Five Things To Do In NEO: Willoughby Arts Fest, Latin Jazz And More

Northeast Ohio arts organizations offer many opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy the sun and the arts this week. There’s the Willoughby Arts Fest, a Latin jazz concert, the Cleveland Foundation’s Common Ground conversations and other local options.

Vivid Wild Things

HEDGE Gallery hosts “Vivid Wild Things,” an exhibition of works from Cleveland artist Nikki Woods. The gallery opens for a preview on Thursday, July 15, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., and to the public on Friday, July 16, 5 – 8 p.m. Woods’s exploratory oil paintings are interpretations of women, landscapes and beautiful objects.

The Willoughby Arts Fest

The Willoughby Arts Fest is Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Over 130 juried artists line the streets of downtown Willoughby featuring a wide assortment of art. Food trucks, local restaurants and other vendors are also open for dining throughout the day.

Art in the Park

The Medina County Art League presents its annual Art in the Park show and sale in Medina’s Courthouse Square on Sunday, July 18, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Artists of mediums ranging from ceramics to printmaking sell their works with nearby eateries open for lunch.

Latin Jazz Concert

The Roberto Ocasio Foundation 's  Latin Jazz Concert is Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m., at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium. The live concert can also be streamed through Vimeo. Featured artists include Bobby Sanabria, Janis Siegel and Paul Ferguson.

Common Ground

The Cleveland Foundation presents “Common Ground,” a community-led conversation event with the goal of creating open discussions that lead to action. The 2021 event begins on July 16 and continues over two weeks, through July 30. This year’s theme is “Growing Common Ground: People, Place, Shared Power.” Conversations are hosted by local organizations in a range of locations, including some online events. For instance, you can talk about diversity in music on the outdoor plaza of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or strengthening community connections at Dunham Tavern Museum.