The Anniversary Show: Commemorative Art Through the Years

Throughout 2012, visitors will be treated to some of the very best of these attributes the Akron Art Museum has to offer, both in terms of its holdings and its ability to recognize such works long before other museums have considered them. It’s the museum’s 90th anniversary year, and curators and staffers are looking to its past and its legacy to demonstrate just how rich are its history and holdings, and how adroit they are at putting together new shows. -Dorothy Shinn, Akron Beacon Journal As part of the ongoing celebration of the museum’s 90th anniversary the Corbin Gallery features an exhibition of works commissioned over several decades. The museum has a long history of commissioning artworks by local artists including paintings, photographs, print design, jewelry and pottery to commemorate milestones, anniversaries and special events. A highlight of this exhibition is an abstract painting by Al Bright, the result of a performance commissioned by the museum that kicked off the 90th anniversary on February 5, 2012. The exhibition also includes a print by University of Akron professor and artist Hui-Chu Ying, commissioned to honor the past presidents of the Board of Trustees. Photographs by Robert Glenn Ketchum, Andrew McAllister and Penny Rakoff are also among the works on view in this intimate exhibition. Several works created for the Masked Balls over the years will be featured, including copper masks by Don Drumm. The Anniversary Show offers an opportunity for viewers to reflect on the many special moments that make up the museum’s timeline through works created exclusively for the Akron Art Museum. This exhibition is organized by the Akron Art Museum and supported by funding from the museum’s Evelyne Shaffer Endowment for Exhibitions. Main Image Credit: Penny Rakoff, The Masquerader,1985, Ektacolor print, 16 x 20 in., Gift of the artist 1986.23