Sat 1/11

Now is a good time to get yourself down to the Akron Art Museum. For one, you definitely want to catch: Glow: Neon and Light before it closes February 9. That group show features works by artist whose mediums are neon, light bulbs, glass and mirrors, creating immersive sculptural works that create with light and reflections.

But additionally, the museum is opening a pair of new shows on Saturday January 11. One of them is Oliver Jeffers: 15 Years of Picturing Books, featuring the work of Australia/Irish artist, illustrator and author Jeffers, whose skilled creative whimsy fills books such as The Day the Crayons Quit, The Day The Crayons Came Home and This Moose Belongs to Me. The show features original illustrations, sketches, ideas and copies of the books you can look through in the gallery. It’s a great way to introduce kids to art museums.

The other show is The Abstract Photography of William Richards featuring images made in a darkroom with reflections from chromed metal, colored lights and filters by the Cleveland artist (1917-2004). He created the experimental works on his off time from his advertising job, producing images that resembled the results of shaking a kaleidoscope.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 11am-5pm and until 9pm on Thursday, which is also free admission day.