Tag: Downtown Canton Ohio

Tonight's the Night the "Downtown Cats" Hit the Town…

Downtown Cats Mural

… and I’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be a good night!

I like to play this video when I have a big night ahead, and tonight is going to be a big night!

First, my mural is going to be dedicated as part of the Canton First Friday festivities.

But more importantly, it could be the night that some dogs and cats from Friends of the Pound and Second Chance for Animals find new homes! Dogs and cats from both organizations will be on hand, er, paw, to celebrate the night and strut their stuff.

The animals will be available for adoption. How will you be able to resist them?

You can celebrate with us either by attending the dedication at 7:30 pm (EDT) at 201 5th St. NW in Canton, OH or via the USTREAM live broadcast online beginning at 7:30 pm (EDT)!

You may just come home with your new best friend.

See ya tonight!

Downtown Cats Mural: Two Cats Done, Two to Go!

Downtown Cats Mural
Mock-up Design for Downtown Cats Mural

I guess it is  time for an update on the development of the Downtown Cats Mural. It has been coming along, and we are now in the home stretch! Two of the cats have been painted, and much of the background work has been done. The other two cats should be completed in the next week or so.

When I first wrote about this mural commission, I was a bit nervous, as I had never done an artwork of this size and scale before. Now that it is nearing completion, I am feeling strong and thinking, “What’s the next big thing”?

The project has taken several months, partly because the funding came in stages and partly because I have worked on it alongside other projects. You can see the various stages of the mural’s development by viewing the slide show below.

In case you do not already know, the photos in the slide show of my window “supervisor” are of Brewskie Butt, my beloved feline and very active spokescat. Brewskie and my other three cats are featured in the mural.

The “Downtown Cats” mural will be placed on the building currently occupied by HEAP in Downtown Canton, OH towards the end of next month (July 2010).  it is my hope that we will have it up in time for the annual Football Hall of Fame festivities. The building at 201 5th St. NW is in the heart of the Canton Arts District next to the historic Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography.

I am very grateful to Tim Belden and the Timothy S. Belden Charitable Fund for commissioning the mural and for being such a solid supporter of the Canton Arts District. Tim is the genius behind the Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography, which has brought world class photography to Canton. I am also very grateful to Robb Hankins of ArtsInStark, the County Arts Council, for his support in developing this project, and to the Canton Development Partnership for their support.

Stay tuned. There’s more to come!

Are you interested in commissioning a mural by BZTAT? Please contact me and let’s talk!

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

Illuminarts Battle of the Brush

Illuminarts

Today is the day that high school and middle school art students in Stark County, OH await all year. It is the day of the third annual (drum roll please)…

Illuminarts BATTLE OF THE BRUSH!!!!!

The Battle of the Brush is a competition in which student teams and professional artists create 4-foot-by-5-foot murals that reflect a predetermined theme. This year’s theme is “Art Works” celebrating what really works in our lives — Art.

Three years ago, I was on the Illuminarts board, and I developed the idea of the “Battle of the Brush” to create enthusiasm for visual creativity among young artists.

My community has a very popular Battle of the Bands annual competition for young musicians, and I thought, why not do something like that for visual artists?

The Battle of the Brush has now become an annual event that is growing in popularity.

This year, 13 student teams from the following schools are registered to compete: Alliance High School, Arts Academy at Summit, Fairless High School, Louisville High School, Louisville Middle School, Minerva High School, Perry High School, R.G. Drage Career Center and Timken High School.

The teams will have three hours (noon to 3 p.m.) to create their murals under the guidance of an educator from their school. They will work alongside 4 professional artists who will create works reflecting the same theme. Professional artists participating include Dana Muntean, Sue Steiner, Joseph Close and myself.

After 3 hours, independent judges will select the top student mural, the top professional piece, and a Peoples’ Choice award will also be selected based on the amount of donations deposited in baskets placed by each mural.

Each year, fans for the teams come to cheer them on in this exciting competition. I hope that you will come and join in all of the fun!

Follow my tweets throughout the day on twitter following the hashtag #BattleOfTheBrush.

The fifth annual IlluminArts Celebration, lasting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 27, is held at Timken High School in downtown Canton. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

“The IlluminArts Celebration will encompass all genres of art: music, visual arts, theater, dance, written word, and those that may be categorized as beyond tradition,” said Janie Pavlek, chairwoman of the event.

“We have a dedicated group of individuals and organizations that will present a broad spectrum of artistic and creative activities for the enjoyment of the community.”

Featured events of the celebration include the Battle of the Brush; mentoring program displays; art tables for all ages; and performances by area high school rock bands.

This year, 17 mentors were matched with nearly 100 students from area high schools to expose them to various art-related fields and teach them some of the associated skills and techniques.

Many of the mentors and their students will exhibit their work at the Celebration, including: fashion design mentor Kathy Guidone; watercolorist Doreen St. John; visual artist Kathy Jevec; visual artist Pamela Schmuck; photographer Heather Hutmacher; and Motter & Meadows architectural design.

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Under the guidance of Steve Pedro, assistant executive director, The Boys and Girls Club of Massillon will present “Picture It!,” an exhibit of photos taken by nearly 100 children, ages 6-12.

A number of musical acts will be featured on Timken High School’s auditorium stage, and a number of hand-on arts activities will be available to participants throughout the day.

Local artist Judy Krew will be creating pastel portraits. “Rant” and “Rave” short films presented by the Palace Theatre Art Film Club, a paint pendulum by the Massillon Museum, face painting and henna tattoos by the AGoG Teen Art Gallery will also be featured.

Hosted by Canton City Schools, the Celebration’s major sponsor is the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District. Corporate partners include Lowe’s, Stark County Education Service Center, Mercy Medical Center, Motter & Meadows Architects, Creative Juices Communications and the Canton Professional Educators Association.

IlluminArts is a grassroots, all-volunteer organization formed in 2006 to raise awareness of the arts, increase participation in the arts and build connections between the arts and the community. For information, call (330) 438-1909 or visit www.illuminarts.org.

Come join all the fun!

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT