I had the pleasure of attending the February Mix event at the Cleveland Art Museum with my friend and poet Katie.  Mix is a monthly after hours event that involves music, drinks, dancing, crafts, and poetry. This particular month was focused on Jean-Michel Basquiat, the NYC artist who died at the age of 27 and left over 1,000 works. Because I was sad I missed the opening, we braved the awful weather up to Cleveland and somehow survived. It was worth it.

This event is awesome! I’d never seen anything like it before. I have visited the CMA several times during opening hours and this was an entirely unique experience. Seeing people of diverse backgrounds come together and enjoy art in a unique way has completely energized me. We have got to get something like this going in Akron.

I’m ashamed to say that I don’t know as much about Basquiat as some, but his work is intriguing. There’s a balance in the chaos and disruption that is organic and unique to him. He’s known for his social commentary and working with “suggestive dichotomies.” His work often layered words with visual elements that leaves the viewer feeling lost within it.

This event celebrated his works by bringing in DJ’s who played that era of music in which he lived, opening a gallery to spoken word and poetry, and allowing guests to create their own version of his notebooks. Breakdancers began showcasing their talent towards the middle of the night. It was a sight to see and the energy was high.

I’m excited to check out the April or May one. I ended up missing this month’s due to other commitments. It should be a lot of fun. If you get a chance, you should check it out. Presale tickets are only $10 and day of are $15. The ticket fee gets you into the museum after hours, access to many of the galleries, participation in the crafts, and access to any of the performances that they’ve booked.

Thanks for reading,