<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>CONTACT: <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Sarah Gyorki, Executive Director, s.Gyorki@artscollinwood.org</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN>Arts Collinwood</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN>15605 Waterloo Rd</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN>216-692-9500</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN>www.artscollinwood.org</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Mural Inspired by Talented Youth Will Be Legacy to Community</FONT></H1>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The middle- and high-school students in Arts Collinwood’s Portfolio Project are definitely going to leave their mark – for all the city to see.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The mural inspired by the work they’ve been creating this spring in their arts intensive at Arts Collinwood Gallery will come to life on the north wall of the arts center, a visible symbol of the value they believe the arts have in their community.</FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Arts Collinwood launched the Portfolio Project in 2009 with a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The goal is to provide youth opportunities to engage in the arts as a profession, working directly with professional artists in media from sketching and painting to photography and videography, and developing a portfolio of work through the process.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That work will be displayed in an exhibit at Arts Collinwood Gallery, curated and presented by the students themselves.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And it will also be the inspiration for a major public art commission, which the students, along with arts professionals, will jury and select.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>“This mural is a major commission, and a gift to our community that will last decades, and serve as a constant reminder of what our students can do, what they can help to bring about, when they’re given the support and the tools,” says Executive Director Sarah Gyorki.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Art has been a powerful force for change in our community, both in the lives of our individual students and in transforming our neighborhoods.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Waterloo Arts District is an example of that, and the mural these students will participate in will be a major part of our artistic landscape.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s a big responsibility, and they’re absolutely up to the challenge.” </FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The Portfolio Project students agree.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>"People think that kids our age will never do anything.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The art we’re making stops them from thinking about us that way,” says Arielle Luke, a 13-year-old participant in the program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her friend, Miracle Smothers, 14, agrees:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>"I was afraid of someone not liking my artwork- that I put my heart into. But doing this program has shown me that it’s also about me enjoying creating.”</FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Portfolio Project is:</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Imane Blaine, 17</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Arrielle Luke, 13</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN class=yshortcuts>Marcel Mason</SPAN>, 13 </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Lorenzo Neale, 14</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Serita Neale, 13</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Miracle Smothers, 14</FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Destiny Antoinette Allen Ware, 13 </FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Derek Witcher, 16 </FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">They work in conjunction with the professionals of Arts Collinwood Gallery, including Program Curator RA Washington.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Speaking of this first-year group of students, he credits their creative talents, often in spite of a lack of experience and resources, saying, “Their work has grown so much over the course of this program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think people will be impressed with the spirit of what we've accomplished.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Despite all of the challenges this city faces, work like this is happening.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>A new pilot program of Arts Collinwood’s educational offerings, Portfolio Project is proving inspiring and exciting, nurturing a new generation of creative youth committed to bettering their community, one project at a time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Arts Collinwood invites everyone to celebrate that spirit, and the mural it is making possible.</FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Of four finalists selected, one artist will be chosen through a panel process to be completed by the end of May.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The mural itself will be installed in time for an official unveiling at the Waterloo Arts Fest on June 26.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The students’ exhibit, titled <I>“Notes From a Young Collinwood,” </I>will be featured in the Arts Collinwood Gallery May 20-23, with an opening reception Thursday, May 20 from 6-8pm.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The reception is free and open to the public.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>For more information about the students and their work and the final selection in the mural project, visit </FONT><A href="http://www.artscollinwood.org/"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>www.artscollinwood.org</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>.</FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><EM><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Arts Collinwood would like to thank Cuyahoga Arts and Culture for making this program possible.</FONT></EM></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>#################</FONT></DIV><BR><BR><FONT color=#00007f>Sarah Gyorki <BR>Executive Director <BR>Arts Collinwood <BR>216-692-9500 <BR>s.gyorki@artscollinwood.org</FONT></td></tr></table>