KID TAKE: Visit Forever Changes, an Akron art gallery that rotates the work of local artists

By Julie A Cajigas and Jamie Cajigas

Even if you don't frequent Main Street in downtown Akron, you may be familiar with ART X LOVE from their popular "Akron on Deck" card decks that feature beautiful artistic renditions of Akron's landmarks and cool spots. The husband and wife team, Allyse and Mac Love, 'Make Art Work." Their bios end with the clever reduction: "Mac makes art" and "Allyse pays artists."

While my students have written about ART X LOVE (pronounced Art by Love), I hadn't had the chance to check out their new gallery, Forever Changes, which opened in May 2025. What reminded me to visit? I saw a call for artists and decided to submit my art. Jamie and I went down to check out the gallery on our mommy Jamie date night.

Jamie has a history of appreciating art and enjoyed the space, so he decided he wanted to share the gallery so other kids could check it out. And thus, the KID TAKE on my site is born:

KID TAKE: Jamie visits Forever Changes

by Jamie Cajigas

When I first walked in, there were a bunch of paintings that I’ve never seen before.

There was even one that was an optical illusion that looked like a person ripping out of the painting.

It was called “Always Watching" by an artist named Aja Dandridge.

It made me feel incredibly amazed because I haven’t seen a painting like that. It was beautiful.

The gallery space was so big. I liked the chairs and couches in the front because they were relaxing.

But that’s when I discovered the Goodyear Blimp – I really liked it. It looked like the real Goodyear Blimp – so sparkly and shiny. On the table below it there were sculptures that were stacks of Goodyear Tires. It made me think of Charles Goodyear, who first vulcanized rubber, which started the creation of tires.

I felt like Mac Love, the owner, was my friend because he chatted with me a bunch. He even watched a video of my theatre audition.

He made the kid wall. It’s a place for kids to show and sell their paintings. If someone buys it, ART X LOVE gives them all the money. I might want to put a painting I make on the wall there. Other kids should do it too!

I like it there. I am thinking of coming back soon. I think you should visit too!

Know before you go...

The Forever Changes Gallery is at 35 S. Main St. in downtown Akron.

Gallery hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. and closed Sunday-Monday.

Artists rotate in and out every thirty days, so there's always something new to see and experience.

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