Release Date: April 12,2019
Artist Nick Cave to Bring HEARD•AKRON to Life at the Akron Art Museum
Nick Cave, whose exhibition Nick Cave: Feat. is currently on view at the Akron Art Museum, is bringing his dazzling, multifaceted art performance HEARD to Akron with two unique presentations of HEARD•AKRON. The performances will incorporate a herd of the artist’s horse-shaped raffia “soundsuits,” local professional dancers and musicians from the Park East and Summit Lake neighborhoods. Free performances of HEARD will be staged on Saturday, April 27 at 12:00 P.M. at the Summit Lake Community Center and on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 P.M. at the Akron Art Museum. Registration is not required for either performance, however, seating is limited at the Summit Lake Community Center performance and priority seating will be given to Summit Lake and Park East residents. The performance at the Akron Art Museum is open to all.
Akron Art Museum John S. Knight Director and CEO Mark Masuoka said, “A key component of Nick Cave’s art practice is to become interwoven with the community. As a contemporary art institution, we find ways to go beyond the museum walls and into people’s lives. Nick’s presence and willingness to bring HEARD to Akron is a perfect opportunity to exercise our belief that art is for everyone.”
The staging of HEARD•AKRON is the result of a unique partnership between the museum, Akron Civic Commons, the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition and members of the Park East and Summit Lake neighborhoods.
Akron Art Museum Chief of Staff and Director of Special Projects Jennifer Shipman said, “This performance is just the start of a lasting, ongoing relationship between the museum and the community members in Summit Lake and Park East.”
“Even though we had study tables and arts and crafts, the stigma on Summit Lake was ‘all we do is basketball.’ It was like that for 20 years,” says Audley McGill, director of the Summit Lake Community Center. “We always wanted to change that stigma because we wanted to present other opportunities to our community. Overall here, we’ve probably helped hundreds of kids go to school for free, which has not been promoted. But that’s [still] something we’ve done.”
HEARD•AKRON is made possible through the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ohio Arts Council and Akron Civic Commons.
“Through our work with the Civic Commons we are already seeing transformation come to the Summit Lake neighborhood—new places to gather and connect, enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the area’s rich history and culture. Nick Cave’s blend of community with art adds to this momentum, providing ways for residents to connect with their city and each other,” said Kyle Kutuchief, Knight Foundation program director for Akron.
For more information about HEARD•AKRON, visit the Akron Art Museum at akronartmuseum.org. Join the conversation on social media using #HEARDAkron and #AkronArtMuseum and follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.