Art Bomb Brigade connects people, food and art in Akron’s Northside District
The University of Akron’s award-winning Art Bomb Brigade is set to unveil its first indoor mural for the new Countryside Public Market in Akron’s Northside District.
Twelve UA students from the Myers School of Art worked under the direction of art education faculty, Elisa Gargarella and co-director, Marissa McClellan. They spent the semester researching local farms and exploring ways to tie Countryside’s mission of connecting people, food and land into a 1000-square-foot public mural for its new year-round marketplace.
Members of the Art Bomb Brigade have finished their first indoor mural — which can be seen at the new Countryside Public Market in Akron’s Northside District.
“We are so excited to have Art Bomb Brigade breathe life into this new space with the mural,” said Alicia Hall, site manager for Countryside Public Market. “It adds so much to the atmosphere and our customers’ experience!”
Art Bomb Brigade murals have become landmarks in the region — works are housed at the Downtown Laundromat, Barberton Library, Community Support Services of Summit County, Chill Ice Cream Company, the Akron Sustainer, Echogen, Summit County Health Department, and Akron’s Historic Arts & Culture District.
The indoor mural unveiling takes place on Sunday, Jan. 27. Countryside Public Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At noon at the site, the Art Bomb Brigade will take the opportunity to thank everyone involved. The unveiling celebration will feature live music by Michael Harvan, food, and more than 25 Countryside Public Market vendors.
About the Art Bomb Brigade
The Art Bomb Brigade is a community arts program run out of the Myers School of Art at The University of Akron. Chosen from more than 500 entries by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knights Arts Challenge, the mission of the Art Bomb Brigade is to breathe new life into Akron neighborhoods through vibrant mural art. The Art Bomb Brigade has also been generously supported by Downtown Akron Partnership, Summit Metro Parks Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, and the GAR Foundation. To learn more, visit the Art Bomb Brigade online, or on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit the Myers School of Art online for more information.
About Countryside
Countryside is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people, food and land by promoting a resilient, sustainable food culture through programs, advocacy and education. Countryside is a leading expert and innovator in conservation farming and community-based food programs, working in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, its farms, community stakeholders and food entrepreneurs. For more information, visit Countryside online.
Media contacts: Lisa Craig, UA media relations specialist 330-972-7429 or lmc91@uakron.edu, or Elisa Gargarella, Art Bomb Brigade director, 330-972-8325 or gelisa@uakron.edu, or Marissa McClellan, Art Bomb Brigade assistant director, artbombbrigade@gmail.com.