Executive Russell M. Pry’s Room with a View Exhibit Features Summit County Native


Today, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry opened his eighth floor Executive conference room to an exhibition program that features original artwork by local artists.

The exhibition, called Room with a View, is an ongoing program that celebrates and recognizes local artists by giving their work exposure in the public setting. This is the 17th exhibit in the series.

For the next three months, a diverse collection of works from Summit County native Elizabeth Heslop-Shumake will be on display in the Ohio Building, located at 175 South Main Street in downtown Akron.

“Heslop-Shumake specializes in impressionistic art with societal overtones,” said Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. “The 17 pieces being showcased make for a colorful and thought provoking exhibit.”

Elizabeth now resides in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She has owned a portraiture business for the past seven years entitled, “Puppy Portraits.” She is often commissioned for portraits of adults & children and works as a freelance graphic artist.

Prior to moving to South Carolina, Heslop-Shumake was graduated from Firestone High School in 1988, attended Kenyon College and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting from The University of Akron.

The first Room with a View opened in January 2003. Since its opening, a total of 71 Summit County artists have participated in this program, 59 Summit County citizens (past or present) and 12 Summit County government employees.

For more information on the Room with a View program, contact Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry’s Department of Communications at 330-643-2536, or visits the County of Summit website at: www.co.summit.oh.us .