This summer public art in downtown Cuyahoga Falls will be a major focus as ArtsNow, Collide: Cuyahoga Falls, and Curated Storefront create multiple art-centered community engagement events as part of “River in the City”–a multi-year public art project funded by a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts which will provide new perspectives about the cultural, historical, environmental, and physical connections between downtown Cuyahoga Falls and the Cuyahoga River.
“Public art is an economic driver of tourism as it positively impacts the health of communities like ours by elevating and beautifying public spaces,” stated Mayor Don Walters in a press release. “As we continue to make investments in public art, we are committed to garnering public input to ensure that the thoughts and voices of our residents are represented through the works of commissioned artists.”
The first of many events in this project will take place Sunday, June 5 at the downtown pavilion, using performance and visual arts to engage the community about the Cuyahoga River. The input from these performances and discussions will be used for the creation of new public art pieces as part of the National Endowment of the Arts Our Town grant the city was awarded in April 2021.
In Flowing with the Currents: An Exploration of Our Personal Experiences with the Cuyahoga River, Neema Bal and Katie Beck of Gum-Dip Theatre will create a series of theatrical vignettes with community members, all inspired by the Cuyahoga. Using meditation, movement, writing exercises and storytelling, all culminating as performances among the group, Bal and Beck will help participants examine their feelings about the major waterway. Participation is not required to attend, limiting participation to 30 community members ages 13 and up.
Also happening at this time, local artist Alison Rich will interview community members to collect stories or drawings that show their relationship with the Cuyahoga River. Rich will explore how the public feel about living near the river, what it means to them, and how it is important. This community input will influence Rich’s future creation of three paintings of the river to be displayed as a triptych and gifted to the city to be displayed downtown later this summer.
“We have an incredible depth of talent in our local creative community and Curated Storefront is thrilled to work with this team of artists,” stated Curated Storefront Arts and Culture Amber Anderson.
In addition to the community engagement events this Sunday and in the future, more public art as part of “River in the City” are in the process of creation. Created by artist Peter Jones, a bronze sculpture of a Native American man canoeing down the river will be unveiled on South Front Street across from the city municipal building next year. Coming this year will be an 18’ sculpture from Akron pioneering artist Don Drumm at High Bridge Glens Park.
The “River in the City” events take place Sunday, June 5, 12-3pm at the downtown pavilion, 2085 Front St. The next event is scheduled for August 14. For more information about this event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/977164566215476
