Cleveland's creatives are beginning to get it. After years of operating individually, segregating the arts by compartmentalizing it through its specified media, artists have found that they're ill served in our city; challenges brought on by lack of exposure and local recognition have left them deeply disillusioned, hardend and frustrated. But the tired paradigm of segregated art is hitting a seismic shift; last Friday an impressive effort highlighting the intersection of arts gathered to create a noticeable buzz. And when the arts intersect in Cleveland, the vibe is culturally thrumming. Our city received its first taste of this prototype arts collective, containing artists of various medias including musicians, performance artists and writers unifying to present a new self awareness and creative approach to audiences.

This collaborative group of creatives is Experimental Behavior, who made their formal introduction publicly last week at their Beachland Ballroom launch event. They delivered a magnified image of what Cleveland's doing right, and it's going to take our region some time to adapt to this new confidence and leadership generated by artists.

Cleveland possesses a sharp fixation on what we're doing wrong, and now we must look at the implications of achieving what's "right." I love these altering states of transition, witnessing our city respond to cultural and artistic difficulties; it's a positive sign that we're experiencing the pain that goes along with making improvement. I love that our city is shedding its old ideals and misconceptions, and how the region is going through a visceral conflict as it notices its own growth formation. And it's preferable compared to our city's previous identity based on static inaction. It's this hard won realization that inevitably will manifest itself through artists' creative expression, and their commitment to shape our city through it.

Artists have always been on the leading edge of change, creating their own resources and bravery to implement it; Experimental Behavior sends this message to the public, enforcing a new approach of community while reminding us of the resourcefulness of our artists, writers, and musicians as they engage each other. EB is decisively unleashing their collective talent, thrivingly so, to create what they want from an environment that will not provide them what they need. Watch and see what happens with this underground effort that acts upon its convictions. from Cool Cleveland senior editor Tisha Nemeth

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