Press Releases

Jazzee Rozier's solo show and James Schaffer's group exhibition both on view August 30 through September 27; opening reception takes place August 30 from 6 to 7:30pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2024

CLEVELAND—Jazzee Rozier and James Schaffer, seniors in Drawing and Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art, are excited to announce their concurrent exhibitions at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.

Rozier’s debut solo show, Sing About Lesbians, I’m Dying of Thirst, features a series of works that demonstrates the modern-day black lesbian and what it means to exist as one in its entirety—including notions of gender norms, identity, politics and sexual exploration.

Everywhere, All at Once, a group exhibition organized by Schaffer, features pieces from more than 25 transgender artists. This expansive collection of work amplifies the voices of trans people and shows off a wide range of experiences, identities and perspectives.

“I think displaying a body of work was always a plan that James and I were drawn to, and eventually, we both found individual interests in working with the LGBT Center,” Rozier says, “This demonstrates just how flexible and community-oriented the LGBT Center is. They’ve never turned down an opportunity to work with an artist, let alone young, undergraduate students.”

Sing About Lesbians, I’m Dying of Thirst and Everywhere, All at Once will be exhibited at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland at 6705 Detroit Ave., Cleveland from August 30 to September 27. The opening reception is from 6 to 7:30pm on Friday, August 30.

“Art is a powerful form of expression that speaks to our shared experiences, our struggles, and our triumphs as a community,” says Phyllis Harris, Executive Director of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. “Featuring the work of LGBTQ+ artists is not just about celebrating their incredible talent, but also about creating a space where our stories can be seen, heard and valued. At the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, we believe that showcasing LGBTQ+ art, especially that of emerging artists, is essential to fostering connection, understanding and pride within our community. We are honored to provide a platform for these artists to inspire and uplift us all.”

Rozier’s artwork embraces the problematic views associated with black womanhood and utilizes that information to reclaim their identity. “If you think I have manly attributes, then let me perform manliness better than you can” is a phrase Rozier commonly uses to describe what inspires them to make and display these pieces.

Schaffer’s group show invites viewers to not only immerse themselves in the rich, vast diversity of the trans community, but to intently listen to each individual’s distinct voice and story.

“I think what drew me to the idea of a group exhibition was to give fellow trans people an opportunity to speak out about their experiences,” Schaffer says. “With the sharp rise of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric, it’s so important for us to say, yes, we are transgender and proud of that, and we are also human and deserve basic respect.”

To learn more about Rozier, visit jazzeerozier.wixsite.com/jaslynrozier or @artmistakes on Instagram. To learn more about Schaffer, visit jamesschafferart.com or @schaffer.art on Instagram.

Sing About Lesbians, I’m Dying of Thirst and Everywhere, All at Once were created through CIA's Creativity Works program, which is made possible by the generous support of the Fenn Educational Fund and the G.R. Lincoln Family Foundation. Creativity Works is a self-initiated internship program with the goal of supporting a student's professional development. Participating students create proposals that align with their long-term professional goals.

CONTACTS

Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404

LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
Kristin Mazur, Communications Manager
KMazur@lgbtcleveland.org / 216.202.7385

CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 600 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.

LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER CLEVELAND
Established in 1975, the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland is one of the oldest LGBT community organizations in the country. The organization plays a crucial role in providing support, resources, and advocacy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in the Greater Cleveland area.