Mayor Don Walters is proud to announce “We the People,” a temporary art exhibit that is currently displayed at High Bridge Glens Park in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. The “We the People” installation is a series of portraits that feature community members who hail from other parts of the world and are living in northeast Ohio. The project is a collaboration between the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Collide: Cuyahoga Falls and the Global Understanding Research Initiative group at Kent State University.
“The City of Cuyahoga Falls is honored to host the ‘We the People’ exhibit in celebration of our diverse populations in Cuyahoga Falls and to provide public access to art in our community,” stated Mayor Don Walters. “I am grateful to all of the community members who are featured in the portrait exhibit for sharing the noble stories of their personal journeys to our region. By seeing their faces and reading their stories, we all become better connected to our fellow community members, and our neighborhoods become stronger and more closely knit.”
“Collide: Cuyahoga Falls wanted to bring the ‘We the People’ exhibit to our downtown so that it was accessible to all. This art form is a way to use imagery as a potential avenue to create empathy and compassion for diversity in our community. Viewing art in this capacity creates cultural meaning and connection for those viewing the art and allows them to be inspired to social action. Inclusion and diversity are critical priorities for art as it brings a voice to those often underrepresented in the art world. We are grateful for the partnership of the City of Cuyahoga Falls and Kent State University’s Global Understanding Research Initiative,” said Kathy Romito, Vice-President of Collide: Cuyahoga Falls.
The portraits were taken by photographer Erin LaBelle. The public exhibit includes 25 panels that are 84 by 60 inches. The portraits feature a wide array of diverse ages and ethnicities, along with the story of each individual’s journey and their personal message to the community. The exhibit will run through Sunday, December 7, 2020. High Bridge Glens Park is open daily from dawn until dusk.