What if...Why not? Exhibit Opening

September 27, 2025 | 12-4pm | Shaker Historical Society | FREE

Cleveland artist Chi-Irena Wong invites viewers into a playful and absurd world where the illogical becomes ordinary. Through humorous “what if” scenarios—like grocery shopping in claw machines, wearing shoes as hats, or dining on lint-burgers—her work challenges perceptions of what is normal and what is absurd. Layered with quirky details and whimsical characters, the pieces reward active looking, sparking discovery and delight. Wong’s fantastical worlds encourage us to question our own reality with humor and curiosity, leaving space for joy, laughter, and the invention of our own silly possibilities.

What if...Why not? opens September 27 during AppleFest and will be on view through February 15, 2026. This exhibition is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

Legacy of Elias Lee's Road Bus Tour

October 11, 2025 | 12-3pm | Meet at Shaker Historical Society | REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Join United by Lee—a partnership between The Lee-Harvard Memorial Project, Shaker Heights Library's Local History Department, Shaker Historical Society, and the City of Shaker Heights Culture and Engagement Office—for the launch of Resilient Lee, a yearlong initiative to bring our communities together.

For decades, Lee-Harvard and Shaker Heights have allowed their borders to divide them. As the Lee Road Corridor Plan moves forward, now is the time to mend bridges and reclaim common spaces. This inaugural bus and walking tour will highlight historic sites across both neighborhoods, carrying forward the stories that unite us. 

This is a free tour but registration is required: givebutter.com/eIpX8P

Shaker Sells — March 7 - October 5, 2025 

In the 19th century, the Shaker name signified quality through the brooms, furniture, seeds, and medicinal herbs that sustained their communities. After the decline of Cleveland’s North Union Village, the Van Sweringen brothers repurposed Shaker imagery to market Shaker Heights as an idyllic escape from industrial Cleveland. Their exclusive suburb contradicted Shaker values, yet the romanticized image of a “peaceful Shaker village” fueled the city’s growth and remains a lasting brand to today.

Shaker Sells is co-curated by Cleveland State University student Elliot Rendall and is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

What if...Why not? — September 27, 2025 - February 15, 2026 

Cleveland artist Chi-Irena Wong invites viewers into a playful and absurd world where the illogical becomes ordinary. Through humorous “what if” scenarios—like grocery shopping in claw machines, wearing shoes as hats, or dining on lint-burgers—her work challenges perceptions of what is normal and what is absurd. Layered with quirky details and whimsical characters, the pieces reward active looking, sparking discovery and delight. Wong’s fantastical worlds encourage us to question our own reality with humor and curiosity, leaving space for joy, laughter, and the invention of our own silly possibilities.

What if...Why not? opens September 27 during AppleFest and will be on view through February 15, 2026. This exhibition is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.