There's something happening here.

        In urban neighborhoods, suburbs and outlying small towns, dreamers and visionaries are re-claiming buildings, usually historically significant buildings, as places to make art.

        No two projects are alike. Sometimes the motive starts with the neighborhood — economic redevelopment, creating community, rediscovering a space. Sometimes the motive starts with the art and the will to create.

        Projects like the three spotlighted here have been a long time coming to Cincinnati. In some cities, the growth of arts where we live can be easily traced to the 1970s and '80s.

        Here it isn't a movement that's sprouting to life. This movement is bursting into full flower, seemingly overnight. Each of these projects starts with a person or couple who see the need and have the desire to bring a dream to reality.

        Here are some of their stories.

Performance Gallery,
3900 Eastern Ave., East End

        The dream: Bring together an eclectic group of professional artists versed in theater, dance, electronic media, puppetry, video — “and push the envelope a tad.”

Brian Robertson (left), Gina Leatherwood, Jenny Timm, Regina Pugh and Stephanie Cotton-Snell in front of the Performance Gallery in the East End. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

        The dream begins to become reality this week when the Performance Gallery debuts with Galleria Menageria, an evening of original work Friday-June 8.

        Since September, Brian Robertson and a core group of performing artists, Taren Frazier, Stephanie Cotton-Snell and Jenny Timm, have been working to create a performance space inside the Columbia Methodist Episcopal Church (founded in 1893). You can spot its dusky pink steeple a block away.

        Inside, a new stage backs against the remains of the pipe organ. There's room for about 100 theatergoers — in pews that now stand on a series of risers. Their “black box” theater is painted radicchio. A drop ceiling hides the vaulted ceiling and windows. The lights hanging from the grid belong to Mr. Robertson.

        “It's taken a lot of sweat, a lot of time,” Ms. Timm says, but it's been worth it.

        Mr. Robertson, education director for Cincinnati Opera, says the group of like-minded artists is still feeling its way. But they are sure of this: What Cincinnati needs is “stories being told and topics being addressed from a different perspective. Fringe theater isn't strong here.”

        “It's something we've been wanting to do forever,” Mr. Frazier says, “since we worked together at the Dance Hall (in Corryville).” In the mid-'90s Mr. Robertson and Mr. Frazier, with Michael Burnham, tried a project they called Bard Alley. It was the wrong place at the wrong time.

        The Performance Gallery has a stronger base of support and looks to be exactly what they intended, Mr. Frazier says. “A place where artists can dream up things.”

        The plan is to approach artists who have an interest in doing a specific project and “championing them” — providing a space at an affordable rental, offering technical support, a box office phone and whatever else might be necessary.

        The name says it all, associate Regina Pugh says. “It's a little like an art gallery. There will be rotating “exhibits. You'll never quite know what you're going to see when you walk in.”

        Performance Gallery, a volunteer effort, will begin slowly, with performances every two months through the end of the year. In 2003, a “season” featuring a variety of artistic voices will be scheduled every other month, alternating with the building's primary tenant, Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre.

        Over time, Mr. Robertson says, the hope is that audiences will accept Performance Gallery as the city's central venue for alternative theater. For the time being, the group is cash poor but rich in imagination and they expect the presentations will reflect that.

        “So many artists are under the radar screen,” Mr. Frazier observes. “It would be cool of there were a place to gather a larger audience.”

        “Some of the most interesting things I've seen have been in out-of-the-way places,” Ms. Cotton-Snell says. “I think Cincinnati audiences are ready.”

        Galleria Menageria: A Communion of Rum Punch written and performed by Nathan Singer, music by Voice in the Cage; Attack of the Moral Fuzzies by Nancy Beverly; She Knows/I Don't written and performed by Stephanie Cotton-Snell. Information: 333-8482 andwww.performancegallery.org.

Maitri Center,
4120 Hamilton Ave., Northside

        The doorway on Hamilton Avenue is tucked between a coffee cafe and a Post Office. It opens to a long flight of stairs.

        But take the climb and discover a sweet little performing space circa 1865. A small stage faces a ballroom-style room that can comfortably seat about 250.

Maureen Wood has transformed an 1865 Northside building into the Maitri Center. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Some of the seating is in a mini-balcony at the rear, about 8 feet above floor level. Some is on new, built-in purple window seats. World War II-era fans (left strictly for atmosphere) remain mounted to the front of the balcony. Window panes are colored glass. Eighteen feet overhead, the original tin ceiling is intact.

        Maureen Wood, a former social worker who makes her living developing affordable housing, loves the arts. “I always wanted to be an artist.” She loves saving buildings for re-use. She loves Northside.

        She looked around and was saddened by “how little art is happening.”

        So a few years ago, she bought a building on Knowlton Avenue about a half-block off Hamilton, Northside's main thoroughfare, and hung the sign Off the Avenue.

        The rabbit warren of rooms were quickly rented as artist studios, but her dream to use the first floor for contemporary music concerts, film screenings and avant-garde performance didn't happen. The room's configuration would not accommodate the dream.

        A year ago, while walking down Hamilton (at the Knowlton intersection) she saw a for-sale sign on the former Hoffner Lodge. She climbed the stairs. She saw what could be. “I have to have this,” she said to herself.

        She didn't know if it would be possible, but here is a phrase you hear a lot from Ms. Wood: “If it's meant to be, it will be.”

        She acquired the building in November. “Hoffner Lodge” remains etched in stone over the entrance, but Ms. Woods has re-christened the building Maitri (“Sanskrit for loving kindness toward oneself.”)

        For six months she's been working on what “was basically a shell.” She invested several thousand dollars in repairs and upgrades and a small fortune in sweat equity.

        One sunny day in late April, Ms. Wood and a pair of helpers stood at the back of the building, deciding the optimum location for a fire escape.

        Ms. Wood wanted to make sure construction would leave room for the elevator she'd like to install someday. (“If it's meant to be, it will be.”)

        The building wasn't ready for performances, but “I started talking about it to everyone and their mother.” Suddenly there were tango lessons on Mondays, folk dancing on Saturdays. The Nothing Sacred Players move in for improv on Thursdays.

        Ms. Wood plans to shift groups and spaces because she knows performing groups will need consecutive nights for set-up and performances. (Call 541-0500.)

        With the fire escape installed, the Maitri Center had its first concert (by Chris Chandler and Anne Feeney) in mid-May and, while Ms. Wood plans to move forward “in careful stages,” the goal is to book a full schedule. She expects to have a calendar in place by fall.

        “I've always wanted to be an artist,” Ms. Wood says, grinning. “I haven't had time yet.”

Kennedy Heights-Pleasant Ridge Art Center,
6546 Montgomery Road, Kennedy Heights

        Mike Kull is a disciple of the Great Good Place.

        Son of an urban planner and an art teacher, at the drop of his imPRove baseball cap (that capital PR stands for Pleasant Ridge) he'll mount his community pulpit.

        “We've gotten in our cars and forgotten to get out and meet people,” he says. “Homes used to have front porches. People would go for walks and meet their neighbors. These days, some suburban communities don't even have sidewalks.”

Mike Kull plans to turn this one-time mayorıs mansion into the Kennedy Heights-Pleasant Ridge Art Center. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        As he talked, Mr. Kull admired the expansive front porch of the one-time Kennedy Heights Mayors Mansion (circa 1875), set back from the road on 2.2 acres. Maybe as early as July 4 (“I'm an optimist,” Mr. Kull admits), he wants to throw the doors open on a new community art center.

        Mr. Kull is a 10-year resident of the neighborhood. He and his family live on the border between Kennedy Heights and Pleasant Ridge; he owns The Dubliner restaurant near Montgomery and Ridge. He's a past president of the community council, and while he's not an artist, his parents' efforts toward instilling art appreciation clearly made an impact.

        His most important art lesson, he says, was learning that “You don't need a coloring book. You don't have to stay within the lines. You make the lines.”

        When Mr. Kull saw the “for sale” sign, he immediately thought “art.” Then did what he always does. He started talking.

        Community activist Mary Ray signed on. A mutual friend put him in touch with artist and Pleasant Ridge resident Bob Kling.

        What interested him, Mr. Kling says, was Mr. Kull's assertion that “it shouldn't be like any other arts center. There are plenty of opportunities for art training” in Greater Cincinnati.

        But Mr. Kling had a backlog of ideas for people who had never picked up a pencil or a paint brush. What they have is so different, he says, “I think it should be Art Experience.”

        “We want a dude ranch for art,” Mr. Kull explains.

        They envision an immersion program where anyone can walk in with a favorite photo and a few hours later walk out with the subject brought to life on canvas.

        They've signed up a roster of professional artists to work with people of all ages and skill levels. Inside the former mansion, there is room for studios, exhibit space, classrooms, a co-op gallery, a catering kitchen.

        Among the goals are to sell the concept of public art to private and public developers in a program he calls “Art from the Start.” People who live and work at the site of a public art project would be encouraged to be involved in its design and creation.

        Mr. Kull sees the center as a potential “public art contractor” for the entire city, for projects from park benches to rehabilitating vacant lots.

        “I really want to set a model, at least nationally,” Mr. Kull says.

        The art center already has a vote of confidence from the City of Cincinnati in a $50,000 grant. Mr. Kull will present his plan to the Kennedy Heights community council in mid-June.

        Mr. Kull observes that he has a businessman's approach: “You set the goal then go backward, figuring out how to make it happen.”

        The sale of the mansion went through in May. While he's waiting for the property transfer, Mr. Kull is making a to do list: roofing repairs, painting, grounds clean-up.

        He and Mr. Kling would like to see the beginnings of an outdoor sculpture garden and community gardens by fall.

        He eventually sees out-buildings on that 2.2 acres, for pottery, glass, sculpture.

        A friends support group will be organized, and fund-raising will soon be under way. Mr. Kull is looking for sponsors for Art from the Start.

        After the work on the house is completed, they would like to see it on the register of historic places — even as they think about how a small cultural district would complement the business district up Montgomery Road.

        “The meaning of community is all of us working together to get something done,” Mr. Kull says.

Buildings frame artful dreams
Short Vine project hinges on anchor tenant
What's next for projects in the works
Grueling desert run leaves him in the dust
KENDRICK: Alive and well
Kings Island fan lives a roller-coaster life
Prized possessions: Museum director brushes up on 'Mona Lisa'
Couple's dedication pays off in Performance Gallery
DEMALINE: The arts
KIESEWETTER: Television
MCGURK: Film notes
Rapper wants to share his pain in 'Eminem Show'
Connick best when faking Sinatra
Play never brings 'Alexander' to life
Kids with greater grades deserve ice cream
MARTIN: Foodstuff
Serve it this week: Papayas
Get to it