Saturday of Service event. I just added an entry about the event below. We also need to hang the work of one of our resident watercolor artists, Carol Lade. She recently gave me several copies of her work to display.

Speaking of students, I appreciate the energetic efforts of Case students who are helping me move this project forward. Special thanks goes to Rebecca Wei, Arielle Tucker, Ken Hornfeck, Matt Collins, and Phil Seitzer, who are working with me over the next several weeks with students at Michael R. White Elementary School on the east side.

That's what I love about Cleveland. Even though Old Brooklyn is a west-side neighborhood, students on the east side are more than willing to reach out and help me with this collaborative effort. So why is the east side working on projects for a neighborhood on the west side? Here, let me explain ...

I had wanted to do some community projects in Old Brooklyn for almost a year now. Then I read about Ashley Solomon, a fourth-year student at Case, who created an initiative called the Cleveland Public Schools Connection (CPSC). CPSC is a project that connects Case students with elementary students that attend Cleveland public schools.

Ashley introduced me to Rebecca Wei, another Case student, who is managing CPSC projects this semester. Since Rebecca is working with students from Michael R. White Elementary School, she thought they would be a perfect fit for my project. And judging by our first few sessions, our team of young artists are excited to be a part of this! So far, they have created artwork for WSEM Brookside and other locations in my neighborhood.

So rather than spend all this time writing, let's take a look at some of the art we're working on. It's amazing what a little paint, recycled paper, and creative ideas can do.

Check out some students showing off their handprint art for the windows at WSEM Brookside.

1 | 2 | 3

Here's a photo of the banner that hangs on the school's cafeteria wall. These are the things that inspire me. Here is a great sign that I pass by on my way to work every morning. This sign is located in the Buckeye area of Cleveland and stands tall among a sea of dilapidated homes and industrial blight. I can't say enough about the community development staff and neighborhood organizers there who are offering hope and encouragement to residents who live there.

Here is some recycled art as well as some work I dug up for various businesses in Old Brooklyn/Brooklyn Centre.

- A poster for WSEM - Brookside, a non-profit organization that supports the hungry and homeless in our neighborhood. This ties in nicely with the handprint art we created and will be hung in the windows very soon.

- A poster for a resale shop, barber shop, some abandoned storefronts and other businesses that need the help. We're hoping that a little color and creativity can change the face of our neighborhood and encourage new artists and entrepreneurs to move into the city.

- A poster for FreshFork Market, a business co-founded by Case alum Trevor Clatterbuck. Trevor lives in the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood and has an office in Tremont.

Community members are needed to meet with students, serve as project coordinators, and oversee projects in two- or three-hour shifts. Local artists who are interested in volunteering on that day, or who would like to display their artwork in storefront windows, are also encouraged to participate.

Business owners who need assistance with cleanup may call Maria Dimengo at 440-258-4995 or send an e-mail to maria.dimengo@case.edu. Site locations are still being determined at this time, so please visit the blog for updates.

The Inauguration Celebration and Lunch will be held in Thwing Ballroom from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The inauguration will be viewed on a large screen during the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony at 12 noon.

Holt's 10-foot wide tribute was originally created for Rev. Otis Moss Jr., the senior pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland. He had heard Moss speak about “clouds of witnesses” and the greatness of those who live to serve others.

Holt was moved to create something memorable and started gathering photographs for his work. His colorful gold tones and detail on canvas -- amid airbrush images of Mother Theresa, Oprah Winfrey, Jessie Jackson, and others -- shows a heartfelt appreciation for activists and humanitarians that serve as advocates for the down and out. Holt himself is an activist and helped establish the Bessie Mae Hunger Fund for the homeless of Old Brooklyn.

"It is an honor for me to have Case display my art during the inauguration," Holt said. "It is especially an honor to have created works of art that are meaningful, that is a tribute to such humanitarians and freedom fighters as Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others."

Holt was uncertain whether Moss would ever see the multi-panel work before his retirement this past December. When he displayed it outside his Forever Grateful studio on Pearl Road last fall, it caught the attention of Case employee Maria Dimengo, who hopes to work with Holt during her Case Cares About Cleveland initiative. The project is part of a Case for Community grant she received to revitalize storefronts in the Old Brooklyn/Brooklyn Centre area.

Dimengo later met with MLK committee members and staff at the Harris Library who discovered that the triptych fit in perfectly with this year’s inaugural theme and Black History Month celebrations.

"I am thrilled at the enthusiasm at Case," Holt said. "It gave me a feeling that black history matters there, and that makes a difference to me."

After learning about Case and its MLK Week celebration, Holt was inspired to buy some more canvas. He hopes to complete another 48 x 60 tribute – this time, a portrait depicting the struggles of MLK and "The Dream."

After the inauguration on January 20, Holt is making plans to display his work at the Harris Library in the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences through February 13.

"History is finally being made with a black president," Holt added. "It has shown me how far we have come in this world -- that people should matter. People want change no matter who it comes from, black or white."

For more information on Andre Holt, please contact Maria Dimengo in Student Affairs, June Hund, or Kristen Kirchgesler in MSASS.

Broadview Cleaners
Connie Ewazen
Helene Sroka
Jack Amburgey
Jim O'Donnell
Name Brand Paints
Maria's Beauty Salon
Michael Cottrell
Mike Dolan
Pearlview Barber Shop
Robin Hood's Resale Shop
Slices
Tom Pavlica
WSEM - Brookside

Since receiving our grant in September 2008, we have fielded numerous inquiries from volunteers, artists, businesses, and residents who want to get involved. We will be updating this blog with project information and photos to keep you in the loop about what we'll be doing over the next several months.