Bill Franz

Dayton At Work and Play: Winter Guard

April 14, 2023 By Bill Franz

Winter Guard International has its world championship this month, bringing 60,000 visitors to the Dayton area. Color Guard competition started Thursday and continues through Friday and Saturday at the UD Arena. Percussion and Winds championships are next week. Tickets can be bought at https://am.ticketmaster.com/wgi/buy

In some previous years I’ve photographed groups warming up in the U.D. parking lot These performers are from Homestead High School in Cupertino, California.

Artist of the Week: Terry Hitt

March 20, 2023 By Bill Franz

Terry is 88, and still paints in his studio two or three days a week. He says he loves working at K12 because “it’s filled with so much good energy and there are artists of all ages to talk to.”

Terry Hitt in His downtown studio at @k12galleryandtejas

When I first photographed and wrote about Terry seven years ago I called him a philosopher painter. That was partly because he was a pastor before becoming an art professor at the University of Dayton. It was also because of one of his past art projects, which I learned more about during my visit to Terry’s studio last week.

When he was teaching at UD, Terry and then eventually some of his students did a series of drawings of some of Dayton’s homeless people. The drawings were exhibited under the title “Portraits of Homelessness” and received national attention.

As he was starting this project I learned that Terry got advice from one of the twentieth century’s greatest photographers, Gordon Parks, about how to build a connection with his subjects. As it turned out, those connections continued after Terry’s art project was concluded. Terry told me how he was able to help some of the people he had sketched and also about how the project led him to some interesting adventures. If you want to know more you’ll have to drop by K12 some afternoon when Terry is painting.

Dayton at Work and Play: Brewer Jon Naghski

March 13, 2023 By Bill Franz

Fifth Street Brewpub head brewer Jon Naghski came here from Chicago where he was the head brewer at Goose Island’s Clybourn brewpub.

The Fifth Street building dates back to 1856. Except for a few years when it sat empty it has always served drinks and food to the neighborhood. The brewpub is a co-op, which means that a small investment by a large group of people could revive the building and install brewing equipment. For only $125, you could also be one of the owners. I love their motto “Building a Community, one beer at a time.”

Fifth Street Brewpub

1600 E 5th St
Dayton, OH 45403

Hours:
Tues – Thurs 4-10pm

Fri & Sat noon – 11pm

Sun 11am – 4pm

Dayton at Work and Play: Cornell Studio Supply

March 4, 2023 By Bill Franz

Before I met Stephanie Beiser Ceramics I had no idea that Cornell Studio Supply was such a cool place. They have hosted workshops by some of the country’s top ceramic artists.

To get a feel for the quality of the artists who have come to Cornell you just need to look through its “boneyard.” It’s filled with items that have been made by the artists in their workshops and then bisque fired. But they haven’t been glazed and had a final firing. They are stuck in-between.

The boneyard item on the left is about three feet high. It was made by Seattle artist George Rodriguez, known for his large scale ceramic sculptures. A group of his pieces has just been installed at the Kansas City Airport. Stephanie showed her piece on the right where she is using some ideas she picked up from watching Geirge Rodriguez.

If you’re interested in ceramic art, this is a good time to visit Cornell. They’re exhibiting work by 30 past workshop instructors this month.

Cornell Studio Supply

8290 N Dixie Dr, Dayton

(937) 454-0357

Tuesday 9am – 4:30pm

Wednesday 9am – 7pm

Thursday. 9am – 4:30pm

Friday 9am – 4:30pm

Saturday 9am – 4:30pm

Workshops, Firing Services, Kiln Repair

Artist of the Week: Cydnie Deed-King

March 1, 2023 By Bill Franz

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Cydnie Deed-King working in her home studio.

I first looked at Cydnie King‘s art when I heard that the African American Visual Artists Guild was hosting an exhibition of her work at Central State University Dayton (840 Germantown Street). The reception is Sunday, March 5 from 2-4pm and is open to the public. The exhibit can be viewed Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm March 1 to April 28.

Cydnie is exhibiting her “Digital Blossoms,” which blends her paintings of plants with images of circuit boards and other technical components. Very Cool. You can see part of one of those pieces on the right. Love the way the veins on the flower change into parts of printed circuits.

In addition to making art, Cydnie also works with artists in her role as Curatorial Assistant at the Contemporary Dayton. I asked how that came about.

“I grew up in a family of artists and then studied art at Webster University” she told me. “I moved to Dayton when my husband got a job here. I knew I wanted to be part of the area’s art community so I started volunteering at The Contemporary Dayton. Eventually they made me an intern and then a year later I was hired on part-time. Now I’m a full time employee and the curatorial assistant. The Co is a great organization. I’ve learned a lot there.”

Artist of the Week: Stephanie Beiser

February 19, 2023 By Bill Franz

ARTIST OF THE WEEK Stephanie Beiser in her studio.

I wanted to meet Stephanie after seeing her work at the Dayton Art Museum’s store and at the Contemporary Dayton’s CoSHOP. Then I heard about her latest project and knew I should visit her studio right away.

Stephanie made 500 bowls for the Empty Bowls event on Thursday, February 23 benefiting House of Bread To get tickets for this event, and one of Stephanie’s bowls, go to https://houseofbread.org/

Although her pottery is amazing, Stephanie tells me she thinks of herself as more of a teacher than a potter.

“When I first came to Dayton I taught at Sinclair and then at Stivers School for the Arts” she told me. “Now I teach pottery at Edison State Community College and for the last six years I also teach at the University of Dayton.”

“I also work part-time at Cornell Studio Supply. That’s sort of part of my own continuing education in ceramic arts because Cornell brings in some of the country’s best ceramic artists for workshops. That gives me the chance to learn new techniques or just to get inspired by the best people in the field.”

Dayton at Work and Play: La Michoacana Mexican Market #5

February 10, 2023 By Bill Franz

La Michoacana Mexican Market #5 is the most colorful of the three international markets in Old North Dayton. In fact it’s Dayton’s most colorful grocery, and one that everyone should visit. It’s at 748 Troy Street, and is the only Dayton location for an Ohio chain of stores that bills itself as “a little piece of Mexico in Ohio.”

Each of the chain’s 10 locations has a grocery store, a meat market, and a restaurant. The restaurant is one of my favorite lunch spots.

The name of the store comes from Michoacan, one of Mexico’s 31 states. Farmers there are the world’s largest producers of avocados.

Check out Bill Franz’s other international market stories:

Umoja East & Central African Market

U.S. International Foods

Dayton at Work and Play: Umoja East & Central African Market

February 9, 2023 By Bill Franz

Angelique Nyambanguka came to Dayton from the Congo 7 years ago. She started Umoja East and Central African Market last year at 2601 Stanley Avenue. It’s one of the three international markets in Old North Dayton. The shop is filled with items from Africa.

Angelique showed me around the shop and I ended up buying some tea from Rwanda. As we talked, Angelique apologized that her English was not perfect. When I learned that she speaks four languages I suggested that she shouldn’t feel bad if she fails to speak them all perfectly.

Here she is showing me some shoes from Africa.

Dayton At Work and Play: U. S. International Foods

February 8, 2023 By Bill Franz

Old North Dayton has always been home to immigrant groups. In the early 1900’s the area had the Kossuth Colony, built to house immigrants from Hungary. There was a 12 foot fence all around their neighborhood. This was so unusual that it attracted visitors. People took the streetcar to “see for themselves the strange fenced-in settlement of North Dayton.”

Now there are three international markets in Old North Dayton serving different immigrant groups. Monday afternoon I visited all three. My first stop was U. S. International Foods, a small shop at 2106 Old Troy Pike.

The shop has Russian and Turkish items. The sales clerk spoke only Russian, but the packaging helped me understand most of the products, like these Kopobka cookies.

I’ll tell you about another international market tomorrow.

Dayton at Work and Play: Ryan Qualls

December 17, 2022 By Bill Franz

After Ryan Qualls posed for me I asked him how he came to be a National Park Service Ranger.

“I started out as a volunteer at Dayton History. Then I started working for the National Park Service as a student employee.

One of my assignments after a few years with the park service was at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in the Outer Banks. Now I manage the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park visitor centers and the interpretive programming.”

I loved hearing that Ryan’s volunteering lead to a great career.

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

16 S Williams St

Dayton, OH 45402

(937) 225-7705

Open daily 10am – 4pm
closed major holidays
free admission

Interpretive displays, interactive exhibits and the park introductory film are all available at the WDIC. A small gift shop is also on site and is stocked with souvenirs and books related to the Wrights and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Dayton at Work and Play: Pink Moon Goods

September 10, 2022 By Bill Franz

Kathleen Hotmer in her new shop Pink Moon Goods which opens today at noon. It’s a home goods and paper goods store that specializes in items for low waste living that are ethically manufactured.

The shop is in a beautifully restored building at 2027 East Fifth, in the Huffman Historic District. The opening celebration will include a DJ, snacks and beverages and even face painting.

Kathleen invites you to celebrate the Grand Opening of Pink Moon Goods
at 2027 East Fifth Street
In the Historic Huffman Neighborhood
in the newly renovated commercial building at the corner of 5th and Huffman

September 10, 2022 from 12-6pm

It’s a celebration so of course there will be a live dj, complimentary snacks and beverages, AND

Free face painting by Samidubzart for all ADULTS and children from 2-6pm.

Free gift with every purchase (while supplies last)

Please join us in celebrating this historic moment in our city and for this budding new business.

Pink Moon Goods is a home goods and paper goods store that specializes in items for low waste living that are ethically manufactured. If you like things that are beautiful, practical, and sustainably manufactured you will fall in love with this shop of curated goods. There is truly something for every consumer that cares about spending their money wisely.

Dayton at Work and Play: Sharon Stolzenberger

August 29, 2022 By Bill Franz

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Sharon Stolzenberger invited me into her spacious Front Street studio this week. It’s on the second floor of the Annex Building at Front Street.

“I’ve been here for years” she told me. “I love the light and the space. I use this area for watercolors, and another area across the room for acrylics. The only problem with having all of this space is that there’s never a reason to get rid of anything. A visitor can poke around and see how my work has changed over the years.”

“The piece I’m working on here features a crow. I’ve been using crows in quite a few of my work for a few years now, and recently I’ve been doing a series related to prairies.”

Like a number of successful local artists (e.g. Jon Barlow Hudson and John Emery) Sharon is a graduate of the School of the Dayton Art Institute. After school she was an illustrator and then Art Director for Gibson Greeting Cards before opening her own studio.

Sharon works primarily in watercolors but uses stenciling, patterning and collage to create densely textured works. As I photographed she added layers to a small piece. After each one of her steps I found myself thinking about whether there was a way for me to do something similar in my own digital wok. I think I need to hang around the studio some more and let Sharon teach me some new things.

Sharon’s studio will be open this week during First Friday. If you want, use her special entrance – the green staircase (fire escape) on the back of the Annex building.

Dayton at Work and Play: Anthony Murrill

August 18, 2022 By Bill Franz

Anthony Murrill of ASMurrill Art describes himself as an artist and a carpenter. I asked him to explain:

“I was an art major, but when I left college I went to work as a carpenter. I was good at it and eventually had my own successful remodeling company.”

“About seven years ago my wife encouraged me to try painting again, even though I’d been away from art for 16 years. After a short time painting I came to realize that was what I was meant to do. Now I spend almost all of my time painting at my studio in Springboro. I may sneak off to the wood shop to make a custom frame or to build a piece of furniture, but I am primarily a painter.”

Here he was getting ready for Kettering’s Art on the Commons:

He also does custom pet portraits, “I love to paint your pets! Dogs, cats, horses, cows, iguanas, birds… I love painting them all! I enjoy all of the color and texture variation in animals. I love to capture their joy and energy. Using photos that you provide, I will create a custom painting of your beloved animal. I typically paint these portraits on canvas.”

His work can be viewed-

• in the gallery and studio at 140 S. Main St, unit E, Springboro, Ohio 45065 during normal business hours and by appointment.

•Pendleton Art Center, Cincinnati Ohio studio 313, on the final Friday of the month and by appointment.

Anthony is currently accepting commissioned orders and usually has several original pieces for sale.

Dayton at Work and Play: Dani Ruffalo

June 27, 2022 By Bill Franz

Dani Ruffalo took an Entrepreneurship class when she was a student at the University of Dayton. Her class project was a hat with an inner pouch that can be used for cash, credit cards or even a face mask.

After patenting that idea, Dani launched Handy Hats . All of the hats are designed and assembled in Dayton.

Dayton Collection

SHOP NOW

Island Collection

SHOP NOW

Bucket Hats

SHOP NOW

Today, Handy Hats are available in over 100 styles ranging from baseball to bucket hat to beanie! Visit www.myhandyhats.com to order your own Handy Hat today or email [email protected] with any business inquires/to place a custom order.

Follow Handy Hats on Instagram and Facebook.

Dayton At Work and Play: Sugarcreek Photography Gallery

June 17, 2022 By Bill Franz

I was so impressed by the work I saw at Sugarcreek Photography Gallery

that I thought I’d ask a few of their photographers to share some of their favorites. Judd Plattenburg sent me this wonderful photo of the fountains at RiverScape and told me a bit about it.

May be an image of 1 person and nature

“I own Oregon Printing and have worked in downtown Dayton for more than 35 years. I like this shot because it shows one of the things that is special about our city. To get this perspective I needed to be on the water, so making this image combined two of my hobbies – photography and paddling.”

You can see more of Judd’s photography at Sugarcreek Photography Gallery or on his website https://www.juddplattenburg.com/

Dayton at Work and Play: Erin Nash

April 14, 2022 By Bill Franz

Erin Nash, the Upcycling Librarian.

“I was a librarian and I saw that many people donated books to our library that we couldn’t use. Some of those books had beautiful covers or illustrations. So about eight years ago I began disassembling unwanted books and using the materials to make various paper products. I use beautiful old book covers to make journals with blank pages, or a personalized book containing a customer’s treasured family letters or documents. I also make bookmarks and sell illustrations taken from old books.”

“I have an ETSY shop called UpcyclingLibrarian, but most of my sales are made person to person. I sell at various markets and POPUP events. Potential customers can learn my schedule by following me on Instagram at @upcyclinglibrarian or emailing me at [email protected]“

Bill Franz

Workshops, Firing Services, Kiln Repair

Dayton Collection

Island Collection

Bucket Hats

Mon 16

Tue 17

Wed 18

Thu 19

Fri 20

Sat 21

Sun 22

WinterFest at Kings Island

New Adult Book Club

Holiday Lights at Lost Creek Reserve Drive Thru

Quiz Night at The Pub

Trivia

King of Wands: A Divine Masculine Rewilding Circle

First Degree Mistletoe presented by Mayhem & Mystery

Trivia Night

Free Belly Dance workshop

$6.50 Movie Day

Holiday Vendor Pop-Up!

WinterFest at Kings Island

Holiday Soirée for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs

Santa Visits the Pizza Parlor

Holiday Lights at Lost Creek Reserve Drive Thru