A quarterly celebration of the arts and local artists
Every three months, ArtWalk is held in the Historic Arts District on Friday nights from 5 – 9 p.m. Community members are invited to the quarterly celebration to enjoy food, music, art, and more. Each ArtWalk will have a specific theme that engages visitors with the arts in new ways. ArtWalk is always free and open to the public with donations gladly accepted.
More info about the September ArtWalk coming soon!
Akron ArtWalk: Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival Edition on Friday, September 6th
Friday, September 6, 2024 | 5 – 9 p.m.
Akron, OHIO (August 23, 2024) — On Friday, September 6 from 5:00 – 9:00 pm, experience Akron’s quarterly ArtWalk filled with visual art, jazz, cinema, food and activities at participating locations in Akron’s Historic Arts District! Partners include Summit Artspace, Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, Akron Art Museum, Akron-Summit County Public Library, The Nightlight, Akron Soul Train, Open Tone Music, Curated Storefront, Art x Love, Musica, and Jilly’s Music Room.
Summit Artspace will be showcasing Summer Exhibitions in five galleries throughout the evening. Visitors can also explore a variety of talented ArtWalk Artist vendors throughout the building. At Summit Artspace:
- Summit Artspace’s 20+ resident artists will open their studios to the public throughout the evening and 20+ pop-up artist vendors will sell handmade artwork throughout the building.
- 91.3 The Summit will broadcast music outside the building, and face painting and chalking projects will be available on the street.
- An opportunity to view six Summer Exhibitions, on view in Summit Artspace’s five galleries and hallways throughout the evening.
- An interactive activity in the Welcome Gallery’s Overdose Awareness Exhibition from artist Meaghan Reed, inviting stories and reflections, and releasing pain and burdens. Summit County County Public Health will have materials and Narcan available for distribution.
- Visit Stella, the roaming sticker vending machine run by ClappForArt featuring cool art creative people, nonprofits, and small businesses.
Photos taken by Jaclyn Hale
Nearby ArtWalk-related activities in and near the Main-Market Historic District include:
The Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival will feature live performances and jazz activities at multiple locations across downtown Akron. Friday evening performances will feature: Chirs Coles’ Love Demon and Bobby Selvaggio Quintet with Sean jones at the Akron Public Main Library. Ronell Regis Grenada to the World at the Akron Art Museum. Barabara Rosene Quintet and Abstract Sounds at Blue Jazz+ Corridor.
Curated Storefront will present a variety of art installations, an interactive map of Akron’s Contemporary Art District is available to guide visitors through the art-filled public spaces and storefronts. Bending Toward Light by PJ Hargraves: Opening Reception at Avant Garden Gallery, 526 S. Main St., Suite 409, 5-9pm (sculpture). bARTer | resistance: Opening Night, Outside the Box, 110 N. Main St., 5-9pm (interactive installations) by artists Jess Fijalkovich & Chris Harvey and Rachel Ferber. Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders, Polsky Building 225 S. Main St., Museum open 4-8pm.
Akron Soul Train’s gallery will feature exhibitions by Crystal Miller: “Queens and Shiny Things” and Michael Roman Boyd: “Negus Wait in Gold.” They invite the community to also join them for: Soup for the Soul: Starting at 5 PM, swing by during the Art Walk and grab your one-of-a-kind PJ Hargraves ceramic bowl, we can fill it with a soul-warming bowl of soup! Enjoy your soup in the gallery as you view our current exhibitions and take your handcrafted ceramic bowl home with you. Supplies are limited, so we encourage you to register in advance! $25 non-members | $20 members
The Akron Art Museum will host a stage for the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival in their gardens. Ronell Regis will perform from 5:30-7:30pm. Friends of the Library will host a book sale, and a musical instrument petting zoo will encourage new explorations of music. Totally Baked Pizza will be vending food alongside a cash bar. Ryanaustin Dennis of RUMP Studio will introduce the Nightlight-curated film Space is the Place (1974), and the screening will close out the night. FREE.
Akron-Summit County Public Library will feature a visual installation in the High Street atrium of jazz photographs and lyrical messages. Come celebrate the history and future of jazz music at the Akron Main Library featuring performances in the auditorium by: Chris Coles’ Love Deamon Song Cycle (5 pm) and Bobby Selvaggio Quintet (ft. Sean Jones) (6:15 pm).
Art x Love’s Silent Jazz Storm will feature three unique jazz-scape playlists for attendees to immerse themselves using silent disco headsets while reflecting, sketching, and brainstorming. Bring your notebook or sketchpad and curious mind, and join us for this mind-expanding creative experience!
Nightlight Cinema will screen the films “Sing Sing” at 5:30 PM and “Paris, Texas” at 8 PM. Additionally, Ryanaustin Dennis of RUMP Studio will introduce the film “Space is the Place” at the Akron Art Museum to close out the night.
Musica will feature a live performance by Cole Chaney: Legends & Verse 2024, with Tony Logue and The 184, starting at 8 PM.
Jilly’s Music Room: Take your Happy Hour DORA cocktail on an ArtWalk! Performing is The Original Silk Band – a funk, R&B, Motown dance band from NEO. They have been active for more than 40 years making audiences happy and getting them up on the dance floor. If you’re looking for a high-energy, high-octane band, they’re your go-to.
General parking for ArtWalk is available on surrounding streets, and at participating locations. Downtown restaurants welcome patrons during the evening. An introduction to the Akron ArtWalk participating businesses is available on Downtown Akron Partnership.
Interested in participating in ArtWalk at Summit Artspace? Find calls for Pop-up Artists here!
ArtWalk is supported, in part, by a grant from the Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation.
