The first floor Summit Artspace Gallery and the BOX gallery, on the third floor, had opening receptions on Friday, April 26, for their current group shows. Between the two galleries there are ninety-one artists represented!

Brushstrokes – Then & Now, the Women’s Art League of Akron 80th Anniversary Exhibition, highlights the work of current members with a nod to the history of the organization. Five of the artists will be presenting workshops and demos during the coming month.
Postcard image: Daybreak by April Cameron

The Artists of Rubber City Annual Juried Show, now in its 23rd year,  attracts entries from members and non-members alike. Juror Mary Urbas, Lakeland Community College, chose seventy pieces of artwork, overflowing the BOX into the surrounding space!

Brushstrokes Then & Now
Women’s Art League of Akron 80th Anniversary Exhibition
Summit Artspace Gallery

Artists of Rubber City 23rd Annual Juried Show
the BOX gallery

April 26 – June 1, 2013
Summit Artspace
140 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio

The 9th Annual Juried Show of Fresh Art opened with a reception at Summit Artspace on Friday, March 8, 2013. Artists were invited to enter art inspired by the letter Q and somehow there was no semblance of Star Trek, James Bond or Claes Oldenburg among the entries. Judges Jack McWhorter, Kent State University, and Robert Thurmer, Cleveland State University, selected 43 pieces for the exhibit (less than half of the entered work). Upon hearing of the exhibit, kindergarten students at Lippman School created a Q-inspired piece, too.

On the same evening two shows opened with another reception on the third floor of Summit Artspace. The BOX Gallery is featuring the work of Bonnie Stipe and Betsy Cavalier in the big box and Elizabeth Isley within the small box and on adjacent walls.

Fresh & Q
9th Annual Juried Show
Summit Artspace Gallery

Bonnie Stipe – Skin Deep
Betsy Cavalier – mixed media
Elizabeth Isley – acrylic paintings
The BOX Gallery

March 8 – April 13, 2013
Summit Artspace
140 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio

Fresh & Q postcard design by Liz Remmel, iMMiX STUDIO

A couple times a year the Downtown Artwalk falls on a weekend between shows in the galleries at Summit Artspace. This year Artists of Rubber City planned ahead and scheduled a Silent Auction and Raffle in the BOX gallery. Artwork filled the gallery and beyond; proceeds from the event will support AoRC projects and programs.

photo courtesy of Artists of Rubber City

Carolyn Balogh, a sculptor whose recent work explores the environmental issues affecting native trees, took advantage of the ‘buy-it-now’ price to purchase my print, The Elder Tree.

Adding to the excitement of the evening was the ARTi-Gras theme of this month’s artwalk. Along with the open studios, music, fashion and food were part of the festivities. Classical guitarist, James Marron, and the Kyle Magilavy Jazz Combo played throughout the evening, the Illusion Factory presented a mask-making workshop, Miller South School for the Arts held a fashion show and boutique, and The Orange Truk served Cajun goodies from the parking lot.

The first exhibits of 2013 opened at Summit Artspace on Friday, January 18, with receptions on both the first and third floors.

More Songs about Buildings and Food in the Summit Artspace Gallery features abstract work by Mike Gable and Natalie Petrosky. The title, from the 1978 Talking Heads album, reflects Mike’s references in his work. Natalie’s artwork, in the adjoining small gallery, includes mixed media paintings that she refers to as Treasure Prezzies. Both artists will conduct a drawing workshop on Thursday, January 31, from 6 – 8 p.m. during the newly extended evening hours.

The BOX Gallery, a project of Artists of Rubber City, contains two exhibits. The small box features a solo show by Geraldine Wojno Kiefer, Archipelagic Encounters: The Red Cinder Series. The larger space is filled with a group show of work by Akron Society of Artists members, Friday’s Haze – Friday, as in Friday morning model sessions, and Haze, from the model Angie Haze, an incredible musician who not only posed, but sometimes played music during her sessions. Angie Haze brought both her instruments and her music to the reception and, along with violinist Samuel Salsbury, performed amid her many portraits.

More Songs about Buildings and Food
Mike Gable and Natalie Petrosky
Summit Artspace Gallery
January 18 – February 23, 2013
hours: Thursday, noon – 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, noon – 5 p.m.

Friday’s Haze – Akron Society of Artists
Archipelagic Encounters: The Red Cinder Series – Geraldine Wojno Kiefer
The BOX Gallery
January 18 – February 23, 2013
hours: Friday and Saturday, noon – 5 p.m.

Summit Artspace
140 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44308