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Years ago, when Michael Schwarzer would walk through downtown Syracuse with his wife, Marianna Ranieri-Schwarzer, the couple noticed the lack of an active art scene in the city. It was something they’d frequently observed while living in New York City.

That inspired the husband and wife to create MIDOMA Interactive Street Galleries in Syracuse.

“You can look at art at three in the morning, or during your lunchtime, so I think it’s a great way to experience art outside of a place that is sort of traditional,” Schwarzer said.

Now, the couple continues to update the galleries, which span throughout downtown Syracuse. They utilize five storefronts in areas that include 210 Walton St., across from Margarita’s Mexican Cantina, and 400 S. Salina St., next to Redhouse Arts Center.

The repurposed storefronts aim to create a more welcoming atmosphere, Schwarzer said, presenting artwork such as “Rain” by John Paul Gardner and “Seeding” by Penny Santy.

MIDOMA Interactive Street Galleries creates a platform for emerging artists and fashion designers. It was originally based in New York City before moving to Syracuse in 2020. Schwarzer and Ranieri-Schwarzer then co-founded art haus SYR, a space dedicated to showcasing art, shortly afterward.

The Schwarzers presented the gallery for the first time in 2023, and it continues to run today, with art rotating periodically. Every site is marked with a number on a map that is also displayed in each building’s window so visitors can find the artwork.

Each set of windows features various artworks by New York artists. All the pieces were chosen organically — Schwarzer and Ranieri-Schwarzer said they select the best art without any specific theme tying them all together.

The artwork chosen speaks to the co-curators — each piece has a story to tell to the community, Schwarzer said. Fashion, light sculptures and motion videos are also featured.

The first location Schwarzer settled on was provided by Mike Flynn, owner of FlynnStoned Cannabis Co. While he was waiting for his cannabis license, Flynn allowed the Schwarzers to display art in the windows and install a mobile art wall.

When the store opened, they moved the art to the old Eureka Crafts store. Located in the oldest building in Armory Square, Eureka Crafts was a former horse stable, Schwarzer said.

The third location where they opened a display is on South Salina Street, which became available when they were included in the “Salina Street 10” program, a project that planned to spruce up 10 vacant properties along Syracuse streets with artwork.

Another location includes a storefront across the street from the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

“When you come to Syracuse, you check into that hotel, you look across the street, first thing you see is local art,” Schwarzer said.

Marc Safran, a physician and photographer, showcased his portrait photography in the former Eureka Crafts store. Located on 210 Walton St., the Eureka Crafts store was a former horse stable. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor

Kennan Selimović, known artistically as “Smile it’s Healthy,” is one of the artists currently being featured. A local painter and cartoonist, Selimović creates abstract art, graffiti and pop art-inspired works.

Selimović learned about the MIDOMA Interactive Street Galleries when Schwarzer and Ranieri-Schwarzer came to Syracuse and opened art haus SYR in 2024. Early in his art career, Selimović said he was among the first to contact them about presenting his work in their galleries.

“I cannot believe I actually said this. I told him [Schwarzer], ‘You’re gonna want to meet me,’” Selimović said.

One of Selimović’s favorite pieces on display is “Disease Of Greed,” a caricature of a greedy banker holding two bags of money. The caricature features a background of 1960s medical textbook pages Selimović found at a thrift shop. “Disease Of Greed” depicts how the human mind can be corrupted, he said.

Another one of his favorites is “SUDIJA,” which translates to “judge” in Bosnian. The piece, which is presented on East Onondaga Street, features a courtroom judge. The words “all rise” appear to be scratched into the painting.

“The judge looks like this really creepy, crazy, kind of goofy-looking character,” Selimović said.

Brooklyn native Marc Safran, a photographer now based in Syracuse, was also contacted a few months ago by Schwarzer and Ranieri-Schwarzer to be featured in the MIDOMA Interactive Street Galleries. His work is currently being shown at the old Eureka Crafts store.

Safran works as a physician during the day, so photography is a fun side hobby, he said. Safran’s work focuses on photographing performers, dancers, artists, actors and models. He pulled about 12 of his large-format images to show Schwarzer, who then decided which to display in MIDOMA Interactive Street Galleries.

One of Safran’s favorites is “Male Figure (Black and White Solarization).” The photograph depicts a dancer from Garth Fagan Dance, a studio based in Rochester. Safran did some digital editing to make it look like a silver, metallic figure, he said.

Another of Safran’s images depicts a man’s torso covered in sand, which he colorized. He also has a composite featuring a Syracuse University graduate student covered in leaves.

Overall, he believes his work is part of a bigger movement to add color to the streets of Syracuse.

“It’s intriguing and exciting to be in a public space that beautifies the city, and it makes the city more appealing,” Safran said.

Published on April 21, 2026 at 11:39 pm