We’re very blessed in Akron to have Tony. This is the kind of private leadership every city needs. Imagine what could be done if public leadership supported it.

Few would argue that Tony Troppe is a visionary.

Several renovated historic buildings in downtown Akron serve as testimony to how he sees diamonds where others see coal.

Now Troppe is trying to advance a new vision: Akron as a hub of independent filmmaking.

It’s a discussion he’ll launch this month when he gathers area investors to hear from Matthew Gregor, a Cleveland writer who hopes to film much of a new psychological thriller called Ivan’s Journey in Akron.

Troppe has invited dozens of well-heeled friends and acquaintances to his downtown club Musica, where they’ll be treated to live jazz, hot hors d’oeuvres and details of Gregor’s business plan.

”This is cutting edge,” Troppe said of the organized effort to assemble backers to support Akron’s role in a film. ”Not to my knowledge have we done anything like this here before.”

Ohio.com - Businessman touts Akron as a hub for filmmaking

Thanks to generous benefactors, the University of Akron Mary Schiller Myers School of Art has been able to bring to Akron speakers of note in various areas of the visual arts during the past several years.

Myers School of Art hosts graphic designer, British photographer and historian

A group of dedicated Clevelanders started a giving circle a few years ago and have granted small grants to big ideas in our area.  This Saturday, they are having a fundraiser at Gordon Square Arcade and the public is invited.  The only request is that you RSVP to this invitation.  It looks like a lot of fun with tons of things to do, listen to jazz, eat good food, bid on two auctions-live and silent.

Meet The Bloggers will be there because we had the honor of being a recipient of one of the 2007 grants.  George will be giving a two minute presentation during the live auction and I am contributing a visual piece to exemplify how Meet The Bloggers used our grant.  I sure hope that no one expects great things from my poster.  Posters have never been one of my strengths. 

Stop by and support one of Cleveland’s treasures. �

Mark your calendar:

Cleveland International FIlm Festival
March 6 - March16, 2008
clevelandfilm.org

One Bad Cat - The Reverend Albert Wagner Story

From this week’s PostSecret, 40.

Nice sentiment.

A small group got together in a friend’s back yard last night, to talk about many things, but much of the evening’s focus was on what to do re: Breuer. Susan Miller wasted no time posting the text of this letter and copies of other letters in support of preserving the tower:

Here in Cuyahoga County we do have some arts leaders who are not holding their cards. Al Albano like others sent a letter when the news of this Breuer business came out. Didn’t see it? It wasn’t published — here it is. Thanks Al! Attached are letters from the Museum of Modern Art and The National Building Museum as well.

____________________________________________________________________

Dear County Commissioners:

As I will not be able to attend tomorrow’s important meeting which may decide the fate of Marcel Breuer’s tower, I am writing this letter to voice my informed position on this issue, which I know to be shared by many of my equally informed and respected colleagues in the field of art & architecture conservation/preservation.

It is obviously unnecessary at this juncture to elucidate the international, art historic and architectural stature of Marcel Breuer, and I will thus address the more ruthlessly pragmatic issues which I assume are driving your collective decision making process in considering the building’s future. I should add that I have had a complete tour of the building’s interior by a county architect, and am thoroughly aware of its generally fine condition, and excellent state of preservation…

Why do you suppose these were never published?

Love letters for the Breuer Tower | REALNEO for all