Inspiration Is Just Around the Circle

Images By Plain Dealer Photography Staff

What does a small town girl from Ohio do for fun?  After a weekend of being inspired by the sites, sounds, and most of all people of New York City, I had to remind myself that inspiration is found around any corner no matter how big or small.  Cleveland is by no means a NYC and in comparison I would describe it as having small-city charm with big potential.  Of course our Sports teams struggle and are the continuing punch line to jokes but there is a creative, artistic side of the city that is understated and often unrecognized.

Culture and arts are displayed every year, as communities and local organizations come together in an artistic presentation of talent, which I experienced for the first time in 2010.  This year marked the 22^nd annual Parade the Circle event presented by the Cleveland Museum of Art and University Circle Inc. Each year is a different theme-last year was A Door Opens-celebrating doorways as the means of cultural exchange while this year was Voices Among Voices.  As Positively Cleveland described, Parade the Circle “celebrates the diverse cultures of the citizens who comprise our city”. Handmade costumes, colorful floats, stilt walkers, puppets, dancers, and musicians entertain visitors to Wade Oval while sponsors provide activities around Circle Village such as creating a colorful instrument at the Cleveland Institute of Music booth or making shadow puppet creatures with the Cleveland Institute of Art.

 

If artistic expression is not for you, maybe you would have enjoyed a little music instead?  While the hometown Cleveland Indians were struggling against the New York Yankees, fans were going country at the Indians Music Festival held on Saturday at Progressive Field.  Featuring star of The Voice and CMA male vocalist of the year, Blake Shelton, and Grammy award-winner, Brad Paisley to name a few, the music fest had concert goers remembering why Cleveland Rocks! 

http://www.universitycircle.org/userfiles/file/Parade2011_booklet_web.pdf

http://www.universitycircle.org/uci.aspx?page=122

http://positivelycleveland.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/what’s-in-store-for-parade-the-circle-2010/

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/06/cleveland_indians_first_music.html