Downtown@Dusk: Anne E. DeChant

The last Downtown@Dusk of the season will take place this Thursday from 6:30-8:30 pm featuring Americana, Pop and Country singer Anne E. Dechant. Attendees can also enjoy a gallery talk from Associate Educator Gina Thomas McGee and food from Urban Eats while kids enjoy art-making activities in the museum’s classroom.

Anne E. DeChant, based out of Cleveland, first appeared in the music scene in the band Odd Girl Out, showcasing her socially-aware music. After the band dissolved, she began a successful solo career, producing six albums. A five-time winner of Cleveland Scene Magazine’s Best Singer Songwriter award, DeChant delights audiences across America with her original, poignant music.  Her song “Girls and Airplanes” was recently featured in the major motion picture “Hot Flashes.”

This Thursday’s ArtTalks@Dusk will feature a gallery talk from Associate Educator Gina Thomas McGee titled “New+Improved” from 7:30-8 pm while DeChant takes a break from performing.

The class for the week’s ArtCamp@Dusk is “Atmospheric Landscapes,” where kids 6-12 will use oil pastels and torn paper to create a one-of-a-kind landscape. Free for members, $5 for nonmembers. Registration is required for this event. Sign up here.

The Museum Store and galleries are open during Downtown@Dusk until 9 pm. Admission to the galleries is FREE on August 15 for Third Thursday.

Exhibitions currently on view in the museum galleries include Line Color Illusion: 40 Years of Julian Stanczak, With a Trace: Photographs of Absence, Real/Surreal and Envisioning an Outdoor Sculpture Space: A Project with Kent State University. For information about these exhibitions and other events, please visit the museum’s exhibitions page and calendar.

Anne E. DeChant took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about herself and Downtown@Dusk.

You tailor your performances depending on the venue. What and where was your favorite performance and why?

That’s a really tough question.  More than an entire performance, I would say there are thousands of moments inside performing that I can recall being really special.  I think some of my best moments have been at The Barking Spider.  The crowd there is musically focused.  When people are listening it makes it possible for a vocalist/songwriter, to be really dynamic vocally.  Dynamics are what help to express a wide range of emotion and that’s what music is all about to me.  So it is those moments when I’m emoting all that I want to and the crowd is taking it all in that are most special.  It’s a symbiotic thing.

What is the inspiration for your songs and lyrics?

Life.  My life.  Other people’s lives.  My goal is to tell ordinary stories about every day people, in an extraordinary way.

After performing at venues such as the White House and Lilith Fair, what keeps you coming back to Akron to perform at Downtown@Dusk?

I love my audience.  They are the ones that have made it possible for me to lead a life I love.  They are a part of my life.  I want to see them, share some old favorites as well as my new music with them.  It’s like going to see your family over and over.  If there’s a wedding reception or a 4th of July party, you’re there!

What is your favorite memory of performing at Downtown@Dusk?

Not melting!

 

Downtown@Dusk 2013 is made possible by The City of Akron. It is presented in cooperation with 89.7 WKSU.

ArtCamp@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from The Howland Memorial Fun and the House of LaRose.

ArtTalks@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from the Sam & Kathy Salem Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Board of Akron.

Third Thursdays are made possible by a generous gift from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

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Downtown@Dusk: The Speedbumps

This week’s Downtown@Dusk features Kent-area band the Speedbumps. Concert attendees can also enjoy a discussion from Collections Manager Arnold Tunstall and food from Old Carolina BBQ  while kids are entertained by fun art activities during ArtCamp@Dusk  in the museum’s classroom.

Concert goers will be delighted by the Speedbumps’ eclectic sound and organic feel.

Through the utilization of hollow-bodied instruments like cello, upright bass, ukulele and acoustic guitar, the Speedbumps produce music that is both approachable and relatable to any audience. The Speedbumps have opened for many well-known artists including Amos Lee, Andrew Bird, OK GO and the Verve Pipe.

Collections Manager Arnold Tunstall will be leading a discussion titled “Cycle Maniacs and Reckless Women” for the ArtTalks@Dusk (http://akronartmuseum.org/calendar/arttalksdusk-cycle-maniacs-and-reckless-women/3889/) on July 11 from 7:30-8 pm.

The theme for ArtCamp@Dusk is “Cityscape Collage,” where kids will create their own vibrant city using images from magazines and postcards. Free for members, $5 each session for nonmembers. Registration is required for this class. Sign up at http://akronartmuseum.ticketleap.com/artcampdusk2013/#view=calendar.

The Museum Store will be open during Downtown@Dusk until 9 pm (admission is not required to shop at the store).

Exhibitions currently on view in the museum galleries include Danny Lyon: The Bikeriders  and Draw Me a Story and Line Color Illusion: 40 Years of Julian Stanczak. For detailed information on these exhibitions and other events, please visit the museum’s exhibitions page and calendar of events.

Want to know more about the band before you see them perform? The Speedbumps were kind enough to answer a few questions about themselves and Downtown@Dusk!

How has your newest album been received?

“Our new album comes out in October! But we will play a few new songs at Downtown@Dusk.”

Where and how do you gather your inspiration for new music?

“Our music tends to be autobiographical, so many of the songs we write are personal. The people we love or the places we go and the experiences we have with those people and places have a lot to do with what we create. Music is all about the human condition.”

You’ve played for some well-known bands like Amos Lee and Andrew Bird. What keeps you coming back to play for Downtown@Dusk?

It’s always fun to play for Downtown@Dusk. It’s really a chance to touch base with family and friends in Akron. We are happy to be coming back again this year!

What is your favorite memory playing at Downtown@Dusk?

…the thing about Downtown@Dusk is the vibe of the people. We always leave in a good mood and I think that is a direct reflection of the people who frequent the concert series. True art and music fans.”

Downtown@Dusk 2013 is made possible by The City of Akron. It is presented in cooperation with 89.7 WKSU.

ArtCamp@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from The Howland Memorial Fun and the House of LaRose.

ArtTalks@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from the Sam & Kathy Salem Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Board of Akron.

Downtown@Dusk: Robin Stone

The Akron Art Museum’s popular concert series Downtown@Dusk will continue on Thursday, June 27 from 6:30-8:30 pm with a performance from singer Robin Stone. Concert goers can also enjoy a sneak preview of the upcoming exhibition With a Trace: Photographs of Absence from Senior Curator Ellen Rudolph and food from Urban Eats while kids are entertained and educated by fun hands-on activities during ArtCamp@Dusk in the museum’s classroom.

Concert attendees will thoroughly enjoy Stone’s  soulful, intelligent groove music and be inspired by the personal hardships she has endured and overcome. For the past few years, Stone has struggled with health issues that have affected her life in many ways. In 2008, Stone was diagnosed with a tumor on her vocal chords causing loss of voice. One year later, she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder. Instead of succumbing to these ailments, Stone succeeding in starting a record label, She Loves You Records, and released a new record and live album. Stone was also awarded “Best Vocalist of 2009” from Scene Magazine.

Senior Curator Ellen Rudolph will be giving a sneak preview of the upcoming exhibition With a Trace: Photographs of Absence  for the ArtTalk@Dusk this Thursday. The exhibition features images that do not merely capture a single scene but create unique, individual moments in time. Unlike many digital photographs today, the images in this exhibition, created by analog or camera-less photographers, include traces of human presence, atmospheric phenomena, the transmission of energy and experiments with light. The lack of specificity and context in the photgraphs heightens the presence of something uncanny, creating with them otherworldly scenes. With a Trace: Photographs of Absence will be on view July 27, 2013-January 26, 2014, in the Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Gallery.

While the adults enjoy the concert and museum galleries, children 6-12 can explore fun and wacky hands-on art activities in the museum’s classroom at ArtCamp@Dusk. This Thursday’s class is “Express Yourself,” where kids will use lines, shapes and colors to make an abstract painting and discover their artistic expression. Free for members, $5 each session for nonmembers. Registration is required for this class. Sign up here.

The Museum Store will be open during Downtown@Dusk until 9 pm (admission is not required to shop at the store). The museum collection and galleries will also be open until 9 pm with paid admission except for July 18 and August 15 when the museum premieres Third Thursday.

Exhibitions currently on view in the museum galleries include The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats, Danny Lyon: The Bikeriders, Draw Me a Story and Line Color Illusion: 40 Years of Julian Stanczak. For detailed information on these exhibitions and other events, please visit the museum’s exhibitions page and calendar of events.

Finally, the Akron Art Museum would like to thank all who attended last week’s Downtown@Dusk concert. We hope you had a great time and return to see more great local music every Thursday evening at the museum!

 

Curious what Downtown@Dusk is like? Check out Summer in the City 2013: (Volume 2: Downtown@Dusk):

 

Downtown@Dusk 2013 is made possible by The City of Akron. It is presented in cooperation with 89.7 WKSU.

ArtCamp@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from The Howland Memorial Fun and the House of LaRose.

ArtTalks@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from the Sam & Kathy Salem Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Board of Akron.

First Downtown@Dusk of 2013 is Thursday, June 20!

Beginning June 20, the popular free concert series Downtown@Dusk will return for its 29th season with Lost State of Franklin. Every Thursday this summer from 6:30-8:30 pm, the Akron Art Museum will be showcasing a lineup of fantastic music from a variety of local bands. Concert attendees can also enjoy a gallery tour with Director of Education Alison Caplan while kids are entertained by hands-on activities during ArtCamp@Dusk.

The Cleveland rock-a-billy trio of Lost State of Franklin will entertain concert goers with their unique sound: a combination of jazz, country, rock and bluegrass. Led by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter J. Scott Franklin, vocalist/percussionist Tyler Postma and bassist Jeremy Cottrell, the group has performed on multiple occasions in Europe and played over 500 shows in the United States. The group has also been nominated for several awards including Scene Magazine “Songwriter of the Year” and Free Times “Americana Band of the Year.”

Director of Education Alison Caplan will be providing an in-depth gallery tour about the current exhibition The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats  for ArtTalks@Dusk  this Thursday. The exhibition showcases the works of award-winning author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, whose more famous children’s books include Whistle for Willie, Peter’s Chair, and The Snowy Day. Over 80 original works, consisting of sketches, painting and collages, will be on display in the Karl and Bertl Arnstein Galleries through August 4, 2013.

While adults enjoy the concert and the galleries, children 6-12 can explore fun and wacky hands-on art making in the museum’s classroom at ArtCamp@Dusk. This Thursday’s class is “Trash to Treasure”, where kids can use found objects and their imaginations to create art that will pop off the wall. Free for members, $5 each session for nonmembers. Registration is required for the class. Sign up today.

The Museum Store will be open during Downtown@Dusk until 9 pm (admission is not required to shop in the store). The museum collection and galleries will also be open until 9 pm with paid admission except June 20, July 18 and August 15 when the museum premieres Third Thursday.

Exhibitions currently on view in the museum galleries include The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats, Danny Lyon: The Bikeriders, Draw Me a Story and Line Color Illusion: 40 Years of Julian Stanczak. For detailed information about these exhibitions and other events, please visit the museum’s exhibitions page and calendar of events.

 

Downtown@Dusk 2013 is made possible by The City of Akron. It is presented in cooperation with 89.7 WKSU.

ArtCamp@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from The Howland Memorial Fun and the House of LaRose.

ArtTalks@Dusk 2013 is made possible by a gift from the Sam & Kathy Salem Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Board of Akron.

Third Thursdays are made possible by a generous gift from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

First Downtown@Dusk of the Summer ft. The Wanda Hunt Band

Thursday, June 21
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Kick off the summer with the soulful sounds of The Wanda Hunt Band, a talk from Akron Art Museum Director & CEO Mitchell Kahan, an ArtCamp@Dusk preview for the kids and a cold beer from Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus.

A fan favorite of past Downtown@Dusk series, The Wanda Hunt Band has been known throughout Northeast Ohio for a great live performance of old school R&B and blues. Wanda Hunt’s terrific vocals lead the band, consisting of solid rhythm and horn sections, in classic songs, distinctive renditions of recent songs and original compositions.

In celebration of the 90th anniversary Director & CEO Mitchell Kahan will talk about the museum’s past, present and future.

Bring the kids down for a preview of the new ArtCamps@Dusk program! Children7-12 years old will explore fun and wacky hands-on art making in the museum classroom. Registration is not required for the camp preview, but is required for subsequent sessions. Sign-up today at http://akronartmuseum.ticketleap.com/artcampdusk/#view=calendar.

Concert goers may also visit the museum galleries to view Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui and String of Hearts: Photographs by Bea Nettles during the evening. Gallery admission is required. For detailed information on this and other museum events, visit the calendar of events at www.AkronArtMuseum.org/calendar.

Downtown@Dusk 2012 is made possible by The City of Akron. It is presented in cooperation with 89.7 WKSU.

ArtTalks@Dusk are made possible by a gift from the Sam & Kathy Salem Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Board of Akron.

ArtCamps@Dusk are made possible by a gift from the Harris-Stanton Gallery.