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ARTIST OF THE WEEK:  Walter Murch

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK Walter Murch next to a self portrait and a Winnie the Pooh soap bar at his exhibition at K12 Gallery and TEJAS (314 S. Jefferson).

For 36 years Murch was Director of Product Design at Hewitt Soap (333 Linden) in Dayton’s Historic Inner East neighborhood. That plant was the country’s largest manufacturer of specialty soap bars, and Murch designed over 2,000 different soaps. 

The exhibition includes examples of soap bars made for such diverse customers as Avon, Disney and the Sultan of Brunei. For each product Murch would do design sketches and then carve one bar by hand. His carving was used to make molds that made thousands of soap bars.

Murch has retired from soap carving but he is still a working artist, and some of his abstract paintings are part of his exhibition at K12. These paintings show some of the same skill and precision evident in the carvings. Interestingly, the soaps and the abstract paintings also share similar color palettes.

The exhibition continues through April 27. It’s well worth a visit to see the art and to learn a bit of Dayton history.

Rebecca Sargent – Artist and Educator

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Rebecca Sargent spends her days at K12 Gallery & TEJAS, Dayton’s leading arts education organization, which is in Dayton’s most colorful building. 

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“I started volunteering at K12 eighteen years ago” Rebecca told me.  “Then I went to college at Wright State and taught art part-time at K12.  I left to go to grad school in Philadelphia and came back to Dayton at the perfect time.  K12 had just doubled their space and was adding TEJAS (Teen Educational Adult Studio).  I was hired to coordinate TEJAS on a part- time basis and I also did the “adjunct shuffle” – teaching at Wright State, Sinclair Community College and Stivers School for the Arts.  Then eight years ago I started working at K12 full time.  Recently I was promoted to Program Director.”

“Working for a non-profit can be challenging.  There’s so much work to do and the financial rewards aren’t great.  But I love it.  I feel very fortunate to be here.”

“Anytime I feel low, I can just walk around the building and see young artists like these, and then I cheer right up.”

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Rebecca makes her own art in a studio at her home.  She and her husband live in this home on a quiet side street in Dayton.

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Rebecca paints in a converted garage at the rear of her home. It’s an ideal space, with lots of light from skylights she’s added.  With the windows and the roses, it reminded me of a rustic cottage.

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When I entered, I looked for Rebecca’s work bench.  I make a habit of photographing work benches whenever I get the chance.  No two are ever alike.  Rebecca’s work bench didn’t disappoint, with its pens, pencils, brushes, papers for her collages, some paints, and a pile of garlic bulbs from her garden.

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Her painting work table was less individualistic, but more colorful.

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Before she starts a painting, Rebecca creates a collage that guides her as she paints.  This collage was taped to the wall to the right of her easel.

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When I visit some artists, they pretend to paint while I take photos. But Rebecca didn’t want to waste time. She had a few free days and she was going to make them count.

When I started watching her work, this canvas only had a background color. But in a relatively short amount of time Rebecca brought it to life, loosely guided by the collage.

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This painting was for an exhibition that Rebecca and Ann B. Kim were having at Dutoit Gallery called “Same Same but Different.”

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I asked Rebecca how long it takes her to complete a painting.  “Once I’ve made the collages and worked out ideas as a starting point, I typically finish an individual painting in a few weeks.  I’m a pretty fast painter and tend work in bursts.  However, an entire series of 12-14 paintings will take me an entire year to complete.”

“I create work in a series, working on several paintings at one time.  I tend to stop working on a painting before I totally finish it.  Sometimes I fear that I’ll “over-work” the piece, or need to work out a few more ideas before I feel like I can finish it.”

“My work typically involves structures and architectural spaces.  This series is different for me because I have added figures into these spaces.  This presents a new challenge so far as paint handling.  But I like this addition because it provides me the opportunity to further explore a narrative in my work.

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Before leaving, I asked Rebecca to lay down her brush and pose for me.

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A month or two after this visit I went to Rebecca’s show at Dutoit Gallery.  I loved her work, especially the piece I watched her work on.  The title of the piece was great:  “Is Bill Still Watching?”

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More of her work can be found at: rebeccasargent.com

Art is Everywhere During New Juried Show and Kickoff Event

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Artinthecitylogo-01It’s not a difficult task to discover visual arts in downtown Dayton. Whether you’re exploring a gallery space or admiring local products sold in downtown businesses, Dayton’s rich arts amenities abound. Last year, we introduced our first event in the new Summer in the City series in May, and it was a blast. But we’ve got a lot more in store for art lovers at this year’s event. Pack your bags, because you’re in for a trip! Art in the City is the next signature event of the 2016 DP&L Summer in the City lineup, and it promises to be quite the visual feast.

IMG_1530The Downtown Dayton Partnership is helping to roll out a new juried art show. The Dayton Visual Arts Center pulled together 26 talented local artists whose work will be on display in different downtown businesses. Our goals are simple: We hope to encourage art lovers to discover a new downtown business, and we want to introduce regular patrons to incredible local art. We’re also throwing another element into the mix: You get to decide which artist nabs the title of “People’s Choice” by voting for your favorite artist or artwork. Voting starts Friday, June 3, and closes at noon on June 17. Visit downtowndayton.org for details.

To kick off the open voting session, we’re hosting a huge visual arts party, complete with live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and other interactive programs throughout downtown. It’s free! It’s fantastic! It’s fun for all ages! And it lasts from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, June 3.

IMG_1681You can meet the artists from the juried show pop-up galleries in their spaces, and you can check out an array of other arts activities sprinkled around downtown, including:

  • The Front Street Experience: Watch artists blow glass and create street art on canvas, get your face painted, and take a selfie at the art wall, located on Courthouse Square. While you’re there, check out more fun going on for the kickoff of Dayton Pride weekend, Affair on the Square.
  • K12 Gallery & TEJAS: The whole family will enjoy visual arts activities and special performances by SMAG Dance Collective. Get down on the dance floor with music by DJ Tony Whitfield and DJ Scorpius Max. Visit “Make n’ Take” stations and create garden art planters and garden wire sculptures. Juice bar and snacks also available for purchase.
  • Mendelson’s Mural: A new mural-painting company, The Mural Machine, is taking art to the streets and transforming buildings. Watch them work on their current project, Mendelson’s Outlet, off First Street.IMG_1563
  • Live demos: Several downtown arts businesses will have live demonstrations, and you can browse artwork in the shop for sale. Check out Gallery 510 Fine Art at 508 E. Fifth St., Vessels at 227 N. Main St., Ink & Hammer at 506 Wayne Ave., Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors on 48 High St. in St. Anne’s, and the Front Street Galleries in the warehouse at 1001 E. Second St.
  • Art on 5th: Following the success of its first art show and handmade craft sale, theNorthGate returns with its next gallery and market, located at Fifth and Wilkinson in the former historic Salvation Army building.
  • Dayton Art Institute: If you haven’t seen the latest exhibit, Into the Ether, you’ll be inspired to visit the interactive light gallery when you visit the museum’s special Art in the City location near Lily’s Bistro (329 E. Fifth St.). Make your own luminary with color-changing LED lights!
  • Innovative Arts Nexus (IAN): The University of Dayton’s former Art Street program has gone beyond art as a creative medium for expression and turned it into an application for creative problem solving and innovation. Learn more about the process and challenge your perceptions at their interactive experience in front of the Clair Lofts (St. Clair Street between Third and Fourth streets).
  • IMG_1582Nucleus CoShare: Not only will you get to see one of the largest pop-up gallery installations at this space, you can experience a variety of other local artists. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could work here? Memberships to the co-shared office space are still available. Chat with the staff on-site to learn more about rates and benefits (besides being surrounded by inspirational artwork).
  • The Mosaic Institute of Greater Dayton: Create your own unique mosaic while you enjoy the sights and sounds of Pickin’ in the Park at RiverScape MetroPark. Be sure to try the free demo of the new Urban Family Challenge Food and craft beer will be available for purchase at this location. (Heads up – Monument Avenue will be closed from Patterson to St. Clair for this activity.)
  • African American Visual Artists Guild: Watch computer art and thread painting demonstration at their station in the Oregon District.
  • Courteous Mass: Get a new perspective on your city from the seat of a bike. Join a group ride to tour public art installations on a new iteration of the Bike the Arts Bonus: The new culture-wrapped Link Bike also will be unveiled! The ride departs from Don Crawford Plaza (Fifth Third Field) at 6:30 p.m.

Bike the Arts: Exploring Downtown Dayton

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Since my car-less adventure way back in the day, I’ve always believed that one of the best ways to see our beautiful city is on a bike. With all the bike-love happening in Dayton these days – Link Dayton (bike share), recognition of our top ranking for the most off-street paved trails, the RiverScape bike hub, an increased number of bike lanes for commuting, our bronze ranking as a Bicycle-Friendly community and more – it’s no wonder that more cycle tours and races are popping up for community members of every interest level and ability to strap on that helmet and ride.

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On Saturday, June 20, there’s a fun, free and unique new addition to the cycling opportunities. Dayton Regional Green and Courteous Mass have teamed up to host Bike the Arts – Downtown Dayton. A total ride of just under 7 miles on a (mostly) flat surface – this event showcases both our bike-friendly environment and our talented arts community. Registration for the ride begins at 10:30 a.m. at RiverScape MetroPark; the ride goes from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00(ish) p.m.

An all-volunteer effort, born out of the Arts and Culture team from Dayton Regional Green and relying upon the experience from the cycling gurus at Courteous Mass, this ride is slow, smooth and filled cool visits to local arts spots.

Jane Black, co-chair of the DRG Livability pillar, is the lead docent on the tour. With oodles of experience as a both a professional artist, educator and administrator – Jane will share exciting insights and behind-the-scenes stories about the public art and spaces; she’ll introduce you to great pieces of art in plain view that you’ll see in a whole new way. Riders will also hear from staff at Dayton Art Institute and K12 Gallery, as well as artists/performers Bing Davis, Suzy Richardt, Ryan McCullough and Justin Howard. How’s it work? Ride a bit, meet an artist, ride again, see a performance, back on the bike to visit a gallery, and keep on going as you enjoy exploring your city!

The ride is escorted by Dayton Police Officer Jeff Brown for everyone’s safety and comfort (this is an on-street ride, we’ll follow all traffic rules). Helmets are recommended.

Bonus! The first 30 registrants receive a FREE 24-hour membership to try Link Dayton, and the first 50 registrants receive a FREE Take Back the Tap water bottle from the City of Dayton. Plus, snacks and water will be provided. Don’t miss your chance to bid to win a beautiful piece of art created by Suzy Richardt in honor of the ride.

No bike? No problem! You can rent one from Five Rivers MetroParks or try Link Dayton (multiple Link Stations are along the route, so you’ll be able to check-in as needed).

This program is part of a larger initiative of Dayton Regional Green. While many of the action teams are working closely with municipalities, organizations and corporations – the Arts and Culture team is working to provide fun and easy ways for individuals to learn more about multi-modal transportation, energy savings and personal steps to environmental sustainability.

Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities: September 11-18

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Welcome to our new column for urban volunteer opportunities! I’ll be posting all kinds of ways to get involved in city neighborhoods – from hand-on service to crowdfunding to fun community-building events – so if you have items for submission e-mail me or add them to our Facebook group!

Spotlight on: Garden Station

Have you driven on Wayne Avenue downtown and wondered what that raucous splash of color was by the railroad tracks? Or maybe you’re a regular at the many frequent events occurring at this two-acre community art park, such as the weekly Sunday Market or ‘Free Music First Friday.’ Launched in 2008 as an initiative of the Dayton Circus Creative Collective, Garden Station is now a stand-alone organization led by Lisa Helm with a small crew of volunteers. It is an “urban hub where the Dayton community can come together to enjoy art, campfires, festivals, movies, concerts and community gardens.” They always need help on Saturday work days throughout the growing season, and this week, they are holding Wine and Weeding Wednesday to get spruced up for Urban Nights. The garden’s current fiscal sponsorship agreement expires on September 14 and its estimated monthly costs are $300, so they’d love if you made a tax-deductible donation before Friday! Or if you don’t fancy yourself a philanthropist, you can still give by eating at Blind Bob’s on the first Monday of the month and mentioning Garden Station Night. For more information, follow their page or e-mail Lisa.

Some of the 170 K12 & East End volunteers installing the mosaic

Get Involved!

  • Guide our county’s future: Montgomery County is asking citizens to give input through a series of public forums. The topic for Tuesday, Sep. 11th is “Where Do We Stand vs. Other Communities?” Seen any great ideas in other areas that you’d like to bring back here? Chime in!
  • Show your art on downtown streets: Activated Spaces, the Downtown Dayton Plan’s joint project of Generation Dayton and updayton, is conducting a final call for submissions for art to fill downtown storefronts. Artists will appreciate that they’re printing the art on vinyl window clings this time, making installation much easier! Click here for more information and to apply by the September 14th deadline.
  • The November library levy (Issue 70) includes an “upgraded main library that will be a regional information, reading and cultural attraction for downtown Dayton.” Their online volunteer form asks for help with phonecalls, going door-to-door, endorsers, poll greeters, and public speakers.
  • Bike sharing for downtown was recently a hot topic of discussion in our group, and we learned that Bike Miami Valley is exploring the idea. Fill out their brief online survey to share your thoughts on a ‘smart bike’ system!
  • Which urban neighborhoods are on Facebook? Several years ago, DMM publisher Bill Pote and I led a training at City Hall to get more neighborhoods on social media. Let us know how far we’ve come by adding to my running list.
  • Urban Nights: Still a few more slots availablefor volunteers!

    Monica Wirick-Schultz doing some park planting with other volunteers last Friday

  • Clean up North Main Street: Volunteer help is needed for cleaning up litter and overgrown vegetation; supplies such as gloves, brooms and bags are provided. Saturday, Sep. 15, 8:30am-1pm, 2141 N. Main St. For more information, contact FROC Priority Board Coordinator Verletta Jackson at 333-3288 or e-mail her.
  • Demo Day at the Fifth Street Brewpub: Meet at the community-owned brewpub (1600 E Fifth) at 10 am, Saturday, Sep 15 to demo the interior of the brewhouse. Email them if you can make it so they can plan accordingly (e.g: buy enough beer)
  • Community-Police Action Planning: Learn about community-police relations, give feedback, and sign up for volunteer opportunities at the Dayton Community Police Council’s Community Day Party. Saturday, Sep. 15 11am-3pm, Convention Center.
  • Help make peace in Dayton neighborhoods: The Dayton Mediation Center is looking for volunteer mediators to attend upcoming trainings and commit to helping with conflict resolution. More details can be found here.

Success!

  • Adding color to Xenia Avenue: Over 170 volunteers participated in the year-and-a-half long mosaic mural project led by K12 Gallery for Young People in partnership with East End Community Services Corporation. The finished project can now be seen at 504 Xenia Ave. Like K12’s page to get involved in future projects! The new mosaics decorate the facade of the future location of the Corner Cupboard Charities thrift store, a volunteer-run organization that raises money for other local nonprofits. Check them out!

    One of the many streetscape transformations underway in the South Park neighborhood

  • DDR volunteers rocked it!: Over 200 volunteers came out to support the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Fest this past weekend and a good time was had by all.
  • Invest in the city through real estate! Theresa Gasper of Full Circle Development, LLC recently shared some amazing before-and-after pictures of the homes she and partners have transformed in the Historic South Park neighborhood, an area which saw a 23% value increase in the last reappraisal. There are plenty of great urban realtors who would love to get you started!
  • First Friday Park Planters: A dozen volunteers organized through our Facebook group planted about 40 shrubs and perennials at a little downtown park on Friday night before exploring First Friday together. This was made possible by a grant that volunteer Brian Ressler obtained from Keep Montgomery County Beautiful. Thanks everyone!