Art teachers team up for weaving, photography show during Canton First Friday food drive

CANTON − Photographer Mal McCrea was inspired to combine her own art with that of textile weaving creator Stephen Tornero.

While playing around with a new lens, she took microscopic photos of textile fabrics at her home. Fuzzy and and out of focus, it didn't matter to McCrea, who excitedly sent them to Tornero.

With it was born their joint art show "Intertwined," which will be presented 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Alight Little Gallery in suite 217 at Kolp's Attic as part of November's First Friday festivities in downtown Canton.

Tornero's textile weavings will be shown alongside McCrea's abstract macro photography in a one-night exhibit.

"It's the idea of ... photographing something that is overtly ordinary to kind of hone in and shine a light on, if you will, the remarkable qualities of those fibers," McCrea said. "Bringing into awareness the detail, the color and landscape of the woven purpose."

Kolp's Attic is a collective of art studios with entrances at 318 Cleveland Ave. NW and 319 Court Ave. NW, next to Arcadia Grille.

"I think this is artwork that I don't see a lot in our area," Tornero said. "And I think it's interesting that we have two artists who are kind of in this conversation with each other, and see that textiles can be art, and these photographs can be this elevated form of art."

First Friday will include other art shows, including the public opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. of "Cultures Declassified − Americana, Maps, and Classical Masters" at Strauss Studios, 236 Walnut Ave. NE.

The exhibit in the Upstairs Gallery of Strauss Studios will feature the work of three Silo Arts Studio artists − Ronald Lee Babb, Grant Bowen and Rex Mitchell.

"Coming from a long tradition called 'outsider art,' these three artists are without formal art training, but who are formidable working artists with a passion for their craft and whose world revolves around their creativity," said a news release from Strauss Studios.

Many of the artists who work at Silo are adults who have lived lives coping with various special cognitive issues such as autism, the press release explained. “Their work is striking in its technical and creative achievements," said John Strauss, co-founder of Strauss Studios.

Patina Arts Centre, 324 Cleveland Ave. NW, will have a new resident artist showcase from 5 to 10 p.m.

First Friday's theme is "Giving! Yes We Can!" Multiple Stark County-based nonprofit groups will be part of First Friday. Canned food donations will be accepted for Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and Stark County Hunger Task Force.

Canton First Friday also will be partnering with the STEAMM Academy at Hartford Middle School in Canton. Students will be building statues out of canned goods that will be on display, including at Julliard Arts Center across from the Palace Theatre; Gator's Joint, 235 Cleveland Ave. NW; and Centennial Plaza.

Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, will be showing the Disney movie "Coco" at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $2.

Also, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Canton Latino Festival and The Labra Brothers will celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by hosting an altar ceremony from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday at The Auricle Venue + Bar, 201 Cleveland Ave. NW. Day of the Dead is a holiday widely observed in early November in Mexico and by those with Mexican heritage.

Here's what else you need to know about McCrea and Tornero's art show during First Friday.

Who is Stephen Tornero?

Tornero, 38, of Plain Township is both a textile artist and art teacher at Oakwood Middle School.

The Stark County native attended Plain Local Schools and received a master's degree in art education at Kent State University. In 2022, he was named art educator of the year by the Canton Symphony Orchestra.

Tornero is award-winning artist Canton Symphony Orchestra honors art, music educators of year

While a KSU student pursing his master's degree, he was interested in exploring other art forms and took a weaving class. "I had no idea what I was doing ... and decided to sign up with no pretense," Tornero said.

Learning how to measure and dye yarn and set up a loom, "I kind of fell in love with that way of doing art," said Tornero, who has a studio at Kolp's Attic.

Compared to painting, "I really like the kind of backwards process of the art," said Tornero, who creates woven wall art, as well as decorative and functional pieces. He also wove a ceiling installation as an art commission for a Cleveland restaurant.

Turning yarn into art

Creating a group of three woven textile pieces takes up to two months, depending on the complexity, Tornero said.

The process involves drawing before cutting, boiling and dying the yarn, then creating the art piece and fitting and stretching it into a frame, he explained.

Visitors to his studio aren't always sure what to make of his woven works, Tornero admitted.

"Maybe to them it's just a colorful blanket that I happen to put in a picture frame," he said. "To others, maybe they can see the embedded work in it."

Who is Mal McCrea?

McCrea, a 2003 Sandy Valley High School graduate, works in commercial photography while also exploring imagery as an artform.

A Kent State University graduate with minors in psychology and studio art and a concentration in business management, she teaches photography workshops at the Canton Museum of Art, as well as drawing at Stark State College and 2D graphics at Kent State University as an adjunct professor.

Commercial work includes food and beverage and consumer products. Clients include Gervasi Vineyards in Canton.

McCrea also paints at her Alight Photo + Art Studio at Kolp's Attic, which includes the adjoining Alight Little Gallery.

Open studios are featured every First Friday at Kolp's Attic, she said, noting that Tornero gives weaving demonstrations.

'Nice little journey'

Intimately photographing Tornero's textile art is another artistic avenue for McCrea.

"It's rare for people to see abstract photography as art," said the Plain Township resident. "We're used to seeing that museum kind of fine art painting or abstract painting ... so I think this show will touch on some specific forms that people aren't familiar with."

Around 15 total art pieces will be featured in the 100-square-foot gallery space.

"Hopefully, we can make that a nice little journey through there," McCrea said. "It's definitely cozy."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: First Friday in Canton includes weaving, photo art show and food drive