Thu 4/9 @ 5-9:30PM

Summit Artspace, a hive of artist studios and galleries near downtown Akron (and basically around the corner from the Akron Art Museum) has been closed to the public as it spent nearly seven months upgrading its facility. It reopened in March, but now it’s celebrating: on Thursday April 9, it will hold a grand reopening party, with events taking place across all three floors including art shows (of course), music and other performances, dancing, food and hands-on activities.

The event will have three tiers.

There’s a VIP cocktail hour from 5-6pm, to tour the new space and preview the shows with the staff, board and artists. There’ll also be free food and two drink tickets for each attendee.

The general admission event from 6-8pm includes performances by Uno Lady with her distinctive music manipulating her own voice electronically and the jazz/folk/blues/pop quintet Rent for Cheryl on the third floor, a site-specific performance art piece by resident artist Maddie McSweeney on the second floor it will “involve the artist sewing themself into a pantyhose-clad standing lamp,” we’re told, a live installation of improvised electronic music and abstract videos by Andrew Izold on the stairwell between the first and second floor, a hands-on activity hosts by resident artist Althea Jones on the first floor, and a poetry workshop by Robert Greeer Sr in his third-floor studio. And more to be announced…

And from 8-9:30, for just $5, there’s a dance party on the third floor with  DJ Brainwreck providing the music.

The Green Dragon in will be onsite all evening offering food and specialty cocktails for purchase. In addition to the six current exhibitions, there’s a temporary video installation of Karumi’s Outtakes and an adult scavenger hunt to better acquaint people with the building.  Go here for tickets.