From 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) will present ARTi Gras, the latest iteration of the free Downtown Art Works series.
Highlights include performances of Creole Cinderella, an original production featuring Neos Dance Theatre and the Ribtickler Band at the Main Library; a text-to-vote competition for your favorite Artwalk destination; a children’s fashion show at Summit Artspace; a Silent Art Auction at The BOX: an Artists of Rubber City Gallery; prizes; giveaways; musical performances and more.
Cajun cuisine will be available for purchase at various eateries.
Downtown Art Works events occur inside, outside, and in between the Downtown Akron Artwalk venues and include galleries in the Northside District and North High, Main and East and West Market streets.
For more information, go to www.downtownakron.com/enjoy/artwalk
They’ll take Tahiti
This summer, the University of Akron Myers School of Art proposes a drawing course in Tahiti. The course is being planned in conjunction with a course on tropical vertebrate zoology run by the UA biology department.
Drawing Genius of Place: Tahiti, a three-credit-hour course, can be taken as a special topics elective or to fulfill an intermediate drawing requirement.
A 30-minute orientation meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. today in Folk Hall Auditorium, Myers School of Art. 150 E. Exchange St., Akron.
The course will explore introductory drawing issues while using landscape as a vehicle for expression and observation. It will take a unique interdisciplinary approach using a collaborative partnership with UA biology students working at the same site in Tahiti. The goal will be to explore the biological world through studio practice as a means for exploring the environment and forming a sense of place. Professor Matthew Kolodziej designed the course to work side by side with biology students to explore the relationship between science and art.
For more information, email Kolodziej at kolodzi@uakron.edu.
Friday
Whole Cloth — The Textile Art Studio, between the Lake and Olson residence halls on the Kent State University campus, will hold a 10 a.m. to noon open studio. Visitors are welcome to observe demonstrations of weaving, feltmaking, dyeing and netmaking and to learn about the courses available in textile art. For more information, go to www.kent.edu/artscollege.
Apocalypse Now — Celebrate apocalypse-style from 5-11 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., University Circle. Advance tickets recommended. Advance tickets are $14, members $7. Tickets day of event are $16, members $9. Prices include exhibition entry. Your ticket grants you an evening of live electronica, theater, and late night art access, including unlimited admission to the new exhibition, The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection. Call 216-721-7350 or reserve tickets https://tickets.clevelandart.org /
Saturday
Gallery Opening — An opening reception will be held from 5 p.m. to midnight for Gallery 15, a new contemporary art gallery at 15 Broad St., Akron, as part of the Akron Artwalk. On exhibit will be a selection of metal and glass sculptures by Michael Marras and Lisa Demagall, two award-winning Northeast Ohio artists. Also on view will be two floors of 2-D and 3-D works. https://www.facebook.com/events/291022401015519/.
Silent Art Auction — A Silent Art Auction and Raffles will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. during the Downtown Akron ARTi Gras Artwalk by the Artists of Rubber City in their exhibit space, the BOX Gallery, on the third floor of Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Akron. Admission is free. Bidding ends at 9 p.m. For more information, call 330-907-9559.
ArtSplash — ArtsinStark launches ArtSplash, a free family day of art-making, performances, a little bit of learning and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Ave. N, Canton. Also free is admission to the Canton Museum of Art and performances by the Players Guild Theatre, VOCI, Mount Union’s steel drum performers, students from the Arts Academy at Summit and dancers from the Canton Ballet. Plus, children can star in their own superhero movie and photo shoot thanks to the Canton Palace Theatre, Canton Film Fest and photographer Robb Quicci. For more information, go to www.ArtsinStark.com. To donate to the Annual Arts Campaign, visit the website or make your donation by May 22 to 330-453-1075.
Sunday
Reception — A 1 to 3 p.m. reception for Cleveland artist Dana Oldfather will be at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown. The exhibit, Tap, Crack, Bellow, remains on view through May 26.
Deadlines
Art A Palooza Entries — Deadline to enter the Ninth Annual Art A Palooza, sponsored by the Green Arts Council and Green Parks & Recreation, is May 31. The annual art festival will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 24. For more information and guidelines, contact Joan Smith at 330-608-5542 or gallery143@neo.rr.com; Jackie Parker at 330-697-8460 or jlptrummy@aol.com; or Kim Goodhart at 330-896-6621 or kgoodhart@cityofgreen.org. More information at www.greenartscouncil.org.
Dorothy Shinn writes about art and architecture for the Akron Beacon Journal. Send information to her at the Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640 or dtgshinn@att.net.
