Over the past few weeks, I've noticed strange Clevelandesque slogans posted on billboards around town, with the attribution "Mind of Cleveland". I remember wondering if this was another Cleveland+hype campaign... or about AIDS prevention... and planned to google it later...

No need. It turns out the billboards are part of an innovative collaboration of Case and the Cleveland Institute of Art... "Mind of Cleveland", by conceptual artist Carl Pope. That culminated last night with an exhibit of the same name, at CIA,. Like with a billboard, this is an easy show to drive-by, let sound-bite, and be gone... except it is so damn good looking, and professional, and promising in many important ways... special credit and props to Pope's collaborators at the CIA and the excellent Reinberger Gallery!

The opening of the CIA exhibit was so crowded and full of buzz I could not take in the entire show, in full, so I only have fleeting impressions. My feeling is that the concept worked, and it created a strong work of art with lasting impact and value, and lingering presence... which is quite an accomplishment for a work of conceptual art.

I didn't participate in the process of creating this conceptual work... I didn't even realize it was happening in my town... so I can't speak for the creative experience, until the end... which is interpreting 100s (1,000s?) of people's thoughts about Cleveland, in 10 words or less.

I found myself reading "Are we "cool" yet... will they like us now" and picturing "M.M., Detroit-Shoreway", who shared that thought... Man or woman - young or old - bitter or secure... Have I thought the same thing... How do I feel about thinking it now... What does it mean to me... Am I bitter or secure about my community? That's a lot of brain activity for one work of art, and this project generated scores and scores of them, in so many forms as to fill the large gallery space and mind.

Not able to focus on any one theme, my focus shifted to the overall event, which was masterful. With large talking heads - some I knew - projected on one of the gallery walls, I experienced a strong sense of Big Brother in "1984", and the sensory overload of slogans became "neospeak".

20 or so of these thoughts were presented as sturdy, striking posters on the walls, with large stacks of copies beneath, which gallery visitors could take home. Most of us did, and these will now be on more artsy walls in NEO than Derek Hess... this is viral art... invasive art... it follows you home and moves into your diningroom.

The Orwellian nature of the Mind of Cleveland is perhaps strongest with the slogans being placed on billboards all around town. They do make you think about what they say, in an artsy way. And what they say is generally pretty interesting.

Which takes my focus to the 20,000 foot level of why this conceptual work exists at all, and how much of the work is visual and how much is performance, with each of us on the set. Is this Cleveland+Hype... Voices and Choices II... "Making Art Work", for the GCP... Re-Believe In Cleveland? IS THIS A MIND CONTROL CONSPIRACY!!! I don't think so.

This is too good... the execution is actually creative, visually effective, and intellectually enlightening and stimulating. The artist and work are authentic and reputable. And, it only cost CIA and Case $38,000, and caused barely a stir to pull off "Mind Of Cleveland", whereas Voices and Choices cost over $3 million, with so much over-to-do-didlie-do-do.

No, "Mind of Cleveland" is good art, well done, and to be enjoyed and celebrated.

If I may add one more neospeak slogan into the mix, from Norm Krumholz's keynote speech at the related National Citiscapes Conference...

"We need 1,000 Citizen Hausers"

N.K., Cleveland Planning Commission

More on all of this, from the Mind of Cleveland website...

The Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) jointly commissioned conceptual artist Carl Pope to create a public art work project “The Mind of Cleveland.” This exhibit will premier in conjunction with the National Cityscapes Conference from March 27-30, 2008. The conference explores the intersections between the urban environment, humanities and the community.