Czu Designs: A Visit with Local Artist Jerry Schmidt

I was first introduced to local artist and gallery owner, Jerry Schmidt, a few weeks back. My father had stumbled upon his studio one day on his way home from work. The two got to talking and found they had a lot in common. The topic was mostly about steel since my dad works for a steel company, and steel happens to be Jerry's material of choice. When my father mentioned I was an art student, Jerry didn’t hesitate to invite me to the Waterloo 7 Art Gallery for a grand tour.

I spent a summer afternoon at what is now my favorite gallery in Cleveland. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and full of amazing work from talented local artists. The artwork is amazing but Jerry’s relationship with the local kids is also outstanding. He not only invites them into the gallery, but with the permission from their parents, he welcomes them into his shop where he teaches them the skills he uses in his craft. Jerry’s hope is to build trust with the neighborhood children and teens by treating them with the utmost respect while showing them how to spend their time constructively and be proud of what they can accomplish.

This past Friday, I returned to the gallery with my boyfriend and father to check out Jerry’s latest piece. My father had given Jerry some large steel disks and we couldn't wait to see how he had transformed them. We walked into the gallery's garden and spotted the new creation. Jerry’s son Tyler, a young and talented sculptor, also completed a piece with his new materials.