'Alive and glowing.' 'Illuminate' art show at Canton First Friday features body paint

CANTON − Heidi Fawver paused and searched for words to describe the "Illuminate" art show she's presenting on Friday at The Hub Art Factory.

Talking art usually isn't a problem for Fawver, who creates distinctive and intricate wood-burned pieces and explores other media as well.

"Illuminate" will feature human models vividly hued and costumed with paint. Lights will be turned off inside The Hub to activate special body paint with glow-in-the-dark effects.

"I guess it's just making new worlds for me to enjoy and other people to enjoy, too," Fawver said of the art spectacle.

"It's amazing to witness, it's just really cool to see people glowing," the 24-year-old Canton artist said. "It's a mix of 'Tron: Legacy' the way it glows. It's a mix of 'Avatar' and 'FernGully.' Everything's going to be alive and glowing."

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Models will walk in the art art show at 7 p.m. at The Hub Art Factory, 336 6th St. NW in downtown Canton. Fawver is curating the show with help from Ben Sandy. Doors open at 5 p.m. The event lasts until 10 p.m., and will be in conjunction with First Friday festivities. Admission is free.

Last year's inaugural "Illuminate" production entertained a packed house at The Hub.

"I guess I didn't account for how many people showed up," Fawver said. "It was so full, which was a blessing, but it also was overwhelming; it went from a couple people to me walking downstairs and seeing no floor. It was definitely one for the books."

'Every design is going to be different.'

This year's show is titled "Illuminate 2: Ultraviolet."

"It feels like you are not on planet Earth," she said. "It definitely has that feel of a video game the way the floors are laid out, and the decorations on the walls do not feel human."

Models will be covered with UV-activated paint during the interactive show. Glow-themed drinks will be available. Dr. Demon also will be creating live art.

Body painters will be Fawver, Sandy, Melissa Goff, Amanda Morena, Jake Mensinger, Allie Spurrier, Tim Carmany, Israel Katina, Maria McDonald, August Genovese, Andy Tokarsky, Sarah Fink and Andrew Wells. Models will be Chandler Shutey, Hannah Ford, Monte Arreguin, My'kualla Swogger, Rylee Lovelace, Maizy Jade, Eliahs Sumpter, Peyton Hopp, Hayla Fawver, Bella Feliciano, Annamarie Feliciano, Chloe Jane and Gabrielle Brady.

"Every design is going to be different," Fawver said of the models.

Head pieces and other elements may be added to their painted personas.

"Anyone can do anything I encourage them to do and go as far as they want to with it," Fawver said. "Creative expression has no limit."

'Illuminate' promises surprises: 'It will be too good to spoil.'

Maizy Jade, 20, of Canton, also modeled in last year's show, working with Genovese on a "trippy television" themed look.

"This year I get to work with Allie Spurrier, and I want to leave our concept a surprise," she said. "Every artist and model involved wants this to be creatively diverse and fun − it will be too good to spoil."

Modeling in body paint is a liberating experience, said Jade, a local artist who also works as a barista at Ohio Roasting Company.

"I thoroughly enjoy doing new things in the artist realm," she said. "This year will be a lot of me opening up and doing just that. Nothing makes me feel more like myself than art and true expression so ... I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity."

Using the human body as a canvas

Painting someone's body presents unique challenges, said August Genovese, 23, of North Canton.

"It's not a flat surface," she said. "And you have to take the model's anatomy into account. The paint we use for 'Illuminate' is also pretty different from acrylic like I am used to. It's a lot thinner and you have to think about how it's going to look under the black light. The heavier the layering of the paint, the brighter it will glow.

"It's also very interesting to see what basically looks like a 3D painting of your work," said Genovese, an artist who works as an imaging associate at Barberton Hospital. "Transforming a person into a work of art is so cool to me."

Genovese said "Illuminate" will be an art show unlike any other.

"Personally, I find this to be much more unique and exciting compared to a traditional gallery showing," she said. "It's interactive and unlike anything I've seen before."

'It's a form of escape.'

"Illuminate" will be an opportunity for attendees to step away from the demands of their lives and the realities of the world, Fawver said.

"It's a form of escape," she said. "And something to heal ourselves, creating a world for ourselves and a reality that just brings peace or brings joy because there is a lot of disdain and sadness in the world."

Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 'Illuminate' art show at Canton First Friday melds 'Avatar' and 'Tron'