Groundhog Show to feature more than 100 Northeast Ohio artists, more at Northside this weekend

The Groundhog Show is popping up in downtown Akron for the first time this weekend.

Akron's Curated Storefront is hosting the free pop-up art exhibition. The fourth annual event, which will celebrate more than 100 Northeast Ohio artists and creators, will run Friday through Sunday at Curated Storefront's Outside the Box shipping containers site at TrueNorth Akron in the Northside District.

The event, which draws significant participation from the LGBTQ+ community, previously was held in the Portage Lakes. This weekend's activities will begin with an opening night reception from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday in conjunction with the Akron ArtWalk.

Friday evening will include a 5:30 p.m. showing of the free documentary "Orlando, My Political Biography," presented by the Nightlight at the Courtyard Marriott, 41 Furnace St. Entertainment will include live music by Benny Lava and the Guavas, a DJ and drag performances.

The art exhibition continues 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in and around the shipping containers. On Saturday, the "Orlando" documentary will be shown at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. An open mic night also will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Jilly's Music Room, 111 N. Main St.

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On Sunday, a live figure drawing session featuring queer performing artists Levaille Citrus Eitzman and Siaara Freeman as models will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Bring your own art supplies.

Show curators are painter Nick Lee of Akron and graphic artist and designer Taylor Clapp of Akron. Brandon Dean of Cleveland is awards juror. Event sponsors are Akron Pride Festival, the Gay Community Endowment Fund, Harvey and Kim Nelson, the Richard and Alita Rogers Family Foundation and the Summit County Land Bank.

Next up with Curated Storefront

In other Curated Storefront news, Camden Adams' student show "Man-Made in External" is on display with an opening reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday during the Akron ArtWalk at the Avant Garden Gallery at Bounce Innovation Hub, 526 S. Main St., No. 609, Akron. The Kent State University student addresses the accumulation of man-made waste that affects our environment with imagery sourced from locations throughout Portage County.

Next, Curated Storefront's newest projects will feature site-specific installations inside its shipping containers at Outside the Box at Northside June 22 to Aug. 24, featuring artists Jesse Satterfield and Kirstin Willders. Satterfield's exhibit will feature a wall-to-wall-to-ceiling quilt made of hand-tufted carpet squares re-creating a relationship among the artist, family and memory. Willders' installation will create an immersive experience with visual, aural and tactile stimuli. For more information, see curatedstorefront.org.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.