Forced out of M.D. Garage, the Crooked River Gang to move monthly art shows to various galleries; First show planned for July 1-27 at Hudson Fine Art and Framing

by Erica Peterson

The Crooked River Gang is taking its show on the road.

For the last 20 years, the local artists that make up the group have exhibited their work at monthly shows in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s M.D. Garage, next to the Boston Store Visitor Center.

But changes by the national park are forcing the artists to move elsewhere, said Kathleen Harrington, one of the curators of the Art @ M.D. Garage shows. The group’s last day at the garage was June 1.

Until a new home is found, the 30-plus artists will exhibit their work at a different local gallery each month.

“We’re going to be artist gypsies,” Harrington said.

The first show will be July 1-27 at Hudson Fine Art and Framing, 160 N. Main St. The opening reception is Friday, July 12.

From Aug. 6 to Sept. 15, art will be exhibited at the Cleveland Metroparks West Creek Reservation, 2277 W. Ridgewood Dr. in Parma. And The Framer’s Gallery, 7730 Chippewa Rd. in Brecksville, will host the show from Sept. 5 to 30.

“The galleries are thrilled, and we are excited to be able to continue exhibiting,” Harrington said.

Pamela Barnes, public information officer for the CVNP, said the Crooked River Gang was the primary visitor activity at the M.D. Garage for years. The park valued the group “because it provided a changing, drop-in activity that engages repeat visitors and deepens connections” to the park.

However, CVNP is looking into other uses for the M.D. Garage, Barnes said.

“Because our visitors have diverse interests, we feel that it is important to diversify offerings at this location,” she said. “We also want to pilot new approaches for use of the building, including sharing space with multiple activities.”

Unfortunately, that reduced the Crooked River Gang’s use of the building. “We deeply appreciate their commitment over the years and look forward to new and different ways for them to be part of the shared space,” Barnes said.

Harrington said the group would have liked to stay in the national park, but members weren’t able to find a suitable place to stage month-long exhibits.

“We need foot traffic and access to a place to process money,” she said.

Harrington is sorry to see their partnership end. While the artists manned the shows, 15 percent of their sales went to the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

But there is independence that comes with the change, she said. The Art @ M.D. Garage shows all had a specific theme connected to the CVNP. The artists do plan to continue focusing on nature, but they’re no longer locked into one park.

 “Now we can open up to other local scenes, like Brecksville and Hudson,” Harrington said. “It gives us a lot more freedom, which we like.”

Each show will still have a theme, she said.

“In the Parma Metropark, they’re doing a whole educational unit on pollination, so they stressed that the art highlight that,” she said. “We can definitely work with that.”

While the Crooked River Gang is not accepting new members until its future is clearer, the close-knit group is looking forward to continuing to do what it loves.

“We’ve got a talented group of people,” Harrington said. “We want to continue to paint and show our stuff. We are flexible and open to go anywhere.”

Any gallery interested in hosting a Crooked River Gang art exhibit can contact Harrington at kshpaints@gmail.com.

Featured image photo caption: The M.D. Garage, a 1940s-era gas station, used to be the home of the Crooked River Gang’s art shows. CVNP recently terminated that partnership. Photo by M. Gabarik