Curator, artist and transplant from Chicago, Daiv's landed in Cleveland to ramp up our arts scene with his raging purposefulness. If he's not in Chicago throwing art exhibits featuring Cleveland artists, he's exorcizing his creative demons in what can be called an unconventional approach to art. Last month he literally "grew" live art into BK Smith's 48 Hours exhibit with his grassbed installation; this month he's switching gears and collaborating with Groop's performance art for BK Smith's Censorship exibition. He's back in Cleveland because he sees the positive creative energy manifested in our region and maintains artists here "don't get as much cash thrown at us and manage to do as much or more than artists do in Chicago." Cool Cleveland sat him down at Newsense Gallery to dig a little deeper. He can be contacted at daivw@yahoo.com

CC: What it the best thing about Cleveland? The worst thing?

DW: The best thing is the Lakeshore Drive and all the greenery in University Circle. The worst thing is the Cleveland accent....that "ea" sound instead of an "a" sound.

CC: What does Cleveland have that no other place has?

DW: A preponderance of antique feelings jetting into the sunset.

CC: What does Cleveland have to do to make itself indispensable in the 21st Century?

DW: Become known as a modern city full of opportunities. That can't happen if the "saviour" of the city continues to be viewed as professional sports. Too many people watching, not enough people doing.

CC: What does Cleveland have to stop doing?

DW: Looking down upon itself as second-rate; having antideluvian attitudes that have carried over from the last century.

CC: What has been your greatest contribution to this region?

DW: Purchasing many compact discs! Uh...hopefully, encouraging synergistic cooperation between creative folks and groups.

CC: What do you want to be remembered for when you're gone? DW: Integrity, the expression of Truth, personal change and growth and learning. And a great sense of Rock and Roll.

CC: Cleveland is not a town that celebrates failures, but maybe it should. What was your biggest "failure" and what did you learn from it? DW: I have hesitated many times about making large decisions and then they have been made for me automatically by default. What I've learned is that it is better to "leap" sometimes than it is to "look" first. But discretion is advised.

CC: Who do you look up to?

DW: Jesus Christ

CC: Do you have a motto?

DW: Lots of 'em! How's about "time wounds all heals," "the lure of the hook, the luck of the catch," and "there's no such thing as spiritual fat."

CC: What's the best advice you've been offered.

DW: Always plan for an activity or project to take 1.5 times as long as you expect it to take.

CC: Where are you most likely to hang out in Cleveland?

DW: The Mercury Lounge.

CC: Least likely?

DW: The Flats.

 (:divend:)