Public Art in Downtown Canton
Aug 24, 2022
Public art activates space and helps to tell a community's story. It acts as a marker for a destination and builds city pride. It shares where we've been and where we're going.
And it's pretty interesting to look at. In and around downtown Canton, we are so fortunate to have a huge variety of public art that tells the story of our city. From the soaring football-esque spires of Centennial Plaza to the bold neon signage at spots like The Auricle and Grapes in a Glass, and from Patrick Buckohr's "Critter" sculpture series to the Special Improvement District's series of murals, there is a lot to see in a day or two.
Below, I'm sharing some of the public artwork that highlights the best of Canton, from food to shopping to our incredible parks.
"The Eleven"
Downtown Canton
I'm cheating a bit here because this series is actually 11 different works of art, but I prefer to think of them as one since they tell the story of the foundation of professional football--a story that is inextricably linked with Canton itself. In both mural and sculpture, these 11 works depict moments from the "Birth of the NFL," a sculpture by Michael Clapper that references the moment in 1920 that planted the seeds to muralist Jeff Keirns' "Monday Night Football," which celebrates football's nationwide media dominance. Artists Gail Folwell, David Griggs, Paul Collins, Dick Rozich, Heather Bullach, Katherine Stanek, Brad Spencer, Tommy Morgan (a stalwart of Canton public art projects), and Jack Howard-Potter also contributed to the project There are other football-related artworks downtown, but I couldn't resist including this series because it was created through a partnership between ArtsinStark and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Main Street Modern Building"
618 Mulberry Rd SE
Steve Ehret is known as Monster Steve, and for the brick architectural features on the Main Street Modern building he has created a world of cartoon alien- and insect-like monsters. It's wonderfully weird and unexpected yet stunning to look at, like many of the mid-century furniture and decorative arts treasures for sale found inside the building. Ehret's work can be found in a number of places in Canton's Warehouse District, including the lobby of John Strauss Furniture and the rear of Ryan Miller's Deli Ohio (visible from Fourth Street NE) for more.
"Suspend"
Monument Park at 12th St NW
I have long been fascinated by this sculpture that sits at one of the entrances to Monument Park Drive. The yellow interlocking figures are striking against the lush green park, and even though the sculpture is modern it feels like something that might be growing out of the ground. The artist, Joseph Kunzal, was a professor at Kent State and not only has works in the permanent collection of the Canton Museum of Art but also in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the Tate Gallery in London. Check it out next time you drive through that intersection.
"Trumpeters of Justice"
115 Central Plaza N
Winged figures have appeared in public art for thousands of years, and the "Trumpeters of Justice" on top of the courthouse have become an iconic part of the Canton skyline. According to the Stark County website, architect George Hammond of Cleveland worked on the building, particularly the bell and clock tower "crowned by four courthouse angels," in the 1890s. My sister-in-law, who is an art historian, tells me that angels are associated with announcements or messages. The four trumpets pointing in all directions are a reminder to me that although Canton is the seat of Stark County the decisions made in that building impact all of our communities.
"Cultural Center for the Arts Campus"
1001 Market Ave NW
Yes, this is another collection of artworks rather than just one, but I couldn't resist and couldn't choose between all the works on our campus. Some of Canton's top artists are represented, from Errick Freeman's evocative portraits of Macy Gray and Savion Glover (world-renowned in their own fields of artistry) to three pieces of Patrick Buckohr's "Critters" series of metal animal sculptures that are found in various spots downtown. Those pieces are on the Cleveland Avenue side of the campus. Four of "The Eleven" artworks are also located here, and I love the colors of "Splash," a mural by Ruben Aguirre. It reminds me of graphic design, graffiti, and textile design in one work. It's on the back of Ziegler Tire on Market Avenue.
"The Hub Gallery and Studios"
336 Sixth St NW
It's tempting to mention the art that's on display and created inside this awesome warren of galleries and studios near Julz by Alan Rodriguez and around a corner or two from Muskellunge Brewing. What's outside of The Hub is pretty amazing, too. Owner Tim Carmany, who himself has painted a few murals around town, regularly changes the art on a DeWalt Avenue-facing exterior wall to allow artists to showcase upcoming exhibits or anything else they have going on inside. Much of the public art in Canton is permanent, so it's refreshing to have a canvas that is ever-changing
