Canton Museum of Art to Host NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Free Family Festival

Canton Museum of Art (CMA) presents "Night at the Museum: A Free Family Festival" on Saturday, May 20 from 7PM-10PM. This free non-ticketed event is open to the public with entertainment for all ages.

Visitors will explore an interactive archaeological dig, Glow-in-the-Dark face painting, nocturnal animals, roaming entertainers, family yoga, art activities and so much more. This event is made possible by ArtsInStark, Ohio Arts Council, Key Bank Foundation, Williams Family Dental Group, Inc., and Winick Endodontics.

In conjunction with the "AVATARS: Relics from the Future" art exhibition, attendees will embark on a mystical journey through relics of a mysterious civilization. Night at the Museum will inspire creativity in all ages.

This special event will feature creative activities from our friends at the Akron Fossils & Science Center, Massillon Museum, McKinley Presidential Library & museum, and many more:

Akron Zoo
Visit our friends from the Akron Zoo while you're here at the Museum and meet creatures of the night! Interact with the ZooMobile's nocturnal animals - including some creepy crawly ones - and hear all about what they're up to after we've all gone to bed.

Stark County District Library
Common to many cultures worldwide, totems have long been used to recount stories or commemorate special occasions. Visit with the Stark County District Library and explore the history and symbolism of totems - and make one of your very own to take home.

6th Street Yoga
Sink into stillness with our friends from 6th Street Yoga. Hover in the magical realm between sleep and wakefulness as you are guided peacefully through relaxation poses that will leave you both calm & full of energy.

Wandering Aesthetics
Watch Out! Master storytellers from Wandering Aesthetics will be roaming the tombs and totems of our "Avatars" exhibit, conjuring up mythical monsters of mayhem. You are certain to be led on a spine-tingling journey deep into the backwoods of your imagination. Beware....creatures of the night may appear.

Rockstar Rock Shop
Explore all the fun and mystery that geology offers with Rockstar Rock Shop and their gem mining table. With this hands on activity, you will experience the joy of discovery while sifting through the sands to unearth amazing minerals such as ruby, emerald, Jasper, agate, pyrite, amethyst and many more! For only $5 - you keep whatever precious stones and gems you uncover.

About the Exhibition "Avatars: Relics from the Future"

Canton Museum of Art invites you to travel through an excavation of powerful talismans, mummies, shrines, entities, and totems . . . through reflections on the ancient and perceptions on the future, all from the creative energy of artist Gary Spinosa. "AVATARS: Relics from the Future" is a new exhibition on view now through July 23, 2017.

Relics play an important role in learning from the past and even defining the future. They are storytellers of history, cultures, and world religions. They link people to customs, beliefs, rituals, superstition, and contemplation. Across many millennia, millions of relics stand out for their uniqueness, their intrigue, their ability to expand our knowledge about forgotten civilizations - or to propel us to examine the essence of life. It is a combination of world religions, faith, and philosophy that is eminently approachable.

Combining human, animal, and architectural forms, Gary Spinosa seeks to materialize spiritual energy through his serene, benevolent figures. In his creative process, he does not start with a concept of what a work will look like. Instead, he just starts... and lets the clay, wood, pigments, and other materials speak to him. He wants to create works that have a presence and will engulf the viewer - making the viewer a participant in, and receiver of, the energy in each piece.

Spinosa is a visionary artist, and by his own acclaim he feels guided by an ancient past. This exhibition covers more than five decades of the artist's work, including pieces created within the last year. You will discover sculptures, from grand constructions to hand sized figures, that are imbued with deep sanctity and stillness, a sometimes disquieting mystery, and an evocation of enigmatic narratives. In each piece, Spinosa invites us to engage in a relationship with the art he creates, to conjure our own avatars and storylines of the beings and rituals we discover in these artifacts, and to reflect on those we hold within ourselves.

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The Canton Museum of Art (CMA) is one of Ohio's premier museums for an exceptional visual arts experience. CMA is recognized for powerful national touring exhibits; dynamic CMA-original exhibits; an unrivaled Permanent Collection of American watercolors and contemporary ceramics; and innovative education outreach programs, in-Museum classes, and workshops. CMA is one of only two Stark County museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. For more information, including hours, exhibits, classes, and special events, call 330.453.7666, visit www.cantonart.org, Facebook at "Canton Museum of Art," or @CantonMuseum on Twitter.

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