Following are the most recent Take pART stories. We hope you enjoy learning more about how the arts impact the lives of Ohioans.
From Judy (Delphos) on 4/30/2008
	This is a story of a small town in rural Ohio that celebrates a fifty year old tradition each fall - Canal Days. It's the typical amusement rides, fair food, and beer tent. Five years ago, a small group of artists decided to display their artwork in the museum front window. It went over with moderate curiosity & 1 purchase. The following year, we obtained a larger 'gallery', added an opening reception with music - everyone loved it! We featured a local artist who does pen and ink drawings of rural landscapes. The folks knew his familiar face - he was the Fed Ex driver, Vincent Whitehead. By the third year, we exceeded expectations - in size of venue and artwork. A former furniture store allowed us to use their huge Main St. showroom; therefore, we could accept more artwork in various mediums - not only paintings, but sculpture, pottery, woodcarvings, jewelry. That was our first juried and judged exhibit. We had many community sponsors who donated funds for the awards. Opening night reception overflowed with over two humdred people there - abuzz - not from the wine - but with the delight of seeing the fabulous artwork!! We also featured a high school student section which was also judged by a retired art teacher from the area, Pat Rayman. Last year, a large bank offered their lobby for the exhibit - which added a touch of elegance. They were very accomodating - and we have since established an 'Artist of the Month' to have an artist's work highlighting their main wall. The patrons & tellers are happy now. 2008 will be our fifth year for Canal Days Artfest - and we look to expand and add another dimension. We are inviting artisans to set up their booths on a street connecting the Bank to Main Street - an ArtWalk! We will have artists demonstrating their work and a children's tent with face painting, and arts & crafts. Our handful of artists are still pluggin away; but have just now formed a new organization - the Miami Erie Canal Council for the Arts. This was done mainly out of necessity - to offer arts in the community with other events and to involve more of the community. This will not only bring in more folks to help in many ways; but as an outreach to them and finding out the needs of the community. Opening up this new visual art venue has stimulated many people in so many ways - and we hope to continue doing so.
From Ralph (Mansfield) on 4/28/2008
	hard work and dedication has really been my drive in the arts, and it paid off, I have never really won anything in my life, but after entering a few pieces at the Mansfield Art Center and winning the Edward Frey Award at 25 this year. I am indeed happy!
From jane (toledo) on 3/19/2008
	I work at a charter school in Toledo, for at risk students. We had just finished the unit on Native American's when a 1st grade brought a picture to the room to hang up. It was a pre printed velvet poster with markers, that she had colored to hang in the room. Other examples are, one student talked her grandparents into taking her to see the Broadway production of The Lion King that is presently in town, I have had students tell me that they go to the museum for it's Friday and another has asked for a letter of recommendation for a scholarship for classes at the museum. Finally, our older students completed 4 pieces of work about Egypt that are presently on display in an art show at the main branch of the library. This is what teaching is all about!
From Allen (Cincinnati) on 2/19/2008
	I am a native Cincinnatian, who 'returned' to the city in 2002, after serving in the United States Army and travelling abroad extensively. Upon my ‘resettlement’ in Cincinnati, , I 're-entered' the field that I continue to hold a strong commitment and admiration towards (I have recently completed my M.F.A. from the University of Cincinnati), which revolves around the continued viability, visibility and professionalism of visual art. In 2002, I volunteered my time to the Weston Art Gallery (as I believe in their continued mission to support local and regional visual artists in Ohio and the Tri-state area), and was fortunate to be offered a part-time position there in the same year. If it were not for the financial support of the Ohio Art Council, there would be no Weston Art Gallery, which would create a void inconceivable, not only to the local and regional visual artists in Cincinnati, it would be an immeasurable loss for the visual arts in the entire Midwest region. Through the ongoing support of the Ohio Art Council (and generous local patrons), the Weston Art Gallery is able to continue to provide the visibility, viability, and proper professional 'treatment' of emerging, mid-career, and professional visual artists working and living in Cincinnati, the state of Ohio, and the surrounding Tri-State region. I am proud to be currently affiliated and part of a committed professional venue that is the Weston Art Gallery, which thanks to the enduring financial support of the Ohio Art Council, continues to show to the citizens and visitors of Cincinnati that the state of Ohio is steadfast in the dedication,support, and honoring of its vital 'visual' artistic community.
From Carma (lucasville) on 2/14/2008
	I would just like to acknowledge the art groups in the Chillicothe area. The Chillicothe Art League is a active group with an annual judged exhibit March 13th 6-8pm as well as the Earth Gathering, April 19th 12-7pm, celebrating Earth Day. They also have monthly meetings with guest speakers at the Pump House Center for the Arts in Yoctangee Park. Through their efforts and other area artists a monthly gallery stroll has been established spotlighting several of the areas local artists and galleries. The Pump House, Dard Hunter Studios, Schlagels Coffee Shop, Ivy's, Someting Unique and many more are part of this monthly affair. I would just like to take this opportunity to say thank you for bringing ''The Arts'' to the masses of Southern Ohio.
From Linda (Galloway) on 2/11/2008
	I'm a fabric-holic. I'm a quilter. I belong to a quilting group in West Jefferson Ohio that meets at the Library the first Tuesday of each month. We are a group of about 30 women who share a love of quilting and enjoy showing others how to do it too. We have made lap sized quilts for our military men the past few years and have about 18 of them ready to be quilted in the next couple of months. We want to send them by April. The joy that is shared by our quilts is immense. We've received several notes back from the service men and women who have received our quilts. We honor our soldiers and their bravery with our quilts. We also have fun making quilts for our families and friends. I recently attended a class at our guild to learn to make a quilted sweatshirt jacket. The various colors that we each chose were many...and they were all looking great. Quilting allows me to be creative, to use fabrics in various designs and to be a blessing to those around me. Quilts do not smother us...but surround us with warmth.
From Connie (Piketon) on 2/7/2008
	I recently took my students to visit 4-ish thanks to a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. My students loved this group from Amsterdam who danced to hip hop music, danced on skates, and used a dj as a performance artist. We were able to attend this event at the Vern Riffe Center in Portsmouth, Ohio at a greatly reduced ticket price thanks to this grant. I could never have afforded to take my students without this gift. Most of my students had never been to any performance before and were amazed by this group. Thank you for allowing my students to view this group!
From Pam (Fairborn) on 2/5/2008
	Kelly Neff Turner, Director of the Miami Valley Dance Center in Fairborn Ohio is an inspirational teacher of dance. My daughter has danced with Miss Kelly for 12 years and is currently a teaching assistant at the studio. Miss Kelly's love of dance and teaching is truly inspirational; and her dancers are amazing. Her creativity and ingenuity are inspirational; and she and her lessons inspire the dancers not only about dance; but about life. I would like to thank Kelly Neff Turner for her dance expertise and for sharing her love of dance with so many young people.
From Melissa (Portsmouth) on 2/3/2008
	I have been a student at Shawnee State University for shortly over a year, I am working on a BFA with a concentration in photography. The most frequently asked question I hear about the degree I am seeking is ''why photography?” It never took me long to answer this question but it took a long time to find it in myself. I am 27 years old, young enough but however, older enough to have had my problems in life. One day after years of a bad attitude towards life and my surroundings things had changed and I was living in the most beautiful place in the world. Though my Husband and friends from my ''homes'' were not currently with me. I realized I could show people exactly what I thought and not only that but, choose my own way to perceive things. By looking through the lens of a camera I can show someone my thoughts, my hopes, my dreams and even fears. I can manifest my surroundings no matter how beautiful or undesirable they may seem to others or myself. The Photographer has the choice to choose their surroundings and the destiny in which though surroundings are given to hold. My eyes can stop time and invite the world to view any time and place I see fit, and that place will always exist for me and you to visit.
From Phyllis (Marietta) on 1/31/2008
	My love of art began many years ago in my Grandmother Musgrave's parlor where she hosted quilting bees. Colorful fabrics stretched across a wooden handmade quilt frame caught my eye and fueled my imagination. Chairs lined both sides of the frame for the ladies who would come to quilt and socialize. The atmosphere was charged with pleasant greetings and anticipation of catching up with friends and neighbors. I was five or six years old at the time and eagerly awaited the ladies' arrival. They came from nearby farms with their scissors, favorite needles, and thimbles ready to work. My job was to meet and greet the quilters. I knew if I behaved properly I would be rewarded later by sitting on Grandma's lap in her chair at the quilt frame. She would guide my hand while I made tiny stitches in the patchwork and tell me stories of materials used in the quilt. I became especially attentive when she described family dresses, men's shirts, and feed sacks. The afternoon passed quickly and it was soon time for a break from the work to enjoy refreshments. Many years passed before I made my first quilt. It is an Amish Star pieced wall quilt that I made while a doctoral student at The Ohio State University. Though busy with studies I still needed a creative art project so I bought a pattern, made templates from cardboard, chose fabrics suggested on the pattern, and cut and pieced my quilt. I proudly completed the Amish Star and my doctoral degree. The art of quilting has changed since my days as a helper in Grandma Musgrave's parlor and become, in my opinion, even more exciting. I have met many people through my interest in quilting, and share my love of the art of quilting with members of The Scenic Rivers Quilting Society as well those in The National Quilt Association, Inc.I also enjoy photography, water color, and creative writing which inspire designs for quilts yet to be made.
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