The six artists featured in the new Summit Artspace Gallery show titled Beyond Newsprint have all, now or at one time, worked for the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper as designers, illustrators and cartoonists. They are Chuck Ayers, Dennis Balogh, Derf, Kathy Hagedorn, Art Krummel and Brian Shellito.
Beyond Newsprint will be on display April 30 through June 5. The public is invited to meet the artists at a gallery reception Friday, April 29 from 5 to 7 pm.
At one time all six artists worked at the Beacon Journal together. Today, still working at the newspaper are entertainment section illustrator Kathy Hagedorn, who will be showing contemporary watercolors, and Brian Shellito, who does portraiture and figures in oil. Retiree Art Krummel of Tallmadge will display traditional oils that explore nature and the human figure. The two cartoonists in the show are Chuck Ayers and Derf. Ayers will display his watercolor collection of Akron scenes. Dennis Balogh, now a freelance illustrator and instructor at Kent State University, will present his jazz-themed paintings in watercolor and oil.
There are also a Saturday demonstration and two workshops offered during the show. The workshops are designed for adults and older teens. Both beginners and professional artists are welcome. Please register for these events by emailing psargent@neo.rr.com.
May 7 – My Illustration Style demo by Dennis Balogh 1-3 pm
May 21 – Workshop with Chuck Ayers 1-3 pm
May 28 – Alternative Color Palettes for Portrait Painting Workshop with Brian Shellito 1-3 pm
Summit Artspace, a growing downtown art center, is a project of the Akron Area Arts Alliance in cooperation with Summit County government. It also houses a second gallery called The Box and several artist studios. It is located at 140 E. Market Street, one block east of the Akron Art Museum.
Regular Summit Artspace Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday noon to 5 pm. Beyond Newsprint will also be open until 9 pm on Saturday, May 7 and June 4 for the Downtown Art Walk and May 1 and June 5 from noon to 5 pm for Sunday Sampler, an event with the Akron Art Museum and Akron-Summit Public Library. Admission and parking are free.
The Arts Alliance is a non-profit advocacy group that promotes the value of a strong, diverse and vibrant arts and culture community in Greater Akron. Its membership includes 48 organizations plus 70 artists and arts supporters. It is supported by the Akron Community Foundation, Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, Knight Foundation, Summa Foundation, OMNOVA Foundation and Ohio Arts Council.
