Culture Shot

Canton Blues Fest is back for another year

This year’s Canton Blues Fest will bring a “southern blues-rock guitar wizard” and a “modern swamp-blues master” to Stark County. The 18th annual outdoor festival is set for June 7 and 8 in Centennial Plaza (formerly Market Square). Friday night’s headliner is Tinsley Ellis, a guitarist who recently released his album “Winning Hand,” and Saturday night’s headliner is Kenny Neal, a multi-instrumentalist with a Louisiana sound. Both are touring the country this summer and stopping in Canton before making international appearances.

By Alison Matas / June 13, 2019

May '19 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

“A Century of Sisterhood”

One hundred years of Massillon Woman’s Club history will be on display at the Massillon Museum this month. The exhibit “A Century of Sisterhood: A History of Massillon Woman’s Club” will open May 17 in the Fred F. Silk Community Room Gallery and run through June 23. The collection is expected to include between 40 and 50 pieces, mostly photographs.

By Alison Matas / May 13, 2019

April '19 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

“The Little Mermaid”

“The Little Mermaid,” presented by the Canton Ballet, is returning to the Canton Palace Theatre. Performed in 2015, the full-length ballet tells the familiar fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen and popularized by Disney.

By Alison Matas / April 5, 2019

March '19 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

Canton Artists League Show

This month, dozens of local artists will have their best pieces up for display in one place. March marks the return of the biennial Canton Artists League show held at the Canton Museum of Art. Members of the league—who range from professional to amateur—will showcase their work in the upper galleries of the museum. The art in the Visions 2019 exhibit will be judged and then awarded during a reception on March 3.

By Alison Matas / February 28, 2019

February '19 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

Author Imbolo Mbue

Cameroon native Imbolo Mbue lost her job as a market researcher during the financial crisis, and she had a hard time finding a new one. As she walked around New York City one day, she saw chauffeurs waiting on the street for their clients. It triggered her interest, partly because some of the chauffeurs looked like they could be African immigrants and partly because it made her wonder what the relationship between the driver and the executive was like.

By Alison Matas / February 6, 2019

January '19 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

2018 Canton Arts District All-Star: Evie Zimmer

Painter Evie Zimmer loves flowers so much she stops to take photos of them in the grocery store. And once she has those photos, she manipulates them until they look interesting, and then she gets and idea, and then she heads to the canvas.

By Alison Matas / January 9, 2019

December '18 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

“The Nutcracker”

The Canton Ballet’s annual performance of “The Nutcracker” once again will feature a member of the New York City Ballet. Sterling Hyltin, who has been a principal dancer with the New York company since 2007, will dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy alongside 300 students from the local ballet program.

By Alison Matas / December 4, 2018

November '18 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

‘Aida’ at Players Guild

The Players Guild Theatre in Canton has called in some star power for its upcoming performance of “Aida.”
Broadway performer and choreographer Brandon Michael will play the leading male role.

By Alison Matas / November 1, 2018

October '18 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

‘Alice in Wonderland’

An adaptation of the popular childhood story about a white rabbit, a curious little girl and a grinning Cheshire cat will be told through ballet later this month.

By Alison Matas / October 2, 2018

September '18 About Arts & Entertainment Culture Shot

Downtown Canton Flea

Canton is home to one of the largest makers markets in this part of Northeast Ohio. The Downtown Canton Flea began in 2015 as a downtown garage sale of sorts. It has evolved to become a collection of about 75 vendors who run vintage shops, sell antiques, make handmade products and operate food trucks.

By Alison Matas / August 31, 2018