What's Happening Blog

Everything but fireworks! That about sums up the July’s First Friday, held two days before the patriotic holiday and exploding with art, music, drama and more food than ever in this 36th consecutive celebration First Friday in downtown Canton’s Arts District from 6-10 p.m.

Coloring the evening with 29 original works, chalk artists from Canton, Dalton, Navarre, Alliance, Louisville, Hartville, Canal Fulton and North Canton will create street canvases all along Court Avenue. Adults can try their talents with make-n-take chalk projects at SarahCare while the kids experiment with the dusty medium at A Place to Learn and Grow on 2nd street and Cleveland. Other art about town includes an interactive public art project at Bliss Studio, a patriotic kids’ project at Zephyr Wind Art, a hoops and kids craft from Aultman’s Wellness on Wheels team and mini portrait sessions (with walk-ins welcome) at Gina Marie Portrait Photography., in the 2nd April Annex, where you can make your own “Push Tags,” colorful art pieces that inspire color everywhere.

Exhibits explode with “Dress Code” – a new show at 2nd April Galerie featuring the talent of Marti Jones Dixon and Lynn Digby, “Prologue: Origins of a Tale” by Joseph Close at Anderson Creative, and “Travels to the Edge,” wildlife photography by legendary Art Wolfe opens at The Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography. And around the corner, look up to see the latest addition to the downtown public art landscape – “Downtown Cats” by artist Vicki Boatright of BZTAT Studios. Other art on display features work by Tommy Morgan (Red Ribbon Connection); Katie Balas (Julz); Greg King (Carpe Diem); Jordan Lynn (Gasser Jewelry) and a fiber art exhibit called “Marge’s Imagery” at Lynda Tuttle’s Art Education Center.

The lot behind 2nd April Galerie will cool things down with an ice cream social ($3 per person); up the street at the Canton’s Women’s Club – more ice cream will be served along with hot dogs with Dick’s Coney Sauce; balloons will be made into art at Community One Credit Union; Scared Scriptless cast members will assist with zany street crossing antics; and the North Canton Playhouse cast of The Wedding Singer will be doing cuts from their upcoming production. The Kathleen Howland Theatre will host poet Steve Goldberg preceding the Open mic and Slam Contest at 8:00 p.m.

Canton Idol and local teen rock band, Creation in Chaos, will be making sparks , all evening long, at Motter & Motter Architects, across from The Canton Palace Theatre, — the location of the 25th year anniversary airing of “Back to the Future” at 7:30 p.m.

And no July celebration would be complete without tunes. Lots of them. The Matt Corey Band will bring its eclectic mix of sound and grace the center stage from 8-10 p.m. at 4th & Court. Rock, Salt and Nails will be jamming at Studio 5; Big Pat will be at the Canton Club Terrace; Uptown Down will be at Sheri’s Sweets; and 7 T7 will be at Pete’s Grille. Other entertainers include Tim Griffiths, Thom Ebersole, Jeff Poulos, Gary Gerber and True Blue … plus many more.

Up-to-the-minute information and the full program map for all of the music, art, and dining events for July 2– Chalk the Walk! is available at the official First Friday website: www.cantonfirstfriday.com.

Although the official beginning of summer is a few weeks later, First Friday aficionados are prepared to commence the season on June 4, from 6-10 p.m., in the downtown Canton Arts District. Outdoor fun including a demo of graffiti artists on the Kresge Green, a surprise by the Canton Ballet on Fourth and Court, the appearance of Battle of the Bands victors, The Big Sweet at the Imperial Room, and the frivolity of Scared Scriptless crossing guards are just some of the summertime sizzlers planned for the evening.

And visual art will be hot. Emily Vigil’s “Constellations of Women” opens at Anderson Creative, while The 9 Show opens at Acme Artists. Student exhibits, including the Jackson High AP Art Show (2nd April Galerie) and the Canton Montessori School Art Show (Art Spot – Cleveland Avenue SW and 3rd) are featured along with the work of individual artists like Blu Lewis and Christopher R. Boyer (Carpe Diem); Michele Cimprich (Julz); Jack Fetzer (Gasser Jewelers); and entries to the Canton Luminaries Photography competition (Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography). Lynda Tuttle’s Art Education Center will house the Story Quilt, the Community Peace Tree and the Canton Peace Day Mural of Reconciliation.

Two anniversaries take place this evening – a 90th party at the Canton Women’s Club complete with an old fashioned ice cream social and a 1 year bash at the Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography, where wilderness photography by Clyde Butcher is still on exhibit.

Adults will enjoy a make-n-take ceramic project at SarahCare, while the youngsters will delight in making tissue paper flowers at Zephyr Wind Art, playing in the sand on the corner of Fourth and Court, or participating in craft projects at the Red Cross or with Aultman’s WOW van. And of course, there’s the 7:30 p.m. step off of the Street Arts Parade at the fish sculpture – fun for the whole family.

AGoG Teen Arts Studio will be doing improv, the Canton Elite Silver Stars will be hosting an open house, and poet Nicole Robinson will be the featured wordsmith at the Poetry Spectacular in the Kathleen Howland Theatre, preceded by the film, “Hustling Art — Turning your Passion into a Profession.” The film, “The Goonies” will also be shown for free at the Canton Palace Theatre at 7:30 p.m. an hour after the CSE Federal Credit Union pre-party in the Theatre lobby with Gary Rivers from My 101.7 FM.

At the Cultural Center for the Arts, Players Guild Theatre will be staging ANNIE at 8:00 p.m. (tickets available via 330-453-7617) and The Canton Museum of Art will be hosting First Stop First Friday from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

As always, music is in the air and on the streets in the District. A few samplers include Shar Wilton, the Dover High School Steel Drum Band, Thom Ebersole, Major Lee, Uptown Down, Karri Fedor & Kerosene, and American Grease. Canton Idol winners will be singing all evening.

Up-to-the-minute information and the full program map for all of the music, art, and dining events for June 4 – Summer in the City! is available at the official First Friday website: www.cantonfirstfriday.com.