t may be cold outside, but things are really heating up for the premier First Fridayof 2010! On Jan. 8, the annual ice carving festival is back with some fire flaringup this year for good measure!

Have a fiery good time at this cool party in downtown Canton from 6 to 10 p.m. Ice sculptures bydowntown artists, including Vicki Boatwright, Patrick Buckohr, Craig Booth (a.k.a. Uncle Dreg),and student culinary artists from RG Drage Career Technical Center, will be on display throughoutthe Arts District.

Champion ice carver Aaron Costic will light up the night by creating an ice tower and setting itablaze, combining these two seemingly opposing elements in a stunning visual display. A first-place medalist in numerous World Ice Art Championships, Costic is a full-time ice sculptor withover 16 year’s experience, and he has earned the coveted status of master carver from theNational Ice Carving Association. Join us and watch the master at work!

More than a few flaming surprises will take place outside during the evening, including fire twirlingon a stage lit by luminaries and fire barrels to warm your hands and roast your marshmallows fors’mores! For those more inclined to linger indoors, the downtown galleries and artists’ studios willbe open with cool art, and the bars and restaurants will be sultry with sizzling food, warm bever-ages and red-hot live music. For some impressive ice of a different kind, visit Gasser Jewelers andJülz by Alan Rodriguez.

Ignite your visit to the Arts District and head downtown for wintry fun for all ages! For themost up-to-date First Friday info, visit CantonFirstFriday.com. First Friday, downtown Canton’smonthly arts and entertainment festival, is presented through a partnership between ArtsinStark,The County Arts Council, and the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District.

First Friday TidbitsFirst Friday on Feb. 5 is sure to make all ofyour Chocolate Dreams come true! Areachocolatiers will be selling their decadentcreations, while downtown restaurants andbars will create special chocolate-inspireddesserts and drinks. Come downtown for aslice of chocolate heaven!

The theme for the March 5 First Friday isArt Works, which is also the slogan for the2010 ArtsinStark Fund for the Arts cam-paign. The revitalization of the Arts Districthas shown that art does indeed work in ourcity! Join us in March as we celebrate allaspects of the arts in beautiful downtownCanton.

FIRE & ICE face off at First Friday’sannual Ice Carving Festival Jan. 8!

PA RTNERSHIP REPORT

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GUEST COLUMN

LOOKING INSIDE

SPECIAL FEAT U R E S• Fi rst Fri d ay Fi re & Ice• Fi rst Fri d ay Ti d b i t s• Dow n town Canton Live Ente rta i n m e n t• Art s I n Sta rk Arts Awa rd s• SID B o a rd Elections• Public Art Insta l l m e n t

WH ATWH E R EWH E N

I

First Friday of every month

M a rk your calendar and plan to atte n d !

2 010 D ow n town E vent Sch e d u l e

D ow n town Canton’s st re etscape comes alive with fun fe st i va l s !

Downtown Developments is published bi-monthly by Canton DevelopmentPartnership, a department of CantonRegional Chamber of Commerce in

cooperation with Downtown CantonSpecial Improvement District

222 Market Ave. N.Canton, OH 44702

(330) 456-0468fax (330) 452-7786

cdp@cantonchamber.orgwww.cantondevelopmentpartnership.com

Dennis P. SaunierPresident & CEO

Michael P. GillDirector

Kelly Blandford BahProject Manager

Laurie Fife HarbertProject Manager

Annette Rosenberger Administrative Assistant

Denise BurtonMembership Director

Jessica BennettEditor

David ZingeryMarketing Director

Sarah BhatiaGraphic Designer

The Canton Development Pa rt n e rship is a coalitionof area development organizations and cityg ove rn m e n t that share an interest in downtownC a n ton’s continual imp rovement, rev i ta l i z a t i o n ,image, and quality of life for its citizens.

Its mission is to support and coord i n a te the activitiesand programs of its partner organizations in orderto encourage and sustain community and eco-nomic development in downtown Canton.

The part n e ring organizations include: Canton Re g i o n a lChamber of Commerce, Dow n town Canton SpecialI mp rovement Dist rict, Dow n town Canton Land Bank,C a n ton To m o rrow, Inc., and City of Canto n .

Information regarding downtown events and newscan be submitted for reprint at the discretion ofthe Partnership director and publication editor.The Canton Development Partnership reserves theright to edit all copy. Deadlines are the 15th of themonth, two months prior to publication (i.e., May15 for the July/August issue).

Statements of fact and opinion within DowntownDevelopments are the responsibility of the authorsalone and do not imply the opinion of the mem-bers of Canton Development Partnership or itspartnering organizations.

Advertising rates and specifications are availableby contacting the Chamber sales department at(330) 458-2067.

First Fridays will continue to top the list of fabulousevents happening downtown. This popular monthlyexperience in the Canton Arts District has growninto an established tradition for the community tocelebrate local art, food and entertainment. The2010 First Friday themes have been set and theplethora of activities we have planned are sure tostimulate the senses and keep folks coming back formore each month.

First Friday brings it all together to celebrate the bestwe have to offer! It takes countless hours and agreat deal of energy from members of our commu-nity and beyond to coordinate the festivities involv-ing artists, community members, downtown busi-nesses and local non-profits.

First Friday is a time to explore – discover new artthe galleries have to offer each month, stop in theshops and studios, witness the amazing array ofmusical and performing arts talent we are so fortu-nate to have in our community and sample incredi-ble cuisine from our local restaurants. Then, comeback throughout the month and experience down-town again with your family and friends.

In addition to First Friday, we’re working on evenmore endeavors in the coming year to bring in ener-gy and enthusiasm: new projects in the Arts District,continued visual and aesth etic imp rove m e n t sthroughout downtown, lunch-time programs, and theever-ripening Canton Farmers’ Market. We are

New decade, new developmentsin store downtown2010 is set to be another stellar year in downtown Canton! Activities are planned throughout theyear to expand the rising tide of excitement that surrounds downtown and the Arts District. Thesuccess of 2009 has resulted in so much interest and momentum that 2010 promises to be a ban-ner year!

excited to get new faces involved and arelooking forward to all of the potential 2010has to offer.

Best wishes to everyone for good health andgood fortune in the New Year. We hope you’llmake visiting downtown a regular part of your2010 plans and we encourage you to join usfor the distinctive events that can only takeplace in beautiful downtown Canton!

Mark your calendar for the first Friday of each month and visit the websites often to keepup to date on all that is going on in our dynam-ic downtown.

C a n to n D eve l o p m e n t Pa rt n e rs h i p . c o mCantonFirstFriday.comCantonArtsDistrict.com

Laurie Fife HarbertKelly Blandford Bah

S a ra h C a re© Adult DayCare Services, celebrating25 ye a rs this Fe b ru a ry,was founded by Dr. MerleGriff, Ph.D., a gerontolo-g i st with twenty ye a rsexperience who could notfind the care she wantedfor the families she worked

with professionally or for her own aging mother as a lov-ing daughter. Her desire to provide families with bettercare spurred her to create and develop SarahCare©Adult Day Centers.

The newest SarahCare location, located in downtownCanton, opened in October 2009, and offers out-of-home virtual assisted living services as well as round-the-clock in-home services, customizable for a variety ofparticipants.

“Participants come to SarahCare for many reasons.Some of our participants are looking to socialize withothers and enjoy activities, while others have medical orcognitive health issues that dictate a need for more com-prehensive assistance, but they still seek a sense of inde-p e n d e n c e ,” said Te rri Lepto, exe c u t i ve dire c tor ofSarahCare’s new Canton location.

According to Lepto, participants are typically 60 andolder, though the downtown Canton center has partici-pants as young as 40 at their facility. Currently, thereare a total of 60 enrolled participants, with an averageof 40 participants per day onsite. SarahCare has amedical-based service model, and the facility has RNson staff at each center as well as a comprehensive med-ical station, equipped to handle medical conditions andimpairments including physical disabilities, participantsa ffl i c ted with Alzheimer’s and other dementias orPa rkinson’s disease, diabetics and special dieta ryneeds, and participants who have suffered strokes,among other conditions.

“What do we do here? In short, we work miracles. I’veonly been at SarahCare since April, but I’ve heardmany heartwarming stories about lethargic, non-verbalparticipants who have done a complete turnaroundsince they’ve begun attending,” explained Lepto. Leptobegan working for SarahCare, driven partly by herexperience caring for her mother, who suffered fromdementia.

“There is a retired teacher here that thinks this is his job.We have participants who are able assist the staff withthe daily programs and activities. We’re able to provideparticipants like these a sense of pride and of purpose,”said Lepto.

The activities staff develops programs with the differentskill levels and participant interests in mind. Activitiesinclude arts and crafts, live entertainment performanceslike singing, performance troupes and magicians, aswell as off-site activities like bowling, bingo, miniaturegolf and other outdoor activities, weather permitting.They also receive visits from children’s day care groupsand can take advantage of onsite hair and spa services.

SarahCare provides a light breakfast and snack, fol-lowed by a full lunch catered in from the Canton

Women’s Club. A contracted dietician and socialworkers oversee the diverse dietary needs ofeach participant, especially for special needssuch as diabetic menus. The participants dine ina café-style dining room with large sunny win-dows that look out into downtown Canton.

SarahCare also provides transportation for participants– an estimated 70 percent of participants receive trans-portation to and from the adult day care services viaSarahCare vans. SarahCare At Home services rangefrom once-a-day help with cleaning, medication andpersonal hygiene, to around the clock care. Some par-ticipants live with spouses or family, and some live ontheir own and make their own decisions.

“The goal of Sara h C a re is to keep people as independent as possible for as long as possible, and inm a ny cases, to keep families to gether at home,” said Lepto.

While SarahCare of Canton and their sister location,SarahCare of Belden Village, at 6199 Frank Road, areboth corporate-owned facilities, SarahCare centers areavailable nationwide as franchise opportunities andthere are currently locations around the country in 17states. SarahCare of Canton is the newest facility modelfor the franchise, and potential franchisees tour the facil-ity during corporate operations training.

The most rewarding part of working with SarahCare?

“We help our participants develop imp o rtant and meaningful connections. They become very close at thecenter. They care deeply about one another and worryabout each other. There are strong friendships that blos-som at SarahCare – and we have several groups thathave grown organically out of shared interests andactivities,” said Lepto.

Such groups include the “Golden Oldies” and “SilverThreads,” a group that does more advanced crafts andhas been known to hold craft fairs to sell their items.There is also the men’s group named the “Cruisers,”who do small crafts and gather in the “Men’s Den” forseparate movies and entertainment. They do cognitivepuzzles called “Brain Fitness” in the mornings to staysharp. According to Lepto, these relationships help par-ticipants channel their loneliness and grief into positiveexperiences.

Incoming participants receive a thorough assessmentand a customized plan is developed jointly by the par-ticipant with nurses, the activities staff and the family.Reviews are conducted every three months to ensurecomfort, review progress and address any concerns.

There are several possible funding sources for thoseinterested in adult day care services, including VeteransAd m i n i st ration, Medicaid (PA S S P O RT and CareCoordination), Long Term Care Insurance, Title XX andprivate pay. The cost to enroll in SarahCare variesbased on services, but adult day care services nation-wide are significantly more affordable than other typesof care. For more information about enrollment,contact Terri Lepto at tlepto@sarahcare.com, orvisit SarahCare.com.

SarahCare© Adult Day Care Services200-202 Sixth Street N.W. • Canton, Ohio 44702Phone: (330) 244-2599 • www.SarahCare.com • Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon-Fri.

In the short period of time since assuming my posi-tion at Stark Community Foundation, I have wit-nessed the vibrancy and vitality of the renewalefforts aimed at a downtown rich with history.

Our office in the Foundations Centre at 400Market Avenue North provides views of thechanging downtown landscape, overlooking his-toric buildings that are being restored to their for-mer glory and downtown community events in thegreen space at Fourth Street and Market Avenue.

Stark Community Foundation has always calleddowntown Canton home. Over our 46-year histo-ry, the Foundation has maintained offices in theRed Feather Building, the Wells ProfessionalBuilding, the United Bank Building, the SaxtonHouse and the Unizan Bank Building.

The Foundation’s current home, The FoundationsCentre, underwent a complete restoration in2005. Originally home to the Yohe Hotel, it nowhouses the Sisters of Charity Foundation ofCanton, the Stark Education Partnership and TheHoover Foundation. Stark Management Services,Hampton Capital Management and Picciano’sMartini Bar are also housed in the FoundationsCentre.

I am pleased to note that Stark CommunityFoundation is actively collaborating with otherorganizations in downtown Canton to focusrenewal efforts through the funding of a numberof nonprofit agencies that bring arts, education,human services, housing and economic develop-ment to the area.

In the area of economic development, one of thesignature programs funded by the Foundation isCommunity Building Partnership, an organizationintent on the redevelopment of neighborhoodsthroughout Stark County. Working with theSpecial Improvement District of the CantonRegional Chamber, we will continue to focus dol-lars and energy in rebuilding not only our down-town core, but also the neighborhoods that sur-round us. The result will be continued improve-ments to our downtown environment.

On behalf of the entire staff of Stark CommunityFoundation, I look forward to our continued par-ticipation in the ongoing renewal and transforma-tion of downtown Canton.

Mark Samolczyk is the president of the StarkCommunity Foundation.

3I nve sting in Our Dow n tow nC o m m u n i t y

By Mark J. Samolczyk

G u e s t

C o l u m n

Whether you’re looking for a good time withsome toe-tapping tenors, a laugh fest at animprov comedy show, or serious dramaticstage performances of the classics, downtownCanton’s lineup of live entertainment venuesfeature a grand variety of all types of music,performance theatre and other live entertain-ment options.

This issue’s center spread is your guide to liveentertainment happening downtown in early2010. There’s something for everyone every-day of the week!

ENTERTAINMENT VENUESCanton’s large entertainment venues can holdthousands of eager fans for large-scale per-formances, concerts and more!

Canton Memorial Civic Center1101 Market Avenue N, Downtown CantonCantonCivicCenter.com • (330) 489-3090

The Canton Memorial Civic Center has been locat-ed in the heart of downtown Canton, Ohio, since1951. The Civic Center is home to large live musicperformances from national artists, most recently toBob Dylan in November, as well as hosting theindoor events of the Pro Football Hall of FameEnshrinement Festival and the Canton Legendsindoor arena football team.

Up next at the Civic Center:11th Annual Canton Hot Rod & Custom BikeShow - Friday, Jan. 22 – Sunday, Jan. 24Harlem Globetrotters - Fri., Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

The Canton Palace Theatre605 Market Avenue N, Downtown CantonCantonPalaceTheatre.org • (330) 454-8172 (BoxOffice) • (330) 454-8171 (24-hour Event Info)

Today, the historic Canton Palace Theatre is a vitalmultipurpose entertainment facility. Its marqueeburns brightly sixty feet above Market Avenue, wel-coming you to enter its grand foyer and become apart of Canton’s nostalgic past and its bright future.The majestic Palace Theatre is the heartbeat of theCanton arts community and plays host to over 300events per year that have an annual attendance ofover 100,000.

Upcoming Schedule:Art Film WeeklyEvery Thurs. 7:30 p.m.Hollywood Hit MovieJan. 2-3 7:30 p.m.First Friday Concert SeriesJan. 8 6 p.m.“Praying for Abbey”Jan. 10 2 p.m.Hollywood Hit MovieJan. 15-17 7:30 p.m.Kids Movie SpecialJan. 18 1 p.m.

Hollywood Hit MovieJan. 22 - 24 7:30 p.m.Hollywood Hit MovieJan. 29 - 31 7:30 p.m.Malone University Piano ExtravaganzaFeb. 20 7:30 p.m.Slim GoodbodyFeb. 23 10 a.m.CPTA 4th Annual Premier Night AuctionFeb. 27 6 p.m.Battle of the BandsMar. 6 7 p.m.Canton Ballet “The Wizard of Oz”Mar. 20 - 21 2 p.m.Applause Dance CompetitionApr. 10 - 11 7 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.Three Stooges Film FestivalApr. 16 7:30 p.m.Battle of the MagiciansMay 1 - 2 8 p.m.Naturalization CeremonyMay 7 10 a.m.HOF Queen PageantMay 13 7:30 p.m.Canton Idol - FinalsMay 15 7 p.m.Colleen’s School of DanceMay 20 7 p.m.Theatre Dance RecitalMay 22 7 p.m.Candy Apple Dance RecitalJun. 12 12 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.Shirley’s School of DanceJun. 17 - 19 7 p.m.Diana Durkin School of DanceJun. 27 3 p.m.

ART VENUESThere are a variety of performances held through-out the year in downtown Canton’s arts organiza-tions and venues, from the Cultural Center for theArts to Canton’s Arts District and more, there’salways fun in store downtown.

Canton Ballet1001 Market Avenue N, Downtown CantonCantonBallet.com • (330) 455-7220

Canton Ballet is a non-profit organization commit-ted to fostering an appreciation of the art of dancewithin the local community. They are dedicated toproviding the highest artistic quality of instructionby operating a school for all age and skill levels,along with a pre-professional company withperformance opportunities for the serious or career oriented student at the advanced level.

Upcoming Performances:The Wizard of OzReminisce with Dorothy, her beloved Toto and heryellow brick road friends as they outwit the WickedWitch of the West en route to the Land of Oz.

Saturday, March 20 at 2:00 pmSunday, March 21 at 2:00 pm

Canton Symphony Orchestra1001 Market Avenue N, Downtown CantonCantonSymphony.org • (330) 452-2094

As the flagship performing arts organization ofStark County, the Canton Symphony Orchestra isone of the most highly respected small-budgetsymphony orchestras in the United States. CSO islead by Gerhardt Zimmerman, now in his 28thyear as music director.

Upcoming Performances:Variety and VirtuositySaturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m.Music by Golijov, Hua Yan-Yun, Bottesini ,Shostakovich-Zimmermann, Rimsky-Korsakov

Igniting RomanceSunday, Mar. 7 at 4 p.m.Music by Rachmaninoff, Lieberson, Wagner,Tchaikovsky

A Birthday Celebration in IvorySaturday, Apr. 10 at 8 p.m.Music by Barber, Chopin, Schumann

Power and PassionSaturday, May 8 at 8 p.m.Music by Adams, Mozart

Kathleen Howland Theater324 Cleveland Avenue N, Downtown CantonSecondApril.org/Theater • 330-451-0924

The mission of the Kathleen Howland Theater is toprovide a place where productions in the perform-ing arts can be presented before a live audience inDowntown Canton.

Upcoming Schedule:“That Face” - Jan. 15, 16, 22 & 23Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy - Jan. 9Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy - Feb. 6“The Lightbearer” - Feb. 19, 20 & 21Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy - Mar. 6Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy - Apr. 3“Pieces Of Me” Melissa Franjesh In ConcertApr. 9 & 10“Twelve Angry Men” - May 8, 14 & 15Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy - June 5

Players Guild Theatre1001 Market Avenue N, Downtown CantonPlayersGuildTheatre.com • (330) 453-7617

So, why live theatre? From Artistic Director JoshErichsen’s perspective, it’s because theatre has thepower to bring ideas to life on stage!

Upcoming Performances:Cat on a Hot Tin RoofWilliam G. Fry| Jan. 29 – Feb. 7Cat on a Hot Tin Roof offers a gritty dissection of thedysfunctional American family. No Frills, Just Drama.

Downtown Canton is your ticket toLiveEntertainment

(continued on next page)

Winnie the PoohWilliam G. Fry| Feb. 26 – Mar. 7A family classic for those young and young atheart, Winnie the Pooh is sure to please.

Fiddler on the RoofMain Stage| Mar. 26 – Apr. 11Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler On TheRoof has touched audiences around the world withits humor, warmth and honesty.

AnnieMain Stage |May 21 - June 13In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foilsMiss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriendsPresident FDR and finds a new family and homewith billionaire Oliver Warbucks.

Disney’s The Jungle BookWilliam G. Fry | July 30 – Aug. 1The jungle is jumpin’ with jazz in this excitingDisney classic! Join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and the gang as they swing their way throughmadcap adventures and thwart the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan.

VOCI | Voices of Canton1001 Market Avenue N, Downtown CantonVoicesofCanton.org • (330) 455-1000

Voices of Canton, Inc. is dedicated to engagingadults and youth in the performance of choral andvocal works in various genres in Canton, northeastOhio and, whenever possible, other regions of theUnited States and abroad. By being the communi-ties’ premier choral organization, we strive toimprove the quality of life in these areas.

Upcoming Schedule: Visit the website for upcoming events

RESTAURANTSThe following downtown Canton restaurantsfeature some of the best local music and enter-tainment through the week and on weekends.

Blue Olive Jazz Club601 Cleveland Avenue NW, Downtown CantonChroniclesandBlueOlive.com • (330) 754-2322

Located in the historical district in downtownCanton, Blue Olive Jazz Club is the place you wantto be seen! Offering world-class jazz, food, andservice – you will not want to miss it.

Live Jazz – Wed., Thurs., Fri. and SaturdayEnjoy live, world-class jazz music every Wednesdayand Thursday starting at 6:30 p.m., Fridays andSaturdays starting at 8:30. Reservations suggestedfor dinner. Performers include some of the finest inlocal jazz – past acts featured Kevin DiSimone,Steve Brown Trio, Sherena, Sam Farley, GrooveWarehaus and Hilary James!

Desert Inn Restaurant & Lounge204 - 12th St. NW, D ow n town Canto nD e s e rt I n n . b i z • (330) 456-176 6

Live piano music on the weekends and Sharena theBelly Dancer performs every Friday night.

Fedeli Restaurant 218 Court Avenue, Downtown CantonFedeliCantonOhio.com • (330) 489-9777

Fedeli, downtown Canton’s award winning restaurant is the ultimate destination for fine Italian-American food, wine, and live entertainmentdownstairs in LaCava Beer, Wine and Martini Bar.

Iris Restaurant228 Fourth St NW, Downtown CantonIrisDowntown.com • (330) 313-1519

Iris Restaurant features American Food, AmericanWine and American Music, and regularly showcas-es some of the best local, regional, and nationalacts in their intimate setting. Come visit Iris to hearsome of the best blues and rock while enjoyingsomething delicious from the kitchen or bar.

Open Mic Night – Every ThursdayCome see some of Canton’s best local talent eachThursday night at 9 p.m. Hosted by Big Pat.

Little Chicago Bistro585 Market Avenue, Downtown CantonLittleChicago-Bistro.com • (330) 456-5999

Experience the “Neighborhood in the City” next tothe Canton Palace Theatre. Unique lunch and din-ner menus of small plates and entrees composed ofcomforting but contemporary bistro classics withlive music on the pub side throughout the weekfrom acts like Pressure Band, Zack Kouris,Tailormade Classics, Ed Ellis Magic, Broken Arrow,Danny Clark and 7t7 The Band.

Pete’s Grill & Pizza401 Cherry Avenue, Downtown CantonPetesGrillandPizza.com • (330) 452-7383

Live music indoors and out, on the patio stage,weather permitting!

Peter Shear’s Downtown427 E. Tuscarawas Avenue, Downtown CantonPeterShears.com • (330) 588-8300

Live music and special events.

Picciano’s Martini Bar410 Market Avenue N, Downtown Canton(330)

Live music every Friday evening plus special events!

*Be sure to check each venue’s website or contactthe organization for the most up-to-date show infor-mation.

5

e have just passed the one-

year mark on the construc-

tion and rev i talization of the space th a t

Anderson Creative Studio now calls home at

331 Cleveland Ave.

Owner Kevin Anderson has laid bare the bones ofthe building, replacing most of the sub-floor, guttingthe ductwork and revamping the space into agallery and working creative studio where hehopes to work alongside other artists and art edu-cators. He’s putting the finishing touches on thegallery – but already the result is a feeling thatyou’re not merely stepping through a door into anyold art gallery, rather you’re stepping through aportal into a big-city, burgeoning arts venue.

“It’s been awesome. It’s been hard. It’s the hardestthing I’ve ever done,” said Anderson.

A self-described “adrenaline junkie,” Anders o nadmits that some of his best work is born from hav-ing too many balls in the air. His plans are to com-plete renovations by mid to late January. Oneu n fo rt u n a te casualty to the demanding wo rkrequired to complete the gallery is Anderson’s owndesign wo rk. A re n owned furn i t u re designer,Anderson’s creativity has taken a back seat to hisgallery endeavor over the past year. But there’sinspiration on the horizon.

“A month ago I got back into a creative groove.I’ve been able to bring my work in through somenewly installed double doors,” said Anderson. “Itwas a breath of fresh air to be able to stand behindmy table saw and have the means to create. Upuntil a month ago, I was restricted to what I couldfit through a 33” wide door opening.”

The gallery has displayed a series of small showsover the past ye a r, mainly ex h i b i ted on Fi rstFridays. Most recently it was host to the debut show

of Adam “Hanz” Gruber, a Kent State fiber andd i g i tal media student art i st. Gruber uses sto pmotion animation techniques and a series of pro-jectors to show these digital clips alongside, and insome cases, over top of his sizable fiber art instal-lations.

Next up for the gallery is Anderson’s first curatedshow, BLIND DATE: The Romance of Word andImage, involving 15 writers and 15 artists who willexchange something they’ve written or created.Partners will then riff on the other’s work, creatinga new piece of writing or art inspired by their part-ner. The project will metaphorically broaden theboundaries of the arts district to include writers,and will spark new collaborations not yet explored.Anderson Creative will host the show from Jan. 8th rough Feb. 3, befo re it moves on to to u rMinneapolis, Minn. and Chicago, Ill.

What does Anderson think of his yearlong journeythat is now on the brink of fru i t i o n ?

“The truth is that I’m winging it. I’m new to runninga public venue and curating shows. What hashelped is that my business plan for this space, theintent of the gallery, is to display large installmentsand complete shows.”

Anderson’s advice to artists who are interested inshowing in the space is to send a brief bio, adescription of the show concept, and to craft agreat artist statement, which he maintains is the sin-gle most imp o rta n tasset any artist can pos-sess.

“I like to read art i ststatements that are tothe point – it should saywho you are, whereyou come from, whatinspires you right nowand what your work isabout.”

Anderson credits Canton as an important silentpartner in his venture, one that readily embracesentrepreneurs and welcomes the arts and artists.He is also indebted to the family, friends and hisnew arts district neighbors who have gotten dirtyhelping him pre p a re the ga l l e ry, and th eDowntown Canton Land Bank and ArtsinStark thathelped him with funding, as well as the City ofC a n ton and Canton Regional Chamber ofCommerce for embracing the arts in downtownCanton.

In addition to the rotating shows, he plans to havesix to eight pieces of his incredible furniture on theadjoining studio side of the gallery, along with aworkspace with the potential for classes in a vari-ety of media.

“I’m completely overwhelmed by this space and itspotential. My mind is wide open for ideas of whatto host here, to show here, to teach here. I’m excit-ed about bringing new, fresh work to Canton andI’m content in bringing art to the people ofCanton.”

For more about Anderson Creative and upcomingexhibits, and for photos of the renovation in action,visit AndersonCreativeStudio.com.

Looking inside... Anderson Creative Studio

WCa n ton Arts District welcomes innovative ga l l e ry and st u d i o

The Downtown Canton Special Improvement District’s annual meeting washeld Thursday, Nov. 19. At the meeting, the following individuals wereelected to its board of directors for a two-year term:

Timothy S. Belden, owner, Joseph T. Saxton Gallery of PhotographyDavid T. Beule, owner, Appalachian Basin CPAsRobert J. Hankins, president & CEO, ArtsinStarkMichael E. King, owner, King PropertiesRodney W. Meadows, owner, Motter & MeadowsMichael E. Williams, executive director, Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority

Michael P. Gill is the president of the board.

In addition, the organization recognized Timothy S. Belden, Joseph T. SaxtonGallery of Photography; Pete Pappacostas, Pete’s Grill & Pizza; Dina Tozzi,Picciano Martini Bar; and Jennifer Baus, Aaron Pechota and Will Dent, WilsonPointe, for their commitment and investment in downtown Canton. A special awardwas also given to Larry E. Groves for his past 12 years of service to the SpecialImprovement District.

7The annual Arts Award luncheon at The Cultural Center forthe Arts on Nov. 18 honored seven area organizations andindividuals. Three companies received Business of the Yearawards: Fred Olivieri Construction Company, Sol Harris Day,and The Timken Company. Arts Volunteer of the Year wentto Kumi Day. Citizen Art i st of the Ye a r went to LoisDiGiacomo. And two organizations received top awards forthe best ArtsinStark grants projects: The Ananda Center inMassillon for M o st Innova t i ve Pro j e c t, and the Art sAcademy at Summit for Best SmArts project.

“It’s been a great year for the arts in Stark County,” said ArtsinStarkboard chair Bob Timken, “and we wanted to thank some of theamazing organizations and individuals that have made it happen.”This is the third year that ArtsinStark has hosted the Arts Awards andmore than 100 people turned out.

Lois DiGiacomo took home the award for Citizen Artist of theYear. As the founder of the Rainbow Repertory Theatre in 1994 andthe Canton Cabaret Theatre in 2007, DiGiacomo is no stranger toaccolades. She was the YWCA Woman of the Year for the Arts in1995, and has produced, directed, or written more than 30 playsdealing with social issues ranging from drug abuse to racism. Loishas hosted “State of the Arts” on Canton City Schools TV for morethan 10 years and is a true believer in the arts.

Kumi Day was honored as A rts Volunteer of the Year. Shebecame the “face” of the KIMONO AS ART exhibit, a show andoverall media phenomenon that touched the lives of over 100,000people who saw the exhibit or participated in one of the many activ-ities, including the tea ceremonies, earlier this year. As one of thefew Japanese-Americans in Stark County, Kumi spent endless hoursteaching about the intricacies of the Japanese culture, even briningher mother from Japan to visit during the KIMONO explosion inStark County.

In the category of Large Arts Business (employing over 500), TheTimken Company received the award thanks to their one-twopunch of financial support to both KIMONO AS ART and the $1.45million Annual Arts Campaign, chaired by Tim Timken. Sal Miraglia,president of the Steel Group, accepted the award.

In the Mid-sized Arts Business (employing 50 – 499), the FredOlivieri Construction Company, was given the award for theirimportant work in the Cultural Center for the Arts’ massive renova-tions for KIMONO and the building of the Japanese tea house. FredOlivieri, and son Dean Olivieri, accepted the award.

The award for the Small Arts Business (less than 49 employees)went to Sol Harris Day for their innovation in designing the newArtsinStark administrative offices. Jeff Day, Partner, accepted theaward.

The Arts Academy at Summit accepted the award for BestSmArts project, using their $500 grant award to connect 6thgraders to Spain and its culture, which included the science of cre-ating a working windmill. Principal Tom Piccari accepted the award.

The award for the Most Innovative Project in their use of anArtsinStark grant went to The Ananda Center in Massillon. Theycreated “Art Displaced,” one-night art shows in abandoned build-ings – with five of the spaces now being rented. Artist Bili Kribbs andAnanda Center Executive Director Nicole Garlando accepted theaward.

ArtsinStark Arts Awardshonor seven county leaders

SID board elections

Shattered Expressions, a 40’ x 10’ three-dimensional piece of public art designed bylocal artist Tommy Morgan , will reachcompletion and be hung this month in theCanton Arts District. The three-piece humanemotional series will bring rage, sorrow andj oy to the corner of Fi fth St re et andCleveland Avenue.

“I think the piece is self-explanatory. Humanfacial expressions and art share the samepurpose – their purpose is to provoke andc o nvey emotion, nothing more, noth i n gless,” explained Morgan.

Created from sculpted, high-density foamand sealed with hard-coated cement, eachpiece is finished with colorful acrylic shardsto truly encompass the raw emotion in eachundulating expression. The smaller-scaleprototypes for the exhibit will be on tour atvarious arts venues in Northeast Ohio inorder to encourage interest in Canton's ArtsDistrict - and will ultimately be auctioned off.

Four cash investors, including Tim Belden,Bob Ti m ken, Canton Deve l o p m e n tPa rt n e rship and Art s i n Sta rk, with in-kindlabor, materials and installation from CoonRestoration & Sealants and Roricks, Inc,funded Shattered Expressions. The total cashand in-kind project budget was approxi-mately $35,000.

Morgan’s past mural projects downtowninclude Homage (sans da Vinci), Mother ofInvention, and the art deco design of the

Millennium Centre Parking Deck. Next up,Morgan is exploring more art from the same cement as Shattered Expressions, butw i th a functional twist – he hopes to create a football-inspired artistic climbingwall. For more about Morgan’s work, visitMorganFactory.com.

What began in 2005 as a way to transformold cement garbage containers into worksof art has resulted in a concerted effort toinvest in public art. Downtown Canton nowhas 35 pieces of public art, among whichare numerous oversized murals and sculp-tures.

To gether with the Canton Deve l o p m e n tPartnership, ArtsinStark evaluates public artproposals on a case-by-case basis and exe-cutes projects based on modest resources,largely funded from private sources. Theorganization’s goal is to get formal publicarts ordinances passed by city and countygovernments in Canton, making way for afull time public arts administrator on staffand a formal public art process.

In the summer of 2009, ArtsinStark unveiledthe idea for “The Amazing Fo ot b a l lCollection” – more than a dozen provoca-tive sculptures that would stop traffic indowntown Canton, and remind everyonethat professional football in America beganright here. Most important of all, “TheAmazing Football Collection” would attractthousands of visitors and tourists to our cen-ter city.

New public art installment SHATTERS convention downtown

29 Ohio Legacy Casual Friday ConcertCanton Symphony Orchestrawww.cantonsymphony.org

29-31 Cat on a Hot Tin RoofPlayers Guild Theatrewww.playersguildthaetre.com

30 McKinley DayMcKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

30 The Art of Chili Chili Cook OffSecond April Galeriewww.secondapril.org

FEBRUARYSomething from Nothing: Contemporary Recycled Sculpturefrom America’s Rustbelt;45: New Works by Terri Kern;Curious World: Art from Fabric, Photographs and Found Objects byJane Reeves; Mix of Style & Function from the CMA Ceramic CollectionCanton Museum of Artwww.cantonart.org

3 First Wednesdays Wine TastingJoseph Saxton Gallery of Photographywww.jsaxtongallery.com

5 First Friday – Chocolate DreamsCanton Arts Districtwww.cantonfirstfriday.com

5-7 Cat on a Hot Tin RoofPlayers Guild Theatrewww.playersguildthaetre.com

6 Scared Scriptless Improv ComedyKathleen Howland Theatrewww.secondapril.org/theater

6 MasterWorks Classical Concert IIICanton Symphony Orchestrawww.cantonsymphony.org

10,11, SymphonyLand! Woodwinds13 Canton Symphony Orchestra

www.cantonsymphony.org13 ‘Love is Eternal”:

America’s First CouplesNational First Ladies Librarywww.firstladies.org

13 “Get Together”Second April Galeriewww.secondapril.org

14 Final Day “Life in Miniature” Dollhouse ExhibitMcKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

Want to advertise here? ContactDenise Burton, 330.458.2067.

Cost is $75 per issue.

For more downtown event information log on to www.cantondevelopmentpartnership.com

Something from Nothing: Contemporary Recycled Sculpturefrom America’s Rustbelt45: New Works by Terri KernCurious World: Art from Fabric,Photographs and Found Objectsby Jane ReevesMix of Style & Function from theCMA Ceramic CollectionCanton Museum of Artwww.cantonart.org

JANUARY6 First Wednesdays Wine Tasting

Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photographywww.jsaxtongallery.com

8 First Friday – Fire & IceCanton Arts Districtwww.cantonfirstfriday.com

9 “Get Together”Second April Galeriewww.secondapril.org

9 Scared Scriptless Improv ComedyKathleen Howland Theatrewww.secondapril.org/theater

11 Tea with the Curator: “Bridal Fashion”McKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

13,14, SymphonyLand! Strings16 Canton Symphony Orchestra

www.cantonsymphony.org15 Folk Friday

Second April Galeriewww.secondapril.org

15,16, That Face22,23 The Kathleen Howland Theatre

www.secondapril.org/theater18 Kids Movie Special

Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

20 Documentary Film NightJoseph Saxton Gallery of Photographywww.jsaxtongallery.com

23 Art SplashArtsinStarkwww.artsinstark.com

28 Aultman Cameo ConcertCanton Symphony Orchestrawww.cantonsymphony.org

29 Fibernation Fiber Arts ShowOpening ReceptionSecond April Galeriewww.secondapril.org

17 Documentary Film NightJoseph Saxton Gallery of Photographywww.jsaxtongallery.com

18 Soup at Six:“Roaring Twenties Review”McKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

19 Folk FridaySecond April Galeriewww.secondapril.org

19 Steve McCurry Artist’s reception & Book SigningJoseph Saxton Gallery of Photographywww.jsaxtongallery.com

19 Steve McCurry Slide ShowCanton Museum of Artwww.cantonart.org

19,20, The Lightbearer21 The Kathleen Howland Theatre

www.secondapril.org/theater20 Malone University Piano Extravaganza

Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

25 Aultman Cameo ConcertCanton Symphony Orchestrawww.cantonsymphony.org

26 Opening: “A Stitch in Time” Quilt ExhibitMcKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

26 Ohio Legacy Casual Friday ConcertCanton Symphony Orchestrawww.cantonsymphony.org

20-28 Art A play by Yazmina RezaKathleen Howland Theatrewww.secondapril.org/theater

Through Jan.

ThroughFeb. 28