ArtsOhio Blog

Ohio Arts Council Board Approves More Than $14.7M in Arts Grants

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 20:47:11 GMT

The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) board has approved $14,733,107 in grants to support Ohio artists, organizations, students, educators, and public arts programming during its initial and major state fiscal year 2020 funding round.

The board approved 743 grants when it met publicly on July 17 for its summer board meeting.

OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins said the grant awards help arts organizations, educators, and artists throughout the state strengthen Ohio’s creative economy and enrich communities through the arts.

“We are honored to award these grants to the phenomenal arts organizations, art educators, and artists who work to champion the arts in Ohio,” she said. “Our state is rich in artistic ingenuity, creative collaboration, and passionate individuals who know firsthand the positive impact of the arts.”

The 743 grants awarded during this funding round are an important step toward the fulfillment of the agency’s ongoing commitment to directly fund arts and culture initiatives taking place in all 88 Ohio counties, something it has been able to do for the past two biennia.

Collins said a commitment to providing statewide support of the arts is more important than ever following the announcement of an historic $34.5 million allocated to the OAC through the 2020-21 state budget—a $5 million increase in funding from last biennium.

“We are very grateful to Governor Mike DeWine, and members of the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate, for their support of public funding for the arts through the state budget’s appropriation to the Ohio Arts Council,” she said. “As we conclude a grant application cycle that saw a record-setting number of requests for funding, we are thrilled that support from our state’s governor and legislators ensures that more public dollars will be spent over the next two years on grants for the arts in Ohio.”

For a complete, filterable list of grant recipients, download the Excel spreadsheet here. To view all grants awarded this funding round as a PDF, click here.

Operating Support

Sustainability supports ongoing arts and cultural activities in all genres. Awards support the largest and most administratively sophisticated organizations in the state's arts and culture ecosystem. This four-year funding supports a wide range of the state's arts providers that are positioning Ohio as a national leader in creativity, artistry, and cultural wealth.
- Large Organizations: 40 grants totaling $7,616,964
- Mid-Sized Organizations: 264 grants totaling $4,126,315

Arts Access supports ongoing arts and cultural activities in all genres that broaden opportunities for the general public to participate in the arts. This flexible two-year funding provides general operating support for small organizations.
- 51 grants totaling $156,926

Project Support

ArtSTART provides accessible funding to help organizations complete short-term projects. Most awards support the programming of new or emerging organizations, first-time OAC applicants, and organizations in areas not served by other arts providers.
- 156 grants totaling $370,020

ArtsNEXT provides competitive funding for innovative and experimental projects. These forward-looking projects help define Ohio as an exciting, cutting-edge place to make, consume, and experience the arts.
- 55 grants totaling $422,889

Arts Learning

Arts Partnership supports arts education projects that address the needs of individual learners and their communities. By supporting these projects and programs, the OAC aims to strengthen arts education locally, regionally, and statewide.
- 79 grants totaling $797,979

TeachArtsOhio brings schools and community organizations together with teaching artists to share engaging, personal, high-quality arts learning experiences.
- 50 grants totaling $880,800

Individual Artists

Traditional Arts Apprenticeships provide support for master artists to work with apprentices to build understanding and proficiency in folk and traditional art forms. These awards support the teaching and sharing of important cultural traditions and enrich the lives of Ohioans.
- 14 grants totaling $35,997

Ohio Artists on Tour

The Ohio Artists on Tour program enables Ohio organizations to tap into the creative potential of performing artists and ensembles to enrich their programming and the vitality of their communities.
- 28 grants totaling $113,008

Statewide Arts Service Organization Support

Statewide Arts Service Organizations (SASO) are qualifying organizations that provide statewide professional services to arts and cultural organizations. These organizations often serve as critical partners as they, along with their members or constituents, support the OAC's mission to strengthen Ohio communities through the arts. Statewide Arts Service Organizations are eligible to receive OAC support in a way that honors their unique and valuable contributions to Ohio’s arts sector.
- 6 grants totaling $212,209

ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist

Fiber Arts in the Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery

Wed, 01 May 2019 14:02:46 GMT

The Ohio Arts Council’s (OAC) Riffe Gallery will open its newest exhibition, Thread Count: The Intersection of Mathematics and Fiber Arts, on Thursday, May 2. This exhibition features work by 13 contemporary fiber artists from the state of Ohio. These artists have created work featuring a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes.

Featured artists include Deborah Bewley (Bowling Green), Sandra Palmer Ciolino (Cincinnati), Judy Kahle (Wauseon), Aimee Lee (Cleveland), John Lefelhocz (Athens), Janice Lessman-Moss (Kent), Migiwa Orimo (Yellow Springs), Christina Pereyma (Troy), Jessica Pinsky (Cleveland), Ian Ruffino (Columbus), Judy Rush (Bexley), Petra Soesemann (Cleveland Heights), and Mary VanWassenhove (Columbus).

Artwork in Thread Count varies by artist and medium. One artist, VanWassenhove, will be exhibiting an interactive piece which highlights the practice of meditation through the geometric principle of Aristotle’s Golden Mean. This philosophy is known as “the desirable middle between two extremes, mathematically defined as two quantities that have the same ratio to one another as the sum of their parts has to the larger quantity (a+b is to a as a is to b, with a being the larger quantity),” said Jane A. Black in her curatorial comments. Guests are invited to sit and meditate on a hand-tufted rug below a suspended intersection of fabric rectangles.

Another artist, Pereyma, implements themes of finance and human understanding into her work. “Responding to the 2015 Harvard Business Review study that states insertion of a graph in a presentation increased its believability by 23 percent, Pereyma explores the trust we assign to mathematical data, whether we understand it or not,” Black said of Pereyma’s piece. Pereyma’s piece, Financial Data: winners, losers, stumbling emerging, capital flows, M1 and M2, posting outsize, one day moves, EBITDA, seasonally adjusted, fixed, steadied, moving average, resistance lines, upbeat chatter (2018). The piece features a variety of seemingly mathematical graphs, which Pereyma intentionally leaves ambiguous, providing no numerical statements or explanations. She seems to do this with the purpose of emphasizing man’s trust and interest in graphical data.

Many of the artists featured in Thread Count will also lead fiber arts-themed programming. Registration is suggested for most events and required for some. Continue reading for more information.

The opening reception for Thread Count will be Thursday, May 2, 5 – 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy local art, thoughtful conversations, and delicious refreshments at the event. Live music will be provided by local band The Knot Duo. Registration is not necessary. Feel free to stop by anytime between 5 – 7 p.m.

Friday, May 3 from noon – 1 p.m. is Black’s curator’s tour. This event is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the specific artworks in the exhibition and Black’s curatorial process. Registrations are suggested. Visit riffegallery.org to reserve your spot.

Two drop-in workshops will be offered throughout the exhibition. These workshops are open to 15 participants and feature 30-45 minutes of instruction, followed by a time of hands-on art creation. The first is Aimee Lee’s Hanji thread workshop on Wednesday, May 8, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. In this workshop, participants will create a thread from a sheet of Korean hanji, then use the thread to knit, crochet, or weave an artwork that fits in the palm of their hands. Registrations are suggested. Visit riffegallery.org for more information.

The exhibition’s next drop-in workshop features instructor Jessica Pinsky. She will be leading participants in a drop-spindle workshop where they will create their own yarn. This beginner technique allows one to blend colors and fibers together to create custom, hand-spun yarn. Registrations suggested. Visit riffegallery.org.

For a kid-friendly hands-on event, look no further than Judy Rush’s friends and family workshop on Saturday, May 18, 1 – 3 p.m. Participants will create a keepsake item in felt while encapsulating a message into a ball of fibers. Participants will attach a felted cord and turn their memento into a piece of jewelry or a keychain. Space is limited, so please register at riffegallery.org. Participants of all ages are welcome to join this artmaking fun!

Two artist talks will take place during the run of the exhibition as well. The first is an artist talk with Janice Lessman-Moss on Wednesday, June 5, noon – 1 p.m. The second is an artist talk with Petra Soesemann on Wednesday, June 12, noon – 1 p.m. Guests will learn more about each artist’s background and art creation process and will have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session at the end. Registration is not required for these events, but guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure a parking spot and seat in the gallery.

The final event of the exhibition is a creative writing workshop with Rikki Santer on Thursday, June 27, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Participants will expand their creative writing skills through exercises and discussion with Santer, an award-winning poet. Registrations are required. Visit riffegallery.org.

Thread Count: The Intersection of Mathematics and Fiber Arts will be on display at the OAC Riffe Gallery May 2 – July 6, 2019. Admission to the gallery and all events is free and open to the public. For more information, visit riffegallery.org or call 614-644-9624. The gallery is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ABOUT THE RIFFE GALLERY
The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery showcases the work of Ohio's artists and the collections of the state's museums and galleries. The Riffe Gallery is located in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, across from the Statehouse on High Street in Downtown Columbus. Like the Riffe Gallery on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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78 Artists Receive Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:56:46 GMT

Board members of the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) approved Individual Excellence Awards for state fiscal year 2019 during a public meeting on March 20.

Individual Excellence Awards are peer recognition of artists for the exceptional merit of a body of their work that advances or exemplifies the discipline and the larger artistic community. These awards support artists’ growth and development and recognize their work in Ohio and beyond.

Seventy-eight artists will receive funding for 75 applications—three of which were collaborations. Awarded through an open panel review process focused on the basis of exceptional merit of an artist’s past body of work, Individual Excellence Award funding gives artists the resources to experiment and explore their art forms, develop skills, and advance their careers.

During this funding cycle, applications in crafts, design arts/illustration, interdisciplinary (i.e., collaborative and performance art), media arts, photography, visual arts 2D, and visual arts 3D were accepted. Each award is $5,000. (Collaborative winners split the award equally.)

“These awards honor the artistic excellence of individuals who are sharing their creative talents with Ohio,” said OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins. “The Ohio Arts Council’s 2019 Individual Excellence Awards represent the highest level of achievement in these artistic disciplines, and each year the diversity and caliber of applications is astounding. The impressive group of artists receiving awards this year proves that amazing work is being done in the arts throughout Ohio.”

For a complete, filterable list of grant recipients, download the Excel spreadsheet here.

A list of Individual Excellence Award winners follows:

ATHENS

Melissa Haviland (Athens) – Visual Arts 2D
Alex Hibbitt (Athens) – Crafts
Matt Wedel (Albany) – Visual Arts 3D

CUYAHOGA

Judith Brandon (Cleveland) – Visual Arts 2D
Steve Cagan (Cleveland Heights) – Photography
Amy Casey (Cleveland) – Visual Arts 2D
Kristen Cliffel (Cleveland) – Crafts
Ryan Dewey (Cleveland) – Visual Arts 3D
Thomas Frontini (Cleveland) – Visual Arts 2D
Sarah Kabot (Cleveland Heights) – Visual Arts 3D
Mimi Kato (Cleveland Heights) – Visual Arts 2D
Gregory Martin (South Euclid) – Photography
Paul O’Keeffe (Cleveland Heights) – Visual Arts 3D
Dana Oldfather Darling (Newburgh Heights) – Visual Arts 2D
Kristina Paabus (Cleveland) – Visual Arts 2D
Sarah Paul (Cleveland) – Media Arts
Kari Russell-Pool Petrovic (Euclid) – Crafts
Deborah Silver (Cleveland Heights) – Visual Arts 2D
Corrie Slawson (Cleveland Heights) – Visual Arts 2D
Rachel Smith (Strongsville) – Crafts
Petra Soesemann (Cleveland Heights) – Visual Arts 2D
Judy Takacs (Solon) – Visual Arts 2D
Barry Underwood (Cleveland Heights) – Photography
Lauren Yeager (Lakewood) – Visual Arts 3D

FRANKLIN

Christopher Burk (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Susan Cavanaugh (Columbus) – Crafts
Daric Gill (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Glen Holland (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Jessie Horning (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Morris Jackson (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Lynda McClanahan (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Cody Miller (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Mike Olenick (Columbus) – Media Arts
Joshua Penrose (Columbus) – Interdisciplinary
Julie Rae Powers (Columbus) – Photography
Dani ReStack (Columbus) – Interdisciplinary⁺
Sheilah ReStack (Columbus) – Interdisciplinary⁺
Boryana Rusenova Ina (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Laura Sanders (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Jennifer Schlueter (Columbus) – Interdiscplinary^{^}
Suzanne Silver (Columbus) – Visual Arts 2D
Matt Slaybaugh (Columbus) – Interdisciplinary^{^}
Ryland Wharton (Worthington) – Visual Arts 3D

+ denotes collaboration
^ denotes collaboration

GREENE

Justin Teilhet (Yellow Springs) – Crafts

HAMILTON

Kimberly Burleigh (Cincinnati) – Media Arts
Kate Kern (Cincinnati) – Interdisciplinary
Guy Michael Davis (Cincinnati) – Visual Arts 3D*
Katie Parker (Cincinnati) – Visual Arts 3D*
Alice Pixley Young (Cincinnati) – Interdisciplinary
Marlene Steele (Cincinnati) – Visual Arts 2D
Erick Stoll (Cincinnati) – Media Arts

*denotes collaboration

KNOX

Karen Snouffer (Gambier) – Visual Arts 2D

LICKING

Abram Kaplan (Granville) – Photography

LORAIN

Donna Coleman (Oberlin) – Visual Arts 2D

LUCAS

Jordan Buschur (Maumee) – Visual Arts 2D
Deborah Orloff (Sylvania) – Photography
Zac Weinberg (Maumee) – Crafts
Lynn Whitney (Waterville) – Photography

MADISON

Tracy Greenwalt (London) – Visual Arts 2D

MAHONING

Stephen Chalmers (Boardman) – Photography

MONTGOMERY

Glenna Jennings (Dayton) – Photography
Suki Kwon (Oakwood) – Crafts
Tracy Longley-Cook (Dayton) – Photography
Eleanor Moseman (Dayton) - Photography

PORTAGE

Chanjuan Chen (Kent) – Design Arts
Mahwish Chishty (Kent) – Interdisciplinary
Peter Christian Johnson (Kent) – Crafts
Amber Kempthorn (Hiram) – Visual Arts 2D
Keith Lemley (Kent) – Visual Arts 3D
Jenniffer Omaitz (Kent) – Visual Arts 3D
Christine Zuercher (Kent) – Photography

SHELBY

Maureen O’Keefe (Sidney) – Visual Arts 2D

STARK

Oxana Dallas (Canton) – Crafts
Coty Giannelli (Waynesburg) – Photography

SUMMIT

Dave Szalay (Richfield) – Design Arts
Laura Vinnedge (Akron) – Visual Arts 2D
Casey Vogt (Akron) – Visual Arts 2D

WOOD

Erwin Redl (Bowling Green) – Visual Arts 3D

For more information about the OAC’s grant programs, visit oac.ohio.gov/grants.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist

Heritage, Honor, and Hope: Central State University Dedicates Three Percent for Art Projects at Student Center

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 18:24:08 GMT

“Words make you think, but art makes you feel.”

When Central State University (CSU) President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond shared this adage with the crowd assembled on the second floor of the CSU student center February 8, nods and passionate uh-huhs filled the room. After all, no one knows the truth of these wise words better than the students of CSU who interact with the art on campus every day.

“On a daily basis, our student body experiences and appreciates art that is displayed throughout the building that demonstrates the beauty, joy, and livelihood of our university,” said Martez Hodges, a junior majoring in English education who serves as president of CSU’s Student Government Association. “Art is the expression of the heart and soul.”

Three installations were dedicated during the ceremony: “Syncopations,” a mosaic piece by Akron-based artist Bonnie Cohen; a collection of photographs by Columbus photographer Terry Gilliam; and a series of 16 benches displayed outside the student center created by Andrew Scott, a former CSU professor who now resides in Dallas, Texas.

The artwork was commissioned through the Ohio Percent for Art program, which provides funds for the acquisition, commissioning, and installation of works of art for new or renovated public buildings with appropriations of more than $4 million. The Percent for Art legislation, which became effective July 1, 1990, provides that 1 percent of the total appropriation is allocated for the acquisition, commissioning, and installation of artwork.

Cohen, whose mosaic art is displayed 30 feet in the air on a wall in the student center, said she chose to enhance and illuminate a quote by Mahatma Gandhi with traditional elements of African art inspired by strip weaving textiles from Ghana and revered symbols imbued with power and meaning. Cohen created hundreds of handmade tiles and combined them with recycled glass and African beads for the mosaic art that took more than three days and “about 100 trips up and down the wall on a scissor lift to install,” she said.

“During the installation, we had many wonderful comments from students and the staff. One of the students said that the artwork changed the way the building felt when she walked in. She said it made her feel like people at this university cared for her,” Cohen said, adding that the featured quote was specifically chosen by Hammond. “I cannot think of a more perfect compliment for anyone in any profession … To hear those words from a student fills me with gratitude. Gandhi’s beliefs, thoughts, words, actions, habits, and values, they all say, ‘I care about you,’ and I believe that’s what shapes our destinies.”

In her remarks at the ceremony, CSU Student Government Association Vice President Ebenie Ford wholeheartedly agreed and described the personal impact of Gandhi’s quote.

“As a first-generation college student, those words remind me that I hold the power to break any negative cycles in order to start new, positive ones,” said Ford, a senior majoring in early childhood education. “For the students of Central State University, Ms. Cohen’s piece is symbolic of where we and those before us came from. It is symbolic of where we aim to be and efforts to make our forbearers proud.”

While Cohen’s piece encourages students to look toward the future and choose their own path, Gilliam’s photographs celebrate what it means to join the CSU family. Over the course of a year, Gilliam, who started his career as a photojournalist in Columbus, documented the campus events and candid moments that define the CSU experience.

“I hope they smile,” Gilliam—ever the photographer—said with a grin of his own, describing what he hopes viewers take away from his work. “I hope that the photos tell the story of what happened here in that year. I mean, it’s always good to see a positive response to your work. I really appreciate that.” CSU student Jada Bailey said she did smile when she first saw Gilliam’s photos, which are printed in black and white and each framed with a piece of colorful fabric collected by Jackson-Hammond during her travels.

“One of my favorite parts of attending this university is the unity of us,” said Bailey, who serves as sophomore class president. “These are some of our favorite memories that we can continue to come back and cherish as we begin to persist through the years. When people come to visit Central State University, they are able to see the family atmosphere and enjoy the stories behind these images.”

Located near the CSU amphitheater, Scott’s structural benches also aim to tell a story of two converging cultures, as Ford, the Student Government Association vice president, explained.

“Mr. Scott’s project is embellished with words like service, protocol, and civility, reminding everyone who may encounter the benches of the university’s tenants that serve as CSU’s core values,” she said. “His other benches encouraged me to reflect on words like strength, dignity, and integrity, words that express African core values and are like positive affirmations.” From the Adinkra symbols and Akan phrases printed on the seats to the shape of the benches themselves, Scott’s designs preserve and honor Ashanti traditions while drawing connections to college campus life.

“I like to use the traditions of the past to make modern interpretations that honor and extend those traditions into the future,” said Scott, an associate professor of art and technology at the University of Texas at Dallas’ School of Art Technology and Emerging Communications. “So, it’s a synthesis abstraction and an extension of them that gives them an ever-broader and more profound meaning beyond the original context. It restates a traditional thing in modern terms to show that it still has value.”

A graduate of the Ohio State University who previously taught at CSU, Scott said he views the commissioning of the benches, as well as the other installations presented at the dedication, as something that shapes the university’s continuing story.

“I know that long after I’m gone, those benches are still going to be there. I wanted to make sure I created something that had an integrity that’s going to speak for me long after I’m gone,” he said. “I hope that in some ways, as a part of the cultural landscape of the campus and the other artworks …. it will create a sense of ownership that will allow these pieces to be taken care of and be preserved, with stories told and pictures taken and memories created with these art objects.”

Learn more about the artists at bonniecohen.com, turkgill.wixsite.com/Gilliam, and afsart.com.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist
Featured photo: (From left) Bonnie Cohen, Terry Gilliam, and Central State University President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond at the Central State art dedication ceremony Feb. 8. Photo by Nancy Jehn, Central State University.

Ohio Arts Council Board Approves More Than $12.6M in Arts Grants

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 17:18:58 GMT

The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) board has approved $12,620,446 in grants to support Ohio artists, organizations, students, educators, and public arts programming during its initial and major state fiscal year 2019 funding round.

The board approved 679 grants when it met publicly on July 25 for its summer board meeting.

For a complete, filterable list of grant recipients, download the Excel spreadsheet here.

“Thanks to the Ohio governor and legislature’s prioritization of arts funding in the state budget, the Ohio Arts Council continues to invest in Ohio’s creative economy,” said OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins. “With these awards, Ohio’s arts sector will engage our citizens, undertake innovative projects, and lead our state to a bright, shared future.”

Grant funding was awarded in the following areas:

Operating Support

Sustainability supports ongoing arts and cultural activities in all genres. Awards support the largest and most administratively sophisticated organizations in the state's arts and culture ecosystem. This four-year funding supports a wide range of the state's arts providers that are positioning Ohio as a national leader in creativity, artistry, and cultural wealth.
- Large Organizations: 35 grants totaling $6,359,375
- Mid-Sized Organizations: 245 grants totaling $3,750,082
Arts Access supports ongoing arts and cultural activities in all genres that broaden opportunities for the general public to participate in the arts. This flexible two-year funding provides general operating support for small organizations.
- 31 grants totaling $89,526

Project Support

ArtSTART provides accessible funding to help organizations complete short-term projects. Most awards support the programming of new or emerging organizations, first-time OAC applicants, and organizations in areas not served by other arts providers.
- 172 grants totaling $424,244
ArtsNEXT provides competitive funding for innovative and experimental projects. These forward-looking projects help define Ohio as an exciting, cutting-edge place to make, consume, and experience the arts.
- 60 grants totaling $521,548

Arts Learning

Arts Partnership supports arts education projects that address the needs of individual learners and their communities. By supporting these projects and programs, the OAC aims to strengthen arts education locally, regionally, and statewide.
- 62 grants totaling $717,014

TeachArtsOhio brings schools and community organizations together with teaching artists to share engaging, personal, high-quality arts learning experiences.
- 41 grants totaling $641,700

Artist Programs

Traditional Arts Apprenticeships provide support for master artists to work with apprentices to build understanding and proficiency in folk and traditional art forms. These awards support the teaching and sharing of important cultural traditions and enrich the lives of Ohioans.
- 10 grants totaling $37,425

Ohio Artists on Tour

The Ohio Artists on Tour program enables Ohio organizations to tap into the creative potential of performing artists and ensembles to enrich their programming and the vitality of their communities.
- 23 grants totaling $79,532

In addition to approving the grants, the OAC board also affirmed the selection of Westlake musician Hasu Patel for an Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award. The OAC annually awards Ohio Heritage Fellowships in recognition of the significant impact an individual or group has had on the people and communities of the state through their work in the folk or traditional arts.

This year, Patel, a world-class artist who performs classical music on the sitar, was selected for the Performing Arts category. In addition to receiving a $5,000 award, she will be recognized at a community event and ceremony later this year.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist

Women Veterans’ Work on Exhibit at Ohio Governor’s Residence May – July 2018

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 14:11:40 GMT

None of the busts that Terri Meyer created for the spring Spotlight: Featured Artists at the Ohio Governor’s Residence exhibition can speak, but each tells its own story.

“People who join the military come from all walks of life and their personal stories are as unique as their facial features,” said Meyer, a sculptor and painter from Ashland County. “Each of these veterans made sacrifices for their country and now have an audience through art to be appreciated for their military contribution. None of these people would have been acknowledged for their service in this way, had they not been turned into pieces of sculptures.”

Sculpting the busts in her military series from live models gave Meyer, who served as an Air Force staff sergeant, the opportunity to learn more about her subjects—Nancy Pierce, John Barr, Dave Zacharias, and Barry Wheeler, the model for “The Aviator”—and their experiences.

“I give thanks to all of them for spending time with me, recounting their stories of service while I sculpted them,” she said.

The spring Spotlight exhibition features the work of seven Ohio military and veteran women artists. While not all the pieces have military themes, their creators are women who have served as members of the United States Armed Forces.

“This quarter, I think it is really special that we are featuring female artists who are veterans,” said Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich. “We are pleased that they not only share our passion for their country and we thank them for their service, but also we are so excited to see their passion for the arts and for communicating through the arts.”

In addition to Meyer’s four sculptures, the exhibition includes work by Shannon Bryant of Pickaway County, Jacqueline Hatcher of Lucas County, Amy Magnus of Greene County, Carolyn Nagy of Lucas County, Allison Smith of Trumbull County, and Megan Stafford of Franklin County.

At the exhibition’s artist reception on June 18, Chip Tansill, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, said Ohio has 800,000 veterans, the sixth-largest population in the United States. Of this total, he said, 67,000 are women.

The exhibition, Tansill said, shows how art can inspire both the artist and the viewer.

“Everyone expresses themselves differently. I love to look at art and think, ‘What brought that out? What made you think of that?’” he said. “Some have a passion for art, some work things out through art, and some do both.”

For Meyer, art is a journey that has allowed her to grow creatively and share her voice through her work.

“The way each of us creates art expresses our uniqueness and is our gift to the world, as it reflects our inner soul,” she said. “It was an honor to be selected and acknowledged (in the spring Spotlight exhibition). The event made me feel valued in two respects, as a veteran and as an artist.”

2018 Spring Spotlight: Ohio Military and Veteran Women Artists at the Ohio Governor’s Residence is on view at the Ohio Governor’s Residence through mid-July.

Members of the public who wish to view the Spotlight exhibition can schedule a free tour of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden by calling 614-644-7644 or online at residence@governor.ohio.gov.

ABOUT SPOTLIGHT: FEATURED ARTISTS AT THE OHIO GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE
Spotlight: Featured Artists at the Ohio Governor’s Residence is a program created by Ohio’s First Lady Karen W. Kasich that celebrates Ohio artists by showcasing a sampling of their artworks in the Residence foyer. The program enhances the ongoing partnership between the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden and the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). Since 1985 the OAC has assisted in placing artwork by Ohio artists and from Ohio cultural institutions in the Governor’s Residence and throughout the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts. The Spotlight program offers quarterly exhibitions at the Governor’s Residence highlighted by opening receptions. Spotlight Artists are selected by First Lady Kasich with assistance from the OAC. All Ohio artists are eligible to submit their work for consideration. To be eligible for the program the artist cannot be a student enrolled in a degree-granting program and must be a resident of the State of Ohio.

ABOUT THE OHIO GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE AND HERITAGE GARDEN
The Jacobean Revival style home was originally built for the family of industrialist Malcom Jeffrey in 1925, and has served as the official Ohio Governor’s Residence for nearly 60 years. Examples of Ohio art, industry, and craftsmanship are showcased throughout the house while outside, the surrounding Heritage Garden reflects the state’s diverse native botanicals and landscapes. Free tours of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden can be scheduled by calling 614-644-7644 or online at residence@governor.ohio.gov.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist
Featured photo courtesy of the Office of Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich

Ohio Artists Receive Individual Excellence Awards

Thu, 03 May 2018 12:58:45 GMT

Board members of the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) approved Individual Excellence Awards for state fiscal year 2018 during a public meeting on April 25.

Individual Excellence Awards are peer recognition of creative artists for the exceptional merit of a body of their work that advances or exemplifies the discipline and the larger artistic community. These awards support artists' growth and development and recognize their work in Ohio and beyond.

During this funding cycle, applications in choreography, criticism, fiction/non-fiction, music composition, playwriting/screenplays, and poetry were accepted. Each award is $5,000.

“We are fortunate to have a creative abundance of outstanding artists in Ohio,” said OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins. “Frank Lloyd Wright was known to say, ‘I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things I want to see happen.’ The artists earning the Ohio Arts Council’s 2018 Individual Excellence Awards have indeed been tapped for their success.”

For a complete, filterable list of grant recipients, download the Excel spreadsheet here.

A list of Individual Excellence Award winners follows:

ASHLAND

Sarah Wells (Ashland) – Non-Fiction

ATHENS

Merri Biechler (Guysville) – Playwriting
Sharon Hatfield (Athens) – Non-Fiction
Mark Phillips (Athens) – Music Composition

BUTLER

TaraShea Nesbit (Oxford) – Non-Fiction

CLARK

Mimi Dixon (Springfield) – Non-Fiction

CUYAHOGA

Michael Credico (Lakewood) – Fiction
Caitlin Dargue (Shaker Heights) – Playwriting
Keith Fitch (Cleveland Heights) – Music Composition
Mary Grimm (Cleveland) – Fiction
Christopher Johnston (Shaker Heights) – Non-Fiction
Bradley Ricca (University Heights) – Non-Fiction
Pandora Robertson (Cleveland Heights) – Playwriting
David Shimotakahara (Cleveland Heights) – Choreography
Gregory Vovos (Rocky River) – Playwriting
Megan Young (Cleveland) – Choreography

DARKE

Myrna Stone (Greenville) – Poetry

DEFIANCE

Mary Catherine Harper (Defiance) – Poetry

ERIE

Daniel Sapp (Berlin Heights) – Poetry

FAIRFIELD

Charles Salmons (Canal Winchester) – Poetry

FRANKLIN

Marc Ainger (Columbus) – Music Composition
Jenny Deller (Columbus) – Playwriting
Darren Demaree (Columbus) – Poetry
Mya Frazier (Columbus) – Criticism
Linda Fuller-Smith (Columbus) – Poetry
Kevin Griffith (Columbus) – Poetry
Samantha Tucker Iacovetto (Columbus) – Non-Fiction
Jahir Johnson (Columbus) – Playwriting
Kris Paulsen (Worthington) – Criticism
Susan Petry (Columbus) – Choreography
Rebecca Seum (Westerville) – Non-Fiction
Maggie Smith (Bexley) – Poetry
Michael Vander Does (Columbus) – Poetry
Nick White (Columbus) – Fiction
Carmen Winant (Columbus) – Criticism
David Yee (Columbus) – Fiction

GEAUGA

Patrick Culliton (Chardon) – Poetry
Brian Macaskill (Chardon) – Criticism

GREENE

Heather Christle (Yellow Springs) – Non-Fiction
Will Clemens (Fairborn) – Poetry
Rebecca Kuder (Yellow Springs) – Non-Fiction

HAMILTON

Michael Fiday (Cincinnati) – Music Composition
Luke Geddes (Cincinnati) – Fiction
Jennifer Habel (Cincinnati) – Poetry
Ellen Harrison (Cincinnati) – Music Composition
Kristen Iversen (Cincinnati) – Non-Fiction
Matt Jones (Cincinnati) – Non-Fiction
Douglas Knehans (Cincinnati) – Music Composition
Julia Koets (Cincinnati) – Poetry
Brian Roley (Montgomery) – Fiction
Judith Turner-Yamamoto (Cincinnati) – Fiction

HARRISON

Sharon Mooney (Scio) – Poetry

KNOX

Jaquira Diaz (Gambier) - Non-Fiction
Kora Radella Feller (Gambier) – Choreography
Margaree Little (Mount Vernon) – Poetry

LAKE

Christopher Harris (Madison) – Non-Fiction

LORAIN

Elizabeth Ogonek (Oberlin) – Music Composition
Marco Wilkinson (Oberlin) – Non-Fiction

LUCAS

Jim Ferris (Sylvania) – Music Composition
Mikel Kuehn (Sylvania) – Music Composition
Eric Pfeffinger (Toledo) – Playwriting
Benjamin Stroud (Toledo) – Fiction

MADISON

Vicki Sairs (London) – Fiction

MONTGOMERY

Furaha Henry-Jones (Centerville) – Poetry
Sharon Short (Centerville) – Fiction

PORTAGE

Lora Gray (Kent) – Fiction

RICHLAND

Mark Jordan (Lucas) – Criticism

SUMMIT

Mary Biddinger (Akron) – Poetry
Robin Prichard (Akron) – Choreography
Barbara Sabol (Cuyahoga Falls) – Poetry
Stefanie Wass (Hudson) – Fiction

WARREN

Katrina Kittle (Springboro) – Fiction

WAYNE

Anthony Tognazzini (Wooster) – Fiction

WOOD

Sharona Muir (Perrysburg) – Fiction
Frank Rzicznek (Bowling Green) – Poetry
Daniel Williams (Perrysburg) – Playwriting

For more information about the OAC’s grant programs, visit oac.ohio.gov/grants.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist
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Updated May 3, 2018: This story has been revised to include an updated version of the spreadsheet that lists Sarah Wells' current city and county (Ashland, Ashland County) and Individual Excellence Award recipient Jaquira Diaz.
Updated May 29, 2018: This story has been updated to include the correct spelling of Mya Frazier's name.
Updated June 1, 2018: This story has been updated with Daniel Williams' correct discipline (playwriting).

Guest Post: These Days by Rick Good

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 18:02:15 GMT

These days, when I talk with other artists about the current state of the arts in our country there is little false hope, plenty of frustration, and varying degrees of determination to continue making art in spite of a darkening of the Light—that Light which illuminates Truth and Beauty. In my forty-five years as a working artist I have seen this light shine and fade and shine and fade, as things do in life.

I have also learned that discussions about art and its place in society naturally touch on politics, technology, education, and the corporatization of our food, health care, media, and world in general. It's all connected and, these days, all sadly out of balance. The social atmosphere we're living in is poisoned by a populace so polarized that any attempt to engage in meaningful dialogue becomes either preaching to the choir or a waste of breath. The Light has retreated so far into the shadows there is little for artists to do but persevere in keeping an inner spark alive.

This, precisely, is the artist's job when life is out of balance.

I know for performing artists, these days, business is pretty bad. The competition for gigs is greater than ever, and the pay, when it hasn't actually gotten lower, has certainly not increased. In addition, the responsibility of promoting appearances has largely shifted from presenter to performer. Worse, it is not uncommon for artists to be asked to play for fundraisers, benefits, and too many other occasions for no pay at all, even when caterers, sound engineers, and administrative staff are all getting their regular fees.

To complete this gloomy picture, consider the technology of how people get their music these days—what we used to call record collecting. How is it that someone won't think twice about spending three and a half dollars for a latte that takes four minutes to prepare, yet they expect to be delivered the creative product of a working artist for free? Enabling this are the internet streaming services that profit from the music while insulting the musician with ludicrously small payments for the use of their art.

A gloomy picture indeed, these days, but let's not underestimate that spark.

Just last month I took part in a one-day festival in a small Ohio town and a weeklong music camp in rural Michigan. In each case, the outlook was less than sunny—few people showed up, the weather was initially uncooperative, and spirits were dampened. Nonetheless, the artists involved kept the faith and pushed through, determined to supply the spark and shine some Light. By the end of each event, those who made the journey found some Truth and felt some Beauty.

It's obviously not a time for reaching thousands or making the big bucks. It is in the small things these days that we must find our inspiration. Until the Light returns, which it will, artists must persevere in keeping that inner spark alive. Our world needs it, especially these days.

ABOUT RICK GOOD
A founding member of the Hotmud Family, twenty-four year veteran of Rhythm in Shoes, and 2010 Ohio Heritage Fellow, Rick Good is recognized and respected for his driving banjo, swinging guitar, heartfelt singing and crafty songwriting. With his wife and long-time collaborator, Sharon Leahy, Rick has made a life of creating critically acclaimed performance art, rooted in American traditions. He currently plays regularly with three fine bands: ShoeFly, Good & Young, and the Red Clay Ramblers.

Rick was featured in The Art Show, an ArtsBridge program sponsored by CETConnect. Check air dates for when you can catch Rick taking a trip down memory lane, or stream the profile online.Monday, November 16 at 8 a.m. 1 p.m., & 5 p.m. on channel 48.3 (CET-Cincinnati)Tuesday, November 17 at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. & 10 p.m. on channel 48.3 (CET-Cincinnati)

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Article by Rick Good