When I travel around the country, and visit small art museums, I have found that they tend to fall into two categories. Some present a wide, if limited, range of art work, covering many genres and eras. Others spend their money on presenting specific eras or genres. The Akron Art Museum falls into the latter category.
Akron Art Museum by Threeblur0 via wikicommons
The Akron Art Museum was founded in 1929 as the Akron Art Institute. It offered classes in art and art appreciation. Originally, it was located in the Akron Public Library, until 1981, when it moved into a historic, renovated post office building in downtown Akron. This building is still being used by the museum today, along with a 2007 addition that tripled its size.
Bedford Hills by Childe Hassam
The Akron Art Museum has a collection that spans from the late 19th to the early 21st century. It includes paintings in many genres and by some important artists, as well as local ones. The permanent collection is on display on the first floor of the Old Post Office.
On the Balcony by Frederick C. Frieseke
Mother and Child by Charles W. Howthorne
Winter Evening by Raphael Gleitsmann
The Eviction by Raymond Grathwol
The Artist and His Wife by Elmer Novotny
Powernomics (woman) and (man) by Antwoine Washington
All Fall by Jenny Holzer
Man Eating Trees by Jonathan Sokol
The second floor of that building holds a collection of glass works by Paul Stankard (b. 1943). His works are made of pieces of blown glass that placed inside of blocks of glass, forming beautiful floral designs that move the “craft” of making paperweights into the world of fine art.
When I visited in early March of 2022, there were three temporary shows on exhibit. The 10,000 Things is a collection of work by graphic artist Jordan Wong (b. 1990) incorporates traditional Chinese iconography with Manga style. The show is in two parts, inside the museum has smaller pieces that are studies for the larger ones that are in the museums garden. (Through May 15, 2022)
Responsibility to Reveal: 30 years of the Knight Purchase Award for Photography explores the work of the 22 photographers that have have been honored by receiving this award over the past thirty years. The money is used specifically to acquire some of the photographs produces by each years recipient. (Through June 5th)
by Zanele Muholi
Tiny in her Halloween Costume by Mary Ellen Mark
The final show was More is More: Visual Richness in Contemporary Art. (Closed March 22). These works by current artists, mostly people of color, covered that walls of the galleries, much like the old European art museums.
What a Paradise by Quinn A. Hunter
Hasake by Rufai ZakariThe Akron Art Museum is a beautiful building with an excellent collection. Stop by when you are passing through Akron.
- Nuts and Bolts:
Located at 1 South High Street, Akron OH
Open Wed, Fri-Sun 11 AM - 5 PM and Thur 11 AM - 8 PM
Entrance fee is $12 adults/ $10 Seniors/ $ 8 students
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