FRONT International Triennial Explores Cleveland's Identity Through Art and Social History

The first FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art took place from July 14 to September 30, 2018, under the curation of Michelle Grabner. Highlighting Midwestern identity and the effects of deindustrialization, the event featured over one hundred artists in 'Eleven Cultural Exercises.' Among the standout initiatives were 'The Glenville Exchanges,' which focused on property renovations in Glenville, and Johnny Coleman's oral history project, 'Reflections from Here' (2018). Julie Ezelle Patton presented her mother Virgie's artwork at the Let It Bee Ark Hive, while Barbara Bloom's 'THE RENDERING (H x W x D =)' (2018) critiqued the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Food projects included John Riepenhoff's Cleveland Curry Kojiwurst and Michael Rakowitz's 'A Color Removed.' The triennial faced backlash for its reliance on car travel due to limited public transportation options.