Category: Educational Programming
2012 in Review
By: Bridgette Beard Klein, Communications Assistant 2012 has been an exhilarating year for the Akron Art Museum. We continued to launch our new visual look, celebrated 90 years in the community, exhibited monumental art and made major leadership changes. We really kicked off the year with our 90th anniversary celebration in February. The performance included abstract painter Al Bright in concert with the Jesse Dandy Band. In March, Ray Turner: Population opened featuring an ever-expanding series of portraits, including key Akronites from the University Park
Education Department Spring 2013 Internship (Unpaid)
Education Department Spring 2013 Internship (Unpaid) The Akron Art Museum education department is currently seeking an intern for the spring semester. This is an extraordinary opportunity to have hands on experience working in an art museum during a potentially blockbuster, educator friendly exhibition and interface with a diverse population of museum visitors, including school groups, families, artists and docent tour guides. The intern’s duties will be focused on two exhibitions related to picture book art, The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats
Downtown@Dusk ft. Anne E. DeChant
Thursday, June 28 6:30 – 8:30 pm Come see American/Pop/Country singer Anne E. DeChant perform live at the Akron Art Museum Thursday from 6:30 – 8:30 pm as part of the museum’s popular Downtown@Dusk concert series. Also enjoy a lecture from Christy Gray of ZeroLandfill, ArtCamp@Dusk for the kids and a cold beer from Elevator Brewing for adults. Since the 1990’s Anne E. DeChant has been writing songs about the feelings of having a broken heart and social injustice. DeChant is a 5-time winner of
First Downtown@Dusk of the Summer ft. The Wanda Hunt Band
Thursday, June 21 6:30 – 8:30 pm Kick off the summer with the soulful sounds of The Wanda Hunt Band, a talk from Akron Art Museum Director & CEO Mitchell Kahan, an ArtCamp@Dusk preview for the kids and a cold beer from Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MUm8E1GKSs&feature=related] A fan favorite of past Downtown@Dusk series, The Wanda Hunt Band has been known throughout Northeast Ohio for a great live performance of old school R&B and blues. Wanda Hunt’s terrific vocals lead the band, consisting of
Art: 21- Change
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFltJ1JtW9w&list=UU6Z_Gbfo7xwSMs6Ahkv-m3Q&feature=plcp] In one week (April 13) the sixth season of “Art in the Twenty-First Century” premieres with the episode “Change,” which features international artists El Anatsui, Ai Weiwei and Catherine Opie. This is perfect timing because for the museum’s 90th anniversary celebration, it is organizing the national tour of Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui in conjunction with the artist and his dealer, Jack Shainman. The exhibition will premiere in Akron June 17 – October 7, 2012 with the artist’s most recent work
Book Club: The Family Fang
Thursday, April 26 6pm Martha Stecher Reed Library The Family Fang By Kevin Wilson From art theft to the scandalous lives of artists, the museum’s book club is never boring. Author Kevin Wilson’s debut novel, The Family Fang, is this spring’s book club pick. Get a crash course in performance art and discuss the book with museum book club members and staff. The Museum’s Book Club is free but requires registration. Additional charges may apply for non-members for some events. Please call 330.376.9186 x 230
Landscapes Panel Discussion on Feb 2
Three Northeast Ohio Artists Discuss Landscape Art Thursday, February 2 6:30 pm The Akron Art Museum will host a panel discussion featuring three local artists currently on view at the museum on February 2 at 6:30 pm. Bruce Checefsky, Michelle Droll and Barry Underwood will discuss how light, environmental issues and the tradition of landscape painting apply to their work in a panel discussion moderated by Interim Chief Curator Ellen Rudolph. Regional artist Michelle Droll, creator of Landslide: Between a Rock and a Place, builds
Book Club: The Private Lives of the Impressionists
Thursday, January 26 6 pm The Private Lives of the Impressionists By Sue Roe From Art theft to the scandalous lives of artists, the museum’s book club is never boring. January’s book club selection will transport readers to the studios, salons and rowdy riverside bars of Paris as readers discuss The Private Lives of the Impressionists by Sue Roe. Filled with maps and illustrations, Roe’s book is a lively biographical take on the key artists of the impressionist movement. Book club will also include a
MiniMasters Family Day
By Maria Iafelice, Education Assistant MiniMasters is an educational outreach program, bringing a little bit of the museum to Akron Summit Community Action Inc. Head Start preschool classrooms. After learning about the lines, shapes and colors in William Sommer’s watercolor portraits and creating works of their own, the preschool artists and their families were invited to a day at the museum. During the MiniMasters Family Day, families made paintings together, viewed their artworks on display and helped a percussion group from the University of Akron
Island of Misfit Toys
By Gina Thomas McGee, Associate Educator This year’s Island of Misfit Toys workshop was a blast! We had a sold-out crowd of over 250 people who came ready to build misfit masterpieces. Families hammered, smashed and hot glued to their hearts content, transforming toys into spectacular sculptures (with the help of some googly eyes). We saw a tennis ball Spongebob Squarepants, basketball hoop train station and many wild animal creations. In addition to being creative, attendees were incredibly generous as they each came with a