Canton Repository entertainment writer Ed Balint runs down things to do this month and happenings in the area entertainment scene.
First Friday features fire performances
Fire is the theme for First Friday festivities on April 4 in downtown Canton.
“Fire Up Downtown” will be 5 to 9:30 p.m., featuring performances by Inferno Circuit, the Ohio Burn Unit and Propane Dancefloor. Entertainment includes fire dancers, fire jugglers, special effects, and fire breathing and eating.
Ohio Burn Unit performs at Centennial Plaza from 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.; 8 to 8:15 p.m.; and 9:15 to 9:30 p.m.
Propane Dancefloor performs at Fourth Street and Cleveland Avenue NW from 5:30 to 5:45 p.m.; 7 to 7:15 p.m.; and 9 to 9:15 p.m.
Inferno Circuit performs at Fourth Street and Dewalt Avenue NW from 6 to 6:15 p.m.; 7:30 to 7:45 p.m.; 8:30 to 8:45 p.m.; and 9 to 9:15 p.m.
Uncle Bacon’s BBQ food truck and a funnel cake food truck will be on site.
Patina Arts Centre closing in downtown Canton
Patina Arts Centre has closed its gallery and studio at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW in downtown Canton.
Alaska Thompson, a local artist who served as gallery director, opened Patina in 2022.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided to close Patina Arts Centre’s downtown Canton location,” Thompson wrote in a recent Facebook post. “The last three years have been a unique and rewarding experience, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to create a space for art and community.”
Patina had replaced the former Vital Arts Gallery at the same location, where Thompson had been the gallery curator. Patina has been a regular participant in monthly First Friday festivities while hosting art exhibitions.
A downstairs event center space has hosted comedians, live music and other entertainment.
“While there were many highs, there were also significant challenges,” Thompson said. “Despite the challenges, I’m proud of what we accomplished and the voices we were able to amplify. However, I’ve come to a point where I believe my energy and resources will be better focused elsewhere, and it’s time for a new chapter.”
‘Sight Unseen’ features photography by blind artists
“Sight Unseen: International Photography by Blind Artists” will be on display at Massillon Museum through May 18 in the Main Gallery.
A reception and resource fair will be 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Massillon Museum, featuring groups and agencies that serve the disability community. They include Art Possible Ohio, Massillon Public Library, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Philomatheon Society, Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities and The Workshops Inc.
“The exhibition presents work by 12 of the world’s most accomplished blind photographers who explore ideas about the nature of seeing,” Massillon Museum said in a news release.
Most of the artists are completely blind while some are legally blind. Artists include Ralph Baker of New York City; Evgen Bavcar, Paris, France; Henry Butler, New Orleans; Pete Eckert, Sacramento; Alex de Jong, the Netherlands; and Rosita McKenzie, Edinburgh, Scotland.
The artists share “their inner visions into the world of the sighted (while) revealing a rich visual and emotionally complex blending of the physical and conceptual worlds.”
“Sight Unseen” was curated by Douglas McCulloh and originated by UCR/California Museum of Photography, an affiliate of the University of California, Riverside.
Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Main Street Modern season opener
Main Street Modern, 628 Mulberry Road SE, will hold its annual season opener from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The nearly 40,000-square-foot warehouse is loaded with thousands of pieces of vintage furniture and furnishings and home decor items, as well as vintage clothing, hats and shoes.
Mid-century modern furniture (generally from the 1940s-70s) is Main Street Modern’s specialty, said Adam Hoover, who owns the business, which scours the country for vintage finds. Main Street also features upholstery, refinishing and repair business.
Canton Ballet presenting ‘Cinderella’
Canton Ballet will present “Cinderella” Friday and Saturday at Canton Palace Theatre.
This production will honor the memory of Joan Shaheen, who served as Canton Ballet’s board president from 1983-85. Shaheen was instrumental in establishing the ballet’s endowment fund in the early ’80s and, along with her husband, Masid, crafted the original props for the “Cinderella” production, which will be used during both performances.
Hoover High School senior Allison Pellegrino and Jackson High School freshman Kaitlyn Giltz are sharing the role of Cinderella. The performance will also feature Canton Ballet alumnus Thomas Kingsbury, now a corps de ballet member with the Carolina Ballet, as Cinderella’s Prince Charming.
Performances will be 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets, $30 to $45, can be purchased at https://cantonballet.com/. Canton Ballet offices can be contacted at 330-455-7220.
Walsh art exhibit: ‘What You Were Wearing?’
A powerful new art exhibit on display this month at Walsh University calls attention to the crime and social ill of sexual assault.
The exhibition is in the atrium of Toot Global Learning Center on the campus of Walsh, 2020 E Maple St. in North Canton.
Installed by Walsh University Museum Studies students, “the exhibit aims to challenge victim-blaming narratives surrounding sexual assault and emphasize that clothing does not cause assault − perpetrators do,” Walsh said in an announcement.
The exhibit showcases representations of outfits worn by sexual assault survivors during their attacks, accompanied by their personal stories. Inspired by Dr. Mary Simmerling’s poem, “What I Was Wearing,” the project seeks to dispel the myth that sexual violence can be attributed to a person’s choice of clothing, the university said.
The exhibit is also in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. QR codes throughout the exhibit provide access to campus support resources, and visitors can complete a brief survey to have a survivor care kit donated in their honor to the COMPASS Rape Crisis Center in Stark County.
“This exhibit serves as a powerful reminder of Walsh University’s commitment to human dignity and fostering safe, respectful relationships on campus,” a news release said.
“What You Were Wearing?” is available for public view by appointment only 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments can be made by contacting Melanie Timco at 330-490-7296 or [email protected].
Journey pops concert at Canton Symphony Orchestra
Canton Symphony Orchestra and Jeans ‘n Classics will collaborate on the hit songs of Journey at a pops concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Jeans n’ Classics has performed past pops shows with the local symphony, including tributes to The Beatles, Abba and Fleetwood Mac.
Journey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. The band’s popular songs include “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “Separate Ways,” “Open Arms,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Faithfully,” “Lights” and “Wheel in the Sky.”
The performance will be at Umstattd Hall at Zimmermann Symphony Center at McKinley High School, 2331 17th St. NW. Tickets, $30 to $57, are for sale at https://cantonsymphony.org/. The box office can be reached at 330-452-2094.
Stark County musician signing new book
Longtime Canton area signer-songwriter Scott Paris has released a book inspired by both his struggles and triumphs as a musical artist.
A full-time, working musician for roughly two decades, the Perry Township resident toured nationally with Broken Transmitter before the group disbanded. He also served as bassist for popular area band Hey Monea.
Paris will be signing copies of “A Guitar Called Harry V and the Cover Band Conundrum” from 3-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Johnny’s Music Shoppe, 2492 Lincoln Way E in Massillon.
Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N Main St. in Akron, is also hosting “An Afternoon with Scott Paris” book launch and brunch at noon Sunday. Full bar and brunch are available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Paris will discuss and read from the book and sign copies. For more details, go to https://jillysmusicroom.com/.
World Series of Comedy winners advance
Radio personality and award-winning comedian Lou Santini is among the winners of the recent World Series of Comedy at Krackpots Comedy Club in downtown Massillon.
The top three comedians were Santini, first; Kevin Whelan, second; and Jeff Koehn, third. Trophies were awarded, and the trio qualified for the World Series of Comedy Main Event in Las Vegas in late September. Santini and Whelan are house comedians at Krackpots.
Krackpots and club owner Chris Ketler hosted the four-day event, where 40 comedians from across the country and Canada competed. Krackpots is among 12 comedy clubs from across the United States that have participated in or will take part this year in the World Series of Comedy.
Arts educators of the year
Marissa Austin of Massillon City Schools and Stephen Imler of Northwest Local School District were named Arts Educators of the Year by Canton Symphony Orchestra, Canton Museum of Art and Massillon Museum.
Austin teaches art to kindergarten through third grade at Franklin Elementary School in Massillon. Imler is band director at Northwest High School.
“These awards recognize public, private and parochial art and music educators in the region served by the Stark County Educational Service Center who have positively impacted their students and communities, and who have shown great dedication to the field of art and music education,” Massillon Museum said.
Educator of the year finalists also submitted artwork by themselves and/or their students. Pieces are on view through Sunday both at the Massillon Museum and Canton Museum of Art.
Reach Ed at [email protected]. On X @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint