Release Date: August 20,2020
New Shows at Summit Artspace on East Market Commemorate and Celebrate Women, Their Art, Spirit, Abilities and Accomplishments
August 20, 2020, Akron, OH — The female gender is celebrated in two new juried art shows that open in-person on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, at Summit Artspace on East Market in downtown Akron.
Winners of “Femicentric: 2020 Vision” and “She, Her, Hers” will be announced online starting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. The shows will open to in-person timed, free gallery visits on Friday, Aug. 21, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Summit Artspace on East Market is located at 140 E. Market St., Akron.
Both shows run until Sept. 26, 2020. The building with its galleries and artist studios is open weekly Thursday and Friday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday, 12- 5 p.m. Summit Artspace is also open 12 p.m.-7 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2020, for ArtWalk on the first Saturday of month.
Interim Executive Director Megann Eberhart said the galleries have been open to in-person visitors since July 10, offering reduced traffic and a socially-distanced environment following public health guidelines.
“We’ve had very positive feedback that visitors feel safe. The experience is hands-free in the galleries. Public reaction to seeing art up close again has been gratifying with so many people finding ways to normalize their lives as much as they can,” Eberhart said.
Eberhart added that other public health guidelines implemented include: Gallery floors marked for visitors to keep six-feet apart; visitors must wear masks; separate gallery entrances and exits; and the transition from opening night award receptions to virtual award announcements.
To limit gatherings, visitors will be able to download free, timed tickets. There will be a maximum of 100 people throughout the three-floor, 75,000-square-foot building at any one time to allow social-distancing. The link for ordering the free, timed tickets is https://summitartspace.org/
Set for the main gallery at Summit Artspace on East Market, the “Femicentric: 2020 Vision” is juried by noted Akron area artist P.R. Miller. The shows revolves around the themes of liberation, evolution, empowerment, entitlement and the progress of women.
Open to artists of all genders, the show challenged them to create distinctive work that honors and embodies the impact and legacy of women who have shaped history, who are changing the present and who will impact the future. The art will be complimented by creatively written artist statements analyzing how their work fits the call for art using poetry, narrative or imaginative linguistics.
“She/Her/Hers” is a juried art exhibition open to artists who are women and those identifying as women in the THREE G Gallery at Summit Artspace on East Market. Juried by award-winning artist Linda Hutchinson of Kent, the exhibition commemorates the centennial of the 19th Amendment and the complex advancement women have made toward gender equality.
Artist awards for both shows will be announced on Thursday, Aug. 20 starting at 7 p.m. with winners for “She/Her/Hers” and then at 7:30 p.m. for “Femicentric: 2020 Vision” hosted by Miller. The announcements can be seen via video on the Summit Artspace YouTube Channel and social media or highlighted in the gallery.
Also a Summit Artspace gallery juried art show, “Discarded and Rediscovered” is open until Sept. 5, 2020 at Summit Artpsace on Tusc in Barberton and features objects in their second lives as art. Summit Artspace on Tusc is open weekly on Friday, 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, 12-5 p.m. The address is 571 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton.
Summit Artspace will be following state directives so visitors will need to register for a timed ticket at Eventbrite. Please choose a date and time for the separate locations and complete the registration. Tickets are free. If you have questions or are having trouble registering, call the Summit Artspace office at 330-376-8480.
The artist studios that are a popular draw to the Summit Artspace locations will be open independently by the artists and will also have their own guidelines for visiting.
“Visits to the artist studios are going strong. Visitors will find that the artists have set limits on how many people they allow into the studios. People are excited to see the new work and it helps Summit Artspace fulfill our core mission of connecting the community to talented local artists,” Eberhart explained.
Summit Artspace is a non-profit arts organization that provides studio, exhibit and programming spaces in Summit County and the surrounding area for local artists and arts organizations; and is a center for art education open to all residents. Contact Summit Artspace at 330-376-8480. On the Web at https://summitartspace.org. Find us on Facebook, on Twitter @AkronAreaArts, Instagram and Snapchat.