Decorative Arts Center of Ohio -- Reese-Peters House

step into a timeless winter wonderland

11/1/2023

Step into a holiday wonderland at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio and celebrate a Christmas of craftsmanship and creativity spanning more than five centuries.

Guests will explore a treasure trove of rare finds, cherished childhood memories and enchanting decorations created by families and gifted artists in this special holiday exhibition that opens November 24 and runs through December 31.

A Homemade, Handmade and Artist-Made Christmas exhibition will include extremely rare ornaments and artifacts, including a page extracted from a Bible dating back to 1420. The hand-scribed page depicts the story of the three wise men who followed a star from the East to Bethlehem in search of the newborn king.

Curated by Dr. George and Jeanne Johnson, this year’s holiday display offers a unique perspective on the evolution of Christmas decorations. Visitors can expect a nostalgic experience as they peruse the ornaments and decor items painstakingly crafted by families, talented artists and skilled artisans, each with a story to tell.

“Homemade decorations exude a folksy charm, often created in the cozy corners of family homes,” George Johnson said. “Artist-made pieces showcase the skills of talented individuals, and hand-made items - prevalent until the 1930s - offer a glimpse into the craftsmanship of yesteryears.”

Visitors should expect to see a variety of glass ornaments, angels, Santa dolls and more, as well as a Christmas tree adorned with push pin ornaments assembled by the hands of generations working together to create these artistic pieces.

“Early push pin ornaments featured jewelry elements that were creatively incorporated into their designs, adding a touch of sparkle,” Johnson said.

Among other pieces on display will be hand-carved nativity scenes from the 1700s, decorations crafted by German woodworkers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, unique Christmas cards from the early 1800s, and a tree adorned with confectionery ornaments from the 1800s and 1900s. A historic Catholic church altar dating back to the late 1800s will serve as a backdrop to these remarkable pieces.

“This year’s Christmas exhibition at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio is a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity and tradition,” executive director Jason Crabill said. “It beautifully showcases the artistry and craftsmanship that have graced the holiday season for generations, offering visitors a chance to step back in time and connect with the rich history of Christmas celebrations.”

The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio appreciates the support of Vonnie McDonald State Farm Insurance, which is sponsoring A Homemade, Handmade and Artist-Made Christmas exhibition.

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Demystifying Plein Air Painting

6/28/2023

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French for open air, plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. Yet for many, there’s a mystery surrounding this art form, leaving more questions than answers.

Lisa Schorr, Director of Arts Education at Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, says her goal is to introduce the challenges and benefits that come with this unique format to those who may not be familiar with it, but have seen artists honing their craft at local parks and other outdoor areas.

“I want people who enjoy painting and drawing to experience the positive effects that plein air painting provides to advance your artwork to the next level,” she said.

On selected dates through September, Schorr will lead free plein air sessions at either Rising Park or the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.

“Selecting Rising Park and the Fairfield County Fairgrounds just made sense,” she said. “There is nature, architecture, people with animals and most everyone is familiar with both areas. Ample parking and nearby restrooms are always a plus.”

Everyone is invited to paint, sketch or just observe. While this is not a class, Schorr says it’s an opportunity to experience plein air painting with other artists. No registration is required, and in the event of rain, no session will be held.

“When you are painting outdoors, the light changes quickly, colors look different, shadows and shapes are affected by the change in the light,” she said. “Therefore an artist must work purposefully and efficiently, and time is of the essence. This makes for a fresh work of art with less chance of overworking it.”

At first, creating art outside the comfort of a person’s safe place at home can feel intimidating, she says.

“It can seem daunting with so much visual information in front of you,” she said. “Be brave. Be patient with yourself. The very first thing you need to do is start. Find an art buddy to go with, or come and paint or draw with me.”

The next plein air sessions will take place July 10 and 17 at Fairfield County Fairgrounds, August 14 at Rising Park, and September 11 at Fairfield County Fairgrounds. For more information on the plein air sessions, contact Schorr at schorr@decartsohio.org.

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Light and Life: Q&A with 'Intrinsic Luminescence' Curator Ross Lesko

5/29/2023

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Whether it’s in the dreamlike, epic landscapes of Judith Brandon, the poetic figures of Stanka Kordic or the architectural, sculptural glass forms of Michael Mikula, light plays an essential role in visual art.

Opening June 3, Intrinsic Luminescence captures three artists’ techniques in creating a sense of inner light that is both inspiring and breathtaking. Curator Ross Lesko explains his motivation behind building an exhibition around this theme, and what he hopes will stay with each visitor after exploring the works of these three talented artists.

What thought process was behind the inspiration for this exhibition’s unique theme?

The three artists featured in this exhibition all have a sense of luminescence, or an interior radiance, emanating from within their work. I thought it would be interesting to build an exhibition around this theme, to highlight how each artist uses this element and draw connections between them.

How did you select the artists featured?

I was familiar with each of these artists’ body of work and recognized several overlapping elements. Each artist has an improvisational nature, inherent in their differing media, as well as their artistic natures. Michael Mikula crafts three-dimensional objects, Stanka Kordic focuses on the figure, and Judith Brandon creates landscapes. Yet each of these artists employs light and varying levels of abstraction to define their exceptional, powerful works.

Could you tell us more about the techniques employed by the three artists to create a sense of inner light in their artwork?

Stanka Kordic and Judith Brandon, while employing different media (oil paint and ink/charcoal/pastel respectively), both artists utilize a time consuming, labor-intensive process that involves many layers - and often the removal of layers - to achieve their finished work. As a glass artist, Michael Mikula’s process is quite different, though it can involve the layering of color over the clear molten glass that begins each piece.

How does light enhance the viewer’s experience?

Light plays an essential role in visual art, giving life to a piece, and conveying mood and atmosphere. In painting, light can transform a two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional world. Have you ever stood before a landscape, still-life or portrait that employed admirable draftsmanship, and yet it felt dead or lifeless? Did the artist set out to create a wall decoration, or a window into his or her subjective world of perception? Light can draw the viewer into a piece, not only in painting, but in sculptural works as well - compelling the viewer to connect with the light and life that emanates from within.

How do you hope viewers will connect with and respond to the interplay of light, life and craftsmanship presented in this exhibition?

The pieces in this exhibition are exceptionally powerful. I hope that viewers will appreciate the work while they view the exhibition, and that some resonance of the artwork will stay with them, like a line of poetry, or a melody from a song that reemerges, for days afterward.

Exhibitions presented with support from the Wendel Family Fund of the Fairfield County Foundation and Patrick & Brenda Smith.

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MEET THE DESIGNERS: FASHION SHOW FEATURES 5 TALENTED OHIO ARTISTS

3/30/2023

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An unforgettable night of philanthropy and fashion will feature five talented Ohio designers whose work will be featured in a special runway fashion show.

The DACO Gala will take place at 6 p.m., April 22 at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, and will celebrate how the arts enrich the human experience through passion and imagination. Included in the event are delicious cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; tours of the current exhibit, Flower Power: Flora in Fashion; and a stunning fashion show that will be a dazzling display of color, texture and form.

Let’s meet the five Ohio designers who will showcase their spectacular work:

Celeste Malvar-Stewart is a Filipino American fashion and fibre artist who focuses on sustainable design, emphasizing the importance of slow fashion within one of the most harmful industries. She works with Ohio family farms to obtain luxury wool and alpaca fibre to create her hand-felted textiles and ethereal couture fashion, using all natural and upcycled materials. She has exhibited her work in various museums and galleries and is widely published both nationally and internationally. Celeste is a full-time independent artist and adjunct faculty at the Columbus College of Art and Design in the fashion department, as well as mentoring several students and alumni. She is a Columbus Makes Art artist and serves on the board of the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

Tracy Powell is a Fashion Designer/Artist and founder of The House of IsA. Tracy was born an Air Force Brat, which made for a unique childhood. She lived in many non-English speaking countries, which sparked her desire to read comic books that set in motion her world of creativeness and fantasy. Tracy’s love for textiles and the juxtaposition of materials - the rough and the soft, the shiny and the dull - adds a uniqueness to her designs. Tracy has been featured in runway shows and exhibitions throughout the Midwest and widely published in magazines and articles internationally. She also has designed uniforms for several local hotels in the Columbus downtown area, and under her independent brand, has designed for celebrities, sport celebrities, corporations and film.

Peruvian Fashion Designer Juan José Saenz-Ferreyros was inspired at a very young age by the many parties attended by his parents in Lima, Peru. He sold his first designs in Lima as a teenager and attended school in Lima and Buenos Aires, Argentina, before becoming an assistant to fashion designer Jaime Almonacid. Juan has designed for Miss Colombia Universe, Miss Peru USA and other celebrities, and has mounted runway shows in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Columbus and Washington, D.C. He also designs home furnishings for MG Home, an exclusive store in Lima. Juan José spends most of his time creating one-of-a-kind clothes and elaborate costumes for his private clients, and his clothes are sold in two boutiques in Lima. He occasionally presents a ready-to-wear collection in Columbus.

Yuqi (Crystal) Zhang was born in Weihai, China, and is a fashion/ textile designer living in Columbus. Zhang combines fashion and fine art to give life in stasis a path to metamorphosis. She brings her unique aesthetics when creating garments and makes them become one-of-a-kind wearable art with her imagination and textile manipulation. Besides her collections, she also creates customized clothing and shoe designs.

Renae Kotarski studied fashion design in Atlanta and has worked in various areas in the fashion industry for years. After completing a master’s degree, a set of unique circumstances thrust her into the world of fashion. While at a café, Renae was discussing all things fashion with a stranger, who asked her if she would be interested in entering the KMAC museum’s KMAC Art Walks the Runway in Louisville, Ky., in 2017. Renae decided to give it a shot and was successful in that show - leading her to design again. Renae started AnàStasi Fashion LLC later that year and marketed the brand with a fashion company called Louisville Bespoke, which hosted annual fashion shows at the Louisville Speed Art Museum. Renae moved her brand, AnàStasi Fashion, to Cincinnati in 2020, and has been featured in Passport2Fashion of Columbus Fashion Week.

Tickets for the DACO Gala can be purchased here.

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CURATOR Q&A: 'FLOWER POWER' EXHIBIT BLOOMS BRIGHTLY AT DECORATIVE ARTS CENTER OF OHIO

1/31/2023

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A vibrant display of blooming styles will take center stage as Flower Power: Flora in Fashion debuts February 4 at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio.

For Gayle Strege, who is curating both Flower Power and the complementary exhibit, Botany in Buttons, showcasing humankind’s relationship with nature through the clothes that we wear provides a unique look at fashion.

“The colors and shapes of flowers, and whether the motifs are printed, painted or applied, are represented in various scales in this exhibit, showcasing creativity of designers,” she said.

Strege is the curator of the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection at The Ohio State University, a position she has held since 1996 and where she has curated more than 30 exhibitions. Flower Power: Flora in Fashion displays women’s garments, shoes and accessories drawn from the collection, and all of the items in the exhibition feature flower-inspired designs and/or plant-based materials.

The Botany in Buttons exhibition features hundreds of items from the Ann W. Rudolph Button Collection, a comprehensive collection of historic buttons within the Ohio State University Historic Costume & Textiles Collection. Visitors can enjoy the floral designs of hundreds of buttons made of glass, metal, ceramic, bamboo, vegetable ivory (tagua nut) and other media.

In anticipation of the exhibitions’ openings at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Strege shared some of her favorite pieces and what visitors can expect when they experience the creativity and beauty of this art.

What are some highlights from the exhibition that visitors can look forward to seeing?

We have a dress that was worn by Ladybird Johnson and a hat by Annie Glenn. Other celebs include Terre Blair Hamlisch, Betty Furness and local Lancaster people, Dorothy Peters and Harriet Fulton. There are several designer and couture dresses and accessories including Yves St Laurent, Dior, Irene, Hanae Mori, Pauline Trigere, Hattie Carnegie, Bill Blass and Ungaro.

What are some of your favorites that you are excited to showcase?

There is a Luis Estevez 1950s ballgown printed with blue roses that I absolutely love. It has a bit of a bustle in the back. The Ladybird Johnson dress is by Mollie Parnis and made entirely of white lace in a floral pattern. There are a couple beaded 1920s dresses and three coat/dress ensembles that are lovely. Another favorite that is not a designer is a gown that has a full white organdy skirt of a couple layers with appliques of daisies on it. There is also a dandelion hat that I absolutely love.

How does the exhibit reflect how the use of natural elements in fashion has evolved over the years?

This exhibit focuses on 20th century fashion from small chainstitch embroidered florals and larger beaded floral motifs in the 1920s, to overall small floral prints in the 1930s and 40s to larger scale prints in the 1950s. These patterns repeated themselves in small scale overall prints in the 1970s and even larger scale motifs in the later 1970s and 1980s.

What are some of the buttons from the Ann W. Rudolph Button Collection that you are looking forward to sharing with visitors?

There is a card of ceramic buttons with depictions of roses, and another with clear lucite buttons featuring different florals. There are rare Satsuma ceramic buttons and 18th century buttons with floral designs.

The oldest are from the 18th century, the others range in age from mid-19th century ceramic and glass and metal through mid-20th plastics. In addition to roses, we have cards of buttons of lily of the valley, fuschia, iris, morning glories, poppies, pansies and others of mixed florals. Among the ceramic buttons are some Royal Copenhagen and Staffordshire examples.

Are there any other aspects of these exhibits that visitors shouldn’t miss?

The educational gallery shows how plant fibers like cotton, linen, pineapple, grasses and leaves have been used to create clothing from very simple grass skirts and bark cloth to more complex processing that results in the cloth we use to make clothing today.

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Ring in the holidays with ‘A Storybook Christmas Featuring a Very Brady Holiday’

10/27/2022

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A Storybook Christmas (Classic holiday stories, children's storybooks, and vintage toys and decorations); Curators George and Jeanne Johnson

A Very Brady Holiday, Courtesy of the Paramount Pictures Archive (Costumes and props from the Brady Bunch films and TV series); Curator: Randall Thropp

Celebrate the holidays immersed in favorite childhood storybooks, iconic toys and memorable costumes from one of America’s most-loved TV and movie families.

The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio will present, “A Storybook Christmas Featuring a Very Brady Holiday,” an exhibition that is sure to evoke memories from treasured Christmases past. The exhibit will open November 2 and run through December 31, 2022.

As part of the exhibition that marks the opening of the holiday season, the festively-decorated Reese-Peters House parlors will include a combination of classic Christmas storybooks dating back to 1850, vintage toys similar to those shown in the Brady Bunch series, and costumes and props featured in the TV show and movies.

“This unique display across five rooms on the main floor blends pieces from different exhibits and creates a powerful vision under one theme,” co-curator Dr. George Johnson said. “It’s the first time we have organized an exhibition this way at the Decorative Arts Center.”

As part of the dynamic display, Johnson says visitors will enjoy stepping into the pages of classic Christmas storybooks that include “The Night Before Christmas,” “Polar Express” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“We’ll have a larger collection of pop-up books on display, as well as Christmas favorites like ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,’” Johnson said. “We also have a variety of Golden Books and some religious pieces from the late 1800s into the 20th Century.”

While some of the books will be arranged with pages open so that visitors can read excerpts from their favorite Christmas stories, others will be positioned under Christmas trees as gifts, replicating what Christmas morning may have looked like for the Bradys and other families in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Joining the storybooks are vintage toys that the Bradys would have unwrapped that morning and costumes the characters wore in the TV shows and multiple movies.

Co-curator Randall Thropp manages the Paramount Pictures Costume Archive and is bringing several costumes and props from the Brady Bunch sets. The collection includes a two-piece pant suit that Florence Henderson wore in the episode where the Brady family takes a trip to the Grand Canyon and a horse sculpture that appeared at the base of the staircase in the Brady home.

“The show was only on for five seasons, yet it’s become a part of Americana,” Thropp said.

Both Johnson and Thropp will host highly-anticipated Curator Talks in which they will share stories about many of the pieces featured in the exhibition.

Johnson’s Curator Talk will take place at 1 and 3 p.m. November 13 and will include an informal lecture on Christmas-themed children’s books and the process behind collecting the vintage toys featured in the exhibition.

Thropp’s Curator Talk will take place at 1 and 3 p.m. December 18 and will include an informal lecture on the costumes displayed in the exhibition that were worn by Brady Bunch actors and actresses.

Cost for each talk is $10 for non-members and $5 for members in advance, and $15 at the door if space is available. Register here for the Curator Talks, as well as any current programming.

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'Ohio: The Start of It All' offers inspiration, artistic celebration

9/2/2022

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Housed at the Mazza Museum at The University of Findlay is the world ‘s largest collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators, some of which offer an inspirational look at the Buckeye state’s greatness.

Beginning this month, a piece of that collection will travel to the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio and will showcase the soaring ambitions and creative spirit of Ohioans who have shaped history.

Ohio: The Start of It All will open September 24 and run through December 31 at DACO. The exhibit features a portion of one of the most diverse collections of original art from picture books and presents an artistic celebration of Ohio innovations that changed the world.

“Each of the pieces depicts a theme or item related to a particular Ohio fact, all of which reflect a unique way that Ohio shaped world history and culture,” Curator Dan Chudzinski said.

The exhibition focuses on five themes - inventions, sports, food, transportation and history. One piece in particular is sure to resonate with visitors, Chudzinski says. The artwork, created by Steven Kellogg using watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, is taken from Barney Bipple’s Magic Dandelions. It features a young boy in the early 20th century receiving a speeding ticket.

In 1899, the first police car was used in Akron, boasting a top speed of 18 miles per hour, and in 1904, Harry Myers received the first speeding ticket for going 12 miles per hour in an automobile on West Third Street in Dayton.

Other items in the 62-piece collection include two acrylic and mixed media artworks by Alice and Martin Provensen from The Glorious Flight, a book that won the 1987 Caldecott Medallion, and a watercolor and graphite piece by Jerry Pinkney from Ain’t Nobody a Stranger to Me. Pinkney was a Caldecott-winning illustrator as well before dying in 2021.

“It is my hope that viewers will leave this exhibition with a deeper appreciation for both Ohio history and picture book illustrations,” Chudzinski said. “In Ohio: The Start of It All, you will see 62 valid reasons to take pride in the Buckeye state.”

Support for the exhibition is provided by Patrick and Brenda Smith and the Fairfield County Foundation Wendel Family Fund.

Curator Dan Chudzinski will hold a Curator’s Talk at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 25, at the Wendel Center for Art Education. Register here.

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Woody Guthrie In Song & Conversation: A Q&A WITH JEFF PUTNAM

7/26/2022

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Folk music roots run deep in Jeff Putnam’s family, so even as a child, he was familiar with the music of Woody Guthrie.

Guthrie is a legendary singer and song writer, and considered one of the most significant figures in American folk music. Perhaps most widely known for his song, “This Land is Your Land,” Guthrie wrote hundreds of country, folk and children’s songs before dying in 1967 from complications of Huntington’s disease.

Thanks to artists like Putnam, however, Guthrie’s legacy lives on. Putnam will pay tribute to Guthrie in a special performance, Woody Guthrie In Song & Conversation, which will take place at 2 p.m. August 14 at the Wendel Center for Art Education.

Putnam, who lives in Knox County, has played folk and other genres of music for more than 50 years. He will perform on the guitar, banjo, fiddle and slide guitar.
Putnam shared how he tries to capture Guthrie’s distinct musical delivery in his performances, as well as what attendees at the Aug. 14 performance can expect.

How did you first came to admire the work of Woody Guthrie?

I grew up singing and playing folk music with my family, so, of course, I came across the music of Woody Guthrie very early. I remember playing “This Land Is Your Land” on ukuleles with my dad and siblings. That song was everywhere during the folk music revival of the 1960s in a somewhat sanitized, feel-good, patriotic anthem kind of way.

Not until I was an adult did I get to hear all Woody’s verses, and, like me, listeners at the show may be surprised to hear the biting social commentary of the later verses. I think also that I was unaware of the tragic aspects of his late-in-life hereditary illness until I saw the movie, “Alice’s Restaurant,” featuring his son Arlo. That movie contains a harrowing scene of Woody, incapacitated and institutionalized at the end of his life, being serenaded by his son, Pete Seeger, and others in the hospital. Strong stuff. My admiration for him only grew as I researched and performed his life story.

How long have you presented a portrayal of Guthrie?

I first portrayed Woody for a long-running Chautauqua living history series in Mount Vernon in 2010. I had an open invitation to “do” a historical figure, and it occurred to me that I could combine my interest in history with my musical interests and skills. Woody Guthrie seemed like a good choice because of the relative simplicity of his music, his appealing and vivid personality, and his propensity to pop up at key times and events in U.S. history.

I have since done versions of the show half a dozen times in Mount Vernon, at Kenyon College in Gambier, and in Columbus for the Columbus Folk Music Society’s 100th birthday celebration for Woody in 2012. I’m excited to get the chance to bring Woody and his story to DACO in connection with its fantastic exhibit on the Great Depression and the pandemic.

When portraying him, what are some aspects you strive to hit accurately?

Woody had a very distinctive musical delivery, which I do try to capture, although my voice is really too “pretty” for Woody. His phrasing and diction can be heard very clearly in the sound of the early Bob Dylan and others like Arlo Guthrie, Jack Elliot and even Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg and John Mellencamp.

As for authenticity, I walk a fine line between trying to sound like Woody and sounding “good,” which don’t always overlap. On two songs in particular, I do “hybrid” versions because Woody’s originals are problematic for different reasons. “Pastures of Plenty” I do on the banjo in Pete Seeger’s version because that’s the best known and it’s also rearranged in a minor key, which almost none of Woody’s originals are. So it adds variety to the mix. I also do “Vigilante Man,” a very powerful, lesser-known song, in the style of Bruce Springsteen and Ry Cooder just because their versions are terrific.

As for staying in character, I try to, even through the Q&A at the end of the show, but sometimes audience members will ask questions that I need to break character to answer.

What is your favorite Woody Guthrie song and why?

That’s a tough one. He wrote over a thousand (that we know of), but I’d say two I especially like are “Pretty Boy Floyd” and “Deportee.” The former tells the story of a Robin Hood-like bank robber of the 1930s who had the reputation of helping poor farmers who’d lost their homes in the Great Depression to what Woody saw as hard-hearted mortgage bankers. It contains the matchless lines “As through this world I’ve rambled, I’ve met lots of funny men/Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen.”

“Deportee,” probably the last song Woody wrote, describes a plane crash in California that killed migrant agricultural workers being flown back to Mexico. Outraged that The New York Times article named the pilots but described the dead passengers as just “deportees,” Woody decided to memorialize them by “saying their names.”

In your experience portraying him and researching him, are there any interesting notes about him as a person or performer that you have come across that most may not realize?

He was a man of immense contradictions. His sympathy for society’s downtrodden was unlimited and his energy in fighting for their rights truly staggering. At the same time, he neglected, then abandoned his first wife and their children, alienated his second wife and family, and lost many of his oldest friends through outrageous and egregious behavior. His impulse control was practically nonexistent. Yet they all stuck with him through the 15 or so years of his decline and nursed him through his final sickness. In spite of his difficult personality, he was loved and cherished.

What can attendees expect to hear during your performance?

I’ll be doing nine songs, most of them well known. They include “Rambling Around,” “I Ain’t Got No Home,” “Pretty Boy Floyd,” “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You,” “Vigilante Man,” “Do Re Mi,” “Pastures of Plenty,” “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos,” and, of course, “This Land Is Your Land.” The structure of the show has a narrative of Woody’s colorful and peripatetic life during the 1930s and beyond, with songs from the different times and places interspersed. I suspect that Woody will also have something to say about how the lessons of the 1930s and Great Depression can also be applied to other historical periods in our nation’s history.

What role has music played in your life?

I play guitar and banjo mostly, and also some fiddle, mandolin, bass guitar and tin whistle. I enjoy folk, roots and Americana, but have also played in classic rock and bluegrass bands. I perform with my wife, Martha Morss. We especially like singing harmonies of musicians like the Everly Brothers, the classic old-time “brother” groups like the Delmores and Blue Sky Boys, and British Invasion stalwarts like the Beatles, Hollies, Searchers, and Peter and Gordon. I’m also a huge classical music fan.

Music has been such a big part of my life. I can’t imagine how deprived I would have been without it. I’ve met many valued friends through music over the years, and I’m looking forward to meeting some new ones in Lancaster on August 14.

Cost for Woody Guthrie In Song & Conversation is $5 for DACO members and $10 for non-members for tickets purchased in advance. Cost at the door is $15. Registration is available online.

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'CHRONICLES' SHOWS OUR RESILIENCE AMID NATIONAL STRUGGLES

6/1/2022

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Above: Images by Dorothea Lange (left) and Autumn Bland (right)

Although two very different historic times, the Great Depression and the COVID-19 pandemic have had major impacts on American life and society.

Photographers were there to document the effects wrought by these experiences, and their impactful work is being showcased in a new exhibit at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio.

Featuring photography from two times of national struggle, Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic highlights Depression-era photographers from the Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) Farm Security Administration (FSA) program and contemporary photographers reacting to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

For curators Christine Fowler Shearer and Arnold S. Tunstall, pairing these two historic times together for one exhibit offered an opportunity to showcase the resilience of the American people as they tackled the trials and tribulations placed before them.

“This exhibition is unique because it looks at a past major event in history, The Great Depression, and the most recent COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of artists and photographers,” Shearer said. “I enjoyed curating this exhibition because of the ability to tie the past and present together into a narrative.”

The photographs chosen for the historical aspect of the exhibition feature the work of Great Depression photographers, but are presented in ways that are not normally seen, she says.

“The FSA photos were acquired by spending lots of time looking through the digital archives of the Library of Congress,” Shearer said. “I specifically chose works that were not well known from the Depression, and many of them have never been printed.”

While some images have connections to Lancaster and throughout Ohio, the majority of the photos are universal in theme and feeling, she says.

“They represent collectively the Depression era and can relate to most places and people in the Midwest,” Shearer said. “I wanted to show the wide range of styles while also showing the overall intent of the FSA photographers and their assignments.”

Two of the galleries will make juxtapositions between the past and the present by showcasing historic and contemporary artists together.

“I think overall it will be a jumping off point to learn from the past while making connections between past and future,” Shearer said.

Thematically, photographers from both eras have similar styles in how they tell stories, Tunstall says.

“The artists are working in very similar styles and working with similar modes of storytelling, using portraiture and the home to highlight the average citizen and to amplify the ‘noble American worker,’” he said. “The photographers also use landscape and vernacular buildings and signage to convey part of the story.”

Depression-era photographers include Esther Bubley, Jack Delano, Dorothea Lange, Russell Lee, Carl Mydans, Gordon Parks, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn, John Vachon and Marion Post Wolcott.

Contemporary photographers include Autumn Bland, Donald Black, Jr., Angelo Merendino, Jane Alden Stevens and Shane Wynn.

Shearer and Tunstall say they hope visitors will walk away from the exhibit with a better appreciation for the value of documentary photography and how the style established by the FSA photographers in the ‘30s and ‘40s still influence photographers today.

“We hope visitors understand that history often repeats itself and we can learn from the past - both successes and failures - and that overall, the American people persevere in difficult times,” Tunstall said.

Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic runs through August 28, 2022.

Complementing this exhibition is the lecture, In Search of America: WPA Arts and the New Deal Culture, which will take place at 2 p.m. June 19. David Steigerwald, Professor of History at The Ohio State University, will explore works of WPA photography and the impact of these works on the culture of the New Deal. Register for this event.

An Artist Talk with photographer Shane Wynne will also take place at 2 p.m. August 7. Wynn will share the stories and process of her works that are included in the current exhibition. Register for this Artist Talk.

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Haiku Rocks! in New Kids' Classes

2/24/2022

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While writing haiku is a fun experience, this type of poetry is often a misunderstood genre, Ohio Arts Council Teaching Artist Jennifer Hambrick says.

“While some may think haiku shoehorns them into writing just three lines, it’s more than that, because it encourages simplicity and cleaning your mind, relaxing and being in the moment,” the award-winning poet said.

Hambrick will host two classes in the coming weeks at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio that give participants a glimpse into this historical and popular form of poetry.

These include a Haiku Rocks! course from 2 to 3 p.m. April 3 for children ages 9 to 12, as well as a What Is Haiku? course from noon to 1:30 p.m. April 10 for teens age 12 to 18.

“Each of these workshops is going to guide the participants to be in the moment, to tap into their own experiences, to look a little bit backward and connect some past experiences when writing these lovely poems,” Hambrick said.

The Haiku Rocks workshop will also serve as an introduction to haiku for many participants, focusing on how to write this type of poetry and incorporate sensory experiences.

“The participants will be given a smooth rock to write their haiku on with colored sharpies,” Hambrick said. “They can then take the rocks home or leave them somewhere in the community.”

While writing poetry can be intimidating, haiku offers an opportunity for someone to write something short that packs a punch, she says.

“I think a lot of times folks are a little bit afraid to write poems, that maybe they learned that poems need to rhyme or be very long,” Hambrick said. “They won’t have that experience with haiku. It’s a shorter genre but also rooted in sensory experiences. It’s about bringing your own memories and experiences in the world into these poems, so there’s nothing really scary or intimidating about haiku.”

In recent years, Ohio has emerged as a hotbed of haiku activity, Hambrick says.
“There has been increasing interest among adults in the state,” she said. “It’s a genre that is defined by fun.”

It’s also a way to learn more about a different culture, since haiku emerged centuries ago in Japan as the opening part of a longer poem called regna.

Hambrick is also one of four award-winning poets from Central Ohio who will read and discuss poems inspired by the Hindsight exhibition. This special event will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. April 10, and joining Hambrick are Chiquita Mullins Lee, Pat Snyder Hurley and Linda Fuller-Smith.

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