Wed 9/23 @ noon-7PM
Thu 9/24 @ noon-4PM and 5-9PM
In 2007, the Akron Art Museum moved into its spacious new building, a newly built architectural landmark that finally gave the museum space to display a significant amount of its permanent collection as well as host multiple special exhibits at the same time. Those who remember the old 1899 building on Market Street just to the north of the new one, will recall a single room of works from its collection (always dominated by Lari Pittman’s “Thankfully, I will have had learned to break glass with sound”) and hallways for small shows in its first floor, plus a large open space on the second floor for special exhibits, where it presented some memorable touring shows including ones on influential painters Lee Krasner and Hans Hofmann and photographer Weegee, as well as a survey of women photographers.
Now that building, which was semi-mothballed after the new one opened, is reopening as a redesigned and renovated space, featuring new gallery spaces. Among the shows it’s debuting there is Shana Moulton’s Meta/Physical Therapy,with multiple video projections turning the gallery into an immersive environment that presents a surreal take on wellness and healing. Another, called The Surrealist Impulse, will fill the second floor’s new Paparella Galleries will works by such surrealist and dada artists as Kay Sage, Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and more.
Visitors can tour the newly renovated space starting with a special preview on Wednesday September 23 and a free community opening event on Thursday September 24 which features food trucks, a cash bar, music by the Sonder Bombs, a performance by the University of Akron Step Team, artmaking, curator tours and family activities in the afternoon.
Go here for more information.
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