Akron, OH — In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Akron Art Museum, in collaboration with the National Park Service and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, will present Ordinary Miracles: Robert Glenn Ketchum’s Photographs of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Opening August 9, 2025, in the Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Gallery, the exhibition brings together the large-scale, vividly colored photographs of acclaimed artist and environmental advocate Robert Glenn Ketchum.
Commissioned by the Akron Art Museum from 1986 to 1988, Ketchum’s work captures the natural beauty and cultural significance of what was then the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (CVNRA). His photographs transcend mere documentation, creating symbolic images that reflect broader themes of conservation, preservation, and the connection between people and the landscape.
“Robert Glenn Ketchum’s photographs of the Cuyahoga Valley are more than art—they are history, preservation, and advocacy captured in color,” said Jon Fiume, CEO of the Akron Art Museum. “As the park celebrates 50 years, it is fitting to revisit this landmark body of work and the Museum’s role in telling the story of the Valley’s transformation.”
“Ketchum’s photographs underscore the value of our public lands and the importance of caring for them together,” said Greg Peckham, President & CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “As we reflect on 50 years of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this exhibition offers a moment to appreciate what we’ve protected—and what we hope to pass on.”
Visitors will have the rare opportunity to see the park as it was nearly four decades ago, compare these images to the present, and reflect on the enduring importance of environmental stewardship.
Ordinary Miracles: Robert Glenn Ketchum’s Photographs of Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be on view from August 9, 2025, through January 25, 2026, in the Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Gallery.