Art on Park hosts collaborative show
Submitted photo Participants in Clover Recycling’s free craft nights created this large-scale work made of recycled materials for the Collab on Park exhibition at Art on Park.
Creating art can be a solitary pursuit. The latest exhibition at downtown Warren’s Art on Park makes sure it isn’t.
Collab on Park is a nonjuried show that features works made by at least two creators. It’s the first time the venue has hosted an exhibition with that theme.
“I just thought it’d be fun to encourage artists to work together,” said David Wheeler, who creates and curates as Dovey Wuvey. “That was half of the concept. The other half is I really liked the idea of making art with young people. I had a young one in my life for a while, and I enjoyed making art with her, so I thought it could be fun for parents to collaborate with their children.”
The show features some parent-child collaborations as well as adult artists working together, including one large group. Participants in the free craft nights on Thursday at Clover Recycling in Warren combined for a large-scale work that measures about 5-feet-by-4-feet.
“That was a surprise,” Wheeler said. “I didn’t know they were bringing that. They have so many materials and they’re all separated out. A lot of those materials are going to their next phase in recycling. They’re already trash, so they’re free to use, and they do these crafting nights and then everybody that showed up to those craft nights contributed to it. They had to bring it in a truck.”
In addition to the “Crafty Clovers,” participants include: Tony Armeni, Connie Kolarik, James Shuttic, Ashley Kellar, Amber Howard, Teddy Cruz, Jake Brandenstein, Anne Vallas, Rowan Robertson, Auggie Black, Kayla Latimer, Seth Robertson, Fiona Robertson, Gia Black, Rachel Clifford, Bernadette Lim, Jessica Mackey, Jess Carothers, Beth Carson, Jaquelyn Bader, Bonnie Loomis, Tim Milliner, Kathryn Infante, Ed Carson, James Boyce, April Mohn, Jess Rankin, CJ Brooks, Chai Greene, Ani Mastrey, Jumari Lyons, Apryle Elizabeth, Teddrick Smith, Kenny Smith, Brandon Carrion, Drew Guyer, Emily Fetsko, Lilah Shuttic, Julia Shuttic, Crash Fitzgerald and Dovey Wuvey.
Wheeler said the response was good enough for the inaugural Collab on Park that he can envision doing it again, and collaborative pieces also would be welcome at any of Art on Park’s themed exhibitions.
A reception is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Art on Park, 180 N. Park Ave. The gallery space normally has its receptions on Saturday, but it moved this one to Friday to coincide with the Night Market at Modern Methods Brewing Company, 125 David Grohl Alley, Warren, which features many local artists and creators.
Entertainment for the reception will be provided by Emotional Labor, an indie-folk duo featuring Devon Cleland and Steve Pownell.
“I wanted to definitely have music that was collaborative, rather than just a single person, since it’s a collaboration show,” Wheeler said.
If you go …
WHAT: Collab on Park
WHEN: Reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Art on Park, 180 N. Park Ave., Warren
HOW MUCH: Admission is free.



