Northeast Ohio artists are encouraged to submit a design for Cleveland's on Fire!, an urban art exhibit featuring 24 painted fire hydrants located between Public Square and E. 17th Street (deadline Sat 5/10). While this unusual public art event is planned as a temporary exhibit, we hope that the heightened activity associated with it will be longer-lasting. The project is one component of Sparx in the City, a unified series of downtown events sponsored by a coalition of business groups, arts organizations and government entities such as AR Tcade? Project, Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corp., and The Cleveland Theater District Development Corp., in collaboration with The Downtown Merchants Association, The Attractions & Events Task Force, The Community Partnership for Arts & Culture, The Downtown Cleveland Partnership, The City of Cleveland, Councilman Joe Cimperman, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Spaces, Great Lakes Theater Festival and Independent Pictures. Events planned include urban art walks, theatrical street performances, live music and independent films shown on the Playhouse Square jumbo screens. Wow, Downtown Cleveland never sounded so exciting. Chris Ronayne, Director of City Planning for the City of Cleveland says "It's important that our city take opportunities like these to highlight its creative talent in the process of undergoing streetscape makeovers." Cleveland's Division of Water and Division of Fire have been enthusiastic partners in the painting of their fire hydrants. But Cleveland's On Fire! project manager, Joan Perch of the AR Tcade? Project, says this event is more than just a new coat of paint. "I'm under the belief that small but influential efforts can be catalysts for change, and to us, this symbolizes a new culture happening in Cleveland - one where creativity blazes at the street level." Interested artists can pick up entry kits at Art Metro 696-1942, Cleveland Public Art 621-5330, SPACES 621-2314, or e-mail clevelandsonfire@yahoo.com.

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