Community Coalition
Lake Erie Artists showcase on Shaker Square

Paula Atwell has always liked art, but like many of us, she stopped creating it when she left childhood. Paula was lucky--she went back to being creative in adulthood.

Paula started taking art classes when she realized she was missing something from her life while in the midst of working and raising a family. She found an innate artistic ability that surprised her, particularly since no one in her family seemed to be artistic. She wondered where it came from until her father, a successful doctor, retired and settled down. "After he retired," Paula says, "he sat down with a pencil and just started drawing from photographs." He has talent, but he never used it.

She never thought her artistic experiments and eventual jewelry sales would lead to ownership of an art gallery. But years later, Paula is the sole proprietor of Lake Erie Artists Gallery on Shaker Square.

For a preview of the work of the over eighty Lake Erie artists, authors, and musicians that resides in Lake Erie Artists Gallery, check out the sophisticated on-line gallery at http://www.LakeErieArtists.com. Although the gallery is an eye pleaser, you can view and purchase Amy Smith's Lake Erie Beach Glass in a Bottle or Laura Taxel's "Cleveland Ethnic Eats" by accessing the website. If you have a favorite artist, say Viktor Schreckengost, and want to see which of his paintings are available at Lake Erie Artists, you can shop the cool website by artist and find his rendering of Engine Number 21, the fire station on the Cuyahoga River.

The website is wonderful. Not only is the art described and pictured, but the browser sometimes gives a bio of the artist or a bit of philosophy. For example, if one clicks on the book "What's So Big About Cleveland, Ohio?" by Sara Holbrook, we can read a synopsis and excerpt from the book. We also find out that Holbrook makes her living writing for children and "left the corporate world to share her love for words with young audiences," a comment on creative discovery in adulthood. Philosophic comment pops up when you click on a cup and read "The Cup, therefore, represents Psyche, or the human soul, and water, its ruling element, represents love. To satisfy the human soul is to fill it with love," followed by "There is nothing like the perfect weight, a comfy handle and the human touch that fashions a well made mug."

As well designed as the website is, Paula suggests you visit the gallery to see art conceived by an extraordinary number of local artists. And no wonder--the gallery is full of light and interesting pieces best appreciated in three dimensions. For gift-giving, Mindy Sand's glassware of confetti swirls and rainbow stems of varying colors, hand painted in glazes fired at low temperatures, is special. Almost any woman would love to have some of Katie Mullins Bonya's chain argentium silver jewelry. The gallery is chockfull of hats and scarves, unique jewelry, recycled art, ceramics, and books by Cleveland writers. Lake Erie Artists is a community of talented artists using space generously provided by fellow artist Paula Atwell to show off their creative gifts.

Gallery owner Paula Atwell's jewelry and watercolor paintings are also on display at the gallery. Her organic-style jewelry is made from natural stone, pearls, glass, and fine silver. Her favorite medium is precious metal clay which she designs in PMC and casts into fine silver (http://www.squidoo.com/paulaatwell). She finds the new space (she just moved the gallery to Shaker Square last June) inspiring and is doing more art than she did in the old Tower City space because she has a classroom in the back that doubles as a studio.

Lake Erie Artists started when a co-op of artists decided to hold a holiday art show in Tower City because it had become too large to do traveling shows at booths. "We opened up a gallery by a fluke while looking for non-traditional spaces to show," says Paula, "and it's evolved into a business and over the years has evolved, and is evolving again in the new location where the demographics are different." These days, instead of working in partnership with fellow artists, Paula's husband is the person who provides feedback on her ideas. It's been an interesting transition from artist to business owner.

Paula reports that she's forced into learning lessons and working with different types of people. She's learning how to separate personal feelings from business relationships, how people shop for art, and the importance of having things in stock. She says she has learned a lot of hard lessons, but she's making it and it's exciting.

The gallery works with Zazzle, a print on demand website on which graphics can be uploaded and printed as custom greeting cards, bags, and other times. It's free to use the site. The customer creates a template and the result is decent quality printing. The Zazzle Store sells items like the Roses Organic Grocery Bag.

Lake Erie Artists Gallery feels at home on Shaker Square where people shop before or after eating at one of the nearby restaurants or while shopping at the weekly farmer's market. Come out to Shaker Square to purchase local foods from the farmer's market on Saturdays or to feel the everyday friendliness of the neighborhood. While at the gallery, inquire about the classes so you can try your hand at designing jewelry from precious metal clay, beading a bracelet, or fusing glass pendants. Tap into that creativity that's been buried under your responsible adult persona. You may find out you have some talent that you have never used.

Lake Erie Artist's Gallery is at 13129 Shaker Boulevard, Cleveland. The Gallery is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 until 6, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 to 8, Saturdays from 9 until 8. Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44120. For Mother's Day, artist Tricia Kaman will be creating hand-cut silhouettes at a special price. Reserve a sitting before Sat 5/1 for this unique gift opportunity. http://www.LakeErieArtists.com

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers.

Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.