CC spread out over Cleveland's New Year's eve scene, bypassing the high brow parties and blowing off the socialites to hit the real events endowed with imagination. CC's hardcorps were invited to various functions, but my first choice was a private event at one of downtown's art galleries, Newsense. Here, an extensive group of artists and writers tripped my wires more than the variety of liquid temptations that were offered. Stamina was crucial just to keep up the with conversation's momentum, revolving around the creative class and their observations on art, local politics and culture. The group of 50 or so provided discourse that was uninhibited and fun - some of the more memorable topics ranged from vagaries of the romantic mind to intrapoetic relations between writing, painting and philosophy. The evening provided a mental workout, one that fully exercised and stretched one's mental capacity; after five hours of this I realized I could only hope to compartmentalize the vibe into a Top Ten list of discussions and arguments:

1. Artists who capitalize on transgressivism

2. Social impact of technology

3. Serendipitous nature of fame/how to get famous

4. Zen perception (imperfection inherent in our system)

5. Kierkegaard/Nietzsche ideology "out of one's pain, one increases in knowledge."

6. CMA security guards who write to Cool Cleveland

7. How artists' works change as they grow old, with references to Mondrian and Sting

8. Quentin Tarantino

9. Why I hate teaching

10. My favorite Homeland Security moment

Books were dissected, too - we ripped apart bestsellers Who Killed Kurt Cobain for its conspiracy theory and The Tipping Point as a business book that gained unexpected popularity with creative types. While I managed to make it to midnight, the champagne poured and the quotes flowed. Some of my favorites:

"My resolution this year is to not use the words "economic" and "development." "Greatness is knowing what your expertise is."

"If people were educated about art, they wouldn't go out and buy a fucking Hummer." (editor's note: art nurtures conscientiousness and social criticism, as artists are essentialists, whereas people who buy Hummers are ridiculous)

"Creation of any art should be a heroic act."

"Good writing is when you're not repeating yourself."

"Art is not about displaying all your knowledge at one time."

These conversations form the spontaneity of ideas, ones that reveal the mental reverberations of Cleveland's best minds and talent. Cleveland needs to recognize this and utilize these people who infuse much needed vitalism into our region. Our city often forgets and takes for granted our progressive and profound thinkers, pointing instead to those in NYC, L.A., or Chicago. I often travel to NYC and Chicago, and have suffered living in Los Angeles; I can say that the discussions and ideas I've heard in those cities do not surpass the discourse I've experienced in Cleveland. Our city should be impressed by our own people, realizing that our region contains artists, writers and intellectuals who live abundantly.

From Cool Cleveland senior editor Tisha Nemeth

 (:divend:)