Cultural Placemaking Through the Arts - Cleo Leslie Smith
About this Binary
Cleo Leslie Smith is the owner of Cleo's Silversmith Studio and Gallery in South Bethlehem. In this interview, Smith describes the importance of small businesses and galleries to a thriving community and artistic scene. Smith describes her own experience in becoming a craftsperson and in running her business, which was established by her father, who was from Allentown. Cleo's has been in South Bethlehem since 1996. She talks about the importance of walkability and a diversity of stores to creating an interesting place. Smith discusses the hardships that artists and local businesses have been facing in recent times. In the time since this interview was conducted, Cleo's has closed so that Smith can retire. This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted by Lehigh University in collaboration with area artists Doug Roysdon (Mock Turtle Marionette Theater), Anna Russell, and Avi Setton. These interviews were supported in part by the Lehigh University Mellon Digital Humanities Initiative. An oral history interview is an act of memory and hence both highly selective and highly subjective. While it accurately reflects what a narrator remembers (or chooses to tell) of his or her experience and viewpoints, it may not accurately represent what actually transpired or what another person may have experienced. As such users should subject interviews to the same degree of critical scrutiny they would any other historical source.
team], C. L. S. [interviewee]; J. S. [interviewer]; A. R. [film]; D. R. [creative. (2016). (1–). https://preserve.lehigh.edu/digital-special-collections/beyond-steel/cultural-placemaking-through-arts-cleo-leslie-smith
team], Cleo Leslie Smith [interviewee]; Jason Slipp [interviewer]; Anna Russell [film]; Doug Roysdon [creative. 2016. https://preserve.lehigh.edu/digital-special-collections/beyond-steel/cultural-placemaking-through-arts-cleo-leslie-smith.
team], Cleo Leslie Smith [interviewee]; Jason Slipp [interviewer]; Anna Russell [film]; Doug Roysdon [creative. 2016, https://preserve.lehigh.edu/digital-special-collections/beyond-steel/cultural-placemaking-through-arts-cleo-leslie-smith.