Akron's Young Artists are Featured
This month’s Downtown Artwalk is this Saturday, March 6th. Akron’s Downtown and Northside neighborhoods will celebrate spring with a unique artwalk that focuses on and celebrates young local talent starting at 5 pm.
For only two days, Plenty a show by Myers School of Art advanced sculpture students will occupy the 3rd floor of 140 East Market Street in the Artists of Rubber City the BOX gallery. The Artists of Rubber City will hold an opening reception for artists Chelsea Blackerby, Brittany Dell' Aglio- Mitchell, Andrew Lowder and Christopher Smith from 5 to 9 pm that is open to the artwalk public. President of the Artsist of Rubber City Don Parsisson said, "We're especially pleased to have this show of student work in the BOX. Students need an opportunity to experience a gallery setting outside of the university and to present their work to the general public. This experience helps students see what it's like to be working artists. As important, it gives the public a chance to see fresh art still unfettered by demands of marketability."
The Millworks Gallery under Akron Glassworks in Akron’s Northside features an opening reception for Language of Form, a collection of ceramic and metal art, jewelry and functional pieces by University of Akron, Myers School of Art students Joseph Bartram, Kyle Kukwa, Tommy Horning and David Pluck. The reception is from 5 to 10pm and will remain at the gallery until March 27th. Many pieces are for sale and proceeds will assist students with funding for attendance to the 44th Annual Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in Philadelphia.
Up-and-comer Flora Csejtey will be featured in her own show at the Red Light Galleries. Flora, a Firestone High School student and graduate of the City of Akron’s Lock 3 Summer Arts Experience is highly in tune with the downtown arts community. Often a patron of the walk, she can be found at almost every walk enjoying the evening along with friends of hers from Firestone and other local high schools. Bernadette Glorioso, artist and curator of Red Light Gallery thinks highly of young interest in the artwalk, “To see so many young people sincerely invested in art is amazing, and really encouraging”.
The artwalk is an exceptional two-way “gateway” experience for both new artists to engage local spaces and the general public to experience art. “Art is a universal thing, everyone enjoys it at some level,” said Suzie Graham, coordinator of Arts and Children’s Programs for the City of Akron. “The artwalk provides a great common ground for people to enjoy art in a welcoming, approachable way”.
Occasionally, the artwalk artists spice up the evening festivities by offering a piece of art that may be won by collecting stamps at various artwalk locations. This month, Urban Kanvas artist Jason Scala has donated one of a kind urban stencil art for the lucky winner. To enter to win, artwalkers collect stamps on their trolley/artwalk map as they visit specified sites. Maps are turned in to the trolley driver, and a drawing is held at the end of the evening to award the prize.
No matter what your age, with so much to see and do, it is no surprise that the monthly artwalk is becoming one of the coolest nights out in Akron.
To best enjoy your artwalk experience, we recommend parking at Northside (near Luigi’s), in the lot across from Summit Artspace, or in the High Street Parking Deck. Hop aboard the Red Trolley that circulates the route. Spaces are open 5-10 pm with hours fluctuating at each gallery. Visit the Downtown Akron Partnership’s website for additional information at www.downtownakron.com/artwalk.
