The Massillon Museum will host an exhibition of 29 artworks by members of the Canton Artists League in its Fred F. Silk Community Room Gallery from May 27 through July 30, 2023.  

While Up to the Challenge can be viewed beginning on May 27, the artists’ reception will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., concurrent with the Studio M reception for Sarah Blanchette: All Shook Up.

The 18 artists in Up to the Challenge are Peter Castillo, Paul DeGarmo, Sharon Dulabaum, Jeffrey Foltz, Jane Heater, Thomas Kilpatrick, Pam LaRocco, Natividad (Suni) Lopez-Ortiz, Nancy Michel, Michelle Mulligan, Robert Nicoll, Lori Perry, Irene Rodriguez, Nancy Shernit, Sherry Grace, Yvonne Walter, Lynn Weinstein, and Gail Wetherell-Sack.

During the pandemic, when Canton Artists League members were unable to hold live meetings, they designed challenges via Zoom. Members used provided motivational photos or their own imaginations to follow suggested themes, working in the medium of their choice. The resulting paintings were critiqued via Zoom. These challenges were so successful that the group continued them after in-person meetings resumed. Challenge themes have included still life, people, autumn leaves and still life, self-portrait, golf, and animals.

The mission of the Canton Artists League is to provide encouragement, camaraderie, and exhibition opportunities. It is a welcoming forum for all visual artists to network and help further their creativity through exhibits, workshops, educational programs, collaboration, and a shared bond of talent and imagination. Membership in the Canton Artists League, an affiliate of the Canton Museum of Art, is open to professional, semi-professional, and amateur visual artists, as well as individuals with a sincere interest in supporting the visual arts. For more information, visit cantonartistsleague.org.  

MassMu’s Fred F. Silk Community Room Gallery exhibitions reflect community collaborations such as the Canton Artists League; Kent Area (Ohio) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated; the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon; and Art Possible Ohio.

When visiting the Up to the Challenge exhibition, guests can also view Sarah Blanchette: All Shook Up; Tigers and Bulldogs: Origins of a Historic Rivalry; Innovators of Massillon; the Paul Brown/Massillon Tiger Football History Timeline; Massillon Faithful; the Immel Circus; the American Indian Gallery; the Massillon History Gallery; the Albert E. Hise Fine and Decorative Arts Gallery; Collection Snapshot: Faces of Massillon Business; and Ethiopian Expedition of 1903.

All MassMu exhibitions can be viewed Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The building is accessible and everyone is welcome.

The Massillon Museum receives operating support from the Ohio Arts Council, ArtsinStark, and the citizens of Massillon, as well as marketing support from Visit Canton. These exhibitions are funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts.

The Museum is located at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon.  For more information, call 330-833-4061 or explore massillonmuseum.org. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free and everyone is welcome.