C Cleveland - George Zetzer

This is George Zetzer.

George is a graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Art, one of the nation's leading independent colleges of art and design.  His work is on display at Butler Institute of Art, Youngstown, Ohio; Canton Art Institute, Canton Ohio; Massillon Art Institute, Massillon, Ohio and numerous private collections throughout the country.

For the past 40 years, George has taught art out of his home studio in Richmond Heights, OH, a suburb of Cleveland with a population of about 11,000.

George believes that "all people should be allowed to express their feelings in art regardless of ability, talent or circumstance."

Which says A LOT about George and his ongoing relationship with the city of Richmond Heights and his neighbors.

He's been a resident of Richmond Heights for about 30 years and for at least the last 20 that I can remember, he's been expressing himself through his art. On his lawn.

 

All OVER his lawn.

 

People are divided on whether this is art or just junk in his yard. The city says it receives numerous complaints every week about the display. His next door neighbor says that people stop with their children and take photos and that's it's just free expression on a  man's personal property. I think the  controversy likely started because his house sits on a main road and is passed by hundreds of cars a day.

 

Some have called it an attractive nuisance, a legal term for when a dangerous condition on a homeowner's property may entice children and cause them harm. The city has cited him on many occasions for everything from standing water to potentially toxic stuffed animals. I mean, really, how long can a stuffed animal stay out in the elements?

 

Here's the most recent photo of George:

 

 

 

Sentenced to spend 6 days in jail for a noxious weed violation.

 

Apparently, the city has had to come and cut his grass many times when he failed to do so. He ended up in jail for a contempt of court warrant after he didn't show up in court for the weed citation. He says he's being targeted for his artwork but if I didn't cut my lawn for a period of time and then ignored a court appearance, I'm pretty sure I would be sharing a jail cell, too.

 

He states that all of his art mysteriously ended up in his backyard when he was in jail.

 

 

 

I'm honestly not sure how I stand on this. Yes, it's free expression but it is a distraction and some of his "artwork" has blatant political, religious  and/or  racial equality statements.

 

 

Is that ok? Of course.

 

Does it belong in your front yard? I'm just not sure.

 

 

I guess I'm glad that the most annoying yard art in my neighborhood is this:

 



 

What do you think about George? Art or annoyance?