The former Quaker Square Inn Restaurants and Shops will be the newest location for public art by local arts organization Curated Storefront and FRONT International In connection with FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, Akron arts organization Curated Storefront has occupied The University of Akron’s Quaker Square, the historic oat factory turned luxury hotel, transforming it once again into art galleries. Quaker Galleries are presented to the community by Curated Storefront featuring four galleries with work from regional and international artists throughout multiple spaces.

The first floor, remembered as the original entry way to the mall of Quaker Square, is hosting FRONT International presenting works by Chakaia Booker, Charmaine Spencer and Alyssa Taylor Went. Three galleries are located on the second floor in the former shops and restaurant spaces that will feature works from the collections of Curated Storefront and Hieronymus Objects and artwork by Peter Christian Johnson.

The galleries will open on July 16th with a kick off reception from 5pm to 8pm. After the 16th, the galleries will remain open and free to the public through October 2, 2022. Opening hours are Thursdays 11am to 8pm and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 11am - 5pm.

These galleries are part of Curated Storefront’s ongoing activation of underutilized buildings and spaces to attract tourism and promote commercial development in downtown Akron.

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About Curated Storefront

Curated Storefront activates storefronts by transforming an unoccupied and uninteresting street edge into vibrant art displays in an effort to combat blight and create an engaging, safe, and attractive environment. For the past six years, Curated Storefront has presented engaging artwork in multiple unused spaces, commissioned and employed artists, offered educational outreach programs to better engage the public, and stimulated commercial development. More information about Curated Storefront and its other exhibits on display throughout the city can be found at www.curatedstorefront.org or @curatedstorefront.

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About FRONT International

Launched in 2018, FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art is a free, public, contemporary art exhibition comprising artist commissions, performances, films, and public programs. The inaugural edition brought over 90,000 visitors from more than 25 countries and generated $31 million in economic impact in the region. Oh, Gods of Dust and Rainbows, the second iteration of FRONT International will run from July 16 through October 2, 2022. Building on the success of the first edition, FRONT 2022 furthers the Triennial’s commitment to the belief that by supporting creative communities and stimulating new cultural encounters in the region, contemporary art can be an important catalyst for positive social change.

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