The Heart Gallery, organized by Stark County Job & Family Services, will be exhibited in the Massillon Museum’s Lower Level Lobby from January 9 to February 11, 2024.

The Heart Gallery pairs local artists with children waiting to be adopted from foster care. This year’s portraits feature twelve youth portrayed by nine artists. The community is invited to view the artwork and learn more about foster care and adoption in Stark County.

Portraits on display will include:

Abagail, by Alaska Thompson. Abagail is a teenager who enjoys school, especially math class. Some of her favorite activities include swimming, watching movies, and going for walks.

Ahna, by Madison Miller: Ahna is a five-year-old whose favorite colors are pink and purple. She enjoys playing outside, eating macaroni and cheese, and snacking on candy.

Alexander and Jaramiah, by Kat Francis: Alexander and Jaramiah are brothers who have a lot in common—they both like basketball, superheroes, and math class. They also agree that families should do fun activities together, like shop at Five Below, travel to Disney World, and go out for dinner.

Brendon, by Alexa Polinori: Brendon describes himself with two words: awesome and smart. His favorite activities are swimming, running, and swinging at the playground.

Coltyn, by Kaley Weaver: Coltyn enjoys driving his remote-controlled car, building Legos, and playing board games, especially Uno. When he thinks about family, he imagines people who love and care about each other.

Hayli, by David Sherrill: Hayli is a talkative and outgoing preteen. She loves fashion, playing soccer, watching Stranger Things, and performing TikTok dances.

Isaac, by Heather Bullach: Isaac is a teenager who likes to have fun and make people laugh. He enjoys watching and playing sports, especially football.

Jennifer and Jamespeter, by Tim Carmany: Jennifer is interested in writing, singing, and dancing. She has participated in school plays and plans to write her own book. Jamespeter likes to play football and basketball. His favorite subject in school is science.

Kylie, by William Keomany: Kylie is a two-year-old with disabilities. Her smiles are contagious and when she laughs, she kicks her legs into the air like a dancer. Kylie loves Minnie Mouse, dogs, and cartoons.

Lexianna, by Alaska Thompson: Lexianna loves to read fantasy fiction and watch movies on the Disney channel. She is interested in the arts and enjoys drawing, writing stories, and singing.

 The Heart Gallery was created to bring attention to the need for adoptive families in our community. Stark County currently has 500 children living in the foster care system. Nearly a quarter of these youth are in permanent custody and eligible for adoption. Residents who are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent can take the next step by registering for an information meeting. Call 330-451-8789 or email [email protected]. Visit StarkJFS.org for additional information about foster care and adoption.

The Massillon Museum appreciates operating support from the Ohio Arts Council and ArtsinStark, marketing support from Visit Canton, and the support of the citizens of Massillon. This exhibition is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Visitors to the Heart Gallery exhibition can also view twelve additional art and history galleries. A visit is always free and everyone is welcome.

MassMu is located at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon. Free parking is available on adjacent streets and in nearby city lots. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or visit massillonmuseum.org.