Despite the honored position that Cleaveland holds in the city's history, it is however, the correct spelling and we have resulted in the incorrect “Cleveland” – without the extra "a." One legend has it that in 1830 the city's newspaper could not fit the "a" in its headline, so the city became Cleveland. Texts are now referred to as an activity of texting (and not unlike the story of our cities namesake origins) interpreting words and meaning can be squirrely business filled with different rules of expression that exist in our current day communication. Whether it is through efficiency or trends in language nuance in how and why we infuse tone into digital communication it is mostly the millennial generation that continues to innovate in this space. LOL!

Text Messages is a lively group exhibition of artists, working in a variety of mediums and genres, who incorporate, infuse or solely utilize text in their art practice. Through their employment of language and letterform as concept and design, these artists cultivate an inherently transformative partnership of imagery and text, posing, among many other questions. At YARDS, artists will display a compelling array of contemporary text-based works encompassing a wide variety of themes and concepts. The works on view will traverse diverse styles and sensibilities, delivered with skill, intelligence, wit and innovation through a myriad of themes ranging from public to personal and media including: illustration-neon, light installation, embroidery, assemblages, painting, and photography.

We are thrilled to showcase the artists Karl Anderson, Shadi Ayoub, Malcolm Barrett, Anna Chapman, Ron Copeland, Jeffry Chiplis, Paula Damm, Erin Guido, Brittany M. Hudak, Bob Kelemen, Micah Kraus, Melinda Placko, Sampson the Artist,  Jaylon Wright, and Rachel Yurkovich.

Show opens Thursday, September 1st with a reception from 5:30-8pm

Show runs till October 22nd