YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – “Reemergence,” an art exhibition with music and poetry, will take place Sunday, Aug. 2, at Loop Youngstown’s new culture center, 805 Mahoning Ave.
It will be the first public event at the new center, which is a few blocks east of downtown.
Admission is free. Parking is available at the Loop center and the nearby Youngstown Maennerchor and Calvin Center for the Arts.
The two-hour event will begin at 6 p.m. with an art exhibition with the theme “reemergence,” featuring Loop studio artists Sarah Sharber, Kellie Kirksey, RB Knight, Tony Nicholas, Joelene Barb, Dei Bilunka, Elizabeth Ford, Ed Hallahan, Heather Bowser, Willie Duck Jr., AJ Pascoe, Tom Ritter, Lauren Sandor, Sophia Black and Jaye Black.
These artists work in photography, acrylic, oil and watercolor paint, textiles, wood and other materials. Studio artist Tom Ritter is installing the show, which will be set up in the center’s community room.
Loop studio artist Ed Hallahan will perform experimental music on double bass, with Jim Conti (electronic instruments) and Jim Volnick (trumpet, percussion, piano). Volnick will play the baby grand piano recently donated to the Loop by the family of Jean Romeo.
A poetry reading with Loop studio artists QuaToyia Christele and AJ Pascoe will start at 7 p.m. Rebecca Evans and Hannah Rodabaugh of Boise, Idaho, will follow, reading from their new books.
“We are excited to focus our first exhibition on 2D and 3D, literary and performing artists at the new center,” said Karen Schubert, Loop interim director. “A great big thank you to Hannah Rodabaugh and Rebecca Evans for traveling in to share their work with us.”
Rodabaugh, a Youngstown native and Youngstown State University alumna, is the author of five books of poetry and has twice been an artist-in-residence for the National Park Service.
Evans is the author of three books and co-hosts the “Writer-to-Writer” radio show. She is a disabled veteran and offers empowerment courses to teens in the juvenile system.
Pictured at top: Art by Youngstown artist Willie Duck will be among those included at Loop Youngstown’s exhibition.