Christopher Johnston

Digital loom weaves new opportunities for Praxis Fiber artists

With the opening of the Digital Weaving Lab at Praxis Fiber Workshop last month, the Waterloo Arts District in Collinwood added another jewel to its already glittering crown. It is the only such training center with a digital loom that offers professional residencies on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Cleveland’s Salvation Army faces the challenges of rescuing sex trafficking survivors

Since 2018, the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland has run a facility downtown dedicated to helping human trafficking victims. Yet now, although the residence remains full and there is an increase in demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the unit is fighting to find funding to remain open for the long-term.

Covid-19 and crime accelerate economic struggles in Mt. Pleasant neighborhood

Bullet holes peppering the aluminum entrance to the Southern Café East hint at the sobering story of distress tormenting the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. Owner and Executive Chef Tony Fortner, who has invested in the community only to find his opportunity for success stymied by Covid-19, currently finds himself living a nightmare that’s far from finished.

“Theater is essential”: Cleveland venues wrestle with Covid-19 shutdown

By Christopher Johnston

Most Cleveland theaters are not expecting to produce another show until 2021 at the earliest, and the shutdown and loss of ticket sales have led to layoffs and budget cuts. Despite these challenges, they plan to reopen. Right now, they're taking time to complete renovations and upgrades and plan for reopening safely while trying out new approaches with virtual programming.