It’s always a challenge for artists to find the best venue to showcase their latest work, whether it is a musical performance, a play, a dance piece, paintings or photographs. This past weekend, IngenuityFest: The Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology, became the hosting venue for a number of artists, especially those from Northeast Ohio.
Started in 2004 by artistic director James Levin, Wooster’s Visiting Assistant Professor/Director of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship, IngenuityFest was located under the Veterans Memorial (Detroit Superior) Bridge this year in downtown Cleveland.
In the middle of the bridge I was shocked to find a waterfall flowing from the top level into the Cuyahoga River below. According to the festival Web site, “The Lifeline Waterfall,” the top traffic level of the bridge and plunged 130 feet into the river. “Lifeline” was a collaborative effort by artists Kidist Getachew, Michael Lehto and John Thomas, and included lighting design by Chuck Karnak.
According to the artist’s mission statement, “[The waterfall’s] aim is two-part: “to celebrate Cleveland’s abundant water resource by creating an awe inspiring visual; and, through the installation, raise awareness of water scarcity.” The team of artists collected donations during the festival which will be given to a community in Ethiopia that needs access to fresh water.
At night, lights were cast onto the flowing water from the piece. It was fascinating to observe how the ripples from the water could create some variations of vibrancy and contrast from the colors that shined upon it.
Lindsay Phillips ’11 presented a new piece of work at the festival on the main pathway between the two ends of the bridge allowing the audience to stop by any time to see her performance. Phillips worked with two close friends to produce an intricate duet. Kathleen Dalton from Ohio Wesleyan University, and Louisa Armstrong from Case Western Reserve University are nationally ranked gymnasts, which gave Phillips an opportunity to push the limitations of the body for dance.
“I don’t like things that are purely spectacle,” stated Phillips. She wanted people to enjoy the movement and composition of two bodies in space.
While her inspiration for her piece was derived from the architecture of Cleveland, her main focus was concentrated on the structure of the bridge. The performers† moved quietly and delicately placed themselves into very complex and profound positions. Between each transition, I liked how I had the opportunity to place what part of the bridge the choreographer was trying to mimic. It was fascinating to see how effortlessly the dancers shaped themselves around their bodies and the floor to create such harmonious images of stability.
The band Freddie Cool also performed at the IngenuityFest, playing some of their latest hit songs including a cover of “Cold Case of Love” by Rihanna and “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce. Brandelle Knights ’12 flew in from her semester program in New York City and delivered an electrifying performance. Nana Boamah-Acheampong ’11 sang several duets with Knights, and sent the crowd wild with his impromptu and smooth dance moves.
Recent college graduate Allison Wadleigh ’10 revived her senior IS performance entitled “Facebook Me.” With a new cast and slightly different performance platform, Wadleigh’s production continues to delight and inform the audience about the realities of feeling lost and consumed online in a social networking site.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at IngenuityFest and I hope it continues to grow and attract more artists from Ohio and the rest of the world.
For more information about the festival, visit ingenuitycleveland.com