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Release Date: Thursday, January 3rd 2013
STEM School Learners Light Up the Night at First Night® Akron 2013
Time Warner Cable Connect A Million Minds grant funds entrepreneurial illumination endeavor
Akron, OH - Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) has partnered with Time Warner Cable, a past First Night button artist, and twelve learners from the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM School to create sculptural, solar-powered luminaries to add interest and illumination to events in Downtown Akron. The fifteen sculptures will make their debut at First Night Akron 2013 in front of the John S. Knight Center, a favorite venue sponsored by Time Warner Cable.
Learners at the school worked after school with artist, 2010 First Night Akron button artist, and art educator Julie Hogarth and her husband, John Hogarth, to design, develop and craft the luminary sculptures from wire, solar cells, bulbs, pipe, pantyhose, gesso and paint. “Comparing the supply list to the finished product is a lesson in the power of technology combined with imaginative inspiration,” states Joe Richardson, Manager of Community Relations for Time Warner Cable Northeast Ohio & Western Pennsylvania, “which is a great match for the purpose of the Connect A Million Minds program.”
The sculptures are a whimsical combination of creative design and technical function that can provide white or colored light depending upon the needs of the event. The sculptures have already garnered questions about where they are available for purchase. “Students have worked two or three nights a week since October on a journey through the design process they learned in their engineering classes of brainstorming, considering constraints, designing, testing and redesigning,” said Julie Hogarth. “Reaching the finished product took us down many paths, searching for what we all thought would meet the requests for the project.”
DAP challenged the school to come up with an exciting way to use light to attract and engage Downtown visitors. The organization noted the need to have creative, eye-catching lighting to encourage walkable corridors. These will be especially useful during nighttime events like the Downtown Akron Artwalks that resume the first Saturday of the month in February. The challenge was for portable, self-powered points of interest using light to create connections between spaces. “It’s inspiring to have young people coming up with solutions to problems. We are energized by the presence of these vibrant young minds in Downtown and are grateful for the support of Time Warner Cable in keeping those minds active and engaged in their neighborhood,” said Suzie Graham, DAP President.
New attractions and crowd favorites return for this New Year’s Eve event
Gather at the Main Stage just before the midnight FirstMerit Fireworks as Gospel Meets Symphony, Ryan Humbert, Gospel Wonders, Akron Derbytown Chorus, Mame Daiko, fire twirlers, stilt walkers and the revelers of First Night Akron sing in the New Year with an Akron rendition of “Some Nights” by FUN.
Weddings and renewals have become a treasured tradition at First Night Akron. This year’s wedding ceremony will take place on the grand staircase of the Akron Civic Theatre at 9 p.m. following the FirstMerit Children’s Fireworks. DAP ambassador Amy Stoneberger and fiancé Brett Greathouse will join with 27 couples gathered on the stairs to say “I do.”
It’s New Year’s Eve and you don’t have a New Year’s resolution? Don’t worry. The Hall of Resolution can help. Designed for those who have a resolution in mind or who need guidance, support and ideas, this feature will have something to meet most every need. Whether it’s support for weight loss, learning a new skill, getting organized, getting healthy or just exploring possibilities of getting support for a life-changing goal 13 community partners will have unique products and services on display.
One of the new partners in the Hall of Resolution, MOVABLE, has outfitted two DAP clean and safe ambassadors with a MOVband activity monitor to track how many moves occur during preparations for First Night in the month of December. The final results will be calculated at the event and revealed at MOVABLE’s display table at the end of the evening.
Other partners in the Hall of Resolution are: Akron Beacon Journal, Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, Cascade Locks Park Assoc., Earth Fare, Fitness 19, It Works! Global, Nazareth Housing Dev. Corp., Northwestern Mutual, Michael Oddo Hypnotist, Time to Spare LLC, Time Warner Cable and Tubbs Chiropractic
Admission Button Sales Locations
First Night Akron 2013 admission buttons are $10. Children under 10 are admitted FREE when accompanied by a button-wearing adult. Buttons are available for purchase at: Acme Fresh Markets, participating FirstMerit Bank branches, the Akron Beacon Journal Customer Service Desk, Angel Falls Coffee in Highland Square, Carolyn’s Cupboard in Wadsworth, Gasoline Alley in Bath, The Library Shop on Main, Lock 3 and Stage Left Boutique at the Akron Civic Theatre. On the evening of December 31, admission buttons will be available at Acme Fresh Markets until 8 p.m. and at Stage Left Boutique at the Akron Civic Theatre and The Library Shop on Main in Downtown Akron.
Thank you to our generous First Night sponsors:
Platinum Site Sponsors: Acme Fresh Markets, Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com, Akron Community Foundation/Mutual Health Services/Medical Mutual, City of Akron, County of Summit, FirstMerit Foundation, GAR Foundation, PNC Bank and Time Warner Cable. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Gold Stage Sponsors: C.L. Davis Jewelers, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, John S. Knight Center, Kenneth L. Calhoun, a KeyBank Trust, METRO Regional Transit Authority and The University of Akron.
Silver Project Sponsors: Huntington Bank, Labels & Letters, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation, Robert O. & Annamae Orr Family Foundation, Pat Catan’s Craft Centers, Roetzel & Andress LPA, Sisler McFawn Foundation and the Welty Family Foundation.
Bronze Activity Sponsors: A. Schulman, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Brouse McDowell, Cohen & Company, County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Services Board, GoJo Industries, Inc., Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation, Moffitt Foundation, The Murdough Foundation, R.C. Musson & Katharine M. Musson Charitable Foundation, Charles E. and Mabel M. Ritchie Memorial Foundation and Lloyd L. and Louis K. Smith Memorial Foundation.
Special Friends: Akron Summit Community Action, Inc., Glenn R. and Alice V. Boggess Memorial Foundation, Coca-Cola, The Maynard Family Foundation, Miller’s Party Rental Center.
Official Radio Partner: 98.1 WKDD