ysartsadmin

Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery

Nancy Mellon- Gallery Coordinator

937 767-1366

nancymellon.jafa@gmail.com

 

For immediate release

 

September YSAC Gallery Show:

Guardians of the Thresholds

Work by Carol Allin     September 20-October 13

 Primarily an Illustrator and Sketch Artist, Carol Allin uses pencils, pen-and-ink, chalk or oil pastel in her dreamscape drawings

 Carol is a self-taught artist.  From the age of five, her world of dreaming, astral travel and regular interactions with nature, animals and sympathetic magic compelled her to attempt sketches of her experience.  She started remembering fragments of other life times from an early age. As a young adult she began an eclectic journey of travel, theater and energetic/empathic healing work that exposed her to intensive cultural Shamanism, which in turn has deeply impacted her artwork.

Opening Reception: September 20, 6-9 p.m.

Musical interludes: 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30

 By Mary Beth Burkholder on Celtic Harp

 

Gallery Talk and Demo: Saturday, September 21^st, 2-4 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Lara Bauer
flyingbuffalo2@gmail.com, 937-751-2616

Arts Alive! August
presented by the Yellow Springs Arts Council

Event: Arts Alive! Saturday, June 10,2013 (6:30-9:30pm)
Location: YS Arts Council Gallery, 111 Corry Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio

YSAC’s August Arts Alive! features the gallery show by Patricia High, In and Out of Space and Time, local 10 piece horn band, Ohio Brass & Electric, and a YS Brewery Beer Garden.

Patricia High’s dramatic, abstract paintings focus on the search for worlds beyond the veil – worlds not seen with ordinary vision but with the mind’s eye.

Ohio Brass & Electric, founded in 2012, plays a mix of beloved and familiar tunes and infuses them with a juggernaut power that only a ten piece horn band can produce.

The new monthly Arts Council performance series, Arts Alive!, hosts local music groups and other performers on second Saturdays. For a $5 suggested donation, visitors can explore the current gallery show, meet the exhibiting artist, then enjoy the music of a favorite local band. People can come for just the art, just the music, or both. Arts Alive! has it all, and it runs from 6:30-9:30, a time conducive to families and adults who want entertainment earlier in the evening.

Come out to the YSAC Gallery for Arts Alive! on August 10th, from 6:30 to 9:30, in support of local music and art. The arts are alive in Yellow Springs!

Visit the Yellow Springs Arts council website at ysartscouncil.org or find us on Facebook!

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Learn How to Sell Art – Aug. 28

Linda Parsons, professional art dealer and appraiser,
will give tips on selling art.
Wednesday, August 28th at 7pm
YSAC Gallery, 111 Corry St.

Free Art Talk for Art Sales! Click for more info.

Evelyn LaMer

Craft or Art?

 

The debate over craft versus art was hot in 1967. For Evelyn LaMer, it came down to making “pottery” versus creating “ceramic art”. Points of view about working in clay were changing, The long established barriers between hobbyist, craftsman and fine artist seemed to be in flux.

Which path would Evelyn pursue? Through her liberal arts coursework at Antioch College, she had taken classes with ceramics art professor Cindy Metcalf. The focus of Metcalf’s courses had been on teaching any students interested in learning the craft of pottery. This included both serious artists and hobbyist. Evelyn saw her own pottery “more like a carpenter, doing aesthetic work….not such a cerebral activity like painting. “ She realized that she had chosen Antioch college because of the co-op program and its appealed to very practical people who wanted to do “real hands on activity.”

During Evelyn’s third year, the Antioch College art department began a shift. Jan Jones was hired as the ceramics art professor. Under her direction, emphasis was placed on a more narrow focus of professional art aspirations. Jones started a four-year program devoted to developing students for professional art exhibition or as art professors. She taught talented students who she could mold and develop over four years. The discourse and social underpinnings of this shift in the ceramics department during Evelyn’s time at Antioch had a lasting impact on her career as an artist and businesswoman.

After graduating from Antioch with a Business Major, she continued her study of ceramics at Penland School of Crafts. With her artistic skills and passion for entrepreneurship, Evelyn decided to begin her own ceramics business. LaMer’s pottery continues to be retailed successfully in Yellow Springs.

In 1973, Evelyn was part of a group of artist who founded Yellow Springs Pottery. They based the retail shop on a co-op model. Evelyn feels the greatest strength of the YS Pottery has been the sense of communal effort and respect for artists at all stages and skill levels in their art. The format promoted cooperative, consensus building, and a non-hierarchical business model. “Throughout all our years of business, there has been a large range of talent, interpersonal skills, and productivity levels, but YS Pottery has not allowed the more powerful personalities or talents to have a larger say. All contributors have had an equal share, everyone’s ideas given consideration. There is a deep underlying belief that the strength of the store is the strength of the group.”

Evelyn stated that this communal sense is a common thread of successful endeavors in Yellow Springs, and that it came from the legacy of the Quaker community. She went on to say, “the YS News perpetuates and reinforces a similar vision and practice. It profiles cooperative organizations. The people it highlights are very balanced. Articles are very human and not written just about award winners, but about so many small things that make the village unique and valuable. “

After more than forty years as a successful potter and businesswoman, crafting beautiful, useful ceramic pieces, Evelyn may have found her answer. In her pottery, clean lines, interesting shapes and beautiful colors were and continue to be her vision. But is the fundamental vision or art for Yellow Springs craft or is it fine art?
Perhaps it’s both, whatever you make it. There is something here for every artist and art appreciator who comes to Yellow Springs to create, purchase or to experience art.

Anna Arbor

The Founding of Village Artisans
and a Shining Artistic Career

Anna Arbor came to Yellow Springs with fellow artist Tom Verdon in 1981. She held a BA in Art Education and an MA in Art Therapy. Anna felt that Yellow Springs held professional potential for young artists. In 1983 Anna became a founding member of Village Artisans, a new artist cooperative that opened at 220 Xenia Ave. The shop sold handmade batik, jewelry, needlework, paintings, prints, photographs, pottery, stained glass, weaving, wood, copper enameling, and children’s clothes. In 2013 VA celebrated its thirty-year anniversary.

When Village Artisans opened its doors, there were 28 local artists involved. Another founding member, Joyce Keister, said of the co-op, “Yellow Springs has always been known as an artist town. They just came out of the woodwork when they heard about us. They would come to the door and ask if they could join”. Four women began as the original management team, including Keister (weaving), Gail Kort (pen and ink), Christa Metz (needlepoint) and Deidre Roche, who handled the business side of the venture. There was an annual membership fee of $225.00 and the shop received 10% commission on sales. Members also took turns shop sitting for a couple of days each month.

To celebrate their opening, the members had a creative idea. Artists of the cooperative created a 40-foot nylon and papier-mâché dragon to parade down the sidewalks of Yellow Springs. It took 6 artists tucked inside to make it move. A hand disguised as a tongue wiggled from the mouth. Gail Kort led the Dragon Project. Anna says that the Dragon still lives at the old Union Schoolhouse.

The list of original artists members of Village Artisans was impressive. They included: Anna Arbor, Marcelle Blau, Karren Brito, Karen Deibel, Gerry Fogarty, Debra Groves, David Hergesheimer, Joyce Keister, Gail Kort, Christa Metzger, Kathy Moulton (a 2013 current member as well!) Suzanne Patterson, Deidre Roche, Dianne Rutter, Kelly Thomas, Caroline Van Ausdal, Maria Varandani, Leslie Williamson, Mary Wynne, Gail Zimmerman, Jon Whitmore, Hanlo von Gierke, Mel Acheson, Leslie Thornhill, Deborah Block, Kasses Andrews, Arlene Wagner and Robin Zimmerman.

During their first year, members of the co-op realized that they needed a revenue generating event and a special occasion to showcase their art. Village Artisans began putting on Art in the Yard, a juried art festival to occur each August in Yellow Springs. Originally it was held in Yellow Springs’ Kinds Yard. As it grew, the venue was moved to the much larger Mills Lawn School grounds, and the festival’s name was changed to Art on the Lawn. For the first five years of the festival, Anna Arbor was in charge. At the end of this five-year period she left Village Artisans for other professional endeavors, but 5 years later she returned to the co-op once again. Anna coordinated the festival for the next 5 years! Fundamental goals of this annual arts festival were increased contact between the artists and community members, and introducing new artistic talent to Yellow Springs. By 1986, Anna Arbor, David Hergesheimer and Suzanne Patterson were the co-managers of the cooperative and it was thriving, “We’ve had tremendous support from the community,” said Anna in an article in the Yellow Springs News. David Hergesheimer commented, “We hope that, in Yellow Springs, people don’t see art as something to see at a museums once a year. We want to make art a part of our town, a part of everyone’s daily life, something that surrounds us every day.”

When asked about her most memorable artistic experiences related to Yellow Springs, Anna cited an opportunity through Antioch College. JoAnn Wallace of the college’s International program in the 1990’s suggested Anna for an artist exchange in Brazil. Partners in America financed the project and Anna was able to visit Brazil, teach workshops and present an exhibit of her work. Jon Hudson and Shirley Mullins were also part of this program. Following her time in Brazil, Anna then hosted and helped a Brazilian artist for two months in Yellow Springs, enabling her to present an exhibit at the Oten Gallery.

While trained in a variety of media, Anna spent many years using paper as her main artistic material. She became well known for her exquisite three-dimensional paper sculptures of mini spaces, and these have been exhibited and sold around the county. In more recent years Anna has focused on acrylic painting.

Beth Holyoke

Art Education in Yellow Springs

Beth Holyoke, a self-proclaimed lifelong learner in the arts, has spent a great deal of her existence either taking art classes or teaching them. Beth’s family moved to Yellow Springs when she was three.  Growing up in the 1960’s, she recalls that a plethora of art classes were being offered in the village. “Many of these offerings were sponsored by the Yellow Springs Arts Council. Classes took place all over town, in homes, schools, greenhouses and many more places”, Beth explains.

Beth’s face lights up when she tells about her favorite class.  “It was making marionettes with Phyllis Cannon!”  Beth still remembers the joys of those long, sweet, summer hours working with this gifted teacher. You can visualize Beth as a young girl, when she says, “Phyllis was my idol!…The marionettes were the real deal, not paper things.”  The fascinated students learned to carve the wooden parts and cast the hands and shoes. “It was very intricate work”, Beth explains, and a door opening experience that encouraged her to continue working in the arts throughout her life.

After the students finished their Marionettes, they became performers and put on plays with their own creations. The group was called The Golden River Players and they staged productions on the porch of the G. Stanley Hall building at Antioch College, as well as in the Mills Gym/Auditorium. Some of Beth’s classmates included Kerry Moore, Carol Cornelius, Kitty Holyoke, Gary Wagner, Kathy Klein, Owen Agna, Suzy Wagner, Susi Oldham, Charlie Stephens, Judy Rimelspach, Bruce Berley, and her (eventual) husband, Andy Holyoke.

Beth had other memorable art educational experiences in the Village. She remembers taking a clay class with Dick Miller at the Carr Greenhouse, which housed a functioning ceramics studio. She also took enameling with Evelyn LaMer out of Evelyn’s home when she had just graduated from Antioch college.

After Beth entered college, she would come home to teach art in Yellow Springs. She remembers a Nature and Art Class that she presented at Mills Lawn through the YS Arts Council. Beth went on to graduate from Georgia State with a BFA.  She became the art teacher at Mills Lawn school and an adjunct Professor in Papermaking at Earlham College. During the 1980’s, when there was a raft of art classes offered by the Arts Council at the John Bryan Community Center, Beth taught Fiber Arts for kids. Later she was the Arts and Science teacher at Antioch School. And after that she was the John Bryan Pottery Shop Manager, a post which included managing and sometimes teaching community ceramics classes.

A tribute to her dedication to visual art and art education in the Village, Beth was an active board member of the YS Arts Council for many years. In the late 1990’s she was the treasurer of the organization and from 2000-2004 she held the role of president.

Synthesizing all those years of art learning, Beth has became a major producer of public art for our Village.  Beginning in 2006, Beth and her art partner, Kaethe Seidl, created three beautiful ceramic benches for the village. One sits at the bustling intersection of Xenia Avenue and Corry Street and another one graces the front of the Yellow Springs Library. The John Bryan Pot Shop is adorned with an amazing ceramic community mural, of which Beth was a lead artist.  Thousands of Villagers and visitors admire and utilize these gifts each year. In 2012, the art duo of Holyoke an Seidl christened the new Arts Council’s Space, at 111 Corry Street, with a giant clay and straw snake. This “earth work” curled out along the building’s facade with a reptilian head greeting gallery visitors until it naturally faded back into the earth (a planned function of the artwork). Perhaps most notable of Beth Holyoke’s public art is the joyful, bird topped, ceramic-tiled sculpture, “Yellow Springs Sign”, on Dayton Street that welcomes us all to our art filled village.

YSAC Gallery Presents
Bling! The Jewelry Show
August 16th-September 15th, 2013

Featuring unique, hand crafted jewelry by seven fabulous Ohio jewelry artists
YSAC Gallery Space
111 Corry St. in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Matthew Burgy –Miniature Mobile Earrings and bold Ceramic Pendants
Cassandra Graham -Intricate Bead Embroidery and Bead Weaving used to create Show Stopper Necklaces, Bracelets and Rings
Talitha Greene – Gold, silver, copper and brass, precious and semiprecious stones transformed into sleek geometric and nature inspired Pendants, Earrings and Rings
Cherry Fullam -Kicky Pendants and Pins in beautiful wood
Debbie Jackson –Colorful Polymer Clay Jewelry with an ‘ethnic energy’ -utilizing African symbols, brass and glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, Japanese papers, fabrics and cords.
Teresa Morbitzer –Vintage Vamp Jewelry using antique jewelry, beads, buttons and rhinestones
Angela Valley- Natural elements and gemstones sustainably transformed into sophisticated, modern jewelry designs

Also on display will be photographs by  Scott Stolsenberg depicting playful photo shoots of local women modeling the spectacular jewelry from the show. Stolsenberg’s poster size photos will also be for sale. To add to the experience, elegant black and white pottery by artist Dianne Collinson will be woven through the show.

Please join us for the opening reception August 16th 6-9 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Refreshments
Demonstrations by some of the jewelry artists will be going on during the reception.

For more information contact Nancy Mellon, YSAC Gallery Coordinator
937 767-1355 nancymellon.jafa@gmail.com

Uncorked Creativity with Alice Robrish has been CANCELED. Uncorked Creativity generally begins every 4th Thursday and runs for two sessions.
Be sure to enroll in classes early to make sure that arts educational offerings flourish.

Providing teaching opportunities for our gallery artists, creative workers and presenters of all arts disciplines is the cornerstone of our education program.

Requirements for presenting classes and workshops at YSAC:

• Current YSAC Advantage Level Membership ($75 includes a year of publicity + other benefits)

or artists who are presenting an exhibit in the YSAC Gallery during the regular season.

• YSAC Education Space Rental: $12.50/ instruction hr. (2-hr. minimum, no additional charge for set-up/clean-up time.)

        *Note: YSAC staff will only be available during the first half hour.

 

Benefits to Artist-Educators at YSAC:

• Classroom including studio art space, tables, chairs, sink, LCD projector.
• The YSAC gallery of artwork for inspiration.
• Local and regional publicity through our YSAC email list and facebook reach. (You provide info & images.)
• YSAC gallery visitors can be presented with your workshop publicity. (You supply handbills or other printed info.))
• Retain your class profit.
• YSAC staff will be on site at the onset of your first class.

Artist-Educator Responsibilities:

• Submit a proposal about your class including details to be used in publicity. You set your tuition.
• All workshop details must be emailed at least 2 weeks before your class start date.
• You provide your contact information for class inquiries and enrollment.
• Plan and execute all elements of your class.
• Purchase/acquire all materials for your class.
• Self-promote your workshop–email, facebook, word of mouth, etc. You are your best advocate and students tend to follow great teachers!
• Full responsibility for set up and clean up of the space. (YSAC staff will not be present throughout).
• Send your space rental payment to YSAC @ P.O. Box 459, YS, OH 45387

Presenters in the space agree to leave the YSAC Gallery and Multi-Arts Space in the same or better condition than at arrival. A cleaning checklist is posted in the kitchen and will be provided at education agreement signing.

Let us Publicize your Educational Offerings!

Don’t need a space to teach? Join YSAC as an Advantage Member and we can publicize your arts related classes, workshops, and lectures wherever they may be. Let us share your educational offerings with 2000+ online network and quarterly though our Educational Insert in the YS News. And hyperlink from our website education listing to yours.

 

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