- Art Clash, a nonprofit group that combines pro style wrestling with artwork, will perform Saturday night at Patina Arts Centre in downtown Canton.
- Art Clash begins at 6 p.m. with comedians, followed by the wrestling/art show at 7 p.m.
- The event is a fundraiser to help renovate the downstairs event center space at Patina.
It's part professional wrestling. Part art show. And all wild and weird.
Say hello to Art Clash, an Ohio nonprofit that puts on performances that literally involve wrestling while creating art. Yes, that means someone may get bashed across the back with a folding chair while sketching.
Art Clash is holding its first-ever show in Canton on Saturday, with the event serving as a fundraiser for the Patina Arts Centre.
"I've kind of found the best way to describe it is we're a performance art troupe that combines elements of competitive art, professional wrestling and drag," said Mike Roberts, an Art Clash board member who books shows in the Akron area. "An homage to two art forms that we all love very much.
"I wouldn't say there's a performance element of drag," he added. "We want to show we're allies, we're members of the community, so to quote RuPaul, we're all born naked and the rest is just drag."
"Some of our performers are more flamboyant."
Here's a look at this unusual fusion of bigtime wrestling and speed art:
What in the world is Art Clash?
Even Roberts has a difficult time explaining the concept.
"I would say the main thing is you're going to come and you'll see something that you've never seen before," he said of Art Clash. "You may not understand it even after you see it, but you're going to have a good time."
Wrestling will be a festive, colorful spectacle complete with costumes, personas, a modest ring, tag teams, triple threat matches, chest chops, punches, kicks, and the occasional wielding of a chair against an opponent.
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Five matches are scheduled, including two title contests. There's a referee, as well as two announcers.
Saturday's Art Clash theme will be class is in session, said Allie Spurrier, a member of Patina's board of directors, who serves as treasurer.
Incorporating slapstick and hijinks, Roberts will perform on a tag team under the name of "Clown Jesus" with his partner "Punishment Clown." Also on the card are El Diablo Blanco and Chip Endale.
Asked to elaborate on the style of wrestling, he said: "It all depends on the show, but what we do is very much a homage, because for the most part, we all love professional wrestling ... and we're not saying we do what those guys do, but we definitely pull some of those elements into it without anybody getting hurt."
Spurrier said the wrestling-art combo is a hoot.
"They're really animated about it," she said. Audience participation, at least vocally, is also encouraged, Spurrier said, including interaction with the announcers Arthur Nouveau and Tofutti Klein.
"I will say it's unique in and of itself," she said. "I'm a wrestling fan and an art fan, and I've never seen something like what they do. It's meant to be fun, and it's not meant to be serious."
What time is Art Clash ... and how much does it cost?
Three comedians will perform starting at 6 p.m. Saturday. Wrestling starts at 7 p.m. and ends around 9 p.m. Art Clash will perform in the downstairs event center at Patina Arts Centre, 324 Cleveland Ave. NW.
Admission is a suggested donation of $10, said Spurrier, a local artist who specializes in costume work, body paint and special effects.
Concessions are not sold, but attendees can bring food to eat during the show. Alcoholic beverages are also permitted with cups purchased in the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in downtown Canton.
Capacity is around 80 people. Artwork produced by wrestlers will be sold after the show for a minimal charge.
Proceeds will be shared between Art Clash and Patina to offset the expenses of the event, and to help fund renovations to the event space, which is also used for regularly scheduled comedy shows, including the Females of Comedy, as well as live music.
"Our goal is to build a stage and get a more workable green room and background area," Spurrier said.
Following Saturday's Art Clash show, the event space will be shut down for renovations until October.
What type of artwork will be created?
"The energy of competitive artwork, most people don't realize how exciting it is, but it's a blast," Roberts said. "There's comedy, there's action, there's fantastic art."
The competitors are given a topic and between five and 10 minutes to create their art. Sometimes, they use paint but typically it's markers.
Subjects, often irreverent, are assigned to inspire the art. With laughter, Roberts gave an example: "It can be a unicorn farting rainbows."
Sketching during a full-blown wrestling match presents its challenges and distractions.
"If you're working on a drawing," Roberts noted, "you might get hit by a chair."
Art talent varies by wrestler.
"We actually have performers who are art instructors," Roberts said. "And there are some of us who can barely do a stick figure, but … we produce a piece of art."
Who is Art Clash?
Founded about seven years ago in Columbus, Art Clash became a nonprofit group earlier this year, Roberts said.
Art Clash includes participants both from Columbus and Akron. Art Clash often performs at bars, with rock bands. The group also has supported various charities, including an animal rescue.
Art Clash also will be performing on Sept. 2 at Tiki Underground, 1832 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls.
Who will be cracking jokes?
Comedians Amy Wyler, Kavan Charles and Matt Thompson will perform before the wrestling begins.
Why should you check out Art Clash?
"We're a performance art troupe, so we want people to come and be excited and feel like they're kids," Roberts said. "And know no matter what, you are welcome ... and you're going to laugh, you're going to scream. Hopefully, you're going to cheer, you're going to boo the bad guys ... but we want people to come and have a good time."
"We're inclusive," he added. "We just all kind of believe there's enough going on in the world that you need to have fun and feel love and support art."
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com
On X (formerly Twitter) ebalint@REP
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