White Rabbit Galleries Provides Exhibition Opportunities and More for Summit County Artists

By Grace Carter

White Rabbit Galleries (WRG) is advancing the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan’s Priority 4- Talent and Priority 6- Resources by providing space for local artists to create, display, and offer their art for sale. Additionally, WRG strives to promote the arts and offer educational opportunities and art classes to the community.

Artists Molly Brown and Laura Smith created WRG in 2021 to provide opportunities for local artisans to create, sell, and educate the community. WRG is a nonprofit community arts center featuring multiple galleries, resident artists, working studio spaces, and a consignment shop. It is located in the Weigand Building at 571 W. Tuscarawas Avenue in the heart of Barberton's Arts & Entertainment District.

Molly Brown, executive creative director of WRG, invited local artist Care Hanson to have a solo exhibition in the space. “It’s all been quite a gift. Her offer nudged me into developing new work,” Hanson said of the show. “White Rabbit Galleries is in a great location. The resident artists I met were welcoming and enthusiastic about their work and the classes offered there.”

Hanson enjoys painting large-scale work, but her home studio space is limited. One workaround has been stacking smaller canvases into diptychs and quadriptychs. “These paintings add some extra fun and challenge to my typical way of working. I usually give myself the goal of trying to make the finished piece versatile–working as one large or multiple smaller paintings,” said Hanson. “The title [of the show], Better Together, is intended to express my feelings about the paintings, the gallery, and the viewers. I love the way art connects people and encourages interaction and conversations.”

“Supporting local arts is not merely an investment in creativity, but a commitment to fostering a thriving community where imagination knows no bounds. White Rabbit is proud to provide a space for artists and the community to grow together. The title of Care’s show could not be more true,” said Molly Brown.

Better Together is on view at WRG through September 16. WRG is open Wednesday-Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.