Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 2025 at University Circle

Blog Date
Author(s)
Stuart O. Smith, Jr.

Monday, January 20, 2025 - Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 2025 in University Circle

Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with University Circle. Enjoy special programs and activities in honor of Dr. King throughout the week of Sunday, January 19 through Saturday, January 25[, 2025].

In the past, my family has normally spent Martin Luther King, Jr., Day at North Coast Harbor at the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (see related blog posts below). On Monday, January 20, 2025, my wife and co-blogger, Julie, volunteered at the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at the Cleveland History Center, while my son, Michael, and I spent the day visiting four of the museums in University Circle.

It was an unusually cold day (the outside temperature varied between 7°F and 11°F). We used drawstring bags to carry our multiple layers of winter clothing while we were in the comfortably warm museums, and then wore the clothing when we walked between the venues. At these low temperatures, the cold hurts any uncovered skin, such as our faces. Despite the extremely cold weather, was saw many families visiting the museums throughout the day.

I put this blog post together to share my photos and experiences of our visit to the following museums:

I want to thank these museums for welcoming the community every year to visit as part of celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. I am grateful that we have such excellent, educational, and engaging museums in our community. Michael and I had a great time touring all the museums.

 

 

Cleveland Museum of Art

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY CELEBRATION

THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART

Join the Cleveland Museum of Art on Monday, January 20, for a free daylong celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Explore Dr. King’s legacy through artmaking with Zygote Press, contribute your voice to a community weaving, experience film, music, and dance performances, and enjoy free, complimentary cookies. Visitors can also experience the blockbuster Picasso and Paper exhibition for free.

Monday, January 20
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Free Admission

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
. . . Ames Family Atrium
. . .
Join us on Monday, January 20, when the Cleveland Museum of Art opens its doors for a free daylong celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Explore how the moving passages of Dr. King’s writings and speeches shed light on the museum’s collection and create a work of art inspired by his legacy.

Guests are invited to experience the blockbuster exhibition Picasso and Paper for FREE. No tickets are required. Visitors are admitted into the exhibition throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

Michael and I started our day at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where we learned more about Zygote Press and some of the Cleveland Museum of Art's programs. We then visited the special Picasso and Paper exhibition.

 

Zygote Press

Zygote is an open door printmaking studio, gallery, archive, and education center that supports artists through residency programs, studio access, and artistic development in a collaborative environment open to all.

We first talked to Jackie Feldman, who has been the executive director of Zygote Press since February 2021. I had met her last year at the March 26, 2024, Art at Work networking event, and we recently connected on Bluesky Social. (FYI, starting in November 2024, I have noticed a huge increase in creative Cleveland people and organizations joining Bluesky social networking. I have been a member since August 2023.) Zygote Press had set up a display in the Ames Family Atrium where children could print posters that were in keeping with the theme of the day.

I first learned about Zygote Press when they were one of 21 charities receiving FREE tech solutions at Cleveland GiveCamp (see my blog post: Cleveland GiveCamp 2014 - 5th Year!). In 2017, I attended a talk by Zygote Press co-founder, Liz Maugans (see my blog post: PechaKucha Night Cleveland Rocks!! A Night Featuring Creatives at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!).

I enjoyed learning from Jackie Feldman about all the current endeavors of Zygote Press. In particular, I was not aware of their many residency programs. You can learn about their residency programs, print studio, classes/workshops/tours, gallery exhibitions, and more on their website: ZygotePress.org

Zygote Press offers a variety of residency programs throughout the year. Our residency programs provide an opportunity for artists to work in a well equipped studio and artistic community.
. . .
BIPOC Fellowship Program
. . .
Zygote NEO Residency
. . .
Local Artist in Residence Program
. . .
Anthony Bartholomew Post-Graduate Residency
. . .
National PRINT Residency
. . .
The OAC Dresden Exchange Residency
. . .
International Artist in Residency Program
. . .
Intern Swap
. . .
The Rasmuson Alaska Exchange Residency
. . .
Creative Fusion Residencies

Here are photos I took of the Zygote Press display at the museum:

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos, and to scan the Zygote Press QR code.

 

 

Specialty Departments and Programs

We next visited tables featuring some of the Cleveland Museum of Art's specialty departments and programs. There, I learned that through the support of the Cleveland Foundation, the museum has a new Teen Portfolio Project where youth artists can learn how to create professional portfolios.

Teen Portfolio Project is an advanced-level program where teens explore what it takes to create a visual-arts portfolio. During this four-unit program, teens meet weekly to explore visual literacy, art-making techniques, and what it means to be an artist. Teens create a portfolio of 10 artworks and are introduced to skills that allow them to apply to visual-arts colleges and enter the visual-arts professional field.

The Ingalls Library and Museum Archives displayed rare, historic items. They mentioned The May Show, which took place at the museum from 1919 to 1993. I remembered that my cousin had his artwork displayed at the show. There was also a table of prints created by African Americans that reminded me of The Print Club of Cleveland Fine Print Fair (CMA Affiliate Group) that I have attended in the past (see Fine Print Fair blog posts). If you didn't know, check out how you can search the Cleveland Museum of Art's website to see 132 results for "Black American Artists" in "Department: Prints." Currently, the Rose B. Simpson: Strata installation is in the Ames Family Atrium.

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos.

 

 

Picasso and Paper

Pablo Picasso’s prolonged engagement with paper is the subject of the groundbreaking exhibition Picasso and Paper, organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris.

Showcasing nearly 300 works spanning the artist’s career, the exhibition highlights Picasso’s relentless exploration of paper. His appreciation of and experimentation with the material is revealed in the works ranging from collages of cut-and-pasted papers to sculptures from pieces of torn and burnt paper, manipulated photographs, drawings in virtually all available media, and prints in an array of techniques. . . .

If you have not seen the Picasso and Paper exhibition, you must get yourself to the Cleveland Museum of Art before Sunday, March 23, 2025! I highly recommend timing your visit so that you first see the exhibition on your own, and then join with a docent tour. The exhibition is huge! I was very fortunate to attend the preview (which included a tour led by Curator of Prints and Drawings Britany Salsbury) before the exhibition opened to the public, but this was Michael's first visit:

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos.

I plan to come again with my wife, Julie, to see it with fresh eyes with her. Learn more in my blog post:

 

See more photos from the day in Emanuel Wallace's slideshow from his visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art:

 

 

Cleveland Botanical Garden

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN


Enjoy free Admission to Cleveland Botanical Garden on MLK Jr. Day! Visitors are invited to explore our exotic glasshouses and play in our Perennial Playspace. Be sure to stop by our tree cookie activity table from 11:00 am-2:00 pm to make a craft you can take home, participate in a community art project, and learn about how to access more benefits from plants and trees.

Monday, January 20
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Free admission

Arriving at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, we entered the Glasshouse to first travel through the dry, warm Madagascar Spiny Desert, and then to the humid Costa Rica Cloud Forest. We saw not only native plants, but also a variety of animals from the regions.

Madagascar Glasshouse
Visit “the eighth continent” without leaving Greater Cleveland.

We’re home to a world-class collection of exotic plants and animals, including iconic “upside-down” trees and a free-roaming chameleon.

Madagascar’s greenery is among the most unique on Earth, and we’re proud to display a collection of endangered plants, as well as one of the United States’ largest collections of baobab trees. (These massive trunks and hard-shelled fruits have to be seen to be believed.)

In addition to our rare plants, we house exotic animals, including yellow-throated plated lizards and three radiated tortoises.

Come take the trip of a lifetime—no passport needed.

Costa Rica Glasshouse
Experience the year-round exuberance that you can only find in a Central American cloud forest.

Our towering trees, ever-blooming shrubs, and rich vegetation lend a lovely, tropical retreat.

In this area, small bromeliads, delicate orchids, and lush vines cling to every surface. The Fire bush is nearly always in bloom, and it’s a magnet for nectar-loving birds that feel so at home, they often raise generations in our glasshouse.

Our avocado, coffee, papaya, and chocolate trees bear fruit on a regular basis. And our daily butterfly releases are often the highlight of a visit to the Garden.

Come indulge your senses, Costa Rican style.

In addition to our photos of the Glasshouse, be sure to see the chameleon near the children's area -- the Perennial Playspace - and the sculptures that are on the main floor.

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos.

 

 

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Visit the Museum for free this Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a meaningful exploration of Dr. King’s legacy and his connection to science, community, and Cleveland.


What to Expect


Visualizing Dr. King’s legacy: Reflect on Dr. King’s profound impact through a series of posters featuring his inspiring quotes and historical photographs of his visits to Cleveland.
Special MLK-themed buttons: Collect exclusive MLK-themed buttons at three stations throughout the Museum.
Complimentary hot chocolate: Warm up with a free cup of hot chocolate, courtesy of Levy Restaurants, in Origins Café.
Community art projects: Contribute to something bigger through interactive opportunities to share your voice and dreams:     - “Share Your Dream” board: Add your own aspirations and reflections to a collaborative art installation.     - Reflection Room: Step into this video storytelling space to share your community story, thoughts, or hopes. Your contribution may become part of a larger video project for our website, social media, and future community initiatives.

Monday, January 20
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Free admission

After a $150 million renovation and expansion, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History had their official ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 12, 2024. I am including here the following "First Look" video from WKYC-TV, which includes an interview with Cleveland Museum of Natural History astronomer Destiny Thomas who I met on April 8, 2024, at the "Total on the Oval" Eclipse Watch Party:

Learn more about this totally reimagined space in the following WKYC-TV article, which contains six videos about different areas of the museum:

This was our second time visiting the Cleveland Museum of Natural History since its major renovations. We renewed our museum membership while visiting on Thursday, January 9, 2025. There is so much to see that on this second visit, we concentrated on the exhibition halls that we did not fully explore on our first visit:

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos.

 

 

Cleveland History Center - Western Reserve Historical Society

MLK DAY

CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER

Enjoy full access to all galleries with free admission to the Cleveland History Center. Rides on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel are available for $3/ticket to ride. The WRHS Genealogy Committee will assist guests to start creating their own family tree. Guests are encouraged to take time to explore the Smithsonian Exhibition Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People's Campaign which explores one of the most important grassroots movements of the civil rights era: the Poor People’s Campaign of 1968. This movement started by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that continued after his untimely assassination.

Monday, January 20
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Free admission

Please join us on Monday, January 20, 2025, as we commemorate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrate African American history and culture at the Cleveland History Center. The museum will be open from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm, and admission is FREE. All museum galleries will be open to explore with special guests and tours available throughout the day. Rides on the Grand Carousel will be available for $3 each. The WRHS Genealogy Committee will help guests start their family history research.

Celebrate Black artists in the exhibition History in Their Hands: Black Photographers in Cleveland, Ohio, 1968 - Present. The list of special activities includes displays of visual art by Bonnie Venable and Rodney Carpenter and opportunities to meet the associate curator and some of the photographers whose works are featured in the exhibition.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined the staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1967 to launch a Poor People’s Campaign in an effort to address problems facing all Americans living in poverty. Dr. King was assassinated prior to the movement in Washington D.C but the vision he carried continued. Learn more in the exhibitions Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People's Campaign and City Of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People's Campaign Poster Exhibition, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Michael and I ended the day by having my wife, Julie, give us a ride on the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel at the Cleveland History Center.

Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel

The colorful, hand-carved wooden horses, once at Euclid Beach Park on Cleveland’s lakefront, welcome riders once again in the Carousel Pavilion at the Cleveland History Center.

In 2014, nearly 45 years after the parks closing, the crown jewel of Euclid Beach Park- the Grand Carousel- made its return to Northeast Ohio. Restored by Carousel Works in Mansfield Ohio, it opened to the public in the fall of 2014.

Guests can now enjoy a ride on many of the original horses and see hand-painted scenes depicting Cleveland icons and Euclid Beach Park.

Take a ride on the Euclid Beach Park grand Carousel, and make a memory sure to last a lifetime.

My wife and co-blogger, Julie, volunteers at the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel on Fridays, and at special events at the museum. She and my son, Kevin, are on the Board of Euclid Beach Park Now, and Kevin was recently elected as vice president of the Board. You can learn more about the today's Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Beach Park, and the historic amusement park, in my blog posts.

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos.

 

 

Cleveland History Center Exhibitions

A place to discover the rich history of Cleveland and the region once commonly known as the Western Reserve. A place for Northeast Ohioans to locate their own stories and place themselves in the rich story of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

The Cleveland History Center was closing at 4:00 pm on MLK Day 2025, so we didn't have a lot of time to look closely at all the current exhibitions. We did a quick walk-through to see:

I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the photos.

 

Related Blog Posts

I always like to include in my blog posts a list of related posts that may be of interest to the readers of this blog post.

Normally, I go to the North Coast Harbor's Great Lakes Science Center (15 posts) and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (11 posts) for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day:

 

If you do a search for "Zygote Press" on sosAssociates.com, you will find five past blog posts where they are mentioned. Here are two where Zygote Press are featured:

 

More related blog posts:

 

A search for "Amanda King" will lead to six past blog posts.

 

Looking at the 79 past blog post tagged "University Circle," you will also see the following related tags: "Cleveland Museum of Art" (60 posts); "Cleveland Museum of Natural History" (18 posts); "Cleveland History Center" (11 posts); "Print Club of Cleveland" (3 posts); and "Cleveland Botanical Garden" (2 posts).

Read about Cleveland Botanical Garden's partner location, "Holden Arboretum" (4 posts).

Read about "Euclid Beach Park" (9 posts)

 

A BIG thank-you to all the museums that opened their doors to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 2025. It is greatly appreciated!