Archive for Parade the Circle
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Art is a Verb: A My Town Monday Post
So there we were, driving up to Cleveland Saturday morning, hoping we’d find a parking spot. #2 daughter was already there; she’d been in Cleveland for a couple of days interning at the Cleveland Museum of Art. For 20 years, the 2nd Saturday of June has been devoted to the Parade the Circle celebration. If you’re thinking of politicos riding in old cars, waving and throwing bad candy to potential voters, you ain’t seen nothing!
Two thousand people joined in the celebration this year: musicians, dancers, stilt walkers, puppeteers, and just folks who came out to share in the magic that is Parade. This is the first time I have actually seen the Parade; I have always been in it, usually sporting a giant puppet. I was among about 70,000 other people who came out to celebrate the arts.
Parade the Circle is a living entity; it demonstrates that the arts transcend differences, and that they create connections between people who would otherwise probably never meet.
The creative energy is palpable, during the workshops that precede the event and before and during the celebration. The photo shows #2 daughter performing at Parade. Take a look at at a video, imagine yourself there, and smile. I’ll post some more photos as I have time to edit them.
My Town Monday’s main man is Travis Erwin, who, this week, writes about a county in his home state of Texas, that bears his name. Take a trip on over there to see links for sites of bloggers who live all over the place.
My Town Monday: the Village of Peninsula, Ohio
Fr. Bernard Cook wrote, “We need to have people who mean something to us; people to whom we can turn, knowing that being with them is coming home.” I have learned that home travels. I have found it in the mountains of North Carolina, in New York City, in Cleveland, Ohio, in Blue Mountain Lake, NY (of which I will write later) and in my town, Peninsula, Ohio.
The folks of Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, pull off some pretty amazing things, from the Harry Potter Fest of July, 2007, to the Peninsula Python Festival of last week.
Ronda, the proprietor of the Downtown Emporium tells me that over 100 names were entered into the Name the Peninsula Python contest. Most were alliterative, some playful, some mythological in nature. Most folks seemed to assume that the python was a male. Ronda says that the official gender-neutral name of the Peninsula Python is Penn.
The world, including the Great Dane on Main (Street), passes by Ronda’s porch:
Here are some more photos of this year’s Pythons of Peninsula and the people who made it all happen.
Cuyahoga Valley Historical Museum
Lily’s Python
Music at the Log Cabin Gallery
Peninsula Library Python
Fisher’s Restaurant Python
Flowers and bikes on Python Day
There is something special about my town, its people, its heart and spirit. Something that truly is like coming home.
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Post a comment and I’ll enter you in the Python Posse Giveaway–and you could win cool stuff, too! You can join the latest member of the Posse, Amy, and her cohorts:Terrie Farley Moran, Sam, Travis, Barrie, and Eryl,
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**As always, My Town Monday is brought to you by Amarillo, Texas’ own Travis Erwin. Take a trip on over to his blog, One Word, One Rung, One Day, and you’ll travel to Cimarron Canyon in northern New Mexico. You’ll also find links to the blogs of other My Town Monday Marauders.
My Town Monday: How Art Gives People Community
What do 2000 artists, dancers, stilt walkers and other paraders have in common with 60,000 spectators? Community, when they are part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle. Saturday, for the 7th year, #2 daughter and I joined in the spectacular celebration of the arts that just completed its 19th year.
We had spent the 6 weeks prior to Parade preparing for the event, my daughter as an intern, and me, as a volunteer. We paper mached, painted and sewed. #2 daughter taught people how to safely walk on stilts, and then how to perform.
The skies were dark Friday evening, thunder rumbled in the distance and the promise of rain was clear. When the winds picked up and the air was charged with electricity, workshop participants were directed to the basement classrooms in the Cleveland Museum of Art. A heavy thunderstorm announced the arrival of the cold front that would give us relief from the heat and humidity of the past week. The question of Saturday’s weather was raised. The forecast called for clouds and light rain in the morning, and clear skies later in the afternoon. When we left the Museum’s workshop tents at 3:00 AM, it was still raining.
It’s hard to go to sleep when the sky is getting lighter and the birds are singing. Even when you’re exhausted and you know that you need to rest before a big event. After a few hours of rest, we dragged ourselves down the hill to the Museum. There is nothing quite like those moments before Parade. The feeling of camaraderie among those who have worked together so hard for so long is palpable. As we shared bagels and coffee, we took care of the things that were necessary, before 2000 paraders descended on the site.
The clouds cleared, the sun came out, and the sky became a brilliant blue. Paraders lined up behind their colored balloon arches, a Suzuki violin ensemble, led by a stilt walker, played the beginning notes and Parade began.
Artists, dancers, musicians from all over the world shared the process with people from the greater Cleveland area, creating people powered floats, music and other forms of art. No words or logos are permitted. A volunteer “tunic patrol” is on the premises to ensure that there are no violations of this policy; offenders are cheerfully provided with a “festive” tunic to cover their garments.
An amazing and talented stilt walker, #2 daughter was in the finale. I was part of another artist’s ensemble this year.
Parade the Circle brings people of diverse backgrounds and varying interests together. It is a clear and amazing demonstration of the fact that art transcends differences, and that it is an essential part of all our lives.
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My Town Monday is the brain child of Travis Ervin. Take a trip on over to his site; you will find links to other My Town Marauders from places hither and yon. You won’t regret it.
My Town Monday: Up the Road a Piece to the North
It’s been hot and humid here in my town this past week. So hot in fact, that my fingers alternate between sticking to the keyboard and sliding off. My brain seems to be doing the same; the heat and humidity and pollen from the cottonwoods and the grasses are rendering me without inspiration—–maybe it’s because so much energy is being spent on perspiration.
Last week’s winner of the drawing—- a very high tech drawing, consisting of my picking a number from a hat—- and the newest member of the Peninsula Python Posse, is no other than the Chief My Town Marauder, Travis Erwin. Travis wins some cool goodies from my town, Peninsula, Ohio. Stroll on over to his blog, One Word, One Rung, One Day, and you’ll not only read about Travis’ neck of the woods, Amarillo, Texas, but you’ll find links to great stories written by bloggers all over the world.
This week, I’m going to tell you about a fabulous event that occurs the 2nd Saturday in June, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle.
This community art’s festival is a true celebration of the arts, a collaboration among the world class Cleveland Museum of Art, local and regional artists and art organizations, and the Greater Cleveland community. Stilt dancers, giant puppets, people powered floats, groups large and small parade around Cleveland’s University Circle, A wide variety of non-electric music, from steel drums to percussion and jazz ensembles contribute to the festivities.
Parade gives people the opportunity to discover, explore and celebrate their creative energy. It is a truly celebration of creativity, both individual and community. If you’re in our general vicinity on Saturday, June 14, join us. I promise you that we’ll all be smiling.
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