Art in the Park 2026 is made possible through the generous support of local businesses, organizations, and community partners. Thank you once again to everyone who donated or sponsored this year. Award Sponsors Best of Show George Brown & Assoc. ($1000) First Place Medina Gem ($800) Second Place Brown, Amodio & Chandler ($600) Third Place Main Street Medina ($400) Honorable Mention: # 1 Landscaping ($200) Awards of Distinction ($100) One Lucky Dog Bakery In Honor of the City of Medina In Honor of the Medina County Art Teachers Animal Crackers Pet Care The Hope Collection Waite Funeral Homes Scholarship Donations Acme Fresh Market Foundation ($1000) Brown, Amodio, and Chandler ($400) # 1 Landscaping ($100) Velvet's Framing ($100) One Lucky Dog Bakery ($100) Main Street Medina ($100) Elements Boutique ($50) Gift Cards Donated to the Scholarship Raffle Valleaire Golf Club ($120) Longhorn Steakhouse ($50) Corkscrew Saloon ($50) The Hope Collection ($50) Keller Meats ($25) Elements Boutique ($25) The Center Café ($25) In Kind Donation for Printing Minuteman Press ($100)

The 52nd annual Art in the Park is approaching fast, and we wanted to let you know about some improvements we hope you will appreciate. Every year after Art in the Park, our committee takes measure of how the festival went. We listen to artists and guests; we make suggestions based on our own observations. So while you may think you know everything there is to know about Art in the Park, get ready for some great changes. Bigger and Better When we put out the call for artists, we had no idea that the response would be so good. We had a record number of artists apply for a space this year. We are trying hard to make space for at least 140, which will also be an increase. Get ready for artwork by some extremely talented fine artists. New Locations The Medina County Art League headquarters/gallery and the scholarship raffle tent have traditionally been next to the gazebo. In order to free up a few more spaces for artists, we have located these two tents in the low-walled concrete area on the north side of the square. You can conveniently get information about membership in the MCAL and our programs while also purchasing raffle tickets. (Did you know that most of our artists donate an item to our raffle? Then there are other prizes and gift cards available as well). Our regular DJ Rick will still be in the gazebo with music to enjoy and important announcements. New Tote Bags! We love awarding scholarships to talented high school art students in Medina County. We gave away $10,000 in March, 2026! Now we are selling Art in the Park tote bags to help boost that fund. They are colorful; they are strong and have great pockets; they will hold your purchases at Art in the Park. These bags would make great gifts, too. They will sell for just $20 at the scholarship raffle tent. Hurry – they will go fast! (Please note: MCAL does not take credit or debit cards. Cash and check only.) Art Projects! We want everyone to exercise their artistic muscles. MCAL member Kellie Conetsco has come up with a couple of fun, easy, and FREE projects open to everyone. (The art project tent will also be located near the MCAL headquarters.) New Food Vendors We have a few new food trucks joining us at Art in the Park this summer. One even promises some vegan options. There should be something for everyone to enjoy between these trucks and the many great restaurants in Medina. Another Fox 8 Interview Linda Long and Bobbie Foy will once again be guests on New Day Cleveland on Fox 8. The segment will take place on July 15 during the 11:00 hour. We will see you on July 19 – rain or shine!

May 18, 7:00 PM at the Root Candle Community Room 640 W. Liberty St., Medina, OH 44256 Through layered compositions in watercolor, ink, and oil, Cleveland-based artist Cara Romano explores the fleeting interplay of sunlight and shadow. Rooted in a decades-long practice, her work blends abstraction with delicate detail, creating meditative, time-based images that honor both the cosmic and the everyday. For more info; here's a recent article from CAN journal about her upcoming show opening April 17 at 78th St. Studios. Cara Romano, In Gadi’s Living Room, watercolor and ink on canvas, 24 X 30 inches, 2024. Cara Romano, Morning Meshes, watercolor on canvas, 18 X 24 inches, 2022.

The Medina County Art League will present a member exhibition at Summit Art Space in Akron, running from May 14 through July 11, 2026. The show will be held in the Intersections gallery, offering participating artists an opportunity to share their work with a broader regional audience. Submission Details Current members of the Medina County Art League, as of March 1, 2026, are eligible to submit one original piece. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works are accepted in any medium, provided they meet presentation standards. Artwork must be the artist’s own concept and execution; reproductions, including giclées, are not permitted. Framing and installation requirements apply, including the use of wire and D-rings for hanging, and all work must be in clean, professional condition. Three-dimensional pieces must be suitable for transport through standard doorways and elevators. Artists planning to exhibit are asked to contact Kathy Stokes-Shafer in advance at kflow99@gmail.com . This initial outreach helps organizers assess the number and scale of submitted works. Summit Art Space will then issue an official consignment form via JotForm, which must be completed to finalize participation. Artists are also asked to tape a copy of the label at the bottom of the document attached below to the back of their artwork. Artwork drop-off is scheduled for Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. An additional drop-off window is available on Tuesday, April 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for those unable to attend the weekend times. Pickup will take place on July 13, 2026. For artists who cannot transport their work to Akron, assistance is available. Coordinated drop-off and return will be arranged through a designated meeting point at Buehler’s parking lot on the same dates. Interested participants should contact Kathy Stokes-Shafer directly to make arrangements. Gallery Dates An opening reception will be held on May 14 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Gallery hours during the exhibition will be Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. There is no entry fee and no awards associated with this exhibition. Sales will be managed by Summit Art Space, with a 30% commission applied to all transactions. For additional information or coordination, artists may contact Kathy Stokes-Shafer via email or by phone at 216-496-3178.

Thank you for your interest in participating in Art in the Park 2026. The information below outlines important dates, artist responsibilities, exhibit space requirements, available support services, and opportunities to contribute to the event's scholarship program. Please review these details carefully to ensure a successful show experience. Timeline January 1, 2026 - Registration Opens March 30, 2026 - Registration Closes April 20, 2026 - Final Jury Decisions Week of April 20, 2026 - Artists notified by way of email June 1, 2026 - BOOTH FEE DEADLINE Early July - Welcome packet emailed. Includes artist parking, welcome letter, final instructions, and program with placement assignment July 18, 2026, 6 pm - Artists Setup Day (scholarship donations can be submitted) July 19, 202,6 6 am - Artists Setup Day (scholarship donations can be submitted at registration booth, refreshments available) July 19, 2026, 10 am to 5 pm - Day of Show (scholarship donations ready for pickup by 8:30 a.m. or submitted by 9:00 a.m.) Artist Responsibility The artist is required to be on-site throughout the show. No dealers or agents are permitted. Artists are responsible for setting up their display with appropriate weather protection, keeping space free of clutter, and may not start tearing down before 5 pm. We strictly enforce booth tear-down! Sales tax is the artist's responsibility. The current Medina County sales tax is 6.75%. Sales tax rates are available at www.taxes.ohio.gov, select Ohio Taxes, Sales & Use, and then Tax Rates and Changes. All artists should carry liability insurance in case of damage to their artwork or booth. Exhibit Spaces Approximately 140 artist exhibit spaces are available this year. Standard spaces are 10' wide x 10' deep and should not extend outside those dimensions. Booths should also be set back 5’ from the sidewalk. Space between booths will be determined by the number of booths entered into the show. If you need more space, please consider purchasing a double space. A limited number of double spaces are available. Tents must be fire-resistant rated, and the corners must be weighted with a minimum of 25 lbs. GENERATORS, STAKES, OR GROUND COVER ARE NOT PERMITTED! The use of any material to alter the park ground, including but not limited to mulch, pallets, carpet, or otherwise, is strictly prohibited PER THE CITY OF MEDINA. Artists are responsible for the maintenance and clean-up of their space. Support Services Refreshments, signage, free parking, overnight security, booth sitters, set up assistance (Scout Troops) for transporting booth contents to/from vehicles (donations are encouraged). Statewide advertising will also be provided by the art league, in local and regional newspapers, on the internet, on the radio, on street signs, etc. ​ Volunteers assisting artists are not liable for any damage to the artists' property during Art in the Park. Art Scholarship Donations Each artist is KINDLY ENCOURAGED to donate one item of your work to the MCAL Art Scholarship Booth. Monetary donations are also accepted. Artists can leave donations at the registration table during Saturday evening setup, or have it ready Sunday morning by 8:30 a.m. for pick-up by a member of the Art in the Park Committee. All proceeds will be awarded to graduating Medina County high school seniors continuing their art education in college.

The Medina County Art League will be hosting a 3-day overnight art tour this June. Join us Tuesday – Thursday, June 16 – 18, 2026! We will depart from the Regal Cinema parking lot in Medina at 7:30 am, and will return to same location at 10 pm on the 18th. Package Features Great Day! Tours pre-departure package   with itineraries, baggage tags, & name tags Roundtrip transportation  aboard a fully equipped deluxe motorcoach 2 nights of hotel accommodations  in the Chadds Ford, PA area (Hilton, Marriott, or similar property) with breakfast each morning 3 additional meals Admissions to Longwood Gardens  – One of the world’s premier horticultural display gardens, showcasing more than 10,000 species and varieties of plants spread out across more than 1,100 acres. Brandywine Museum of Art  – Discover an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century mill with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine River. Your group’s visit will include: Guided Museum Tour:  Your group can choose a tour of the museum’s general highlights and collection, a tour focused on the Wyeth family of artists, or a tour of the museum’s special exhibitions. N.C. Wyeth House & Studio Tour:  In 1911, with the proceeds from his illustrations for Treasure Island , N.C. Wyeth purchased 18 acres of land in the village of Chadds Ford where he built his house and studio. Here he set down roots, which have nourished a family of extraordinary creativity for more than a century. Through this experience, your group will get to know the Wyeth family more intimately, discovering how it all began. Andrew Wyeth Studio Tour:  Andrew Wyeth painted many of his most important works of art in his Chadds Ford studio between 1940 and 2008, inspired by the people, architecture, and landscapes of Chadds Ford. Extremely private during his lifetime, this tour will give your group a truly unique opportunity to see where he once lived and worked. Self-Guided Exploration of the Galleries, Gardens, and Gift Shop:  Enjoy free time to wander through the rest of the museum at your group’s leisure. Overnight Tour Pricing Tour price is $695 based on double occupancy. Total is payable upon sign up as we are near the trip date. Please call or email Cheryl Sturgeon to sign up or more details or questions. Important Details Add $170 for each passenger in a single / Deduct $56 for each passenger in a triple. The balance is due at sign up. Direct any questions to Cheryl Sturgeon. csturgeo@neo.rr.com All payments will be made to the Medina County Art League

Bridget D Ginley, recipient of the MCAL scholarship in 1989, is an artist in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in 1970, she attended Kent State School of Art, earning a BFA in Painting ( 1989 -1993 ) and a MFA in Curatorial Studies ( 1999-2002 ). She has owned and operated several galleries in the Tremont, Ohio City and various spaces in downtown Cleveland. Her professional endeavors include Admissions Recruiter for the School of Visual Arts in NYC, Cleveland Institute of Art and Virginia Marti, art juror for National Scholastics Portfolio Competition and Regional Manager of the Progressive Collection.  Her works have been exhibited at the Maria Neil Gallery, the V & A Gallery at 78th Street Studios, Waterloo Arts, Lorain Community College, Studio  2091 in Akron, Akron Soul Train, Zygote Press, Spaces, Cleveland State, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Dead Horse Gallery and the Barth Galleries in Tremont. Her last position was for Cedar Point as a seasonal decor artist. Currently she is a mixed media artist exploring her old photographs in reverse gel printing , solar and cyanotype printing.

Each Year the Medina County Art League presents scholarships to local high school students to further their education. In 2025, the MCAL was able to award $7500 to some deserving student artists. This year, 2026, we again were able to increase the awards for a total of $10,000! One of Medina County Art League’s goals is to provide educational opportunities for our members and for the community. We do so by hosting inexpensive and free to members workshops, but we really shine when it comes to giving out scholarships. These scholarships go out to Medina County graduating high school seniors who are furthering their education in an arts related field. Their work is always fabulous. See how all that hard earned scholarship fund is being spent. Because of the hard work of the scholarship committee and members and the generosity of our community, in 2026 the MCAL was again able to raise the value of each scholarship by an additional 25% for the second year in a row! Best of Show – Cameron Grog $2500 was awarded to Cameron Grog of Wadsworth High School for best of show. First Place – Rebecca Wesig $2000 was awarded to Rebecca Wesig of Wadsworth High School for first place. Second Place – Ashton Lewis $1800 was awarded to Asthon Lewis of Highlands High School for second place. Third Place & Library Choice – Leah Andrews $1500 was awarded to Leah Andrews of Medina High School for third place. An additional $500 was awarded to Leah for the "Library Choice" award. 2026 Marks the first year ever for the "Library Choice" award. Honorable Mention – Alexis Mutch $800 was awarded to Alexis Mutch of Highland High School. Honorable Mention – Natalia Vujas $800 was awarded to Natalia Vujas of Wadsworth High School.

Akron artist Brian Shellito will conduct a critique session for MCAL members on Monday, March 23 at 7 pm at Root Community Room. Not only is he an instructor of Visual Communication and Design at Kent State University, he brings a wealth of experience and a wide history of exhibitions and awards.  A freelance illustrator since graduating from the University of Nebraska with degrees in painting, biology, and art history, he is a plein air painter as well as editorial cartoonist, staff artist, copy and news editor for the Akron Beacon Journal,  among numerous other interests. He conducts the Friday morning life drawing sessions for Akron Society of Artists and brings a finely practiced critical eye with helpful suggestions. Members are invited to bring one piece of art to present for critique.

At the February MCAL meeting president Linda Long presented a check to Main Street Medina’s George Sam and Manfred Keck in support of the new Bee Park Project being constructed just south of Medina Square. They issued a special invitation to our Art League members to participate in this mural competition, which will be a highlight of the new city park. For more information, contact manfred@mainstreetmedina.com .

ART OPPORTUNITY! Main Street Medina will be sharing details of this competition during the first 10 minutes of our February 23rd monthly meeting. The contest was introduced in yesterday's Newsday Tuesday, goes on social media today, and has been sent to the Ohio Arts Council website, etc. The selected artwork will receive $5,000 award for their artwork design created in a 20” x 30” format for the 20’ x 30’ mural. To enter the contest click here .

What's That? The Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition is the annual holiday show presented by the Alliance for the Visual Arts (AVA). This Akron art exhibition is open to all members of AVA organizations: Akron Society of Artists (ASA), Artists of Rubber City (AoRC), Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC), Medina County Art League, the Ohio Collage Society and Women’s Art League of Akron (WAL). This year’s exhibition juror is Jeffrey Katzin, Senior Curator of The Akron Art Museum . Winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a hand-made kaleidoscope and their artwork will be featured on next year’s exhibition promotions. Dates Still subject to change as the construction contract is through January 6, 2026 provided no delays! Exhibition Dates March 6 – April 26, 12–5:00pm Fridays and Saturdays only Call for Art Opens Mid–Late September, 2025 Submission Deadline November 24, 2025, 11:59pm Notifications Sent December 5, 2025 Drop Off Accepted Art/Installation February 9, 12–6:00pm Reception and Awards March 12, 5–8pm Awards Presented at 6:00pm Pickup of Unsold Artwork April 27, 12–6:00pm *Yes, we will have 2 Kaleidoscope shows in 2026 due to the extensive construction! Entry Fee $30 for up to 2 artwork submissions. Fees support the Alliance for the Visual Arts which pays for awards and expenses. Artwork cannot have been previously displayed in a Summit Artspace gallery. Awards First Place $200 Second Place $150 Third Place $100 There will also be four honorable mentions. Jurying Information Jurying will be done via digital image. Artists may submit up to two high quality digital images (.jpg, .pdf, .tiff, .png) of each 2D submission. Three images for 3D work. The images must accurately represent the finished work and accepted work must be professionally presented for exhibition (see notes below). All jurying is blind. Artist's names cannot be in the file name of digital images. Submissions that include the artist’s name will be disqualified. If artists contact the juror in regard to their piece(s) from the time of submission to the announcement of winners, artists shall be subject to disqualification from this and future exhibitions. Signatures on artwork will be covered for final jurying to ensure blindness of juror. This is a juried exhibition , meaning that a juried selection shall take place, dictating which images will hang in the limited space. Refunds are not issued for works not accepted into this exhibition. We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions. When submitting your work, if you don’t already have an account with Submittable , you can create one. You might write a sentence or two about the work entered before beginning the process of entering so you are ready when the question is asked. Do You Have Limited Computer Access and Need Help Submitting Your Application? We offer personal help also with photographing your work! Call/email 330-376-8480 ext 1 or natalie@summitartspace.org . for an appointment. Size and Weight Limits Final installation size of 2-D work cannot exceed 4' (48") wide or 7' (84") high. 3-D work must not exceed 39" in diameter or 7' (84") high, nor may any single component of the work exceed 50 pounds Display All wall-hung artwork must be wired with appropriate hardware for its weight; no saw tooth hangers. If wall mounted work absolutely cannot be wired, please indicate in the “Special Installation Requirements” section of the submission form. If there are special installation requirements, the artist must provide necessary hanging devices (i.e. magnets). All work must be labeled with the artist's name and contact information when delivered (in any format). Summit Artspace has a limited number of pedestals available. The artist may be required to provide a special display fixture appropriate for the installation (if necessary). Please note all displays are subject to Summit Artspace approval. Submitting diptychs are permitted as a single entry so long as the pieces are clearly defined as a single artwork. Please clearly label the entry as a diptych in the “Special Installation Requirements” and include desired measurements/layout between components. Combined artwork must meet the other specified restrictions. Suitability of works which must be suspended, require a power source, are between 35-50 pounds, are close to the size limitations or have other special installation requirements will be determined on an individual basis. Professional installation will be provided by Summit Artspace. Care will be taken when handling and displaying all artwork; however Summit Artspace waives responsibility for either damage or loss of artwork. Expectations 30% gallery commission will be collected on all artwork sold during the show. Summit Artspace will process all artwork sales and compensation to artists. All artists will be required to sign a gallery contract. Upon entering you will be added to the Summit Artspace contact list. We cannot accept artwork that is shipped, nor can we ship artwork. Questions? Please email Deanna Clucas at deannaclucas@gmail.com with any questions.