Many Pieces as One
In Murmuration: Many Pieces as One
Courtrooms and local artwork don’t typically go hand-in-hand. That is, unless you’re Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer of the Summit County Probate Court. Commissioned by Judge Stormer, this collaborative art piece is a partnership between Summit County Probate Court and Summit Metro Parks.
“Despite the pandemic, seniors from Hudson to Summit Lake and many places in between created Birds of a Feather together, while far apart. We are delighted that Danette Rushboldt [Interpretive Artist with Summit Metro Parks] envisioned a project that not only engaged each senior for the time they worked on their bird but will hang permanently in the Summit County Probate Court courtroom for all to enjoy,” says Judge Stormer.
This piece will join many other community art pieces that adorn the walls of Judge Stormer’s courtroom, and each one represents people served at Summit County Probate Court. Ranging from artwork by students at Mason Elementary School to a piece by a team from Summit Developmental Disabilities, Judge Stormer wanted to add a piece that represented a wide array of individuals in our community.
What started as group painting sessions for 12 diverse senior facilities throughout the area quickly shifted when COVID-19 hit. Unable to meet in person and in a period of isolation from family, friends, and the outside world, this vulnerable population needed a way to connect with their community.
Lisa Mansfield, Community Outreach Specialist at the courthouse, soon found an extra special way for our local senior citizens to connect with the world around them. As the courthouse was working on a separate project to get community-created greeting cards for senior citizens, she thought, “Why not also deliver them a creative project to take part in during lockdown?”
With a COVID-inspired “plan B,” something beautiful resulted. Reaching folks from all over the county—from assisted living facilities in Hudson, to downtown, and everything in between—a creative collaboration was born. This piece of art includes the likeness of birds from a diverse range of senior citizens, all hand colored and unique-—put together in murmuration, like birds in formation.
The finished piece is currently on view at the Nature Realm. The piece will be available for public viewing at the Akron-Summit County Main Library through January before finding its permanent home at the courthouse.
“Connecting Summit County residents to nature by any means possible is what we do daily. The challenge of COVID-19 caused us to modify and adjust our process while continuing to connect our elders to nature. This beautiful mural will be a reminder that we can achieve anything, as long as we are together,” shared Demetrius Lambert-Falconer, Chief of Community Engagement for the Summit Metro Parks.
That is exactly the spirit of Civic Commons!