Local students, artists and photographers along with artwork featuring the Ohio Watercolor Society will be on display during the 22nd annual Taste of the Arts on Friday, May 20, from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Piqua.
The Ohio Watercolor Society art show will be hosted by the Piqua Public Library and the Friends of the Library from Tuesday, May 3, through noon of Saturday, May 28, at the Piqua Public Library. The event will be open for those attending the Taste of the Arts event according to Jim Oda, Library Director. “The traveling show participants are selected from the larger annual show of the Ohio Watercolor Society,” said Oda. “The art is judged for both the show selection and awards by its design, content (message/emotional mood), creativity and technique,” he added. “A majority of the art is for sale and can be purchased while the show is in Piqua; however, it cannot be removed from the show until after the last show in July is finished.”
Jordan Knepper, Director of the Piqua Arts Council, is the Ohio Watercolor Society chairperson of the traveling show committee. The OWS show is an informal partner with Piqua’s Taste of the Arts. “The Library is very pleased and excited to be able to help promote the visual arts in Ohio and the Miami Valley,” said Oda.
Teri Kent-Herron, Art teacher at Piqua High School and Art Coordinator for Piqua City Schools, is extremely excited for the opportunity for students throughout the Piqua City Schools District to have their artwork featured during the Taste of the Arts. Their artwork, which will include drawings, paintings, mixed media and ceramic pieces, will be on display for an extended time at The Apple Tree Gallery from May 9 – May 23 and will be open for viewing during the hours of Taste of the Arts.
Mariah Killian, senior at Piqua High School, will be painting alongside her grandmother, Alice Jacomet. “Our concept for Taste of the Arts is to spotlight the artwork of Piqua City Schools as well as demonstrate how artistic talent runs through the family and ties generations together,” said Ken-Herron. “Mrs. Jacomet is a professional artist who has participated in Taste of the Arts in the past.”
Art instructors have chosen the best student artwork of the school year for inclusion in the show according to Kent-Herron. Those schools and instructors in the show are: Washington Primary (Jessica Reed), Springcreek Primary (Aleem Usman), Piqua Central Intermediate (Sarah Fromholt), Piqua Junior High (Maryanne Siefring) and Piqua High School (Teri Kent-Herron and Seth Fashner).
‘Supporting the Arts is critical to student achievement. Feeling this community support encourages our creative students to work hard and take pride in their talent, abilities and education. Everything begins with an idea. An art education guides the skills needed to develop an idea into reality,” she continued. “We appreciate the opportunity to share the talents of our students.”
Another median of art featured during Taste of the Arts will include the Photography Invitational which will be centered at The Schmidlapp Free School Library Building at 509 N. Main Street. Five local and regional photographers will share an eclectic mix incorporating various styles of photography according to Jordan Knepper, chairperson. “This is the second year for this group to be participating and we are excited for them to share their talents,” said Knepper. Artists will be available during the Taste of the Arts and many of the prints will be available for purchase according to Knepper.
In addition to the Photography Invitational, several members of the Piqua Visual Arts Society will be demonstrating their art at the Piqua Arts Council Office at 427 N. Main Street. Interested visitors can talk to local artists Fay Shoemaker, Sandra Krack and Roe Kienle as they paint on canvas during the 5-9 p.m. hours.
Taste of the Arts highlights area artists, offers taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, children’s activities and art demonstrations during the 5-9 p.m. annual extravaganza. For more information about Taste of the Arts, call Lorna Swisher, Director of Mainstreet Piqua, at 773-9335.
