Joe Toris
Akron, Ohio

Why did you become a member of the Akron Art Museum?
I lived in New York for forty years and volunteered at the Museum of Modern Art from 2005 to 2020. Every Saturday for fifteen years I sat at one of that institution’s many Information Desks and truly enjoyed interacting with the public and sharing ideas and knowledge about modern art. After the Covid shutdown, unfortunately, MoMA did not reinstate its volunteer program. When I returned to Akron four years ago, one of my first priorities was to connect with the Akron Art Museum in order to keep my interest in the arts alive. Becoming a member seemed like the perfect fit.

What do you enjoy about the Museum?
So many things! First, every staff member is friendly, cooperative, and very knowledgeable, a testament to great leadership. Second, the Museum’s size provides a sense of intimacy that is lacking in larger institutions. Also, I really like the emphasis on local and regional talent, stuff you’re not going to see anywhere else. Finally, all the exhibitions have been spectacular. Oh, and Downtown at Dusk is simply unbeatable!

If you could borrow one work from the Museum’s collection to display in your home, what would it be?
Does the Bud and Susie Rogers Garden count? It would really do wonders for my backyard! Actually, I’d choose Nick Cave’s Soundsuit (2018); I could look at that work all day and not tire of it. Every time I enter the gallery it’s as if I’m seeing Cave’s sculpture for the first time; it never fails to both startle and amuse me.

Which exhibition have you most enjoyed?
All the exhibitions I’ve seen have been superb, but I must say I really enjoyed GLOW: Neon & Light. It was so fresh and unexpectedly brilliant, and how great and frankly bold to present such a show in that medium. It’s very rare. Curatorial brilliance!

Can you share a favorite story or memory about the Museum?
I have two that I think go the institution’s heart and soul. One holiday season the Museum’s gift shop offered a unique work: a banjo-playing lizard shaped from an aluminum can. It was the perfect gift for my nephew, a banjo player. But the fragile piece had to be shipped out of state, and time was of the essence. The salesclerk, Emma, went absolutely above and beyond to ensure that it was secured and shipped to my nephew. He loved it! I am forever grateful for her dedication.

On another occasion I showed up for a scheduled guided tour of the Michelangelo Lovelace exhibition. But the weather was bad and I was the only patron in attendance. I assumed that the tour would be canceled, but Sloan, a museum employee, gladly led me through the show, and what was scheduled as a half-hour walk-through became an hour! She was so informed and helpful and rose to the occasion for my