Book Signing at The Massillon Club

Margy Vogt Signs Local History Book at The Massillon Club

Local historian and author Margy Vogt will be at The Massillon Club on Wednesday, December 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to sign her new book, Massillon: Reflections of a Community. The event is open to the public with no reservations.

The new pictorial history of Massillon, Ohio, includes 700 local history images from more than 100 public and private collections in a 240-page hardbound volume spanning the community’s history. Photographs and identifications are arranged on horizontal 12-inch by 9-inch pages in a general chronological order, representing Massillon from the early 1800s to the present. Photographs include downtown views, businesses, fires and floods, carnivals, bridges, people, sports, houses, schools, churches, and more.

The Massillon Club, one of the few remaining city clubs in the nation, is located in a historic downtown Massillon building at 170 Lincoln Way East, next to the historic Lions Lincoln Theatre. Free parking is available on Lincoln Way or in the parking lot behind the building accessed from Federal Avenue Northeast. The book signing will offer an opportunity to see The Massillon Club, itself a historic building, beautifully decorated for Christmas. Dates remain available for private, organizational, and business holiday party bookings; call 330-833-3986.

Reflections is available ($39.90) at the Massillon Museum (121 Lincoln Way East), the Massillon Area Chamber of Commerce office (137 Lincoln Way East), the Village Bookshelf (746 Amherst Road Northeast), and Ernie’s Bike Shop and The Blue Heron at the Lake Avenue Trailhead, all in Massillon. The book can also be obtained from the author: 330-832-8469 or vogt@sssnet.com.

For more information contact Vogt at 330-832-8469 or vogt@sssnet.com or visit http://www.margyvogt.com.

Media Contact: Margy Vogt (330-832-8469 or 330-844-1525)

MassMu Renews AAM Accreditation

Massillon Museum Renews Highest National Recognition—AAM Accreditation

The Massillon Museum has achieved accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.

AAM Accreditation is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability, and earns national recognition for a museum for its commitment to excellence in all that it does: governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM’s Museum Accreditation program strengthens the profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and to provide the best possible service to the public.

“The Massillon Museum has maintained its accreditation since shortly after the AAM instituted the process,” said Massillon Museum Executive Director Christine Shearer. “Mary Merwin, who was director during the early 1970s, set the precedent for our small staff to maintain high standards and reach for lofty goals. Our three decades of accreditation indicate that we continue on that path.”

Of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, 775 are currently accredited. The Massillon Museum is one of only 25 museums accredited in Ohio, two in Stark County (along with the Canton Museum of Art).

"Accreditation is significant for many reasons," said AAM president Ford W. Bell. "First, it is bestowed by a museum's peers in the field. Second, it is entirely self-motivated, and speaks volumes about a museum's commitment to excellence, in all that it does. And finally, it means the MassillonMuseum is one of the finest in the country, something in which the people of the community can take great pride."

Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, review and evaluate the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation. While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes three years, which was the case with the Massillon Museum, even with a brief hiatus during the institution’s 75th anniversary celebration.

The Massillon Museum, founded in 1933, preserves and exhibits art and artifacts to enrich its community through education and experience. The staff cares for more than 100,000 objects while annually presenting about 20 rotating exhibitions in the main gallery, Studio M, and the permanent collections galleries; offering dozens of educational and outreach programs; inviting the public to about 50 events; and assisting patrons with research. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.

The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East in the heart of downtown Massillon. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or visit www.massillonmuseum.org.

The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

Media Contacts:

Christine Shearer, Massillon Museum Executive Director - 330-833-4061 / cshearer@massillonmuseum.org

Alexandra Nicholis, Massillon Museum Curator - 330-833-4061 / anicholis@massillonmuseum.org

Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Public Relations Coordinator - 330-844-1525 / vogt@sssnet.com

To schedule a phone interview with AAM president Ford W. Bell:

Dewey Blanton, AAM Media Relations - 202-218-7704 / dblanton@aam-us.org

Art Explorers Collaborate for Studio M Exhibition

Art Explorers Collaborate for Studio M Exhibition

Members of the Akron Art Explorers and the Massillon Museum Explorers will collaborate to present a Studio M exhibition at the Massillon Museum from December 11, 2009 through January 3, 2010.

Although there will be no official exhibition opening reception, the public is invited to view the exhibit in the Fred F. Silk Community Room of the Massillon Museum during regular Museum hours—Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.—except when the Silk Room has been reserved for private functions. A call to the Museum office can confirm that the exhibit is available for viewing—330-833-4061. The Museum will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Chit Chat Coffee Shoppe and the Museum shop, OhRegionalities, are located in the lobby of the Massillon Museum.

The Akron Art Explorers group is hosted and organized by the Massillon Museum and facilitated through the Boy Scouts of America. Student members of the group are in high school and hail from all over Summit County. Their contribution to this Studio M exhibit are selections from a previous project, “Common Ground,” featuring work from a collaborative photography project with students of Standing Rock Gallery in Kent, Ohio. Supervising the Akron Art Explorers are Alexandra Nicholis, MassMu curator, and artists Jody Hawk, Bernadette Glorioso, and Todd V.

The Massillon Museum Explorers have been a club since April 2009. Members come from greater Massillon, Jackson Township, Perry Township, and Doylestown. They created the artwork for Studio M while working with artists Scot Phillips and Emily Vigil during “Do the Mu” art workshops. Work influenced by Phillips uses found materials, collage, screenprinting, spray paint and stencils. Artwork created with Vigil are monoprints.

Studio M enhances the collaboration between the Museum and the community by showcasing the artistic talents of local, regional, and national artists. The series of five-week shows will continue throughout the year, selected by jurors from proposals submitted by artists. Brochures containing guidelines and an application are available by contacting the Massillon Museum at 330-833-4061 or www.massillonmuseum.org.

The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East (Ohio Route 172) in the heart of downtown Massillon. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.

Media Contacts:

Christine Shearer, Massillon Museum Director - 330-833-4061

Alexandra Nicholis, Massillon Museum Curator and Akron Art Explorers Supervisor - 330-833-4061

Jill Malusky Bacon, Massillon Museum Educator and Massillon Museum Explorers Supervisor - 330-833-4061

Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum PR Coordinator - 330-844-1525

Massillon Museum Renovates Collections Storage Area

Massillon Museum Renovates Collections Storage Area

The Massillon Museum is in the midst of renovating its main storage facility—the third floor of its building at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon, a project that will assure the continued safe storage of more than 100,000 works of art and historical artifacts that have been entrusted to it by the community.

The Museum’s 1931 building was home to department stores and small businesses until 1996, when the Museum moved from its previous location in the James Duncan home, now a wing of Massillon Public Library. At that time, public spaces were completed and opened to the public, but funding did not allow for the third floor to be equipped as a Museum-quality storage facility.

Through project-specific state appropriations, grant funding, and foundation support, the project is now possible. The State of Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Hoover Foundation, and the Timken Foundation have generously provided for the costs of the renovation. “This project could not have moved forward without the generous support of the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Timken Foundation and the Hoover Foundation,” said Massillon Museum Executive Director Christine Shearer. “We appreciate their belief in the importance of maintaining a secure, safe environment for the collections so that generations to come will be able to continue enjoying them.”

The Museum continues to raise funds for its share of the expenses by hosting the summer art show, Gallery on the Greens at Glenmoor Country Club; by accepting earmarked contributions from the community; and by offering specific gift opportunities: “adopt an archival box,” “adopt an archival drawer,” and the “preservation honor roll.” Curator Alexandra Nicholis, who is overseeing the collections storage renovation project, welcomes contributions of any amount.

Sol–Harris/Day Architects will manage the project, under the leadership of architect Bill Griffith. Harris/Day, a familiar firm in Stark County for 40 years, was recently presented with the Arts in Stark small business award. The construction phase of the project is slated to be completed by spring.

“Upon the completion of this project,” says Nicholis, “all of the collections will be stored in a safe, clean, temperature- and humidity-controlled, and organized environment. The incredible artifacts of this community deserve this level of care and commitment.”

The project will include creating a room-within-a-room in the existing space. It will be temperature and humidity controlled. New lighting will be installed that will not exceed 30 footcandles. (One footcandle represents the amount of light given off by one candle at a distance of one foot.) “The controlled lighting will minimize the collections’ exposure to light, which can be extremely damaging to textiles and photographs in particular,” explains Nicholis.

The concrete floors will be resurfaced. New heating, ventilating and air conditioning units will be installed to ensure the stability and longevity of collections.

The renovated space will include a research area where staff can examine, process, and photograph collections, as well as facilitate research requests for scholars, students, and members of the community. Naming opportunities for the new research room are also available.

Once the construction is completed and the space is monitored for a few months to ensure that the environment is safe and stable for collections, museum-quality cabinets and shelving will be installed, and the process of slowly moving the collections back into the renovated space will commence. It is estimated that this process will take from one year to one-and-a-half years. Every object will be easily accessible in a proper and safe home, free from overcrowding.

"We appreciate the patience of the community and our visitors with regard to Museum visits, donations, and research requests during this process," says Nicholis. The collections have been temporarily housed in part of the Museum's second floor, where space limitations make them nearly inaccessible. Using that space as storage limits the exhibition space on that level, but visitors can still enjoy The Immel Circus, the Photography Gallery, and the lobby display area.

To contribute to the Museum’s storage facility renovation project, contact Nicholis at 330-833-4061. To learn more about the Massillon Museum, visit www.massillonmuseum.org.

Media Contacts:

Bill Griffith, Vice President Sol–Harris/Day, Project Manager - 330-493-3722

Christine Shearer, Massillon Museum Executive Director - 330-833-4061 / cshearer@massillonmuseum.org

Alexandra Nicholis, Massillon Museum Curator - 330-833-4061 / anicholis@massillonmuseum.org

Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Public Relations Coordinator - 330-844-1525 / vogt@sssnet.com

"Stark Naked Salon" Exhibition Opening—Expect the Unexpected

"Stark Naked Salon" Exhibition Opening—Expect the Unexpected

Will you attend the art party of the summer? Come to the opening of the Massillon Museum’s “Stark Naked Salon” exhibition on Saturday, August 22. It’s a free public party on the lawn in the heart of downtown Massillon, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. No reservations are necessary.

Hooked on Tonics, a versatile group, will rock the downtown with love, peace, and music, playing funk that makes listeners dance and party from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Dan Monea, Adam Orin, and Nate Monea will perform their matchless original tunes interspersed with intriguing covers of popular songs by 311, Warren G, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Since the band started in early 2005, they’ve criss-crossed the American South, playing universities, pubs, and clubs in Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, and Louisiana. Closer to their Canton home they’ve crowded McCarthy’s in the Cleveland Flats as well as the Blind Pig in the heart of the city, the Harbor Inn at Turkeyfoot Lake in Akron, and the Olde Jaol in Wooster. They make it a point to connect with their roots and their hometown fans often.

XainGO!, a local collective of artists and dancers, will perform at the "Stark Naked Salon" opening on August 22, at 7:00 p.m. “Water,” a performance art piece, will be showcased for this occasion. The result of their dancing and painting performance will be a large scale canvas, to be raffled at the event. Recently, the Plain Dealer listed XainGO! performances among the "Top 10 Art Events" of the Cleveland area.

“Stark Naked Salon, an eye-popping exhibition, showcases the multimedia work of 11 soon-to-be-well-known Stark County artists who were chosen for their fresh, non-traditional and inspired artistic styles: Bili Kribbs, Scot Phillips, and Derek Zimmerman of Massillon; Marti Jones Dixon, Nick Brewer, Joseph Close, and Dylan Atkinson of Canton; Thomas R. Wentling of Brewster; Steve Ehret of Perry; Erin Mulligan from Minerva, and Ron Copeland of Pittsburgh (formerly of Massillon). “Stark Naked Salon” is co-curated by Alexandra Nicholis (Massillon Museum Curator) and Dan Kane (Canton Repository Arts and Entertainment Writer).

About magazine, opening sponsor, will provide complimentary popsicles; the Chit Chat Coffee Shoppe will offer summer food, and the Stark Naked Saloon will sell beer and wine as well as soft drinks and water. Guests will be able to watch a “Stark Naked Salon” film and pose for their own photos in Nick Brewer’s photo studio.

Additional events will add to the excitement of the exhibition throughout its run: a free showing of “Rock-afire Explosion” at the Lions Lincoln Theatre on September 10, 7:00 p.m.; six-week Oil Painting Class with Dylan Atkinson, beginning on August 29 (advance registration required); “Do the Mu!” Ephemeral Art with Scot Phillips on September 5, a free family activity; free showing of “Beautiful Losers” on September 17, 7:00 p.m., at the Lions Lincoln Theatre; three-week Figure Drawing class with Marti Jones Dixon beginning on September 12 (advance registration required); and the free “Stark Naked Salon” Gallery Party on October 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visit starknakedsalon.com for details.

Also on Saturday, August 22, the Canton Artists League’s exhibition, “A Splash of Color,” will open in Studio M in the Fred F. Silk Community Room of the Massillon Museum, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. That opening reception is also free and open to the public.

In addition to the About magazine event sponsorship, the Massillon Museum receives funding from the Ohio Arts Council and Arts in Stark.

The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East (Ohio Route 172) in downtown Massillon. For more information, contact the Museum at 330-833-4061 or visit www.massillonmuseum.org.

The "Stark Naked Salon" exhibition will continue through October 4. The Massillon Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Chit Chat Coffee Shoppe is open in the Museum lobby from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday; and 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Free parking is available on adjacent streets and in nearby city lots. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.

Media Contacts:

Christine Fowler Shearer, Massillon Museum Executive Director: 330-833-4061 or cshearer@massillonmuseum.org

Alexandra Nicholis, Massillon Museum Curator: 330-833-4061 or anicholis@massillonmuseum.org

Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Public Relations Coordinator: 330-844-1525 or vogt@sssnet.com

Photographs:

Hooked on Tonics

XainGO!

Fun Fest to Fill Downtown Massillon

Massillon Cable TV, the Massillon Museum, and the Downtown Massillon Association invite all area families to participate in this year’s Fun Fest, which will be held on Saturday, August 8, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Fun Fest, a Massillon Alive event, has entertained thousands of families in downtown Massillon for fifteen years.

Admission to the family-focused event is free. There is no cost for most activities; some have a minimal charge.

Children will enjoy games, story times, prizes, face painting, contests, art projects, dancing, crafts, health and safety activities, athletic events, and music. The Stump Hill Farm Petting Zoo, a rock climbing wall from the Ohio Army National Guard, and the Massillon Museum’s shirt tie-dyeing will be among the favorite activities. The Tuslaw Lions train ride; costumed characters; and the Massillon Public Library Bookmobile will be on hand.

Among the familiar organizations offering activities, demonstrations, and information will be Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, churches, Massillon Parks and Recreation Department, the Salvation Army, Massillon Family YMCA, YWCA of Massillon, Massillon cheerleaders, Lighthouse Visions, Canton Ballet, Spring Hill Historic Home, and the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum. Dozens more will join them.

The Lions Lincoln Theatre will show "Night at the Museum." A schedule of events and times will be available on the Museum corner of Lincoln Way and First Street on the day of the event.

The Health Plan will sponsor a giant slide. Bonnie’s Engravers Gallery will back the inflatable bounce house, and Rotary Club of Massillon will sponsor the rock climb slide. Massillon Cable TV will present the inflatable obstacle course and bungee run, while The Independent will sponsor the New England Garden Club’s popular flower arranging station. The Sons of Herman will sponsor the clowns, Philbee and Bertha. The Health Foundation of Greater Massillon will sponsor a hand-washing station.

Organizations, human services agencies, and businesses will distribute free items such as coloring books, pencils, balloons, banks, bookmarks, and puzzles. Emergency crews and vehicles—including Massillon Fire Department, art organizations, magicians, musical groups, and others who offer programs of interest to young people will help make Fun Fest a lively, safe, educational, and enriching experience.

Organizers Liz Gessner McAllister of Massillon Cable TV and Jill Malusky Bacon of the Massillon Museum, tout the event as “a great day for kids ages four to ninety-four and their families.” Fun Fest is intended to provide all the fun of a carnival with a focus on meaningful activities. Many of the organizations and businesses that offer activities provide valuable health, safety, and educational information to parents while entertaining the children.

Fun Fest is sponsored by Massillon Cable TV, the Massillon Museum, and the Downtown Massillon Association. Each year more than five dozen organizations and businesses make the event possible through their exhibits, performances, sponsorships, donations, and participation.

Fun Fest is centered on First Street and Lincoln Way East and on the lawn of the Massillon Museum. Free parking is available in city lots, the parking deck, and on adjacent streets. For more information, contact the Massillon Museum, 330-833-4061 or visit massillonmuseum.org.

Media Contacts:
Liz Gessner, Massillon Cable TV - 330-833-6655
Jill Malusky Bacon, Massillon Museum - 330-833-4061
Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum - 330-844-1525

“Do the Mu!”—Mega Murals with Bili Kribbs

On Saturday, August 1, the Massillon Museum will host its monthly “Do the Mu” program, a free family drop-in activity time. The theme “Mega Murals with Bili Kribbs” will accent the upcoming exhibition, “Stark Naked Salon.” Kribbs will be one of eleven emerging artists who will be featured in the eye-popping show, which will open in the Museum’s main gallery on August 22.

The artist will help visitors create several murals on a large scale to decorate the Museum in preparation for the upcoming exhibit. He will encourage experimentation with big shapes, bold colors, and creativity.

“See your work celebrated and displayed for the whole city to see for months to come!" says the Massillon Museum’s Educator, Jill Malusky Bacon, who instituted the “Do the Mu” program.

“Do the Mu!” is free and open to all. Participants may drop in any time between noon and 2:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month for a tour, an arts activity, and a snack. No pre-registration is required. “Do the Mu!” receives funding from ArtsinStark.

The Massillon Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East (Ohio Route 172) in downtown Massillon. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free. For more information, call the Museum at 330-833-4061 or visit www.massillonmuseum.org.


Media Contacts:
Christine Shearer, Massillon Museum Executive Director - 330-833-4061
Jill Malusky Bacon, Educator - 330-833-4061
Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Public Relations Coordinator - 330-832-8469 or 330-844-1525