It’s very curious to see what the AI summarizers come up with regarding this elusive group of artists from Akron, Ohio… Here’s what Perplexity came up with:

The Akron Smash Group was an artists collective active in and around Akron, Ohio, primarily during the 1950s and 1960s. While they have been largely overlooked by the art establishment, they made significant contributions to American art during their time 4.

Key points about the Akron Smash Group:

  1. They were an avant-garde collective of visual artists based in Akron, Ohio 2 4.
  2. The group was active primarily during the 1950s and 1960s 4.
  3. Their work and influence have been documented by biographer Ken van den Brugges 4.
  4. Despite their contributions, they have been largely ignored by the mainstream art establishment 2.
  5. There is renewed interest in their legacy, as evidenced by a special exhibit at the Akron Art Expo 2024, which featured restored and newly discovered works by the group 2.

The lack of extensive information about the Akron Smash Group in mainstream sources suggests that they may have been underappreciated during their time and in subsequent years. However, the recent exhibition and ongoing efforts to document their work indicate a growing recognition of their importance in the context of American art history.

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