Thu 8/5 @ 5-9PM
Fri 8/6 @ 5-9PM
So Liz Maugans had an idea. When doesn’t she have an idea? The printmaker/ collagist/art scene sparkplug and connector found herself returning over and over again to a mousehole motif in the works she was prolifically creating during the pandemic (seen this year in shows at HEDGE and Bonfoey galleries), seeing it as a useful visual symbol and doorway to a lot of thoughts and situations.
Then she started wondering, what would other people see inside a mousehole? So she came up with the idea for Mouse House Party, partnering with the Akron Art Museum and Current at 78th Street Studios to invite all Northeast Ohio artists who wished to participate to use a template she provided to make a small work of art showing how they would fill the mousehole — and the losses and disconnection caused by the pandemic. So far more than 150 artist have responded, with more coming onboard every day, providing work that will go on display at Current (the former Tregoning Gallery) August 5-September 30.
Akron Art Museum’s deputy director Seema Rao says, “For this project, we reached out to Liz Maugans, who is a convener of people. She expressed a desire to create a platform for radical healing after the pandemic. We loved the collective aspect of her project, and we were thrilled to be able to partner with Current.”
The Mouse House Installation at Current is being created by local artist Dana Depew who is making wooden baseboard frames from reused baseboards. Work can be submitted and added to vacant holes during the show’s run.
There’s a preview on Thursday August 5 @ 5-9pm and an opening reception Friday August 6 @ 5-9pm. There’ll be a closing reception Friday September 17 @ 5-9pm during Third Friday.