At Rainey Institute, we don’t just teach the arts—we live them. Our teaching artists are active, thriving members of Cleveland’s vibrant creative community, and we think you should know what they’re up to.

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Gina Washington—a multidisciplinary artist, educator, curator, and cultural connector who brings boundless passion and energy into every class she teaches at Rainey. Right now, Gina is juggling three incredible projects across the Cleveland art scene and beyond.

Our staff are truly amazing—and Gina is a perfect example.

Guest Curator: “Consider Fires” at Heights Arts

Gina is serving as the guest curator for Consider Fires, a powerful group exhibition now on view at Heights Arts in Cleveland Heights (January 16 – March 15, 2026).

The exhibition explores fire as a force of destruction and renewal, warmth and warning, revolution and creation. It invites artists and audiences to reflect on the fires that shape us—the ones we tend, the ones we extinguish, and the ones we cannot control.

The show features work from a talented roster of artists, including fellow Rainey Teaching Artist James Negron, alongside Chester Hopkins-Bey, Tanya Kaiser, Kolé Robinson Brooks, Yasmeen Kwan, Aja Joi Grant, Jeanetta Ho, Ellis Walker, Falon Walker, Mckinley Wiley, Lolita Wilson, and Leah Aki Wood.

Don’t Miss: Ekphrastacy – Poetry Meets Visual Art

If you’re in the Cleveland area, this is one you don’t want to miss. Ekphrastacy is a special evening where art sparks language and imagination. Poets and visual artists come together for live responses to the work on view at Heights Arts.

Featured poets include Heights Poet Laureate Michelle R. Smith, Jennifer Hallaman, Jeweled Justice, and Sujata Lakhe. Each poet will share newly written pieces inspired by the Consider Fires exhibition, and exhibiting artists will share insights into their work and creative process.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Heights Arts – 2175 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Click here to learn more and RSVP

Featured Artist: “Past Present Portraits from the LAND”

Gina is also a featured artist in Past Present Portraits from the LAND, a group photography exhibition at the YARDS Project running through February 28, 2026.

The exhibition reimagines the portrait as a living archive—a space where identity, place, and memory intersect. It brings together a diverse group of Cleveland-based photographers and image-makers whose work captures the people who give this region its soul. From the neighborhoods to the lakeshore, these portraits tell the story of a city that continually reinvents itself.

Visit the YARDS Project website to learn more

Judge: Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

As if curating and exhibiting weren’t enough, Gina has been selected as one of three judges for the prestigious Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park, Florida (March 20–22, 2026).

This nationally recognized festival draws artists from across the country, and Gina will review both applications and exhibitor work to determine award recipients. It’s a tremendous honor—and a reflection of the respect she’s earned in the broader art world.

Learn more about the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Why This Matters

When our teaching artists thrive in the community, our students see what’s possible. They see what it looks like to dedicate yourself to your craft, to put your work out into the world, and to use creativity to connect with others.

That’s what makes the learning experience at Rainey so special.

If you get the chance, go out and support Gina and James! Attend the Ekphrastacy event on February 19th, visit the exhibitions, and help us celebrate the incredible talent right here in our Rainey family.

Stay tuned for our next Artist Spotlight—coming soon!