I attended the March 13, 2025, Akron ArtWalk after I learned about it via an invitation from Summit Artspace Executive Director Heather Meeker. (Please learn more about her by reading her bio in my blog post about the Summit Artspace 2024 Kaleidoscope annual holiday show.)
For this blog post, I gathered my photos, videos, and information about the following four venues I visited to encourage you to learn more about them:
I also include in this blog post information about Summit DD (Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board) and related agencies that Summit Artspace arranged to be involved to make this the "2nd Annual Inclusive Akron Artwalk." This is part of Summit Artspace's commitment to empowering artists of all abilities.
I also want to say thank you to Downtown Akron Partnership for sharing my #AkronArtwalk experience thread on Bluesky. I recommend following @downtownakron.bsky.social on Bluesky to learn about fun activities happening in downtown Akron.
I have read about past Akron ArtWalks for many years, and I am so glad I finally attended for the first time in 2025. I hope you enjoy my blog post about what I saw and learned that evening.
Summit Artspace Partners with Summit DD for Creative Voices: Empowering Artists of All Abilities
Empowering artists of all abilities at the Akron Artwalk
Visitors to Summit Artspace found a host of inclusion-themed activities:
Information and activities at Summit DD’s informational booth where visitors learned about our services and supports.
Summit DD featured assistive technology discovery kits, a 3D printed switch for creating accessible spin art, and open-source 3D-printed writing devices. We showcased how customizable tech can be made and adapted right here in Summit County at community hubs like The Akron MakerSpace.
The Inclusioneers’ Mobile Sensory Bus, supported by Summit DD staff, was available in front of the building for folks who needed a sensory break from the activities.
Resources from Akron Summit County Public Library’s Accessibility Library, a groundbreaking resource that enhances accessibility at festivals, performances, community gatherings, and cultural shows. Visitors to the artwalk could explore sensory items, mobility supports, and other items available from the library for loan at no cost to users. Sensory Bags were also available for check out during the event. (Ps. Did you know that Summit DD is a community partner in the Accessibility Library? Check it out!)
A Quiet Room on Summit Artspace’s 2nd floor offered a calming atmosphere and featured various Accessibility Library items.
In my first career, I was a director of development for agencies that worked in the realm of social services. As I talked to Summit DD (Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board) staff, I realized that my professional and educational experience had not exposed me to their areas of expertise.
It was interesting to learn that Summit DD partnered with Akron Makerspace to build some of the adaptive devices that their clients require. I am familiar with this exceptional community resource from when I wrote about their opening:
Blog Date: December 8, 2019 - Akron MakerSpace Grand Opening
The other Summit DD partner that was in attendance was The Akron-Summit County Public Library's Accessibility Library. I am familiar with the library's tech resources, but I did not know about their Accessibility Library, which "provides items available for check-out as well as support at all stages of planning."
Here is a video of my photos from the event that relates to developmental disabilities:
I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Summit Artspace
I started my Akron Art Walk by joining others in all the activities happening on all the floors of Summit Artspace, 140 East Market Street (Phone: 330-376-8480, SummitArtspace.org).
In one of the galleries, I talked to Robert S. Wright (RWrightArt.com), who was drawing on a long strip of material where he was capturing the motion of the people in the room. Behind him were his paintings of dancers, where he used the same technique to capture their motions and then also their figures. I recommend going to his "Why Figurative Motion?" web page to see the two videos which feature "art and video by Robert Wright. choreography and dance performed by Teagan Reed 2023" and "art and video by Robert Wright. choreography and dance performed by Victoria Rumzis. 2023." My photos below include him at the table where he was drawing and of some of his artwork.
After visiting the galleries, I visited the vendor area that was set up for the event. There are also permanent artist studios and shops in Summit Artspace, and I was fortunate to talk to Kyla Decatur of P31 Art & Design (p31art.com) in her studio. I enjoyed talking to her about her work and her other plans.
My photos/videos will give you a taste of what you will see when you visit, but it is best to enjoy the artwork in person:
I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the artwork in the slides!!
Art x Love
The next venue on my Akron ArtWalk was Art x Love, 35 South Main Street (Phone: 330-238-8588, Open by appointment Monday through Friday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, ArtXLove.com)
I enjoyed meeting Mac and Allyse Love and their children while learning about the new areas of their business that they are developing in this space. Mac Love told me how they are technically not open to the public yet, and that they are going to be creating space for other artists to create and exhibit their work.
Most of the artwork in these photos were created by Mac Love, or is artwork that he currently restoring. Other artists also have their artwork displayed:
I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the artwork in the slides!!
Akron Soul Train
The third venue on my Akron ArtWalk was Akron Soul Train, 191 South Main Street (Phone: 330-573-0517, AkronSoulTrain.org)
I’ve seen Akron Soul Train on social media for years, and mentioned them in a 2016 blog post, but this was my first time visiting.
Blog Date: November 13, 2016 - PechaKucha Night Akron Volume 5 at The Bit Factory
"A surprise -- an exhibit of art from Akron Soul Train . . ."
Here is information about the exhibition that I saw on display during the Akron ArtWalk:
In addition to the photos from Akron Soul Train, I have a photo of the Akron Civic Theatre.
I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the artwork in the slides!!
Akron Art Museum
The Akron Art Museum invites all people to enrich their lives through modern and contemporary art.
The fourth and final venue I went to as part of the Akron ArtWalk was the Akron Art Museum, 1 South High Street (Phone: 330-376-9186, AkronArtMuseum.org).
I was fortune to be able to come to the museum while their CANstruction Exhibition was still on display in the lobby area. I had hoped to attend the CANstruction Build Event which took place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, but my plans had to change when I joined hundreds of people in support of Ukraine at the Rally for Ukraine in Cleveland at The Grand Hall next to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.
After enjoying the the completed CANstruction Exhibition projects, I did a quick walk-through of the galleries to see some of my favorite artwork and some pieces that were new to me. I also saw they were setting up the She Said, She Said: Contemporary Women Artists exhibition, which opened on Saturday, March 22, 2025. I am often the last one to leave local Northeast Ohio museums, and this evening was no exception. It gave me a chance to talk to the museum's guard as he closed the galleries.
I recommend viewing videos in full screen mode.
Please feel free to pause the video to look more closely at the artwork in the slides!!
Related Blog Posts
I always like to include in my blog posts a list of related posts that may be of interest to the readers of this blog post. In addition to Summit Artspace and Akron Art Museum event information, I have included blog posts about events at The Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron MakerSpace, and Akron Civic Theatre:
Blog Date: December 17, 2024 - A Day of Akron Art Galleries: Skulls & Neon
Blog Date: February 27, 2024 - 2024 Cleveland and Akron Lunar New Year Celebrations: The Year Of The Dragon
See the section about the Akron Civic Theatre and its new The Knight Stage.Blog Date: November 22, 2021 - Akron Makes 2021 -- Fun Time Learning From Creatives!
Blog Date: February 5, 2020 - Akron Art Museum "Last Look Tour: 'Open World: Video Games & Contemporary Art'"
Blog Date: December 8, 2019 - Akron MakerSpace Grand Opening
Blog Date: December 8, 2019 - Akron Art Museum "Open World: Video Games & Contemporary Art," Summit Artspace "Poe's Garden," and CVNP New Visitor Center
Blog Date: October 21, 2018 - High Arts Festival Akron 2018 Final Day and Finale Celebration
Blog Date: October 1, 2018 - A Gathering of Fascinating & Curious People - Akron Library Mini Maker Faire 2018
Blog Date: August 5, 2018 - FRONT International Triennial for Contemporary Art and More - Akron
Blog Date: November 21, 2017 - Creatives Gather at Akron Library for Mini Maker Faire 2017
Blog Date: November 28, 2016 - Akron Mini Maker Faire 2016
Blog Date: November 13, 2016 - PechaKucha Night Akron Volume 5 at The Bit Factory
"A surprise -- an exhibit of art from Akron Soul Train . . ."Blog Date: October 24, 2016 - Akron Art Prize 2016
Blog Date: February 17, 2016 - PechaKucha Night at the Akron Civic Theatre
Blog Date: October 7, 2015 - Web Vulnerability » Akron Maker Faire » Launch League SpaceWalk
Blog Date: October 29, 2014 - Robots & Makers in Akron -- Oh, My!
Blog Date: November 25, 2013 - Akron Mini Maker Faire & SYN/HAK The Akron Hackerspace Open House
You can find more related past blog posts under the following categories:
"Maker" (If you are interested in the Akron MakerSpace, you might also want to look at these 19 "Maker" blog posts)
Thank you to the leaders of these four art institutions for providing an enjoyable evening for my first Akron ArtWalk. I hope that this blog post gets you motivated to get out to visit these venues, and to also learn about the other locations that are partners in these Akron ArtWalks. Have fun!!!