Attorney to artist: Todd Bergert will showcase work in Massillon Museum exhibition

MASSILLON − Todd Bergert had no creative background when he randomly took painting lessons seven years ago at the Canton Museum of Art.

The local attorney always thought artists possessed natural ability. Painting refined pieces would be out of reach for someone like him whose only experience was high school art class, the Lake Township resident assumed.

But he's personally proven his assumptions wrong.

The workers compensation lawyer has evolved into a passionate oil painter whose realism has captured the eye of art galleries in South Carolina and Georgia while gaining acclaim at Stark County shows.

"I had never picked up a paint brush in my life," the 58-year-old Bergert recalled of the classes he took from longtime local artist Frank Dale. "Other than to paint the living room, and I just fell in love with it."

"I didn't realize it was a skill you could develop just like any other skill," he said of painting. "I'm kind of loving that I found a passion later on in life."

Bergert is among the more than 50 artists whose work will be showcased at the Stark County Artists Exhibition, which opens with a public reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Massillon Museum in the Aultman Health Foundation Gallery. Admission is free.

Massillon Museum is at 121 Lincoln Way E in downtown Massillon. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or go to massillonmuseum.org.

The Stark County Artists Exhibition will be on display through Jan. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays except for holidays.

Featured in Studio M will be the ink drawings of Elena Masrour in the exhibition, "Bingo, I’m the King, Now!" Masrour is an Iranian artist who lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Painting subjects include David Bowie, gummy bears and bourbon

Alexandra Nicholis Coon, executive director of the Massillon Museum, said Bergert is an example of the range of artists whose work is presented in the Stark County Artists Exhibition, a juried show.

Bergert's painting subjects have included bourbon and cigars, gummy bears, cattle, David Bowie and the famous Honus Wagner 1910 tobacco baseball card.

"I think the realism type of art I have meshes really well with being a lawyer," he said. "The attention to details stuff."

Colleagues in legal circles are often surprised to learn of his artistic pursuits.

"I think it's just a reminder that people are multi-faceted," said Bergert, whose artwork has been recognized at Cuyahoga Valley Art Center and Little Art Gallery at North Canton Public Library. "We don't go home and read lawbooks at night − we have other interests.

"It's just opened up a whole new world."

Newcomers join veteran artists in the Stark County Artists Exhibition.

"I think there's such a wealth of talent in our community, but also the beauty of this exhibition is it's open to anyone over the age of 18 who lives or has ever lived in Stark County, or people who have moved away but they grew up here," Coon said. The exhibition also is open to artists who work in Stark County.

Who is judging the Stark County Artists Exhibition?

Jurors are Cleveland artist Davon Brantley; Melissa Stallard, associate professor and photography area coordinator at the University of Akron; and Steve Mountz, an artist and art instructor in Salem.

Alexa Polinari coordinates the longtime show, which accepts art of any medium.

Exhibiting artists include Claire Murray Adams, Rosemary Anderson, Rodney Atwood, Alexia Avdelas, Charles Bonakoski, Chris Borello, Lou Camerato, Peter Castillo, Paul B. Codispoti, Therese Cook, Ron Copeland, David L. Dingwell, Laura Donnelly, Steve Ehret, Linda Faulkner, Shea Flaherty, Robert Gallik, Timothy Hirst, Bruce Humbert, Christine Janson, David Jentgen, Erika Katherine, Annabelle Kim, Judi Krew, David L. Kuntzman, Susan Kurtz, Ted Lawson, Sam Lilenfield, Amy V. Lindenberger, Sally Priscilla Lytle, Miranda Marsh, Sharon Frank Mazgaj, Susan McClelland, Mal McCrea, Daniel McLaughlin, Jessica Morton, Emily Orsich, Natividad Lopez Ortiz, Patricia Zinsmeister Parker, Mark V. Pitocco, Brian Robinson, Priscilla Roggenkamp, Kathryn Skidmore, Sari Sponhour, Bruce Stebner, Alex Strader, Chad Troyer, Pat Mather Waltz, Jo Westfall and Gail Wetherell-Sack.

'I would put these artists against any in the nation.'

Bergert said the Stark County Artists Exhibition features top-tier art talent.

"There are great artists in Stark County," said the 1983 GlenOak High School graduate. "I would put these artists against any in the nation. There are fantastic artists here in this relatively small corner of the world here in Stark County."

The University of Akron School of Law graduate's paintings are sold at Grand Bohemian Gallery in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Bergert said the Massillon show has inspired and challenged him.

None of his pieces were accepted into the Stark County Artists Exhibition some years. All three of his oil paintings were selected this year − the maximum number allowed per artist.

"You kind of try to up your game every year," Bergert said.

Coon said the artists are collectively diverse.

"There are garments, fibers, sculpture, printmaking, digitally created artwork and photography," Coon said. "It really runs the gamut, which is exciting, and it's really meant to be a celebration of what this county represents in terms of its artistic landscape ..."

91 artists competing for awards and cash prizes

Massillon Museum received 221 submissions from 91 artists. A total of 72 art pieces were selected representing 51 artists.

Thursday's reception will include awards at 7 p.m. Prizes are given in the amounts of $100, $200 and $300.

Competition drives Bergert, a resident artist at The Hub Art Factory in downtown Canton.

"I know people who don't compete, and I think that's a mistake," said Bergert, who has more than 6,000 followers on Instagram. "If your goal is to get better ... I think it's just like sports − you get better from playing with other athletes."

Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Attorney Todd Bergert, local artists showcase work in Massillon show