AKRON ART MUSEUM
ONE SOUTH HIGH STREET, AKRON, OH 443081801 www.akronartmuseum.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF THE AKRON ART MUSEUM IS TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART.THE MUSEUM MANIFESTS THIS COMMITMENT BY:- PROMOTING THE AWARENESS, INTEREST, APPRECIATION, EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FINE AND APPLIED ARTS PRODUCED SINCE 1850.- MAINTAINING A MUSEUM WHERE SUCH WORKS OF ART ARE DISPLAYED AND INTERPRETED FOR THE ENJOYMENT AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC.- ACQUIRING FOR ITS COLLECTION AND CONSERVING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS OF HIGH ARTISTIC MERIT, WITH NEW ACQUISITIONS FOCUSING ON CONTEMPORARY PAINTING, SCULPTURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS.- COOPERATING WITH DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS INTERESTED COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS, IN DEVELOPING THE MEANS FOR INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYMENT OF THE ARTS AND RELATED HUMANITIES CREATED SINCE 1850 AND ESPECIALLY IN RECENT YEARS.

TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART.

EXHIBITIONSTHE MUSEUM PROMOTES AN AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART BY DISPLAYING, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS OF HIGH ARTISTIC MERIT. THE PAST YEAR'S MAJOR EXHIBITS INCLUDED: DREAD & DELIGHT: FAIRY TALES IN AN ANXIOUS WORLD, OPEN WORLD, AND ELIAS SIME'S TIGHTROPE.DREAD & DELIGHT: FAIRY TALES IN AN ANXIOUS WORLD THIS EXHIBITION RAN FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2019 AND BROUGHT TOGETHER THE WORK OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WHO USE CLASSICAL FAIRY TALES TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEXITIES OF OUR LIVES TODAY. THIS USE OF FAIRY TALES IS NEW IN THE HISTORY OF ARTA PHENOMENON OF THE LATE 20TH CENTURY. SURVEYING SOME FIFTY YEARS OF ARTISTIC PRODUCTION, DREAD & DELIGHT CONSIDERS THE QUESTION OF WHY ARTISTS HAVE TURNED TO CENTURIES-OLD FAIRY TALES TO ADDRESS PRESENT-DAY ISSUES AND HOW THEY HAVE REINVIGORATED THE GENRE. EACH OF THE ARTISTS IN THE EXHIBITION USED RECOGNIZABLE ELEMENTS FROM ONE OF THE SEVEN SPECIFIC STORIES: LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, HANSEL AND GRETEL, RAPUNZEL, CINDERELLA, ALL FUR, FITCHER'S BIRD AND SNOW WHITE. THE ARTISTS DRAW INSPIRATION FROM DIVERSE VERSIONS OF THE STORIES SUCH AS THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY COMPILATIONS BY THE BROTHERS GRIMM, WALT DISNEY'S MID-20TH CENTURY ANIMATIONS AND ANGELA CARTER'S LATE-1970S FEMINIST RETELLINGS. THE ARTWORKS ALSO CONNECT TO A BREADTH OF FAIRY TALE SCHOLARSHIP, FROM PSYCHOLOGIST BRUNO BETTELHEIN'S THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT (1976) TO JOURNALIST PEGGY ORENSTEIN'S CINDERELLA ATE MY DAUGHTER (2011). IN RECALLING SPECIFIC STORIES, SOME OF THE ARTISTS HAVE EMBRACED THEIR PROMISES OF TRANSFORMATION AND CHAMPIONING OF THE DISENFRANCHISED. OTHERS, HOWEVER, HAVE PLUMBED THE STORIES' DARKER ELEMENTS - POVERTY, ABUSE, ADDICTION AND EXPLOITATIONS OF POWER. MANY OF DREAD & DELIGHT'S ARTISTS ENGAGE A DISJOINTED AND SPONTANEOUS STYLE OF STORYTELLING THAT CELEBRATES THE MARVELOUS AND DENIES EASY EXPLANATION. IN THE GALLERY, THE ARTWORKS WERE ARRANGED ACCORDING TO STORY, ALLOWING VISITORS TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST EACH ARTIST'S UNIQUE RETELLING OF THE FAMILIAR TALES.THE OPEN WORLD EXHIBITION OPENED IN OCTOBER 2019 AND RAN THROUGH FEBRUARY 2020. THE ARTWORKS IN OPEN WORLD REFERENCED A BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF GAMES, RANGING FROM EARLY TEXT ADVENTURE AND ARCADE GAMES TO MODERN MASSIVELY MULTI-PLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAMES AND FIRST-PERSON SHOOTERS. THE EXHIBITION'S TITLE REFERS TO OPEN-WORLD VIDEO GAMES, WHICH ALLOW A PLAYER TO ROAM THROUGH A VIRTUAL WORLD, FREELY SELECTING HIS OR HER OBJECTIVES RATHER THAN FOLLOWING PREDETERMINED GAMEPLAY. THE TITLE ALSO DRAWS ATTENTION TO EXPRESSION. THROUGH GAMES, ARTISTS BUILD ALTERNATE WORLDS. ARTISTS USE DIGITAL GAMES TO CREATE MEANING THROUGH IMAGERY, MUSIC, SOUND EFFECTS, ANIMATION AND NARRATIVE. BY EXPLORING THE WAYS ARTISTS UTILIZE VIDEO GAMES, OPEN WORLD OFFERS A LOOK INTO THE DEPTH OF THE AESTHETIC AND CONCEPTUAL INFLUENCE OF GAMES ON THEIR PRACTICES. PARTICIPATING ARTISTS USE VIDEO GAMES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, SUCH AS MAKING INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC GAMES OR USING VIDEO GAME SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE AS RAW MATERIAL FOR THEIR WORK. THEY BORROW CHARACTERS, BACKGROUND IMAGERY, SYMBOLS, CODE OR HARDWARE FROM COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED VIDEO GAMES TO EXPLORE DIGITAL WORLDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETY. THEY USE TOOLS INTENDED TO CREATE VIDEO GAMES TO MAKE WORKS OF ART INSTEAD, AND THEY PERFORM, PHOTOGRAPH AND RECORD INSIDE GAMES.ELIAS SIME: TIGHTROPE - THE FIRST MAJOR TRAVELING SURVEY DEDICATED TO THE ETHIOPIAN ARTIST'S WORK, THIS EXHIBITION FEATURED NUMEROUS LARGE-SCALE TABLEAUS AND WAS SCHEDULED TO RUN FROM FEBRUARY 29 - MAY 24, 2020. HOWEVER, THIS EXHIBITION WAS ONLY OPEN FEBRUARY 29 - MARCH 14 DUE TO THE MANDATED MUSEUM CLOSURE AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A STRONG VOICE IN THE GLOBAL CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD, SIME DRAWS FROM A RANGE OF INFLUENCES, INCLUDING LINGUISTICS, BOTANY, ARTISTIC MOVEMENTS AND TOPOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHY. THIS NOTEWORTHY EXHIBITION INCLUDED TWO WORKS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SHOW ALONGSIDE A LARGE SELECTION FROM THE TIGHTROPE SERIES, IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL EARLIER STITCHED CANVASES. SIME MAINTAINS THAT HIS WORK IS NOT ABOUT RECYCLING, BUT RATHER HIS ATTRACTION TO THE PROPERTIES OF NONTRADITIONAL MATERIALS. HE SEES THE LATENT BEAUTY IN FUNCTIONAL OBJECTS AND SEEKS TO CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL IDEAS OF WHICH TYPES OF MEDIA ARE APPROPRIATE FOR CREATING FINE ART. THE BALANCING ACT REFERENCED BY THE TITLE OF SIME'S SERIESAND OF THIS EXHIBITIONRELATES TO THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS ITS DETRIMENTAL IMPACT AS A MEDIATOR OF OUR INTERACTIONS AND LIVED EXPERIENCESOTHER EXHIBITIONS CONTINUING ON VIEW FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:JOE VITONE: FAMILY RECORDS - THIS IS AN ONGOING PORTRAIT OF VITONE'S EXTENDED FAMILY LIVING IN AND AROUND AKRON, OHIO. BEGUN IN 1998, THIS PHOTOGRAPHIC SERIES DOCUMENTS EVOLVING INTERPERSONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN, SIBLINGS, SPOUSES, COUSINS AND OTHER RELATIONS THROUGH THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF LIFE IN THE RUST BELT REGION.OTHER NEW EXHIBITIONS THIS PAST YEAR INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:JENNY HOLZER: ALL FALL, TEXT: TRUISMS (1977-79); LIVING (1980-82) AND SURVIVAL (1983-85). THIS STRUCTURE DOMINATES THE GALLERY SPACE, FORCING VIEWERS TO CONFRONT THE PROVOCATIVE TEXTS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH SCROLLING ACROSS A WEB OF DOUBLE-SIDED LED SIGNS, FEATURING PHRASES SUCH AS: POLITICS IS USED FOR PERSONAL GAIN; HAVING TWO OR THREE PEOPLE IN LOVE WITH YOU IS LIKE HAVING MONEY IN THE BANK AND GO WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP AND SEE IF THEY ARE SAFE. WRITTEN MORE THAN 35 YEARS AGO, JENNY HOLZER'S TRUISMS, LIVING, AND SURVIVAL TEXTS ARE STILL RELEVANT. SUBJECTIVE DUE TO THEIR ABILITY TO BE INTERPRETED A MULTITUDE OF WAYS, THE ARTIST'S SLOGAN-LIKE EXPRESSIONS FORM THE BASIS OF THE 2012 WORK ALL FALL, AS WELL AS MUCH OF THE ARTIST'S OTHER WORK.THE DISTANCE OF THE MOON - THIS EXHIBITION EXAMINED THE MOON LANDING ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY THROUGH THE LENS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO. COMBINING HISTORIC PRINTS WITH MODERN IMAGES OF THE LUNAR SURFACE TAKEN BY NASA ON A SERIES OF EXPLORATORY MISSIONS, THE EXHIBITION RECONSIDERED THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ARTISTIC IMPULSE AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, AND OUR COLLECTIVE FASCINATION WITH THIS CELESTIAL BODY. THE DISTANCE OF THE MOON WAS ORGANIZED BY THE AKRON ART MUSEUM AND SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION, OHIO ARTS COUNCIL AND THE CHAR AND CHUCK FOWLER FAMILY FOUNDATION.OBJECTS TO BE DESTROYED - BORROWING ITS TITLE FROM MAN RAY'S ORIGINAL NAME FOR HIS SCULPTURE, OBJECTS TO BE DESTROYED IS FULL OF EVERYDAY ITEMS, INCLUDING GLASS BOTTLES, CLOCKS, ROCKS, UMBRELLAS AND BOOKS. THE ARTISTS IN THIS EXHIBITION INCORPORATE FOUND MAN-MADE PRODUCTS OR NATURAL MATERIALS INTO THEIR SCULPTURES, ASSEMBLAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS PRACTICE DATES TO THE EARLY 1910S, WHEN ARTISTS SUCH AS MAN RAY AND MARCEL DUCHAMP BEGAN DISPLAYING UNEXPECTED OBJECTS IN THE EXHIBITIONS AS A WAY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ITEMS' PHYSICAL AND AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS. THEY ALSO ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO RECONSIDER THE ARTISTIC PROCESS AS AN INTELLECTUAL RATHER THAN A PURELY TECHNIQUE-DRIVEN PURSUIT.

EDUCATIONTHE MUSEUM HAS AN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THAT OFFERS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND FELLOW EDUCATORS. KIDS STUDIO CLASSES, CREATIVE PLAYDATES, FAMILY EVENTS AND STORY TIME IN THE GALLERIES ENCOURAGE CHILDREN AND TEENS TO JOIN THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATORS AND EXPLORE ARTWORKS AND IDEAS IN THE GALLERIES AND ART MAKING IN THE CORBIN GALLERY/GRAND LOBBY. FY20 PRESENTED A HOST OF OFFERINGS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE CREATIVE FUN FOR ALL AGES. LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF THE OFFERINGS THIS PAST YEAR:ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE TOUR - FEBRUARY 2019 GAR FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF A NEW $1.2 MILLION INVESTMENT CALLED ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES TO PROVIDE EVERY AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT IN PRE-K THROUGH FIFTH GRADE WITH A MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM EACH YEAR. STUDENTS VISITED SIX LOCAL CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO CLASSROOM LEARNING. THE AKRON ART MUSEUM WAS PROUD TO HOST OVER 1600 AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS DURING THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR.CREATIVE PLAYDATES - CHILDREN LEARN BEST THROUGH INVENTIVE, OPEN-ENDED PLAY AND IN EVERY ADULT THERE'S A KID-AT-HEART. THESE ACTIVITIES WERE DESIGNED TO STRETCH THE IMAGINATION, FEED THE SENSES, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND CREATE A MASTERPIECE TO CARRY HOME.AFTER-SCHOOL MIND UNWIND - THE MUSEUM'S OPEN STUDIO IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR CAREGIVERS AND KIDS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND UNWIND. THIS TECH-FREE ENVIRONMENT ALLOWED YOUNG VISIONARIES TO LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP LIFELONG POSITIVE HABITS OF THE MIND WITH FUN, ENERGIZING ART EXPERIENCES.ART BABES - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES INFANTS UP TO 18 MONTHS BY INTRODUCING THEM TO WORKS OF ART WHICH IN TURN PROMOTES EARLY NEURON CONNECTIONS IN THE BRAIN. THIS SERIES ENCOURAGES LITTLE ONES TO EXPLORE BLOBS OF COLOR, FUZZY EDGES, SHAPES AND SHADOWS, SCENTS AND TOUCH.TOTS CREATE - THIS SERIES IS FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5 AND ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO WANDER WITH THE EDUCATORS IN THE GALLERIES FOR FUN LOOKING AND LISTENING GAMES, SONGS AND RAINBOW PLAY. IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME INVENTING TIME TOGETHER, USING FAMILIAR, EVERYDAY MATERIALS TO NURTURE THE YOUNG ARTIST'S SELF-EXPRESSIONS, IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY.KIDS STUDIO CLASSES - STUDENTS GET CREATIVE WITH UNIQUE MATERIALS, OUTLANDISH TECHNIQUES AND IMAGINATIVE IDEAS AS THEY CREATE PROJECTS. MUSEUM EDUCATORS AND LOCAL TEACHING ARTISTS TEAM UP TO BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH CONTEMPORARY ART FOLLOWED BY OFFBEAT ART "EXPERIMENTS" IN THE MUSEUM'S NON-TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDES SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL SUBJECTS AND GRADES AN EXCITING AND UNIQUE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH TEACHER WORKSHOPS. TEACHERS GAIN A PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS WHILE LEARNING HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH THE MUSEUM TO ENHANCE THEIR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM. THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FREE AND USUALLY FEATURE A GUEST SPEAKER AS PART OF THE EVENT. IN ADDITION, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE TOURS TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMMING IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF OUR MAJOR SPONSORS, GAR FOUNDATION, THE DOMINION FOUNDATION, THE R.C. MUSSON & KATHARINE M. MUSSON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, GEORGE AND SUSAN KLEIN, ROBERT O. AND ANNAMAE ORR FAMILY FOUNDATION, CHARLES E. & MABEL M. RITCHIE FOUNDATION, THE MARY AND DR. GEORGE L. DEMETROS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE SANDRA L. AND DENNIS B. HASLINGER FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE SISLER MCFAWN FOUNDATION, THE WELTY FOUNDATION AND THE LLOYD L. & LOUISE K. SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION IN ADDITION TO OTHER SMALLER DONATIONS FROM VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS.THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALSO HOSTS THE FOLLOWING:NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM - PROGRAM THAT INVITES SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HOLD ONE-NIGHT-ONLY ART SHOWS AT THE AKRON ART MUSEUM, FEATURING THE WORK OF THEIR STUDENTS OR CLIENTS. FAMILY DAYS:LIVE CREATIVE SUMMER STUDIO - INTRODUCED IN FY18, THE EDUCATION TEAM CREATED AN AREA WITHIN THE MUSEUM'S MAIN LOBBY WHERE FAMILIES COULD UNPLUG AND MAKE LASTING MEMORIES TOGETHER WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE CALENDAR. ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS: TOY-BUILDING WORKSHOP - IN THIS UNIQUE "MAKER'S SPACE", KIDS WERE ENCOURAGED TO BASH, BEND, DRILL AND GLUE; TRANSFORMING PIECES AND PARTS OF BROKEN TOYS INTO UPCYCLED ONE-OF-A-KIND SCULPTURES.MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY - EACH YEAR THE MUSEUM HELPS CELEBRATE DR. MARTIN KING'S LEGACY WHICH INSPIRES TRANSFORMATION THROUGH CREATIVITY. THE MUSEUM OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC TO ENCOURAGE ALL TO CELEBRATE KING'S VISION BY RECHARGING THEIR IMAGINATION THROUGH HANDS-ON ART ACTIVITIES, GAMES, AND STORYTELLING PAIRED WITH ARTISTS FROM THE MUSEUM'S CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION.ENERGIZE FOR EDUCATORS EVENTS - VIP TOURS FOR TEACHERS FILLED WITH INFO, SECRETS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES GOODIES. TEACHERS WERE ABLE TO TAKE GUIDED TOURS OF THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITIONS WITH ARTWORKS RELATED TO HISTORY, TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE, POP CULTURE AND MORE TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN INCORPORATE THEM INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACHFOR THE NINTH CONSECUTIVE SUMMER, THE AKRON ART MUSEUM PROUDLY PARTICIPATED IN THE BLUE STAR MUSEUM INITIATIVE. THIS IS A COLLABORATION AMONG THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, BLUE STAR FAMILIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND MORE THAN 2,000 MUSEUMS ACROSS AMERICA WHICH OFFERS FREE ADMISSION TO THE NATION'S ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL INCLUDING NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 27, THROUGH LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2019. DUE TO COVID-19, THIS PROGRAM WAS NOT OFFERED IN MAY 2020 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2020.DOWNTOWN AT DUSK - FROM MID-JUNE UNTIL MID-AUGUST 2019 THE MUSEUM SPONSORED A CONCERT SERIES IN THE BEAUTIFUL NEW AKRON ART MUSEUM'S BUD AND SUSIE ROGERS GARDEN. THESE OCCURRED ON FIVE CONSECUTIVE THURSDAY EVENINGS AND WERE FREE TO THE PUBLIC. HOWEVER, DUE TO COVID-19, THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL CONCERTS IN JUNE 2020 AS THE MUSEUM WAS STILL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. A VIRTUAL OFFERING OF THIS SERIES WILL, HOWEVER, BE OFFERED IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 2020.YOGA IN THE GALLERIES/GARDEN: YOGA CLASSES HELD IN THE AKRON ART MUSEUM'S GALLERIES AND / OR BUD AND SUSIE ROGERS GARDEN COMBINE BREATH, FLOW, AND ART IN A BEGINNER FRIENDLY SERIES TAUGHT BY A CERTIFIED NIRVANA YOGA INSTRUCTOR. LIVE CREATIVE SUMMER STUDIO - THE CORBIN FAMILY FOUNDATION GALLERY WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A STUDIO WHERE VISITORS COULD EXPLORE, DISCOVER AND CREATE. THE HANDS-ON, INSPIRING PLAY SPACE ENCOURAGED FAMILIES TO EXPERIMENT WITH A VARIETY OF ART-MAKING TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS. MEET ME AT THE MUSEUM - THIS NEW SERIES FOCUSED ON PROMOTING BRAIN HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS BY PAIRING ART AND ACTIVITIES. EACH QUARTERLY SESSION COMBINED A LOOKING EXERCISE WITH MEMORY EXERCISES AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT ART MATERIALS. YOUTH ART MONTH SHOWCASE - STUDENTS FROM NORTHEAST OHIO WERE REPRESENTED IN THIS SHOW, FEATURING MANY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA AND A WIDE VARIETY OF ARTWORK.AKRON ART LIBRARY - ORGANIZED BY THE AKRON ART MUSEUM AND PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AKRON-SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, NEW ARTWORKS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CHECK-OUT FROM BRANCH LOCATIONS. THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION, GAR FOUNDATION, OHIO ARTS COUNCIL, THE LEHNER FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE HUNTINGTON-AKRON FOUNDATION AND DOMINION ENERGY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.FAMILY FILM FEST - AWARD-WINNING, FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHORT FILMS FROM THE 2019 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL INCLUDING KID FLIX I: ANIMATED SHORTS GEARED FOR KIDS AGES 3-7 AND KID FLIX II: LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORTS FOR KIDS AGES 8+.VIRTUAL MINI TOURS FOR SCHOOLS - THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED SHORT VIDEOS ON THE MUSEUM'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FEATURING WORKS FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION THAT STUDENTS COULD WATCH IN THEIR CLASSROOM. OFFERINGS FOR ALL AGES AND ON A VARIETY OF THEMES WERE UPLOADED REGULARLY.IN ADDITION, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE MUSEUM OFFERED NUMEROUS GALLERY AND ART TALKS WITH MUSEUM STAFF INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO OUR CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS, THERESA BEMBNISTER, ASSISTANT CURATOR, ANNIE WISCHMEYER, AND COLLECTIONS MANAGER, CHRISSIE MARQUARDT AS WELL AS WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS AND/OR HISTORIANS. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERED A VARIETY OF SPECIAL PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND ART DEMONSTRATIONS ON AN ONGOING BASIS. A SMALL SAMPLING OF SOME OF THESE OFFERINGS FROM FY20 IS LISTED BELOW:BOOK CLUB - READING UNDER THE ROOF CLOUD IN PLAY ANYTHING, ACCLAIMED PHILOSOPHER AND AWARD-WINNING GAME DESIGNER IAN BOGOST REVEALS THAT PLAY ISN'T A MINDLESS ESCAPE FROM BORING REALITY. INSTEAD, PLAY IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ACCEPT LIMITATIONS, NARROW OUR FOCUS, AND - CONSEQUENTLY - HAVE FUN. OPEN WORLD ARCADE - THIS FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT OFFERED FUN FOR GAMERS OF ALL LEVELS. GUESTS COULD PLAY MULTI-PLAYER VERSIONS OF THE VIDEO GAMES THAT INSPIRED ARTISTS IN OPEN WORLD, INCLUDING THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: FOUR SWORDS ADVENTURES, TETRIS PARTY AND SPACE INVADERS. THEY COULD ALSO CHEER ON THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON ZIPS ESPORTS TEAM AS THEY PLAYED ROCKET LEAGUE IN THE AUDITORIUM. ARTIST'S / STAFF TALKS JOE VITONE: FAMILY RECORDS: VITONE DISCUSSED THE MOTIVATION AND PROCESS BEHIND HIS IMPORTANT BODY OF WORK ON ITS FIRST NORTHEAST OHIO SHOWING.ANGELA WASHKO: OPEN WORLD: VIDEO GAMES & CONTEMPORARY ART - FOR HER PROJECT THE COUNCIL ON GENDER SENSITIVITY AND BEHAVIORAL AWARENESS IN WORLD OF WARCRAFT, ANGELA WASHKO CONDUCTED A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS ON FEMINISM WITHIN THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME. WASHKO DISCUSSED HER INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE MELDING PERFORMANCE, VIDEO, INSTALLATION AND GAME-MAKING.JADE DELLINGER: THE MOON MUSEUM - THIS TALK DISCUSSED THE SIX ARTISTS AND THEIR UNIDENTIFIED COLLABORATOR AND HOW THEY SNUCK A MINUSCULE ARTWORK ON THE MOON. FEATURING IMAGERY BY ANDY WARHOL, CLAES OLDENBURG AND ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG, THE MOON MUSEUM IS A TINY WAFER MADE IN A SMALL EDITION, STOWED AWAY ON THE APOLLO 12 MOON LANDER. YOUR SAY, AKRON - THIS CONVERSATION SERIES IS ABOUT LEARNING HOW THE MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER. HELD IN THE LOBBY, THIS INTIMATE CONVERSATION SERIES ALLOWS ALL VOICES EQUAL SHARE IN THE MUSEUM'S AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT PLANS.TOURS 1. CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS THERESA BEMBNISTER PROVIDED A TOUR FIT FOR VIDEO GAME NEWBS AND GAMING EXPERTS ALIKE AT THIS CLOSE LOOK AT OPEN WORLD: VIDEO GAMES.THIS CLOSE LOOK REVEALED THE THEMES AND CONCEPTS MOTIVATING THE ARTISTS.2. CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS THERESA BEMBNISTER PROVIDED A TOUR TO HELP GUESTS LEARN HOW SOME OF THE MOST BELOVED VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES - SUPER MARIO BROS., THE LEGEND OF ZELDA AND THE SIMS, AMONG OTHERS - INSPIRED THE ARTISTS IN OPEN WORLD.COFFEE WITH A CURATOR 1. CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS THERESA BEMBNISTER DISCUSSED OPEN WORLD: VIDEO GAMES & CONTEMPORARY ART. SHE FOCUSED ON THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK REQUIRED TO ORGANIZE OPEN WORLD, WHICH EXAMINED THE WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE OF VIDEO GAMES ON ARTISTS ACROSS GENERATIONS.2. ASSISTANT CURATOR ANNIE WISCHMEYER DISCUSSED THE EXHIBITION THE DISTANCE OF THE MOON. FACTS BLEND WITH FICTION AS SHE EXPLORED THE HISTORY OF IMAGES OF THE MOON, INCLUDING 18TH CENTURY FANTASIES, EARLY STEREOGRAPHS, NASA PHOTOGRAPHS AND CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS' MEDITATIONS ON OUR CELESTIAL NEIGHBOR.3. CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS THERESA BEMBNISTER PROVIDED CASUAL CONVERSATION ABOUT ELIAS SIME: TIGHTROPE WITH A FOCUS ON THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES EFFORTS REQUIRED TO PRESENT THE WORK OF ETHIOPIAN ARTIST ELIAS SIME. SIME USES REPURPOSED MATERIALS SUCH AS COMPUTER KEYBOARDS, MOTHERBOARDS AND ELECTRICAL WIRES TO CREATE COMPLEX, COLORFUL TABLEAUS.4. CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS THERESA BEMBNISTER LED A CHAT FOCUSING ON THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES EFFORTS REQUIRED TO ORGANIZE THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT. DRAWN PRIMARILY FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS EXHIBITION EXAMINED BOTH THE DARK SIDE AND THE JOY OF 50 YEARS OF YOUNG ADULT COUNTERCULTURES.SPECIAL PERFORMANCES:MIDWINTER BLUES FROM JANUARY 9TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 13TH THIS PROGRAM COMBINED A CONCERT IN THE AUDITORIUM BY GREAT LOCAL BANDS WITH A MICRO-RESIDENCY OF LOCAL ARTISTS IN THE LOBBY, WITH BUSKERS SETTING THE VIBE IN THE GALLERIES. EACH WEEK FEATURED A SURPRISE POP UP ACTIVITY OR PERFORMANCE DESIGNED TO DELIGHT.MISSILE TOE THIS FESTIVE ROCK BAND FILLED THE MUSEUM LOBBY WITH FUN, UPBEAT VERSIONS OF CLASSIC HOLIDAY TUNES.MERCE CUNNINGHAM -- THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHOREOGRAPHY PRESENTED A FREE PERFORMANCE IN THE GALLERIES TO CELEBRATE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MERCE CUNNINGHAM'S BIRTH. GROUNDWORKS -- THE GROUNDWORKS DANCE TROUPE PERFORMED A SPECIALLY PLANNED PERFORMANCE ON AUGUST 6TH FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS ALIKE IN THE MUSEUM'S LOBBY.IN RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY OHIO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE AND CONCERNS OF "COMMUNITY SPREAD" OF COVID-19, THE AKRON ART MUSEUM JOINED STATE AND NATIONAL MUSEUMS IN CLOSING TO THE PUBLIC STARTING MARCH 14, 2020. THE MUSEUM HAD POSTPONED ALL PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, AND THE FOLLOWING EXHIBITIONS/PROGRAMS WERE EITHER CUT SHORT OR POSTPONED UNTIL FY21. ELIAS SIME: TIGHTROPE -- THIS EXHIBITION WAS TO RUN FROM FEBRUARY 29 - MAY 24, 2020OBJECTS TO BE DESTROYED SET TO RUN FEBRUARY 29 - AUGUST 9, 2020THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT SET TO RUN MARCH 28 - AUGUST 9, 2020. TEACHTALK 2020: DIGITAL VS. ANALOG THE MUSEUM'S POPULAR TEACH TALK WAS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 30, 2020 BUT IS POSTPONED UNTIL FY21.

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