Celebrate 25 Years of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle

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CLEVELAND (April 21, 2014) — A favorite Cleveland family tradition, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle returns for the 25th year on Saturday, June 14 at noon. This annual art parade will fill Wade Oval with lively sounds and colors, featuring innovative costumes, giant puppets and handmade masks created by international and national artists as well as Greater Cleveland artists, families, schools and community groups. This year’s theme, Recologia Desigual, Never Odd or Even, celebrates the inspiration of creativity, global awareness and community spirit in three cities: Cleveland, San Francisco, California and Ibiza, Spain.

“In developing the theme I was intrigued by the synchronicity of these three unique creative enterprises all evolving simultaneously in such wide ranging parts of the globe.” said Robin VanLear, Parade the Circle founder and the museum’s director of community arts.

In celebration of the 25th Parade the Circle, the museum will host a special exhibition highlighting artists, techniques and ensembles from past Parades. The exhibition will be on view in the Susan M. Kaesgen Education Gallery and Lobby on the museum’s classroom level May 31 to August 3 with displays in the Ames Family Atrium from June 2 to June 18.

“This exhibition, celebrating 25 years of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle, will offer viewers an opportunity both to witness the artistic growth of this popular event as well as better understand the significance of this Cleveland treasure within the international world of Celebration Art,” added Robin VanLear.

The 25th annual Parade the Circle will feature 10 guest artists, all of whom have participated in past Parades: Gerald Abt, Pedro Adorno accompanied by members of his performance company, Aqua, Sol y Sereno, Kelvin Keli Cadiz, Anne Cubberly, Robyn Einhorn, Liza Goodell, Abby Maier Johnson, Allison Murray, Jill VanOrden and Rudolph “Murphy” Winters.

Parade the Circle will begin at noon from the Cleveland Museum of Art and proceed in a counter-clockwise direction around Wade Oval until it spills into the Oval in front of the art museum. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors are invited to participate in many hands-on activities offered by local organizations in Circle Village, presented by University Circle Inc. There is no price for admission to the Parade or to Circle Village.

Join the Parade

Registration
Individuals, families, schools, neighborhood groups and community organizations are all invited to participate. Create your parade entry on your own or at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s public workshops. Parade guidelines must be followed. A $6 entry fee per person applies.

To be listed in the printed program, register by Sunday, May 25, 2014. Register for all workshops or the parade during any public workshop.

Basic Workshops
Participants create their own costumes, masks and giant puppets made with the assistance of staff artists. A workshop pass (individuals $50; families $150 up to 4 people, $25 each additional person) entitles you to attend all workshops. Workshops are open to all ages; children under 15 must register and attend with someone older than 15. Registration fees include Parade entry fee. Group rates and scholarship assistance are available. Basic workshops will be offered on Fridays, May 9 to June 13, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Saturdays, May 10 to June 7, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays, May 11 to June 8, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Special Stilt Workshops
In addition to basic workshops, several special workshops on stilt walking and dancing will be offered. Children must be at least 10 years old to participate.

• Stilt Weekend
  Free to all, stilt artists give everyone an opportunity to try walking on stilts. Priority access is given to pass holders. Pass holders without stilts may order them only during stilt weekend: $60–$75. Keep your stilts after safety training. Drop in Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Safety Training and Stilt Dancing for Paraders
  Free with workshop pass. Learn stilt safety, tying and the art of dancing on stilts. Workshops for novice performers on Saturdays, May 24 to June 7, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and for advanced performers on Sundays, May 25 to June 8, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

For questions about workshops contact Nan Eisenberg at 216-707-2483 or e-mail commartsinfo@clevelandart.org.

Parade the Circle is presented by the Cleveland Museum of Art. Circle Village is presented by University Circle Inc. For more information about Parade the Circle, visit www.ClevelandArt.org/Parade. For more information about the museum, its holdings, programs and events, call 888-CMA-0033 or visit www.ClevelandArt.org.