Excellent Exhibitions and Fantastic Festivals

Bunchs Lunchbox  |  07/08/2010 7:00 am

By now, you should know that the old Toledo mantra “There's nothing to do here” is a myth. Especially in the summertime, Toledo is abundant with activity. This weekend is yet another testament that Toledo is as happenin' a place as you could hope to live.

If you're a real go-getter, purveyor of parties, and/or connoisseur of connections, you'll make it to Toledo's two biggest art exhibitions of the year, cumulatively one excellent exhibition, as well as both the Annual Lagrange Street Polish Festival and Annual African-American Festival. Here's the digs:

Excellent Exhibitions:

Toledo Area Artists Show: Commonly known as the TAA Show, this is by far the longest-running local art exhibition, and one of the longest-running community art events in the nation. Celebrating its 92^nd year, the TAA is organized annually by the Toledo Federation of Art Societies (TFAS) in partnership with the Toledo Museum of Art. This year, the exhibition features 103 works by more than 80 area artists, selected from more than 750 entries from Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Work represented in the show includes everything from drawings and paintings to glass art and sculpture to photography and design. The show opens this Friday, July 9 in the Museum's Works on Paper Galleries, and kicks off with a 7:30 p.m. Awards Reception in TMA's Great Gallery. TAA runs through August 22. Free and open to the public. 2445 Monroe St. www.toledomuseum.org

Salon des Refus?s: Across the street from the Museum, in the Professional Building, you'll find the other side of the TAA Show, the Salon des Refus?s (a.k.a. The Refusal Show), located in the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo's Parkwood Gallery. Organized by local arts nonprofit PRIZM, the Refusal Show gets its name and heritage from an exhibition held in Paris in 1863 by Napoleon III. The artists whose work had been rejected by the prestigious Paris Salon decided to have their own “exhibit of rejects.” Playing off the underground theme, PRIZM's tagline for the show is “Where the rebel artists go to (dis)play. The Refusal Show is non-juried, though artists must have been rejected from the TAA Show to participate. Ribbons are awarded for Best in Show and Runners-up. Featuring nearly 100 works of art, the Refusal Show tangibly answers the age-old art questions, “What is art? And who gets to decide what's good?” Ultimately, for visitors, these two exhibitions play together quite nicely, with folks gallivanting back and forth from TMA to the Parkwood, and together they offer a well-rounded view of the wide array of talent the Toledo area has to offer. Free and open to the public. 1838 Parkwood Ave. www.myprizm.org
(Pictured right: Clifton Harvey's "At The Gaping Threshold")

Fantastic Festivals:

Lagrange Street Polish Festival: For 26 years and counting, the Lagrange Street Polish Festival has been celebrating Toledo's wide-reaching Polish heritage and helping keep alive one of Toledo's most notable historic corridors. Serving authentic Polish food, offering up live Polish polka music and dancing, and, of course, pumping out plenty of beer and beverages, the Polish Festival is Toledo's largest street festival. Entertainment ranges from an array of authentic Polish music, to a pierogi eating contest, children's activities, and even a polka dancing contest. For ease of access, there's even a shuttle that, for just $1, will take you from Central Catholic High School to the heart of the festivities. The best part, the festival benefits the Polish Village, with monies earned going back into the community to help renovate homes, provide free paint to homeowners, and award scholarships to students. The Polish Festival is presented by United North, a recent merger between the Lagrange Development Corporation and the NorthRiver Development Corporation, who is working to revitalize Toledo's Olde North End, known as ONE Village. The festivities take place this weekend, Friday, July 9 through Sunday, July 11 on Lagrange St., between Central Ave. and Mettler St. Admission is $4, $3 for seniors, children 6 and under free. Sunday admission is $2. Hours are 5 ? 11 p.m. Friday, Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. www.polishfestival.org

African-American Festival: A relative new-comer to Toledo's amazing series of summer ethnic festivals, the 6^th Annual African-American Festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11, at University of Toledo's Scott Park Campus, corner of Nebraska and Parkside. The event kicks off with a parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and features live blues, jazz, and gospel music all weekend long, not to mention great food, a health tent, and rides (kids ride free!). Saturday's music line-up includes Ramona Collins (pictured right), The Skip Turner Band, Joyce Cooling, and The Manhattans. Sunday's music includes the Rance Allen Group, the Friendship Baptist Church Chior, Alexander Zonjic with the Motor City Horns, and Nick Colionne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the festival is $6, $5 for seniors, and free for children 2 and under. For info, 419-255-8876.

Happy arting and happy festivising, friends! Have a fun and safe weekend. If you're looking for a little late night live music action, check out what's happening at Listen Up Toledo or Gig Guide.