Akron Art Museum

TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART.

EXHIBITIONSTHE MUSEUM PROMOTES AN AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART BY DISPLAYING, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS OF HIGH ARTISTIC MERIT. THE PAST YEAR'S MAJOR EXHIBITS INCLUDED: MORE IS MORE, RESPONSIBILITY TO REVEAL, AND AFTERIMAGES. MORE IS MORE: VISUAL RICHNESS IN CONTEMPORARY ART SOMETIMES MINIMALIST ARTWORK IS ALL YOU NEED. YOU DIVE INTO A POOL OF COLOR OR FOCUS ON A SINGLE SHAPE AND FEEL COMPLETE. OTHER TIMES, YOU MAY WANT, WELL, MORE. MORE AND MORE GIVES VIEWERS JUST THAT. THE GALLERIES ARE BURSTING WITH RICH TEXTURE, LAYERED PATTERS, AND LOADS OF COLOR IN WORKS BY REGIONAL ARTISTS. THE EXHIBITION IS AN INVITATION TO TAKE YOUR TIME. LET YOUR EYE WANDER AS YOU FIND HIDDEN DETAILS IN THE WORK OF GAVIN BENJAMIN. IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO TOUCH THE DELICATE LACE IN KATY RICHARDS'S BLOOM. TRAVEL TO A FAR-OFF PLACE (OR IS IT A DREAM?) WITH AMBER KEMPTHORN'S NO ORDINARY BLUE. ALTHOUGH THESE ARTISTS USE DIFFERENT MEDIA (DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINT MAKING, SOMETIMES ALL THREE), AND DEAL WITH DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTER (PORTRAITS, ABSTRACTION, INTERIORS), THEIR WORK IS UNITED IN THE RICHNESS OF WHAT IT OFFERS TO THE VIEWER'S SENSES. THIS GROUP OF ARTISTS IS ALSO UNITED BY GEOGRAPHY, ALL OF THEM LIVING AND WORKING IN OHIO, SOME PROBABLY NOT FAR FROM YOUR OWN BACKYARD. THIS EXHIBITION IS ORGANIZED BY THE AKRON ART MUSEUM AND SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION, THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL, THE JOHN P. MURPHY FOUNDATION, MARY AND DR. GEORGE L. DEMETROS CHARITABLE TRUST, KATIE AND MARK SMUCKER, AND THE KENNETH L. CALHOUN CHARITABLE TRUST, KEYBANK, TRUSTEE.RESPONSIBILITY TO REVEAL: 30 YEARS OF THE KNIGHT PURCHASE AWARE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA IN 1991, THE AKRON ART MUSEUM PURCHASED SIX BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS BY HARRY CALLAHAN. THIS WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ACQUISITIONS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION PURCHASE AWARD FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA, ESTABLISHED IN 1990 THROUGH A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION. THE AWARD, WHICH PUBLICLY RECOGNIZES ARTISTS' ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUNDS THE MUSEUM'S PURCHASE OF THEIR WORK, IS GIVEN ROUGHLY ONCE A YEAR TO A LIVING ARTIST WORKING WITH PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA. RESPONSIBILITY TO REVEAL SURVEYS THE 22 ARTISTS RECOGNIZED WITH THE KNIGHT PURCHASE AWARD OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES. AS A GROUP, THEY COVER AN EXPANSIVE RANGE. MANY ARE FROM THE UNITED STATES, BUT PRIZEWINNERS HAVE ALSO HAILED FROM AFRICA, ASIA, EUROPE, AND SOUTH AMERICA. SOME HAVE PRODUCED SMALL, INTIMATE, BLACK-AND-WHITE PICTURES, WHILE OTHERS HAVE CREATED ENORMOUS, WALL-SIZED COLOR PRINTS. THEIR WORK INCLUDES SELF-PORTRAITS, LANDSCAPES, FAMILY PICTURES, IMAGES OF CITY LIFE, AND CONCEPTUAL WORKS THAT EXPLORE THE NATURE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ITSELF. AMID THIS WIDE VARIETY, THE COMMON FACTOR AMONG THESE ARTISTS IS THAT EACH REFLECTED AN ESSENTIAL PART OF LIFE THROUGH THEIR WORK. COLLECTIVELY, THEY REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CREATIVITY OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. AS A RESULT, RESPONSIBILITY TO REVEAL PROVIDES A DENSE AND EXCITING TOUR OF PHOTOGRAPHY'S RECENT PAST, WITH HINTS TOWARD ITS COMING FUTURE. IN THAT SPIRIT, A PARTICULARLY EXCITING ASPECT OF THE EXHIBITION IS THE UNVEILING OF WORK BY A NEW KNIGHT PURCHASE AWARD WINNER. THIS EXHIBITION IS ORGANIZED BY THE AKRON ART MUSEUM AND IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION, THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL, THE MARY AND DR. GEORGE L. DEMETROS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE JOHN P. MURPHY FOUNDATION, MARY AND DR. GEORGE L. DEMETROS CHARITABLE TRUST, AND THE KENNETH L. CALHOUN CHARITABLE TRUST, KEYBANK, TRUSTEE.AFTERIMAGES: GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION AND PERCEPTION DURING THE 1960S AND '70S, MANY ABSTRACT ARTISTS MADE THEIR WORK BOLDER, BRIGHTER, AND NEWLY DAZZLING. FOR SOME OF THEM, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES ABOUT HUMAN SIGHT LED THE WAY TO WILD PERCEPTUAL EFFECTS, FROM PULSATING PATTERNS TO FLUCTUATION COLORS AND AFTERIMAGES THAT DISTORT VISION. OTHERS WERE GUIDED SIMPLY BY THEIR INTUITION AND A DESIRE TO TEST THE LIMITS OF OUR EYES AND MINDS. AT TIMES THESE ARTISTS EVEN OUTPACED SCIENCE BY CREATING WORKS WITH UNANTICIPATED, UNEXPLAINED VISUAL PROPERTIES. AFTERIMAGES PRESENTS THIS ENERGETIC HISTORICAL PERIOD THROUGH PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, PRINTS, AND EVEN A LARGE-SCALE IMMERSIVE INSTALLATION THAT ALLOWS VIEWERS TO ENTER A MAZE OF TRANSLUCENT COLORS. ALL THESE ARTWORKS ARE UNITED BY A COMMON DIRECTNESS. THEY WERE NOT MADE TO ILLUSTRATE COMPLICATED IDEAS OR TO EXPRESS HIDDEN EMOTIONS. INSTEAD, THEY EXIST PRIMARILY FOR THEIR IMPACT ON PERCEPTION, FOR THE VISUAL AND MENTAL EXPERIENCE THAT COMES SIMPLY FROM LOOKING AT THEM. THEIR EFFECTS ARE EXCITING, BEWILDERING, AND CAN EVEN FEEL OVERWHELMING, AND THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE CLEAR AND IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE. AFTERIMAGES IS PRESENTED BY THE AKRON ART MUSEUM WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CARL & MARILYNN THOMA ART FOUNDATION AND IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION, THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL, THE MARY AND DR. GEORGE L. DEMETROS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE JOHN P. MURPHY FOUNDATION, MARY AND DR. GEORGE L. DEMETROS CHARITABLE TRUST, AND THE KENNETH L. CALHOUN CHARITABLE TRUST, KEYBANK, TRUSTEE.OTHER NEW EXHIBITIONS THIS PAST YEAR INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:THE 10,000 THINGS BY JORDAN WONG THIS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION INTERWEAVES INSPIRATIONS FROM TRADITIONAL CHINESE PAINTING, JAPANESE MANGA AND ANIME, VIDEO GAMES AND COMIC BOOKS WITH GRAPHIC DESIGN, ICONOGRAPHIES, AND WONG'S PHILOSOPHICAL MUSINGS. THE WORK IS METAPHORICAL AS MUCH AS IT IS REFERENTIAL, CONTAINING THEMES OF PERSEVERANCE, TRIUMPH, BELONGING, AND GROWTH. THE 10,000 THINGSA TAOIST PHRASE USED TO REFERENCE AND DESCRIBE THE UNIVERSEEVOKES A JOURNEY TO CREATE ARTWORK THAT ASPIRES TO BE AS VIBRANT, IMMENSE, AND WONDERFULLY MYSTERIOUS AS EXISTENCE ITSELF. THE EXHIBITION, WONG SAYS, "AIMS TO INSPIRE, DELIGHT, AND ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO GENEROUSLY LISTEN, LOOK, WONDER, CONTEMPLATE, PLAY, AND DREAM". VISITORS ARE INVITED TO ENJOY WONG'S LARGE-SCALE WORKS THROUGHOUT THE BUD AND SUSIE ROGERS GARDEN ALL SUMMER. THE ARTWORKS WILL ALSO SERVE AS INSPIRATION FOR FAMILY DAY EVENTS AND PROVIDE ADVENTURE THROUGH SELF-GUIDED SCAVENGER HUNTS.TOTALLY RAD: BOLD COLOR IN THE 1980S BUILT FROM THE AKRON ART MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, TOTALLY RAD OFFERS A DAZZLING DIVE INTO THE VIBRANCY OF THE '80S. IN PETER DEAN'S HYPER-COLORED LANDSCAPE, EVERY FLOWER, FIELD, AND TREE IS A VIVID BURST OF ENERGY. NAM JUNE PAIK AND JACK GOLDSTEIN PLAY WITH THE GLOSSY APPEARANCE OF COLOR TVS AND DIGITAL SCREENS, CAPABLE OF TURNING FAR-FLUNG SIGNALS INTO LUMINOUS DISPLAYS. IN BOTH A SCULPTURE AND A PRINT, NANCY GRAVES LEAVES ANY FAMILIAR SENSE OF ORDER BEHIND AND MAKES WHIMSICAL POETRY OUT OF COLORS AND SHAPES. THE ROWDY CULTURE OF THE '80S HAS OFTEN BEEN REGARDED AS EXCESSIVE, BRASH, TASTELESS, AND EVEN EMBARRASSING, BUT THE ARTISTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN IT WOULD SURELY DISAGREE. THEIR WORK SHOWS THE FREEDOM AND FUN THAT CAN BE FOUND IN TESTING EVERY EXTREME POSSIBILITY THAT COLOR HAS TO OFFER. TOTALLY RADICAL: ART AND POLITICS IN THE 1980S DRAWN ENTIRELY FROM THE AKRON ART MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, THE WORKS IN TOTALLY RADICAL SPAN THE DECADE'S FLASHPOINTS. ROBERT FRANK'S PHOTOJOURNALISM CAPTURES SURPRISING SCENES FROM THE FRINGES OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS. DAWOUD BEY AND KEN HEYMAN'S PHOTOGRAPHS PORTRAY THE RICH INNER LIVES OF BLACK AND GAY PEOPLE, RESPECTIVELY. DANIEL MAINZER'S PICTURES HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTH AND DEDICATION OF FACTORY WORKERS IN AKRON. ULTIMATELY, THESE ARTISTS DID NOT MERELY WISH TO MAKE THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES MORE VISIBLE. INSTEAD, THEY HOPED THAT THEIR WORK WOULD SHARE VITAL AND EVEN DEEPLY PERSONAL CONCERNS WITH THE PUBLIC. THEY INSISTED THAT THEIR VOICES BE HEARD. AS ART MUSEUMS AND AMERICAN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE SEEK BROADER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN THE PRESENT, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND LEARN FROM THEIR EXAMPLE. (CONTD.)

EDUCATIONTHE MUSEUM HAS AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THAT OFFERS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND FELLOW EDUCATORS. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AIMS TO PROVIDE UNIQUE, ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE THAT BRING PARTICIPANTS JOY, CONNECTION, AND ARE RELEVANT TO THEIR LIVES. AS FY22 PRESENTED CONTINUATION OF COVID RESTRICTIONS, PROGRAM OFFERINGS SHIFTED FROM CLOSE QUARTERS GATHERINGS TO OUTDOOR EVENTS AND DROP-IN OPPORTUNITIES SO FAMILIES COULD VISIT WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING CROWDS. SCHOOL TOURS LARGELY WENT BACK TO IN-PERSON OFFERINGS, WITH VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. FOR FAMILIES:OPEN STUDIO: A SPACE DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR GROWN-UPS, THIS IS THE PLACE TO EXPLORE, DISCOVER, PLAY AND GET MESSY. OPEN STUDIO IS OPEN DURING ALL MUSEUM OPEN HOURS SO VISITORS MAY USE THE RESOURCE ON THEIR OWN TIME. THIS ALLOWS FOR MORE ACCESSIBILITY AND AVOIDANCE OF CROWDS DURING COVID RESTRICTIONS. FAMILY DAYS: SIX TOTAL DROP-IN STYLE, FREE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES (AND THEIR GROWN-UPS). THESE LARGE-SCALE EVENTS ARE GENERALLY ORGANIZED IN A WAY THAT INVITES FAMILIES TO MOVE AROUND AND PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN PACE. THEY TAKE PLACE PRIMARILY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. FOR SCHOOLS: IN-PERSON MUSEUM TOURS: SCHOOLS ARE INVITED TO VISIT THE MUSEUM FOR FREE TOURS, DURING WHICH STUDENTS WILL EXPLORE THE GALLERIES AND MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH ART, ARTISTS, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEMSELVES. AAM TOURS ARE ENGAGING, PARTICIPATORY, SHARED EXPERIENCES THAT COMPLIMENT AND REACH BEYOND WHAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM. DIGITAL, PRE-RECORDED TOURS: FOUR DIFFERENT, THEMATIC TOURS ARE OFFERED FOR USE BY TEACHERS OR FAMILIES. THERE ARE SEPARATE TOURS OF EACH TOPIC FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE GROUPS. EACH TOUR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND COVERS THREE TO FOUR ARTWORKS. FOUR PER GRADE.LIVE VIRTUAL TOURS: FOR TEACHERS/SCHOOLS WHO ARE ABLE AND INTERESTED, A LIMITED NUMBER OF TIME SLOTS FOR LIVE, VIRTUAL TOURS WILL BE OFFERED. DURING THESE EVENTS, AN EDUCATOR WILL LEAD A TOUR OF THE GALLERIES AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS IN REAL TIME. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM STUDENT ART SHOWS: THE MUSEUM WILL HOST SEVEN STUDENT ART SHOWS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR. THESE WILL BE DONE DIGITALLY. EDUCATORS WILL SUBMIT DIGITAL FILES OF STUDENT ARTWORK, WHICH THE MUSEUM WILL POST ON THEIR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THE WORK WILL BE HOUSED ON THE MUSEUM'S WEBSITE AS A DIGITAL GALLERY AND WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. THE WORK IS THEN ARCHIVED, WHERE IT CAN BE ACCESSED BY CLICKING ON THE SCHOOL YEAR DATES. ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES COLLABORATION WITH APS AND GAR: AS PLANNED, THE MUSEUM WILL SERVE ALL FOURTH GRADE AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS (AN ESTIMATED 1700 CHILDREN). AS STUDENTS CANNOT VISIT ON-SITE, THE FORMAT OF THE EXPERIENCE WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: STUDENTS RECEIVE THE GRAPHIC NOVEL AND A DIY SKETCHBOOK KIT AT THEIR HOMES OR SCHOOLS. EDUCATORS RECEIVE DIGITAL RESOURCES TO AID IN PLANNING AND POST-EXPERIENCE LEARNING EXTENSION. STUDENTS WATCH A PRE-RECORDED READING OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL BY A MUSEUM EDUCATOR AND READ ALONG AT HOME/IN THE CLASSROOM. STUDENTS ENGAGE IN A LIVE, VIRTUAL TOUR OF THREE ARTWORKS FEATURED IN THE GRAPHIC NOVEL. DURING THIS TIME, A MUSEUM EDUCATOR WILL BE IN THE GALLERIES AND PRESENT THE WORK/ANSWER QUESTIONS/LEAD AN ACTIVITY IN REAL TIME. STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A VIDEO OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL'S ILLUSTRATOR DRAWING THE CHARACTER AND EXPLAINING HIS PROCESS. THEY'LL BE INVITED TO USE THEIR SKETCHBOOKS TO CREATE THEIR OWN CHARACTERS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS. FOR TEACHERS: EDUCATOR RESOURCES: IN ADDITION TO THEIR OWN RESOURCES, THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS CURATED A QUALITY SELECTION OF OFFERINGS FROM OTHER MUSEUMS, ARTISTS, ILLUSTRATORS, AND ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH EDUCATORS CAN ACCESS AS LINKS AND SEND TO STUDENTS' FAMILIES. TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: IN ADDITION TO LESSON PLANS AND DIGITAL RESOURCES, THE MUSEUM WILL OFFER A LIVE, VIRTUAL EVENT FOR EDUCATORS THIS SCHOOL YEAR. THEY WILL LOOSELY FOLLOW THE SUCCESSFUL, ANNUAL TEACH TALK EVENT, DURING WHICH SEVERAL EDUCATORS WILL PRESENT SHORT TALKS ON A CENTRAL THEME AND THEN A MUSEUM EDUCATOR WILL LEAD A RELATED DISCUSSION. TEACHERS WILL RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PAPERWORK TO SUBMIT FOR CREDIT TO THEIR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES (LPDCS). STUDIO LESSON PLANS: A VARIETY OF ART-MAKING LESSONS WITH INCLUDED INSTRUCTIONS, SUPPLY LISTS, AND PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGE GROUPS. EACH LESSON CONNECTS TO A WORK OR WORKS IN THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION.

COMMUNITY OUTREACHMUSEUMS FOR ALL: THE AKRON ART MUSEUM IS PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE OF THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, AND WE OFFER A REDUCED ADMISSION RATE TO THE GALLERIES TO ANY GUEST WHO PRESENTS THEIR STATE-ISSUED ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) CARE UPON ARRIVAL. AT THE AKRON ART MUSEUM, WE BELIEVE THAT ART IS FOR EVERYONE. BECAUSE OUR MISSION IS TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, WE THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A CREATIVE LIFE. WE'RE CONTINUALLY WORKING TO MAKE MEANINGFUL ART EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WE ENGAGE WITH. BY JOINING THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, WE HOPE TO OFFER EXPANDED ACCESS TO ART EXPERIENCES AND BETTER SERVE UNDERREPRESENTED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.AKRON ART MAIL PROJECT AFTER AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION FROM THE COMMUNITY DURING AKRON ART MAIL'S INAUGURAL YEAR, THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AKRON-SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY RETURNS THIS FALL WITH A NEW SET OF POSTCARDS FROM 14 NORTHEAST OHIO ARTISTS AND AUTHORS. THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WILL ALSO FEATURE ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUBMIT HOMEMADE POSTCARDS FOR DISPLAY. WHILE THE 2020 COLLECTION OF ARTIST-MADE POSTCARDS WAS LARGELY REFLECTIVE OF THE PANDEMIC AND SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, THIS NEW SUITE OF POSTCARDS INCLUDES SUBJECTS RANGING FROM NATURE AND LOCAL LANDSCAPES TO RESILIENCY, FAMILY, AND HOPE. THE CORE OF THIS PROJECT, HOWEVER, REMAINS STRONGLY INTACT: EACH OF THE CREATORS, IN THEIR OWN WAY, IS SEEKING CONNECTION WITH THE LARGER WORLD AROUND THEM. AKRON ART MAIL IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE HUNTINGTON-AKRON FOUNDATION WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION, THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL, AND THE KENNETH L. CALHOUN CHARITABLE TRUST, KEYBANK, TRUSTEE.SECOND FRIDAYS:FROM ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS, TO MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, TO GALLERY TOURS, THESE CASUAL EVENTS INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SAMPLE A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES AT THE MUSEUM THAT WILL ADD A DOSE OF CREATIVITY TO THEIR MONTH. THIRD THURSDAYS:FEATURING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS, THIRD THURSDAY PROGRAMMING OFFERS EVENING EXCITEMENT TO MUSEUM VISITORS. PARTICIPANTS CAN VIEW THE GALLERIES, LEARN ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES, PLAY GAMES, AND MAKE MEMORIES WITH FRIENDS. ON PROCESS: CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS AND AUTHORS: THE MUSEUM PROVIDES THIS MONTHLY SERIES OF FREE TALKS WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS AND WRITERS DISCUSS THEIR PROCESS AND WORKS IN LEISURELY CONVERSATION WITH THE MUSEUM'S STAFF. ARTIST AND AUTHOR TALKS WILL BE AVAILABLE EVERY SATURDAY STARTING OCTOBER 3 ON THE MUSEUM'S FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE ACCOUNTS. ON PROCESS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM ACME FRESH MARKET, THE HENRY V. AND FRANCES W. CHRISTENSON FOUNDATION, AND THE SAMUEL REESE WILLIS FOUNDATION. LUNCHTIME FIVE TALK: FRIDAYS, THE AKRON ART MUSEUM HOSTED A TALK THAT INCLUDED CONVERSIONS ABOUT TOPICS THE 10,000 THINGS BY JORDAN WONG AND MIDWINTER TUNES, OUR 3RD ANNUAL CONCERT SERIES. TOURS 1. TOTALLY RAD AND TOTALLY RADICAL VIDEO TOUR: SPEND YOUR LUNCHTIME IMMERSED IN THE 1980S DURING A TOUR OF THE MUSEUM'S NEWEST PAIR OF EXHIBITIONS. ONE BUZZES WITH RAD COLORS, WHILE THE OTHER FOCUSES ON RADICAL POLITICAL IDEAS.2. MORE IS MORE VIDEO TOUR: THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE IN THE EXHIBITION MORE IS MORE. JOIN MUSEUM STAFF AND EXPLORE INTERESTING DETAILS AND HIDDEN GEMS IN THESE VISUALLY RICH ARTWORKS. YOU'LL HEAR BEHIND-THE-SCENES INFO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REGIONAL ARTISTS WHO CREATED THE PAINTINGS, PRINTS, DRAWINGS, AND SCULPTURES ON VIEW.3. GARDEN SCULPTURE VIDEO TOUR: TAKE A DIGITAL TOUR OF THE SCULPTURES ON OUR GROUNDS.4. THE 10,000 THINGS VIDEO TOUR: CURATOR OF EDUCATION GINA THOMAS MCGEE TAKES HER LAPTOP OUTSIDE TO SHOW YOU THE NEW EXHIBITION IN THE BUD AND SUSIE ROGERS GARDEN. THE 10,000 THINGS, AN ART INSTALLATION BY JORDAN WONG, PROMISES TO DELIGHT AND SURPRISE VISITORS AS IT ADDS TO THE JOY AND BEAUTY OF THE MUSEUM'S OUTDOOR SPACE.5. GAMES IN THE GARDEN WITH ARTIST JORDAN WONG: RELAX AFTER WORK WITH JORDAN WONG AND A SCAVENGER HUNT THROUGH HIS ART INSTALLATION IN THE BUD AND SUSIE ROGERS GARDEN. AFTERWARD, WONG WILL GIVE A TOUR OF HIS INSTALLATION.COFFEE WITH THE COLLECTION 1. THE 10,000 THINGS: A LOOK AT THE PENDANT EXHIBITION THE 10,000 THINGS BY ARTIST JORDAN WONG WITH THE CURATOR OF EDUCATION, GINA THOMAS MCGEE. 2. AFTERIMAGES: GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION AND PERCEPTION: INSIGHTS INTO THE NEW EXHIBITION FEATURING ABSTRACT ART FROM THE 1960S AND '70S WITH ASSISTANT CURATOR JEFFREY KATZIN. 3. MORE IS MORE: VISUAL RICHNESS IN CONTEMPORARY ART: A LOOK AT THE NEW EXHIBITION THAT FEATURES CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WHO WORK IN A LAYERED, EVOCATIVE STYLE WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR SEEMA RAO. 4. COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS: SENIOR CURATOR JARED LEDESMA SHARES SOME OF HIS FAVORITES FROM THE COLLECTION. SPECIAL PERFORMANCES:MIDWINTER BLUES & OTHER TUNES THIS FREE, ONE-DAY CELEBRATION OF MUSIC AND COMMUNITY IN AKRON FEATURES MUSICAL ACTS, VISUAL ARTISTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ALL HAILING FROM NORTHEAST OHIO. THIS YEAR'S ONE-DAY CELEBRATION WILL BE HOSTED ACROSS THE MUSEUM'S BUD & SUSIE ROGERS GARDEN, BEATRICE M. KNAPP MCDOWELL LOBBY, AND GALLERIES FOR AN EVENING OF HAPPENINGS RIGHT DOWNTOWN. MUSIC, ICE CARVING, AND FESTIVE LIGHTING WILL ADD SPARK TO THE WINTRY SKIES OUTSIDE, WHILE POP-UPS AND ACTIVITIES ARE BOUND TO WARM UP THE EVENING INSIDE. THE DAY WILL INCLUDE A SPECIAL CELEBRATION OF THE NEW EXHIBITION RESPONSIBILITY TO REVEAL: 30 YEARS OF THE KNIGHT PURCHASE AWARE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA WITH POP-UP TOURS. THIS EVENT IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM ACME FRESH MARKET AND CLEAR GOLD AUDIO & LIGHTING. MEDIA SPONSORSHIP IS PROVIDED BY 91.3 THE SUMMIT.DOWNTOWN AT DUSK IN ITS 37TH YEAR, THIS SERIES PRIDES ITSELF ON FEATURING MUSICIANS WITH CONNECTIONS TO NORTHEAST OHIO. THIS YEAR'S LINEUP HAILS FROM AKRON, BEDFORD, CLEVELAND AND KENT. THERE WERE FOUR EVENTS PERFORMING JAZZ, ROCK AND BLUES MUSIC. MISSILE TOE THIS FESTIVE ROCK BAND PERFORMED IN THE MUSEUM LOBBY WITH FUN, UPBEAT VERSIONS OF CLASSIC HOLIDAY TUNES AND WAS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC VIRTUALLY.