First Night® Akron 2001
button art

Artist’s statement

The festive event that is First Night celebrates the creativity and diversity of the whole community. It is an evening of mirth and merriment. . . a time to party!
I approached the opportunity to create the First Night Akron 2001 button with such enthusiasm that I decided the finished design should, itself, be ‘enthusiastic’ – able to both generate and reflect the excitement of such a large, varied party. First Night is, after all, the debut of the future. The moment the new year arrives is a magic one: a moment that invites you to feel a sense of wonder at the possibilities and allows an optimistic view of the future. Some of that magic is present in my final design: a unique button that is uniquely Akron. I included some lighthearted cliché and lots of character in a somewhat jumbled Akron skyline. There are familiar downtown shapes and images in a mix of both old and new. Presiding over the festivities is the jester, a jocular blackbird, joined by a peregrine falcon and a dove. This improbable scenario plays out in magical, fantasy colors that are not typically urban. The use of mixed media and the collection of visual elements were balanced with concern that the design would still carry impact when reduced to button size. The white border, an area of respite from all the activity, should provide contrast and visibility on dark, winter clothing.
The First Night Akron 2001 button is meant to be fun and appealing to all ages. I certainly hope it is as fun to look at as it was to create.
Joan Colbert 2000