Residents in West Akron help clean up the exterior of artist Woodrow Nash’s studio. The sculptor’s work is known all over the country. (Photo: Yoly Miller)
It took an act of vandalism to rally some community members around Akron artist Woodrow Nash. His studio was tagged in a crude attempt to create a memorial or tribute to someone identified as Cheeto.
The vandals are unknown, and the damage to the outdoor stucco walls will cost somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000 to eradicate.
Nash is a world renowned sculptor who sells his art through galleries in Hawaii, New Orleans, Aspen, Santa Fe, Chicago and Miami, among other locations. He chose to place his center of operation in Akron because Akron is a crossroads for him, his suppliers and his clientele.
He chose that particular West Akron neighborhood because of the potential for positive change an art studio in the neighborhood can bring.
He expresses his frustration with the ruined stucco with a sad laugh and a shake of the head. He owns the building and had the outside completely redone to help spruce up his neighborhood.
Although a few organizations have offered to help, the cost for the cleanup will ultimately come right out of his pocket.
Sculptor Woodrow Nash is known for his life-sized busts. (Photo: Yoly Miller)
The studio and workshop is located on the 800 block of Copley Road in West Akron. The large vinyl photographs of Nash’s sculptures displayed on the outside the walls make it stand out by day.
By night it is awash with colored lights.The windows are small, keeping most people from looking into the working art studio. It is no surprise that the nature of the art that is created within was unknown to most of his neighbors.
The volunteers who showed up to help clean up the graffiti were in awe as they walked among the nearly life sized busts and full length sculptures of men, women and children.
The stark white porcelain against black clay made many of the them take pause, and the archive quality photographs and colorful art pieces offered motivation to continue with the clean up process.
For info on Nash’s work visit woodrownashstudios.com.
Artist Woodrow Nash speaks with a few West Akron residents, who helped clean up graffiti outside of his studio. (Photo: Yoly Miller)
