The Bridge Project
Where: The Entire Span of the Streetcar Level of The Veterans Memorial Bridge (Detroit Superior Bridge)
When: Friday September 25 (4 pm to midnight); Saturday September 26 (noon to midnight)
Producers: Ingenuity Festival, in partnership with KSU Urban Design Collaborative, Flats Oxbow Neighborhood Corp., Cleveland Public Art and All Go Signs.
What: A showcase of this bridge span itself (which is directly underneath the vehicular level) with small stages on the east side and west side, various video, audio and art installations in the nooks and crannies within this space.
Access: one entrance/exit on the east side, above the RTA waterfront line stop in the Flats, near West 9th Street; three on the west side (2 from the County Engineer parking lots on the Viaduct; 1 at Massimo da Milano).
The Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology, “Ingenuity” will expand beyond its weekend summer festival and transform one of the most fascinating under-used urban spaces in the City into a center of art and performance on September 25 and 26, 2009. The streetcar level spans approximately one mile and includes, at the west end, a series of archways and rooms that will be animated by art installations, exhibits and performances. Key personnel include Director James Levin, KSU Urban Design Planner and Pop-Up City Director Terry Scharz. Major programming includes KSU School of Urban Design students who will create several environments in the bridge, NASA engineers Rich Reinhart and Tom Benson who will be creating a audio/light installation, noted local sculptor Laila Voss who will create a video installation in existing cisterns in the space, Opera Per Tutti, “At Last,” a new theatrical production by Mary Weems and Elaine Richardson (about African American women), Ray McNiece and other local musicians and artists.
Ingenuity will venture out of its Public Square – PlayhouseSquare district and explore an urban space that lies central to Cleveland with spectacular views of downtown, the Cuyahoga River, the Flats, Lake Erie: the streetcar level of the Detroit Superior Bridge, immediately below and parallel to the vehicular level. Ingenuity will transform this span, about 50 feet wide in most sections, almost a mile long, with fabulous nooks, crannies, tunnels and cisterns at both the east and west ends, with art installations, exhibits and performances, many involving technology.
This experience will take place Friday September 25, opening at 4 pm, closing at midnight and continue Saturday September 26, from noon to midnight. It will be free to the public and include arts and crafts vendors, food and beverage vendors (including beer and wine), buskers and solo performers positioned across the great span of the bridge with the more complex installations and performances taking place at either end. The event will include, as at all Ingenuity events, significant programming for children and close each night with a musical event.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ll be there shooting the event. Are you looking for an “official” photographer?
If not I can shoot and post the images on my zenfolio site.
Examples: http://thephotos.zenfolio.com/rideformiles
Hello, I can’t find a listing of the bands and other performing artists that will be performing for this bridge project. Are they listed somewhere?
Hi David—
Please visit http://www.clevelandbridgeproject.com and click on the Artists & Schedule tab at the top.
Thank you,
Brooke
I am an artist at the event… It will be a great show! The archetecture and grandness of the space is brilliant for such an event.
I am sure you’ll be in awe, Ron
I was there on Saturday Sept 26 about 5:00pm. I could not find any vendors, maybe with the rain the vendors bailed. It appeared to be not much more than an empty bridge. I think it should be scheduled during July or August when the days are longer and warmer. I think, it’s a good idea but needs alot more development. Start with a coat of white paint under the bridge.
Really enjoyed the bridge project. Was a perfect spot. The evening there was amazing. Great job to all.
Think about having movies there in the summer. They have an organization called “Rooftop Films” in New York which does this. Maybe you could contact them for some info.
Wish there were more vendors and artists though. How well was it advertised?
Would like to be on your mailing list and maybe help out for projects in the near futute. If this is possible.
Sincerly,
Karen Harvey
Thanks, Ron! Hope to see you at this years IngenuityFest, Sept. 24-26, on the Bridge!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your input! We’re glad you were able to make it out to the Bridge Project. Hopefully we’ll make some improvements and you’ll be able to join us for IngenuityFest, Sept. 24-26, on the Bridge.
Thanks for your input, Karen! We’re glad you were able to make it to the Bridge Project and hope to see you this year at IngenuityFest, Sept. 24-26, on the Bridge.
I will add your email to our eblast list.
Thanks!