Stark State Exhibits Towpath Trail Photo Collection

A Year on the Towpath, a photo exhibit taken by friends and photographers Kay Wuske and Gigi Muir, will be showcased at from today through Sept. 16. The duo took the photo collection as they hiked the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. The show will be in the Stark State Gallery on the second floor of the Student Center. A reception featuring the photographers will be from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 1 in Room S201.

Wuske, a Stark State student majoring in web development and design, has been an avid photographer for the past 10 years, according to a news release from the college. The Canton native and Jackson Township resident works part time at the college.

Muir has enjoyed photography since the 1970s. A Youngstown native, she is the director of clinical operations at Trillium Family Solutions in Canton and also lives in Jackson Township.

The friends spent 2010 hiking several hundred miles up and down the Towpath Trail, taking more than 80,000 photos. In addition to the Stark State Gallery, their Towpath photos are on display at the Stark Parks Exploration Gateway, Blue Heron Deli in Massillon and the Mustill Store in Akron. They have recently participated in several juried art shows, including Art is Alive in Canton and Akron Arts Expo in Akron.

The women also specialize in photos of New York City, some of which are included in the Stark State show. One of their NYC photos was purchased by a worker in the Chrysler Building to use as a Christmas card.

To see more of Wuske and Muir's photos, check out their website. To read more about the Towpath project, see Gigi's blog.

is open to the public from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. The artwork is available for purchase. For additional information about the show or to make purchases, call 330-494-6170, ext. 4319.