In The Harris Family Gallery
A Celebration of Life Created by Women Artists from Akron's Black Community
Weathervane is very pleased and proud to welcome back three women artists from Akron's Black community to display their artwork during the run of Parade.
The diversity of the subject matter, media, and styles has created a feast for the eyes. Each artist has created work that is both meaningful and thought-provoking. In alphabetical order, here are the artists:
ALTHEA JONES
Althea Jones is a multidisciplinary artist based in Northeast Ohio whose work centers on self-reflection and community building. Utilizing a diverse range of media, including painting, photography, and performance art, she creates narratives that encourage introspection and foster collective engagement.
Althea holds a BA in Justice Studies from Kent State University and is currently working toward a BFA at The University of Akron. Her academic background in justice studies deeply informs her artistic practice, imbuing her work with a strong commitment to social justice and community empowerment. Through her art, Althea aims to bridge personal exploration with broader societal dialogue, creating spaces for connection and meaningful discourse.
STEPHANIE STEWART
Stephanie Stewart has been creative and artistically inclined her entire life. The playful assemblages of Barbie figurines and pretend businesses she created as a child eventually evolved into contemporary acrylic paintings inspired by her surroundings and her work as a community advocate for Black American culture and love.
Although Stewart initially pursued a career in information technology and information systems, the global shutdown of 2020 prompted a profound realization: her purpose extended far beyond the routines of corporate life. Through prayer and reflection, her creative spark reignited, guiding her toward her current path as the owner of P31 Art & Design, a teaching artist, and a dedicated advocate for Black arts.
As a self-taught artist, Stewart continually evolves her practice, developing new techniques that support her mission to share stories of Black American love, hope, and joy. Her paintings often contain hidden images layered beneath the surface, creating depth, vibrancy, and bold color harmonies that enrich her visual storytelling. Influenced by her love of color and art history, she strives to create work that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in lived experience.
In addition to her studio practice at Summit Artspace in Akron, Ohio, Stewart is a registered Teaching Artist with the Ohio Arts Council, leading workshops for learners of all ages. Certified in deep listening and trauma-informed, healing-centered care, she believes creativity lives within everyone—and dedicates her work to nurturing, sharing, and cultivating that gift.
The paintings featured in our gallery were part of Stephanie's exhibit, In the Neighborhood, which was on display at The Brownhoist in Cleveland, Ohio, in October 2025.
SYLVIA SYKES
Sylvia Sykes is a figurative artist from Akron, Ohio, who works primarily in acrylic and tends to focus on community-based subjects in a recognizable yet stylized manner. Sykes has felt a compulsion to create portraiture since she was three years old and attended Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts for five years.
For her higher education, however, she obtained a BA in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from The University of Akron. This educational background heavily influences the interpersonal, social, and community themes within her work. Sykes also uses art as a means of exploring identity, a practice that stems from her varied experiences as a biracial person.
She is fascinated by the combination of visual, oral, and written storytelling as a means of celebrating both our shared and unique experiences of the human condition. Since 2019, she has been committed to pursuing art as a lifestyle and placing her humanitarian values at the forefront of any alternative employment, viewing such work as an extension of her artistic vision.
Sykes is currently exploring ways to make her artwork more accessible while working at a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty in Summit County.
Six of the seven pieces in this exhibit are from her solo exhibition, The Book of Akron 3:30, which was displayed at Summit Artspace. The remaining work is from another solo exhibition, The Aunties, which was also exhibited at Summit Artspace.
All of the artwork in this exhibit is for sale. If you wish to make a purchase, please inquire at the Box Office.
Thank you for supporting the arts!
Marci Paolucci