Vacationing in Cleveland

by Hedwiga Wood

Cleveland is a sleeper location. Many don’t know that people of all incomes can have a great time here. There is a reason you are reading this. You are planning on visiting the Morgan Paper Conservatory but may not know what else to bundle together with your time.

As a local of about seven years, I got you. As a local foodie and coffee snob who also loves nature, I got you! Let’s go over some basics.

People this blog could be useful for:

• Artists in Residence

• Vacationers

• Paperarts enthusiasts

• New to the city

• Simply curious about what else there is to do

Visiting the Morgan Paper Conservatory

Thank you for your interest in seeing us! The Morgan Conservatory is a 501(c)3 non-profit institution and the largest arts center in the United States dedicated to every facet of papermaking, book arts, and letterpress printing and to cultivating the talents of established and emerging artists. An international destination that is free and open to the public, the Morgan Conservatory is a working studio, gallery, gathering place for the community, educational hub, and purveyor of some of the finest handmade papers in the world.

• Paperarts Community hub: This is a place people come back to not just because of a shared love of paper and art but because of the people. During our annual Kozo harvest people come from New York and Michigan to huddle together and harvest fibers.

They didn’t have to make the drive, they aren’t even being paid as this is a volunteer event. People simply come because of the fun they have catching up as friends in a place that is welcoming and patient. This isn’t just a place for people incredibly knowledgeable of the arts but new people as well. No matter where one is in their artistic journey there is fun to be had here.

• Gallery openings: Six words, we have free snacks and drinks. To be clear these are art events where you can leave early like you’re Andy Warhol or you can stay, chat and bother the staff into telling you more about the facilities.

The Morgan typically has five exhibition openings a year. This means we have a variety of examples of paperarts that can inspire others in new projects. Creations vary and don’t even always look like they’re made out of paper! I think that these events are also great for networking.

• Artist Talks: We have several artists in residence throughout the year (except when it’s coldest). These creators receive a stipend and are allowed to use our space for various projects. Almost every AIR does a presentation on their work that people can attend in person or virtually. These are fun to go to because you can ask questions and sometimes touch the work! When these are held: usually a Thursday at 12:15pm.

• You can simply walk in: This is a public place open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. If you have a large group, that’s when you should call or email ahead as it makes it easier for us to best accommodate you. Visitors are free to wander around as they please alone or with assistance. This is a single floored facility (not counting the basement) meaning it is wheelchair accessible. 

• Parking: We have a small lot but that’s usually taken up by staff and AIR (there is usually open disabled parking). There is, however, plenty of free street parking. The Morgan also opens the back gate entrance for people to park during events. 

• Classes: These you will need to plan ahead for. Why? So we have materials for you and can do a headcount. Classes are usually a day or two long. There are a variety to choose from:

  • Papermaking, both Eastern and the much easier Western

  • Letterpress printing

  • Bookbinding

  • Paper marbling

  • And a whole lot more!

• Interlocking arts community: Arts facilities in any city talk to each other. This is so they don’t set up important events on the same days. The Morgan has an artist pass together with a few other facilities. This means people with the pass get class discounts in all locations.

  • Zygote Press: It’s a printmakers paradise.

  • Praxis Fiber Workshop: Fiber arts and weaving

  • Spaces: A resource and public forum for artists who explore and experiment

• The Paper store: The store is a crafter’s haven and holds a variety of colors and textures all of which you are allowed to touch! Don’t know what you want? Grab a mystery bag and receive a collection of small papers in different colors and sizes. People order paper from us from all around the USA. Yes! We can ship you paper! Wherever you are! Going in there is its own experience as guests can look in awe at what is possible. Paper varieties vary:

  • Japanese Kozo

  • Morgan Kozo (It’s Japanese Kozo but grown in our own garden)

  • Thai Kozo

  • Gampi

  • Mitsumata

  • Flax

  • Cotton

  • Abaca

  • And a whole host of decorative papers: Sparkly, marbled, embossed, embroidered, speckled, and more! 

  • Note: We can do custom orders, give us a call or email. 

• Events at the Morgan to look forward to:

  • Annual Morgan Kozo Harvest in October: This is a volunteer event with plenty of snacks, friendship, and harvesting of fibers. This is a fantastic way to learn how paper is made at the very beginning. Guests get to:

    • Strip bark/bast fibers from kozo or milkweed stalks.

    • Scrap the bark off bast fibers leaving only the materials for papermaking.

    • Beat bast fibers into a pulp.

    • Live demonstrations of pulling a kozo paper sheet using a sugetta, also known as an eastern style decklebox. 

  • Dress to IMPRESS: A paper themed fashion show on Saturday, October 4th. Artists create outfits out of 50% or more paper and have models strut down the runway. This is a paid event that has snacks and a silent auction.

  • Annual Juried Exhibition: Time for this varies but it happens every year and thus has a great turnout of guests. 

So… What to do afterwards???

That’s a good question! An interesting thing about the Morgan Conservatory is it’s in a central location. If you have a car, you’re completely golden and have a great point to start from. If you don’t have a car, you might need a bus to get to the subway station or you can use good old fashioned legs. You can go either east or west:

• East

  • Cleveland Museum of Natural History

  • Cleveland Art Museum (which is free) and you can go outside and see:

    • Wade Oval

    • Wade Lagoon (recommend especially in April)

    • Cleveland Botanical Garden

  • Little Italy (parking is hard here)

  • Lake View Cemetery

    • James A. Garfield Monument

    • The Haserot Angel

    • Daffodil Hill (March-April)

    • Wade Memorial Chapel

    • Rockefeller Grave

    • Forest Hill Park Fishing Pond

• West

  • Cleveland City Downtown

  • Zygote Press, Inc.

  • Asia Town: I cannot name all the great places here so this is a few of them: 

    • Koko’s Bakery: Morgan and Cleveland State University favorite. It’s budget friendly and has a variety of dishes and drinks to choose from. Bubble tea, coffee, flavored buns, rice bowls, sandwiches, sweets, and more!

    • Korea House: I don’t know, staff members at the Morgan keep choosing it as food we want when we get a meal together.

    • Asia Plaza

      • Park To Shop Supermarket: Asian supermarket with affordable meals (April 2025 $4.99 for a noodle dish yeehee!) You can find all kinds of interesting treats here. They also have pretty ceramics. 

      • Flower City Gift Shop: It has cute knick knacks. I have a golden buddha from here.

      • Li Wah: It’s dim sum meaning little dishes that you choose from and then it all adds up. I went with my chinese friend and let him take control since it was chinese new year time and they celebrate holidays hardcore here.

      • Cleveland Asian Festival: Find out when it is! As I said, they care about their celebrations!