Do the Mu

Join the Massillon Museum and instructor Allison Smith on Saturday, April 1, for a Weaving Do the Mu. Participants will learn the basics of weaving on a small frame loom and will learn how to build simple patterns such as stripes and basketweave. Participants are encouraged to bring additional alternative materials to explore weaving with, such as fabric strips, paper, and plastic bags! All ages are welcome and all supplies will be provided. Guests can drop in anytime between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. This program is held in conjunction with the NEA Big Read in Massillon. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. For more information about programs in Massillon, Stark County, and beyond celebrating the 2023 NEA Big Read selection, Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, visit www.MassillonMuseum.org/BigRead.

Allison Hope Smith Hernandez (b. 1991) is an Ohio native artist and arts administrator. Smith is a double alumnus of Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, holding a BFA (2014) and MFA (2018) in studio art with a concentration in textiles. Smith works as the Operations & Digital Media Manager for FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, Cleveland, Ohio. Smith previously served as the Graduate Assistant to the Director of the Kent State University School of Art Collection & Galleries, and as Museum Assistant for Massillon Museum. Smith has exhibited in Ohio, as well as in Milwaukee, WI; Muncie, IN; Savannah, GA; and in New York City. One of Smith’s weavings was displayed from 2021–2023 in the US Ambassador to Burkina Faso’s residence in Ouagadougou.

Join the Massillon Museum and instructor Douglas Laubacher on Saturday, January 7, for the first Do the Mu of 2023! Have you ever had trouble coming up with your own cartoon characters? No more! Use powerful prompts to come up with your own original ideas. Learn from a pro and have fun with others as you use an assortment of specially designed prompts to spur your creativity forward in drawing cartoon characters from your own imagination. All ages are welcome. Guests can drop in anytime between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Pencils and paper will be provided but attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite sketchbook.

Douglas Laubacher is a cartoonist and art educator from Northeast Ohio. His comic strip, Unbound, can be read in the Tuscarawas County Bargain Hunter. When Doug isn’t drawing, he can be found traversing the land, teaching the mysterious craft of cartooning in art centers and libraries throughout the region. He is a member of the National Cartoonist Society.

Join the Massillon Museum and instructor Ke'Aunte Harris on Saturday, February 4, for an "I Am...About Me" Do the Mu. This activity will help those participating speak positively about themselves. On the canvas, each participant will create a sun and on the sun's rays they will find words that describe who they are. Everyone will color their canvas with markers, being as creative as they choose to be! All ages are welcome and all supplies will be provided. Guests can drop in anytime between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.

Ke'Aunte Harris, mom to a little prince named La'Bryant, is the executive director and founder of BeYoutiful Weirdo mentoring program, serving over 100 girls in Stark County. She currently runs a program called "Art & Conversation." She taught for fifteen years as a preschool teacher and now works in the Massillon City School District. Ke'Aunte is the author of A Positive Life Is a Happy Life: Motivation For You and Me and the One Girl One Woman One Goal: One Can Change the World in One Day workbook. She is the 2019 Ruby Award Winner and a 2019 Twenty Under 40 candidate. When Ke'Aunte is not busy trying to make the world a better place, she enjoys reading, journal writing, and meditating.

Join the Massillon Museum and instructor Susan Scheetz on Saturday, March 4, for an Introduction to Origami Do the Mu. Origami is a Japanese word meaning “paper folding”; however, the art of creating sculptures from paper has its roots in many ancient cultures. Traditional Origami uses a square sheet of paper and a series of folds to create the finished design. Modern Origami also utilizes rectangular sheets of paper, the most popular being dollar bills. Participants will learn the basic folds and notations used in Origami and leave with several examples that they created themselves. All ages are welcome and all supplies will be provided. Guests can drop in anytime between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.

Susan Scheetz is a retired educator who taught 35 years at Fairless Local Schools, the last 22 in fourth grade. She received her bachelor’s and master's degrees from Kent State University