The death of a child is a parent’s worst fear. For Cleveland Heights artist, Paul O’Keeffe, that fear became a reality 10 years ago in May, when his son, Christian, died by suicide. O’Keeffe responded by making art.
Cleveland Heights artist Paul O'Keeffe supervised the unpacking and installation of his works chosen for display in the FRONT 2022 installation at the Transformer Station in Cleveland.CLEVELAND, Ohio — The death of a child is a parent’s worst fear, a violation of the natural order that the oldest should die first. For Cleveland Heights artist, Paul O’Keeffe, that fear became a reality 10 years ago in May, when his son, Christian, who was about to turn 21, died by suicide in Kent.
O’Keeffe exhibited some of the sculptures in 2017 at The Sculpture Center in Cleveland in an exhibition entitled, “Screaming Voicelessly to a Distant Silence.” The show also explores the possibilities of joy and community at a time of sharp political and social divisions, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the national reckoning over racial injustice sparked by police killings of unarmed Blacks, and the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.,’’ comes from a Langston Hughes poem imploring readers “to see That without the dust the rainbow Would not be.
To emphasize the strong relationship between O’Keeffe’s work and the underlying theme of this year’s FRONT, the triennial is displaying his sculptures at three of its many venues. O’Keeffe said his FRONT pieces are different from earlier works of his that are primarily abstract and don’t include words.
A work by Cleveland Heights artist Paul O'Keeffe is part of the FRONT 2022 installation at the Transformer Station in Cleveland.The letters float above layered plates of steel perforated by elaborate, laser-cut openings. One of the plates is adorned with a pair of shoe inserts that seemed to indicate the absence of a person who might have worn the shoes.
The sculpture culminates in a frame-like form the artist sees as a kind of mirror that marks a point of transition or departure.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Athletics’ pitcher Paul Blackburn selected to 2022 All-Star GameA’s right-hander Paul Blackburn has a 6-4 record and 3.36 earned run average.
Read more »
MLB All-Star Game 2022: Athletics Pitcher Paul Blackburn Selected to AL TeamAfter establishing himself as one of the Athletics’ most reliable arms during the first half of the season, Paul Blackburn will represent Oakland as its only MLB All-Star at Dodger Stadium on July 19.
Read more »
Paul Whelan’s brother speaks on his Russian detention, US government responseThe twin brother of Paul Whelan, the former U.S. Marine detained in Russia on espionage charges, says he has mixed feelings about the responses to the cases involving Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner in comparison to his brother.
Read more »
Amanda Bynes and Paul Michael break off engagement“They have gone through ups and downs, together and personally, and realized they might have moved quickly,” a source revealed of the formerly betrothed couple.
Read more »
Paul Rudd FaceTimes 12-year-old boy after classmates refuse to sign his yearbookA 12-year-old made headlines after his mother revealed on Facebook that his classmates refused to sign his yearbook. Paul Rudd arranged a FaceTime call with the boy, following up with a handwritten note and signed Ant-Man helmet, the boy's mother said.
Read more »
Paul Rudd Befriends Kid After Classmates Refuse to Sign His YearbookThe 'Ant-Man' star got on a FaceTime call with the 12-year-old and sent him a signed 'Ant-Man' helmet.
Read more »