KIMONO purple abounds as the exhibit draws near
While we were all decking our halls with boughs of holly, ArtsinStark, the County Arts Council, has been busy decking the 330,000 square foot Cultural Center halls with “Kimono purple.” The Cultural Center, owned by ArtsinStark, is currently receiving more than $500,000 in renovations to prepare for the KIMONO exhibit coming in February.
“This is the first time in 40 years that we are doing things that aren’t structural. We are investing in the aesthetics. KIMONO has given us a hard deadline to work toward,” said Robb Hankins, president & CEO of ArtsinStark. “It’s been a catalyst to these incredible, modern changes.” Modern indeed! The multi-tiered renovation project has been centered on infusing 21st century appeal into the Cultural Center for the Arts building, first opened in 1970. The design concepts for the renovations came from Robert Maschke Architects, based in Cleveland. The firm is highly conceptual and very creative – in fact, their offices are even located above an art gallery! “The synergy between the firm, ArtsinStark and the Museum during the design process was fantastic,” said Hankins.
Because of the substantial glass that adorns the Great Court, events held there are at the mercy of the sun as it sets in the west, ultimately blinding guests through the west windows. Thus the first major renovation project was to add an ultra-violet coating to theglass windows and skylight in the Great Court entrance. In addition, polymer-fabric curtain panels with an abstract Kimono purple design based upon the ArtsinStark logo are being added to bring some pizzazz to the area. The new curtains will add a sophisticated design element and will reduce heat gain for the building. The most modern ingredient by far is the CMA entrance focal point, a security kiosk that is envisioned as a work of art in of itself, with contrasting horizontal slats painted in colors that shift ever so gradually from purple to white. Olivieri Construction, utilizing their cabinetry shop, is doing the construction work for the kiosk in addition to overseeing the balance of the renovation projects. The ticket booth in the Great Court of the Cultural Center is also getting a face lift. Picking up on the color theme of purples and whites, it will be refaced with vertical slats that pick up on the same color scheme as is being done horizontally in the new security kiosk inside the lobby of the Canton Museum of Art.
“The designs are hard to put into words,” said M. J. Albacete, executive director for the Museum. “The kiosks are beautiful, contemporary slatted cylinders, almost see-through.”
The gift shop is also getting quite an update. It is being relocated behind the security kiosk and will be comprised of glass walls and cabinets – the entire shopping experience will be open and ethereal. The entry way to the museum will have four separate relaxation areas with lush, Kimono purple rugs and high-tech polymer furniture. All of the building’s restrooms are receiving much-needed, modern face lifts and the lighting in the upper galleries where the Kimono will be exhibited has been replaced with a completely new system of suspended directional lights that will better highlight the exhibits. The current renovations will be completed in time for the KIMONO opening gala on February 7, and ArtsinStark is estimating that all told, more than 100,000 people will be touched in some way by the exhibit and the more than 80 activities scheduled to date. The future for the arts in Canton/Stark County is expected to keep growing.
“KIMONO is making us believe in the power of the arts to transform lives,” said Hankins. “It is demonstrating that we are capable of hosting blockbuster shows and doing great things. I believe KIMONO will change the way Stark County thinks about itself — forever.”
For full details on the slate of events planned around the exhibit, reference the special Kimono centerfold in this issue of Downtown Developments or visit www.KimonoExhibit.com.
