In traditional folklore, dragons are serpents of huge sizes that breathe fire. Deb Hoffmaster’s are less intimidating.

“Initially the dragon was much more fierce,” Hoffmaster said. “It kind of came out cuter than I anticipated.”

A dragon pendant by local artist Deb Hoffmaster. Photo Courtesy Deb Hoffmaster.

Hoffmaster, the metalcraft moderator for the Toledo Gem and Rockhound Club,  works with fabricated silver and mixed-metal jewelry. The dragon piece is part of a series of pendants Hoffmaster calls “story pendants.” They all go together, but have individual inspiration.

“The thing about the stuff that I do is that I don’t do too many things that are the same,” Hoffmaster said.

She started the series with a pendant of a bear catching a salmon to eat. She has since done a hummingbird and a fox.

There may be another dragon piece in the future, Hoffmaster said, but the ones she has now will be featured at the Heralding The Holidays event set for Dec. 7-9 at the Toledo Botanical Gardens, 5403 Elmer Drive.

The free event will bring together local talent to sell their work. It will include jewelry, pottery, glass, paintings, photography, textiles, soaps, lotions, jams, herbs and more.  Hours are 5-9 p.m. Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 9.

Hoffmaster’s pieces range in price from $25 to $500.

“I think it’s nice to have a variety of things,” Hoffmaster said. “People who don’t have a lot of money can still buy something unique.

The dragon, what she calls “a special piece” will be one of the more expensive ones.

Hoffmaster said Heralding The Holidays is always a fun event to be a part of.

“For me Heralding is the beginning of the Christmas season,” she said. “I know that everybody else puts out their stuff after Halloween, but for me, Heralding is the point at which I start to feel like, ‘Oh yeah, Christmas is now coming.’”

For more information, visit toledogarden.org.

Tags: Deb Hoffmaster, Heralding the Holidays, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Gem and Rockhound Club

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 at 12:38 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Holidays.
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Fred Okun has been around the block a time or two. In fact, he has been around the Huron block between Monroe and Washington streets for 56 years. His company, Sam Okun Produce, sits on the Warehouse District block in Downtown Toledo.

Okun said he grew up on the block and has witnessed its ups and downs.

“I would say in the ’50s, ’60s, even ’70s and so far as to say probably the ’80s, this was a busy block. A certain number of years ago, I can quickly count out seven warehouses that were in this block and some of them were really large,” Okun said.

Because of a change in the system of farming goods distribution, those businesses started to go out of business, Okun said.

“That’s when the block started to, I don’t want to say deteriorate, because I don’t feel that we ever deteriorated, but it just wasn’t the best block,” Okun said. “But then when the Mud Hens’ stadium was built, that just kind of changed everything.”

From left, Jeremy Link, Leslie Adams, Douglas Kampfer and Adam Goldberg.

Fifth Third Field, home to the Toledo Mud Hens, was built in 2002, but it wasn’t until a few years later that the area on the Huron Street side of the stadium began to fill with new restaurants and businesses.

Fifth Third Field dominates the south side of the street, from Washington Street to PizzaPapalis on Monroe Street.

The north side of the block is anchored by the offices of Toledo Free Press and The Blarney Irish Pub on Monroe Street and Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull Tavern at the corner of Washington and Huron streets. That eatery opened June 7.

The block continues to grow with the creation of multiple artists’ studios and the construction of a new Italian restaurant.

Arts abound

John and Madonna Fong have owned and lived in a building on Huron Street since 1983. The artistic couple were among the founders of the Warehouse District, John Fong said.

John used to practice commercial advertising photography in the building until about six or seven years ago.

The couple owns La Luna Salon & Spa in Sylvania.

The tradition of art has continued in his building, as John still takes photographs, including pictures of his orchids. The Fongs also  rent a space to Leslie Adams, a nationally-renowned artist who specializes in figurative art and portraiture.

Adams has worked in Downtown Toledo for close to 20 years after growing up in the South End, she said. She worked out of another, smaller studio Downtown before moving to her current location on Huron Street four years ago.

Adams keeps a low profile, not allowing walk-ins to visit her studio, because she is working on her solo exhibit to be displayed at the Toledo Museum of Art from Oct. 19 to Jan. 13. Also, Adams said she wants to respect the privacy of her clients, many of whom are state senators, governors and judges. Adams has created portraits of corporate, religious and civic leaders, including works of Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer and Bishop James R. Hoffman.

Each portrait requires an average of 400 hours of work by Adams and her assistants, Lindsey Wiseman and Jose Rodriguez. Adams employs a traditional technique of portrait painting, which consists of a lengthy process of drawing and painting multiple layers of flesh tones and light. Much of this process is spent really getting to know the subject, physically and on a personal level, Adams said.

“It’s a privilege to get to spend so much time with someone and give this gift to them,” Adams said. “I get to know who they are as a human being.”

For her portrait of former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, Adams had him pose 15 different times for three to four hours at a time, in addition to the work she did with other models and photographs.

Despite the work she does in Columbus for the government, Adams said she is committed to the Toledo area. When friends ask why she doesn’t move to Columbus, since she spends much of her time working there, Adams responds that she loves being Downtown, she loves the neighborhood, the owners, the studio space and the synergy. Her family has also been a factor in her staying in the area.

Adams said the block of Huron is a fun place to work, especially with the emerging artists’ studios utilizing different types of art forms. Adams said the other artists on the block, Adam Goldberg, Douglas Kampfer and Jeremy Link, are hardworking and the four have a good sense of camaraderie.

“Here we all are on this little block in Toledo, but we’re international and reaching all around,” Adams said.

Graphite Design + Build

Kampfer and Link are designer-builders who co-own Graphite Design + Build. The pair has been renovating their new shop on the Huron block since November, when they began renting the building from Okun through a connection with Goldberg, Okun’s grandson. Goldberg is in the process of creating Gathered Art Gallery and Studio, where he will practice glass blowing and rent his upstairs space to other artists. Gathered is located between Graphite and Okun Produce.

“[Okun] said these buildings were completely empty and they’ve been empty for 40 years, so he said, ‘Let’s do something with them,’ so we’ve been all working together to make the project happen,” Goldberg said.

Link, Kampfer and Goldberg expressed gratitude to Okun for his belief in and support of their work.

“The Okuns were really nice to us; they took it easy with rent and everything because they wanted us to be here,” Link said.

“Fred Okun basically wants this block to be awesome,” Kampfer said. “A year ago this block was pretty much vacant. By the end of the summer, it will be at 100 percent capacity.”

Goldberg found Kampfer and Link through the Arts Commission and the Artomatic 419! program that tours potential art studio sites. Goldberg showed the designer-builders one of the smaller, upstairs studios, but because of the large-scale nature of their work, the large warehouse next door to Goldberg was a better fit.

Historic district

“I was involved in helping to get the area all the way from Monroe Street to the Farmers Market as part of the National Registered Historic District,” said Paul Sullivan Jr., an architect who has been invested in the Warehouse District since its beginnings. “It certainly encourages and opens up opportunities for renovation once you are listed on the register.”

Renovating the 150-year old building posed challenges for the duo, as they had to build floor supports and install their own heating and electricity to make the space usable.

Link and Kampfer said their project is a work in progress and has been a learning experience. Graphite’s projects include work for the Metroparks of Toledo Area, the Indianapolis Zoo, a Columbus-based project for a zoo in Saudi Arabia and work for the Toledo Botanical Garden.

“I can’t believe we’ve gotten so much work from [the Metroparks] locally. It’s been pretty crazy. Hopefully, our grasp continues to get bigger and wider,” Kampfer said.

Graphite should be open by late summer, and while its main focus is not a gallery, the owners believe its location near the Fifth Third Field will benefit the business, Link said.

“There’s a lot of foot traffic through here. People always stop and look under our garage door,” Link said.

Kampfer said one of the biggest benefits of the Huron block location is the neighborhood it’s in. He said he and Link know everyone on the block, a huge advantage for their studio.

Goldberg, who plans to offer classes, sell glass work and open his hot shop to other artists’ designs, said that despite the long, hard process of renovating an old fallout shelter into a gallery, he is happy with the location.

Sullivan said there used to be a glass studio called Gallery B, which was owned by Ralph Behrendt, who now owns Flying Rhino Coffee & Chocolate at One Seagate in Downtown. Behrendt’s gallery was located at what is now third base at Fifth Third Field, Sullivan said.

“They lost that as part of the construction for the ballpark so I’m delighted to see a glass studio space opening up on the street,” Sullivan said.

“Having the Hens’ stadium obviously and being neighbors with Toledo Free Press is huge. We are real close to the other art studios, the Secor Building and The Art Supply Depo. Huron always has foot traffic, we can go to The Blarney every day or PizzaPapalis. It’s really cool and it’s only getting better. And the neighbors are cool, it’s great to work with Leslie, Doug and Jeremy,” Goldberg said.

Boom’s beginning

Bill Thomas, Chief Operating Officer of the Downtown Toledo Development Corp., said businesses didn’t spring up immediately after the construction of Fifth Third Field.

“There wasn’t a good plan to assist people in developing around [the stadium] at first,” Thomas said. “Restaurants are a difficult business, and that was the first new major venue to come. Back then, people weren’t aware of Fifth Third Field, plus it’s only a five month venue; for seven months, there’s nothing.”

Thomas said it was the creation of the Huntington Center that gave restaurant owners the confidence to open up on the Huron block and at other Downtown locations.

“The arena is a 12-month venue and has a larger audience and draw in way of demographics,” Thomas said. “Not everyone may want to see a baseball game, but the arena has reintroduced a number of people to the Downtown area who now come down because of the arena. They realize how clean, safe, fun the area is.”

Jim Mettler, owner of Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull, was formerly the general manager of Table Forty4, on Monroe Street close to Huron Street. He said he lives in and loves the Downtown area and when presented with the opportunity to be a part of it as an owner, took advantage of the growing Warehouse District. He acquired the restaurant’s space in September 2011 and began construction in January 2012.

“It has taken longer than people expected (to build up around Fifth Third Field),” Mettler said. “People wanted to see others try before they risked their investment.”

The pioneer was Ed Beczynski, owner of The Blarney Irish Pub, who moved into the Huron block in 2006 when he and Tom Pounds, owner of Toledo Free Press, jointly bought the building on the corner of Monroe and Huron streets.

“People thought I was crazy when I bought the building six years ago, but not so much anymore,” Beczynski said.

When the owner of PizzaPapalis was looking for a spot in Toledo, he drove by The Blarney and saw that it was busy week after week, and  decided to build his restaurant across the street, Beczynski said.

Aaron Polte, who has worked in management positions for PizzaPapalis since its opening in 2009, said more restaurants in the area will help his own. He said more competition helps his restaurant attain more visibility and that a growing arts scene contributes to a growing customer base for the Huron block restaurants.

“There is such a great arts community here in Toledo that brings a nice crowd in. They’re dedicated to restaurants,” Polte said.

“It’s awesome to see people using old buildings and converting them into different things. Awesome people are keeping the buildings and not tearing them down,” Beczynski said of Fred Okun.

“Goldberg’s building has been in the family for hundreds of years. Now they’re taking those buildings, cleaning them up, allowing the character of the building to show through,” Thomas said. “It shows that they can enjoy the space for what it is. It doesn’t have to be torn down. This is a good example of what can be done with old buildings.”

Fong said he wants people to realize that the area is a residential one, as well as commercial, and that the things happening in the area are great for the neighborhood.

“At first there were just empty warehouses. You could roll a bowling ball down the street and it wouldn’t hit anything,” Fong said. “Attracting artists is great for the neighborhood and will draw a lot of attention and activities, which I like.”

Tags: Adam Goldberg, Artomatic 419!, Arts Commission, Bishop James R. Hoffman, Blarney Irish Pub, Bob Taft, Douglas Kampfer, Ed Beczynski, Fifth Third Field, Fred Okun, Gathered Art Gallery and Studio, Graphite Design + Build, Jeremy Link, John and Madonna Fong, La Luna Salon & Spa, Leslie Adams, lying Rhino Coffee & Chocolate, Metroparks of Toledo Area, Mud Hens, National Registered Historic District, Paul Sullivan Jr., PizzaPapalis, Sam Okun Produce, the Indianapolis Zoo, Thomas J. Moyer, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Free Press, Tom Pounds, Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull Tavern

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 at 11:59 am and is filed under Featured, Galleries, Restaurants, Star.
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Toledoans can see slide shows on steroids at the Glass City’s second PechaKucha Night on June 12 at the Toledo-Lucas County Main Library.

In PechaKucha, presenters have six minutes and 40 seconds to share concepts, stories, performances or artwork by sharing 20 slides for 20 seconds each.

“It can be very entertaining because you don’t know what’s going to happen in those 20 seconds, the audience doesn’t know what’s going to happen in those 20 seconds and mistakes do happen,” said event organizer Kimberly Adams.

Kimberly Adams

PechaKucha began in Tokyo in 2003 as a way for young designers to share their ideas.

“They started it for architects, because the architects tended to be a little long-winded when they were presenting their designs so they kind of shortened that format for them,” Adams said. Now the nights occur in more than 500 cities all over the world and Tokyo itself has had about 100 PechaKucha Nights. The events even have their own designated space within the city.

Adams, founder of tart :: projects, an artists’ platform, also organized Toledo’s first PechaKucha Night, which took place March 31 at Manhattan’s. She recently moved back to Ohio after living in Tampa, Fla., where she first observed PechaKucha.

“I’d been to a couple in Tampa and they were really well put-together so I just thought it’d be great to happen here,” Adams said.

PechaKucha almost started in Toledo in 2010, but never officially took off. However, 2012 was a different story for PechaKucha in Toledo. After deciding to bring the events to Toledo, Adams reached out to the PechaKucha organization in Tokyo.

“I had to sign a contract, like a handshake contact. The contract had a picture of the two hands shaking,” Adams said with a laugh. By signing the contract, Adams agreed to organize four nights within the year.

The first Toledo event included 10 presenters of all kinds and 30-50 people attended, Adams said. So far, the June presentation also looks to be full of variety.

“[PechaKucha is] used for like artists, designers, people that are advocating for anything and everything,” Adams said.

The documentarian

One of those artists is Tina Gionis, who returned from making a documentary in Taiwan about a month ago. While in Taiwan, she documented the Mazu Pilgrimage and Festival, an annual celebration honoring Mazu, the sea deity of the Taoist faith. Her PechaKucha presentation will feature images and stories from her trip, she said.

Tina Gionis

“[Filming] was really a good experience, pretty high-pressure. I did a lot of traveling around and the pilgrimage was very fast moving. A lot of times, I didn’t get enough sleep but I managed to get the footage I needed and I was able to get a lot of interviews with the right people and capture the intensity,” Gionis said.

The next step is the film’s editing process. “I believe the making of a film, half of it is actually shooting and capturing footage and the other half is editing. You really tell a story with how you put the shots together,” she said. Depending on funding, the editing process could take up to a year.

This is Gionis’ first PechaKucha night and she is still putting together her presentation, but plans to share some exciting stories.

“I’ll probably talk about how I almost got trampled in a religious frenzy by Mazu followers,” she said.

Events like PechaKucha Night can make the city stronger, Gionis said.

“It sounds like a really good way to make people aware of different projects artists are working on,” she said.

The movie-inspired poet

Imani Lateef, an independent graphic designer and presenter, agreed with Gionis.

“[PechaKucha] creates an opportunity for people to share in real time. It’s so odd with all the technology that there’s so many connections, but we’re still very much separated. This actually gives us the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone so to speak, in ways that social media outlets don’t normally do,”

Lateef said.

Imani Lateef

Lateef plans on presenting a poem he wrote based on scenes from the  film, “Black Orpheus,” which won the 1960 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film was made in Brazil and directed by Marcel Camus.

“I thought it would be a cool way to use the PechaKucha format,” Lateef said. “[The format] lends itself perfectly to poetry and artistic presentations.”

Lateef first heard of PechaKucha in 2010 and even offered to sponsor a night at his now closed Ground Level Coffee House, but the event fell through. But now the designer is happy to be working on his new presentation. “I enjoy the challenge. I think it’s going to be very interesting to see how people work in the constraints,” he said.

The nonprofit worker

Sam Melden, executive director of Food for Thought, hopes to be helped by those constraints. “It’s actually helpful because you know exactly what’s expected. The interesting part for me is I’ve never seen [PechaKucha] done,” he said. If his presentation is successful, Melden may start talking in “20-second bursts,” he said.

His organization, Food for Thought, aims to feed the hungry while investing dignity and respect in them, Melden said. He plans to share the story of the nonprofit along with “how thought or being thoughtful really matters to the work that you do in the nonprofit type job.”

Food for Thoughtn was founded in May 2007 and Melden joined the organization in August 2011 after working in retail and ministry positions. Food for Thought now operates a stationary and mobile food pantry, a lunch distribution program and gardens for growing healthy foods.

Sam Melden

Melden said he hopes to impart some of the group’s philosophy at PechaKucha Night.

“It would be my No. 1 goal just to offer something of value. If [the audience] considers it valuable then I’ve accomplished something,” he said of his presentation.

The out-of-town artist

Samantha Hookway has a few reasons to be in Toledo this June: a friend’s wedding, the Glass Art Society (GAS) Convention from June 13-17 and, of course, presenting at PechaKucha.

When she heard of PechaKucha, “I thought, ‘Score!’ because I wanted to come to Toledo and do something but I’m feeling very tight with the wedding and the GAS conference,” Hookway said. She plans to present some of her artwork and background on the slides.

The artist, influenced by how painters interpret windows, often puts the look of a stained glass window on materials like silk.

“I was making [glass art] traditionally … but then as I kept making the work, I realized I wanted to take the stained glass in the leaded window into another world altogether,” she said.

Hookway lives in Columbus and has heard of PechaKucha Nights, but never attended.

“It’s a platform where all the disciplines can find a way to fit together, so that’s a really strong part of it and I’m hoping I’ll learn something I hadn’t considered,” she said.

At press time, other presenters include Karen Ranney Wolkins of the Toledo Botanical Garden, Adam Goldberg of Gathered Studio, Amy Fidler of You Are Here Toledo/AIGA Toledo and Aesa Bjork, a glass artist. The event is sponsored by Toledo Free Press, Erie Construction Mid-West Inc., DoxSystems, Paul R. Sullivan Jr., AIA LLC, Law Office of Gretchen DeBacker and tart :: projects.

Samantha Hookway

Adams is still looking for presenters for June 12. The only requirement of presenters is that they use images and send Adams a statement to pkn.toledo@gmail.com.

The minimum number of presenters is 10 and the maximum is 16.

“[PechaKucha is] pretty wide open. It’s just a platform for people to share their ideas, you know, get it out there. With as much as we’ve got going on here, it’s a great way to inform the community of what’s happening,” Adams said. After June, the next PechaKucha Night is set for September and Adams hopes to get Rep. Marcy Kaptur to present.

PechaKucha Night is 7:30-10 p.m. June 12 at the Toledo-Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. Admission is free.

For more information, visit www.pecha-kucha.org/night/toledo/.

Tags: Adam Goldberg, Aesa Bjork, AIA LLC, Amy Fidler, DoxSystems, Erie Construction Mid-West Inc., Gathered Studio, Imani Lateef, Karen Ranney Wolkins, Kimberly Adams, Law Office of Gretchen DeBacker, Paul R. Sullivan Jr., PechaKucha Night, Sam Melden, Smantha Hookway, tart :: projects, Tina Gionis, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Free Press, Toledo-Lucas County Main Library, You Are Here Toledo/AIGA Toledo

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 7th, 2012 at 5:09 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Exhibits, Featured.
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Growing your own food can be part of your family’s emergency plan and tips on how to get started is the topic of this month’s Ready U session.

The hour-long event, titled “Victory in the Garden,” is set for 7 p.m. May 23 at the Toledo Botanical Garden conference center, 5403 Elmer Drive.

Horticulture Manager Josh Miller will talk about Toledo Botanical Garden and its community outreach arm, Toledo GROWs, before turning the floor over to two Ohio State University Extension employees.

Extension Educator Amy Stone and Patrice Powers-Barker, program assistant with the Family Nutrition Program, will co-present a program called “From Plant to Plate.”

The discussion will cover the growing process from planting to harvest and what to do after the harvest, including food safety, preparation and preservation.

Amy Stone

“It’s kind of geared toward the beginning gardener, but I think the greenest of the green thumbs can learn something and take away something from the information we present. Whether it’s a new vegetable or fruit they haven’t used before or a really great recipe,” Stone said.

Stone hopes attendees will leave with new confidence, new excitement and new ideas for their gardens.

“I want them to leave knowing they can be successful in the garden and to maybe take a plant or a variety of plants they are excited about trying this year,” Stone said. “And then what to do after they harvest it. Maybe they’ve always eaten it fresh out of the garden and maybe they’re interested in canning or freezing or something they haven’t done before.”

If a family’s garden produces more than they need, donation is a great way to give back to the community, Stone said.

“We really want to promote that if you have more than you need or your family needs, to donate that back to the community, to someone in need, whether that’s a soup kitchen, food bank or a next-door neighbor, but just to share that harvest,” Stone said.

Handouts on specific vegetables will be available at the event as well as a guide to the area’s community gardens.

“If you’re interested in learning more about community gardens rather than backyard gardens, we will have resources for those people too,” Stone said.

Ready U, a 10-session yearlong series presented by the Red Cross of Greater Toledo and the Lucas County EMA, is designed to educate the public and prepare individuals and families for potential emergencies in Northwest Ohio.

Attendees will receive reusable grocery bags and have a chance to win raffle prizes, including a gift card from The Andersons, said Sheri Meeker, community disaster education specialist for the Red Cross. 13abc’s Kristin Emery will host the session.

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor for the Ready U program.

For more information, visit the website ready-u.com.

Tags: Amy Stone, Josh Miller, Ready U, Red Cross, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Free Press, Toledo GROWS

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 21st, 2011 at 8:24 am and is filed under Community, Ready U.
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Green thumbs and gardening novices alike will not want to miss Toledo Botanical Garden’s Spring Plant Sale, organizers say.

“It’s one of the biggest selections of perennials available as well as herbs, veggies and hanging baskets,” said Melissa Shaner, events and marketing manager with Toledo Botanical Garden. “One of the other nice things is there are a lot of experts on hand, horticulturists on staff as well as master gardeners, so there will be lots of free advice. We’ve got a little something for everybody, from somebody who never planted a plant to people who are advanced green thumbs.”

The annual event is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6-8 with a member’s only preview night from 4 to 8 p.m. May 5. Admission is free. Members also get 10 percent off purchases. There will also be food, live music and activities for children, Shaner said.

The 2010 Spring Plant Sale

This year, the sale will be at the greenhouse near the Bancroft Street entrance, 5434 Bancroft St., between Reynolds Road and Holland-Sylvania Avenue.

“It’s very festive. It’s not your traditional boring old plant sale,” Shaner said. “It’s very lively and colorful. People are all upbeat and excited and ready to get out in the yard and get their hands dirty.”

Last year’s sale attracted about 2,000 people, said Horticulture Manager Josh Miller.

“It’s best to immerse yourself in gardening as opposed to being intimidated by it,” Miller said. “You can come here and learn and take away many things you can apply at your own home and all it costs you is an afternoon with your family.”

New this year, the event will include a full slate of workshops, featuring a keynote speaker as well as local experts. The workshops are set for May 7 and 8 in the Crosby Conference Center, 5403 Elmer Drive, on the north side of the garden.

“The one on container gardening would be good for people with a balcony or who live in an apartment or condo. They can learn to maximize gardening even if they don’t have land,” Shaner said. “The one that’s really popular – surprisingly popular — is the bonsai workshop. People seem to be really excited about that.

“For me, one of the more exciting ones will be Georgeann Brown talking about better food and health through herb gardening. She’s a really cool lady and knows everything there is to know about culinary herbs, plus you get to nibble, so that’s one I’m not going to miss.”

Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO of internationally renowned landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates in Washington, D.C., will kick off the workshop series at 10 a.m. May 7 as the keynote speaker.

Her hour-long presentation, “The Artful Garden: Using Sculpture and Architecture in Your Displays,” will walk participants through the design and planning of some of her most notable works as well as help them discover methods for the selection and placement of artistic and structural elements that inspire their gardens, according to Toledo Botanical Garden’s website. For information, visit www.ovsla.com.

“The incorporation of art into gardening is about the pinnacle of what we could hope to offer to our members and volunteers and folks that sign up,” Miller said. “It’s the one I’m most excited about.”

Dates and times for the other workshops are:

Saturday, May 7

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “The Spice of Life: Better Health and Better Food Through Herb Gardening,” by Georgeann Brown, owner and chef of Un Coup de Main in Dundee.

1 to 2 p.m.: “Big Country: The Frontier of Large Container Displays,” by Matthew Ross, horticulture instructor at Owens Community College.

Sunday, May 8

10 to 11 a.m.: “Back to the Beginning: Native Plant Gardening and Habitat Establishment,” by Jan Hunter, owner of Naturally Native Nursery in Bowling Green.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “Tree Diversity in Northwest Ohio: 2011 and Beyond,” by Amy Stone, Ohio State University extension educator in urban and consumer horticulture.

1 to 2 p.m.: “Bonsai: A Growing Philosophy,” by Robert Bishop of the Toledo Bonsai Society.

All workshops are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. The bonsai workshop has an additional $10 materials fee.

For full workshop descriptions, more information or to register for a workshop, visit www.toledogarden.org or call (419) 536-5566.

Tags: Gardening, Star, Toledo Botanical Garden

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 5th, 2011 at 10:06 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Star, Toledo Botanical Garden.
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For the members of the Toledo Artists’ Club, fostering creativity is more than just a time-honored tradition — it’s a way of life. The club’s latest exhibition, on display at the Toledo Botanical Garden through May 27, is no exception.

Prizewinning artists include Thomas Thiery, Renee Brand, Judy Carmona, Paul Brand, Gloria Adams, Sharon Rapp, Anthony Carmona, Sandra Belkofer, Norma Thomas Herr, Robert Martin and Best of Show winner Ellie Miller. The juried exhibit examines the theme of “porches.” The pieces were judged by Bob Schira.

“Porches are the places where a home welcomes visitors, a place where families gather to share their lives, and a place to view the passing world,” said Club President Thomas Sorrell. “The artwork interprets this theme in a variety of ways by presenting images described by adjectives such as nostalgic, homey, classical and even gritty. We host independently juried shows in various media; our gallery tends to draw mostly two-dimensional submissions with an emphasis on representational art, although abstract work is accepted. Juried competitions make for high-quality work.”

The club’s current membership stands at nearly 300 artists, according to Sorrell, who focus on providing creative fellowship, arts education, work space and exhibition opportunities.

Submission dates for the next exhibition will be May 19-20.

“I would say that you shouldn’t miss this show because of the combination of juried quality and the style of the work, which most people can relate to,” Sorrell said. “Many of the people who are members of the Toledo Artists’ Club create their artwork for relaxation or as a hobby.  Viewing such work can be inspirational to those who might want to begin painting or photographing the world around them but can be intimidated by the pieces they see in commercial galleries.  Even though many of the works in this show are painted by nonprofessionals, the caliber of the pieces is still very high.”

The Toledo Botanical Garden is located at 5403 Elmer Drive. For more information, call (419) 531-4079 or visit the website www.toledoartistclub.com.

Tags: Toledo Artists Club, Toledo Botanical Garden

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 6:04 pm and is filed under Exhibits, Star.
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Editor’s Note: Toledo Free Press, United Way of Greater Toledo and 13abc’s “Bridges” with Doni Miller are profiling 12 education initiative programs in Northwest Ohio. This is the eighth story in the series.

A partnership between the Toledo Botanical Garden and the Lucas County Juvenile Justice System’s programs helps youth learn skills they’ll need for a successful future.

Toledo GROWs together with Community Integration for Training and Employment (CITE) connects youth with positive mentors while they learn valuable job skills and help the community.

The program’s entrance is based on court referral, as well as an interview process. Those in the job readiness program must also have a stable place to live, practice a drug-free lifestyle and proceed with an education plan.

Eric Jones

The partnership began in 2001 and expanded in September 2009 to include a new re-entry program.

The goal of the programs are for those enrolled to find jobs in the community so they can take care of themselves and not end up in the “revolving door” of the adult justice system,  said Charlie Johnson, director of the CITE program.

“We help kids identify their natural abilities so they can develop them further,” Johnson said. “We’re not going to take them in 16 weeks from no skills to a technical job or semi-skill job level. We want them to begin to understand what their abilities are and for them to develop a curiosity and interest in improving themselves.”

Both CITE and the new re-entry program focus on similar things, but the re-entry program is aimed at higher level offenders who have just been released from incarceration. The regular CITE program deals with those on probation, Johnson said.

Other differences between the two are the average age of individuals in the program and their length of time within the program.

The regular CITE program has younger kids, with the average age being 16 years old, and they’re in the program for 10 weeks. While in the re-entry program, the typical age of individuals enrolled is 17 to 18 years old and their program is 16 weeks.

Eric Jones said his future has gotten better because of the Toledo GROWs/CITE re-entry program.

“I never thought I’d be doing anything like this. They certainly don’t teach you any of these things in school,” he said. “Working with my peers and the job training coaches teaches you a lot; from responsibility to coming to work on time, just taking steps toward being a responsible man in life.”

After attending the re-entry program, Jones was hired in January as a junior leader. In addition, the 18-year-old is attending Owens Community College where he is studying social work.

Jones said he’d like to start a similar program for youth after he retires, because the experience is beneficial.

Kids in the partnership programs work at different Toledo GROWs sites which provide them with experiential learning, said Michael Szuberla, Toledo GROWs manager.

“Usually in the classroom you only use a pencil.  Your hands get a lot more dirty here,” Jones said.

Those within the programs have helped build a greenhouse, chicken coops, picnic tables and a self-contained aquatic ecosystem.

The youth also learn responsibility through taking care of chickens, genetics from breeding rabbits and complex systems from maintaining bee hives, Szuberla said.

The setup of the programs allows the students to learn from their mistakes, as no grades are given out. However, students are evaluated every two weeks on a checklist of skills by their job trainer to help measure progress.

“Knowing how to use a tape measure involves exact measurement, mathematical formulas, fractions, addition and  multiplication, all the basic kinds of math…If you’re building a chicken coop and it’s an inch and a half off you’re going to see that right away. It’s going to be a visual and for some of the kids that is the best way they learn,” Johnson said.

Szuberla said one day after a certified electrician came to help the students install lighting in a chicken coop, one student told him it was time for him to learn algebra.

“In the classroom this seems detached and irrelevant to the kids,” he said. “[Here they see] if you want to be an electrician, you have to know math; a plumber, math; a gardener, chemistry. Suddenly when the kids get goals and plans and can see themselves three years down the road doing a particular career, they are going to be willing to do the learning.”

Students learn not only integrated math skills and to use different tools through the programs, but more importantly they learn how to show up on time, work in a team and follow directions, Johnson said.

“You can talk to kids about getting a job and what it takes to get a job.  You can teach them how to fill out a resume and do mock interviews. Getting up at 6 a.m. so you can be on the job site at 7:30 or 8 is a skill that won’t be learned in the classroom,” Johnson said.

In addition to helping youth, the Toledo GROWs/CITE program and re-entry program are cost-effective. Those enrolled in the program work roughly 20 hours a week for minimum wage. For the16 week re-entry program the cost is roughly $4,600 a youth, Szuberla said.

It costs $60,000 to incarcerate a juvenile for one year.

“It’s very cheap compared to the alternative where the community has a really high price tag,” he said. “Plus, it’s a job for the kids. They get a check from the Botanical Garden and they’re building up their resume. It’s really huge for them to be able to put three contacts down that aren’t related to them.”

Funding for the collaboration comes from grants, private donations and earned income from products grown or constructed.

Toledo GROWs/CITE plan on building a training center near its greenhouse to expand its joint programs. The center would be constructed by the students with assistance from some professionals. The estimated cost for the project is roughly $225,000, Szuberla said.

It’s too soon to judge the success of the re-entry program since it’s only had two complete groups, Johnson said. However, the program has had some unsuccessful students mostly because the kids didn’t show up or make a commitment to the program, he said.

“We really never fire anybody, they fire us. They quit on themselves, we don’t quit on them,” Johnson said.

Some of those who’ve quit the re-entry program have come back and utilized other CITE services.

“Part of the issue is timing. A kid when he’s 17 may not be ready, but when he’s 17-and-a half or 18 he might be more ready,” Johnson said.

Tags: Bridges, Doni Miller, Education Champions, Lucas County Juvenile Justice System, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Free Press, Toledo GROWS, United Way

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 5th, 2011 at 8:37 am and is filed under Community, Education, Education Champions, Uncategorized.
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A “Bucket List,” popularized by the 2007 Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman film of the same name, is a list of life experiences you hope to accomplish before you, you know, kick the bucket.

Thousands of websites compile lists for local communities, states and entire countries.

What should be on the Toledo Bucket List? Toledo Free Press interviewed dozens of local residents and sought Twitter and Facebook feedback to compile the following list. There will no doubt be some places left off that will cause us to smack our foreheads, so help us finish the list with your suggestions, e-mailed to news@toledofreepress.com or posted on our Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/toledofreepress.

The Hall of Fame

Nearly every person we spoke to agreed on four experiences: The Toledo Zoo, a Mud Hens game at Fifth Third Field, the Toledo Museum of Art and Tony Packo’s. These are all things that say “Toledo,” but there’s more to the Glass City than the big four. So we began by placing those local superstars in the Bucket List Hall of Fame, saluting with great respect, and taking a look at less well-known nominees.

After polling City Council members, artists, writers and Toledo enthusiasts, 11 experiences emerged as the most consistently endorsed out of all those submitted. Compiled into a random-order “Bucket List,” the following places, events and foods lend a perspective on a city that embraces a thriving, creative  … thriftiness.

Wildwood Preserve

Seven trails spanning approximately 500 wooded acres in the midst of Toledo make Wildwood Preserve Metropark an overwhelmingly popular destination for walkers and runners. Cathy Miller, interim president of Destination Toledo Inc., suggests taking the green trail.

Wildwood

“Less foot traffic than other trails and you may spot a deer in the middle of the day,” Miller said.

The Manor House at Wildwood also attracts many visitors, like Sauder Village director of sales and marketing Jeanette Smith, who said she likes seeing it decorated for the winter holiday celebrations. Fifteen-thousand people are expected to attend the Holidays in the Manor House event during the first week in December, according to Scott Carpenter, media relations manager for the Metroparks.

“It is definitely the busiest of the 10 metroparks,” Carpenter said of Wildwood. “In face-to-face surveys in the park, we have learned that people like Wildwood because it is clean and safe.”

But there’s another reason Wildwood is special: “The park exists today because of the determination of the community to preserve the property as public land. Lucas County residents approved a special property tax levy in the 1970s to purchase the property, which was destined to be sold for a private residential development. It is ‘the people’s park,’ and I think that is part of its popularity today,” Carpenter said.

Wildwood is located at 5100 W. Central Ave. and is open daily from

7 a.m. until dark.

Old West End Festival

Toledo’s Old West End has the largest collection of Victorian, Edwardian and Queen Anne homes in the nation, according to Dan Schmitt, Old West End Association president. The eclectic mix of architecture, families, religions and socio-economic groups makes the neighborhood the “little bohemia of Ohio,” Schmitt said. Bordered by the Toledo Museum of Art, Collingwood Boulevard, Central Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, the Old West End hosts events throughout the year.

The Old West End Festival takes place in June and attracts 12,000 to 15,000 people, Schmitt said. Encompassing all 850 homes in the 25 city blocks of the Old West End, the festival has everything from food to art vendors, a 5K run and tents for children, entertainment and beer.

“It’s the core. The founding fathers of our city raised their families in the Old West End,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt recommended festival-goers visit the house tours, the art fair under the canopy at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion, see the King Wamba parade and check out the numerous food vendors.

“It’s one of the few events that’s family-friendly and you don’t have to spend anything,” Schmitt said. “The parade is on the level of the Greenwich Village Halloween parade: Art cars, fire-eaters and the Glass City Rollers.”

Rachel Richardson, local activist, musician and Toledo Free Press columnist, recommended camping out in the Old West End during the weekend of the festival. City Councilman Steve Steel said that he has resided in the Old West End for 22 years, and definitely recommends the festival.

“Arts, architecture, music and food, all in the most eclectic neighborhood in town,” Steel said.

Sponsored by the Women of the Old West End, the 2010 Tours de Noel offers a glimpse into five to six of the historic homes decorated for the holidays. Both Miller of Destination Toledo Inc. and Amy Adler of the Frogtown Froggy Museum agreed on the beauty of the homes in this annual event. This year, the tours begin Dec. 5 and include the Ferris Copeland-Shull home, the Mallow Lange home, the Rorick Phipps home and the Geleerd Clymer-Wishart Home, all on Scottwood Avenue. Also in the tour are the Mansion View Inn on Collingwood Boulevard and a gift boutique at the Park Lane Luxury Apartments on 23rd Street.

Main Public Library

With Vitrolite murals circling the lobby’s vaulted ceiling, the main branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library is home to half a million books on the first floor alone. An 85,000-square-foot addition in 2001 helped modernize the facility to meet the needs of the public. According to Nancy Foth, manager of library branch services, the main library saw almost 700,000 visitors in 2009.

Library

Lisa Renee Ward, Toledo Free Press columnist and Glass City Jungle blogger, said the best part of the main library is its Local History and Genealogy Library Department for its wealth of information and knowledgeable staff.

The library is trying to attract teens back to the library with the game room specifically for 13 to 18-year-olds, Foth said. With an Xbox 360, a Playstation3 and a Wii, the room sees more than 100 different visitors a month, Foth said. The children’s section also includes numerous Vitrolite murals, and there are trained librarians available to assist kids learning to read. The main library offers services to the public to aid with job searches, small businesses and computer programs. Foth said the computers are the most-used service in the library.

“What we’re doing is expanding our role to meet the needs and interests of people in the community,” Foth said. “We’re trying to reach out, whether you’re fixing your car, writing your resume, learning how to read, reading a good book or watching a movie.”

Art Walks

Miller of Destination Toledo Inc. calls the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s Art Walks a “must for anyone who has yet to experience one.”

The Thursday Art Walks, sponsored by the Arts Commission, feature approximately 20 participating Downtown galleries that open their doors for several hours to allow fellow artists and patrons to mingle, peruse and purchase art. Street performers provide entertainment between galleries, including poets, fire-eaters and belly dancers. Richardson said she recommends stopping by Bozarts Fine Art and Music Gallery, owned by Jerry Gray, at 151 S. St. Clair St. Other galleries included in past Art Walks are Sur Saint Clair, Homeslice Pizza, Downtown Latte, the Ford Gallery, the Secor Studios and Madhouse Gallery.

Warehouse District

The shops, restaurants and bars with live music, the historic buildings in the warehouse district and the seasonal farmers markets all earned Downtown Toledo a spot on the bucket list. In walking distance from Tony Packo’s and the Spaghetti Warehouse, there are numerous art galleries and storefronts that beg to be visited. South St. Clair Street is home to many small businesses, including Swank Gifts, which vends one-of-a-kind jewelry and Downtown Latte, an inviting coffee shop.

Steel said he would recommend live music at Downtown venues.

“GoLab! at the Ottawa Tavern, Polka Floyd at Mickey Finn’s, Jeff Stewart at Wesley’s, Jason Quick and Vytas at Manhattan’s, Kyle White at PizzaPapalis, Patrick Lewandowski and Bobby May anywhere … you get the idea,” Steel said.

Richardson lent her support for Wesley’s Bar’s Old School Friday nights and suggested Murphy’s Place Jazz Club with Claude Black and Clifford Murphy.

Another Warehouse District gem is the Toledo Farmers Market at 525 Market St., open Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and fall. Ward and Steel both said the fresh, local produce and home made goods make the farmers market a great destination.

Tailgating for UT football

Tailgating a Rockets football game at the University of Toledo is a popular pastime for many Toledoans. Miller suggests parking yourself in Lot 10, the closest lot to the north side of the stadium.

“Everyone enjoys the camaraderie, grilling out and seeing old friends. Top it off with a night game under the lights at the Glass Bowl and you have a great Saturday locked down,” Miller said.

Tailgating the UT game versus rival Bowling Green is an event that City Councilwoman Lindsay Webb said she doesn’t want to miss.

Toledo Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

Located at 5403 Elmer Drive between Reynolds and Holland-Sylvania roads, the Toledo Botanical Garden is open 365 days a year, dawn until dusk and always offers free parking and admission. The garden opened in 1964, when George Crosby donated the initial 20 acres of land to the city of Toledo. The present-day 60 acres of gardens, landscapes and outdoor sculptures host many events, including the upcoming Heralding the Holidays festival Dec. 3 to Dec. 5. Roaming musicians will accompany displays of artwork by local artists and the botanical garden’s resident art and horticultural organizations during the holiday festival.

Melissa Shaner, public relations coordinator for the gardens, noted the Crosby Festival of the Arts as the signature event for the garden. More than  200 artists from across the country participate in the juried arts summer festival that attracts almost a quarter of the 120,000 visitors the garden will see in an entire year. The next Crosby Festival will be June 25-26.

‘The river runs through it’

The Maumee River is host to a multitude of events, from summer festivals and fireworks on the Fourth of July to fall color cruises on the Sandpiper. A 100-passenger cruise boat, the Sandpiper leaves from its Jefferson Avenue dock at Promenade Park for public rides, sunset cruises and private parties six months out of the year. It sees approximately 10,000 visitors per year, according to Sandpiper agent and tour guide Mary Dalby.

Miller of Destination Toledo Inc. recommended packing a cooler to bring on the boat ride.

“Bring a lunch and a bottle of wine. The best-kept secret is you can bring your own food and drink,” Miller said.

The Sandpiper has been running continuously since it was built in Maumee at the Anderson Fabrication shop in 1984. Venturing as far upriver as the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse and as far downriver as the Toledo Country Club, the Sandpiper travels by some of the most defining parts of Toledo.

“We are a connecting point,” Dalby said. “The river runs through it. We’re always going past places where people and their families have worked.”

While some may enjoy cruising the Maumee, like City Council member Webb, others may aspire to experience the city from a different angle, like Councilman Ludeman.

“I’d like to go to the top of the pylon on the Veterans Glass City Skyway Bridge, in the daytime and at night,” Ludeman said.

Lagrange St. Polish festival

A ton of kielbasa, 40,000 pierogies, 300 kegs of beer and hundreds of pounds of sweet and sour cabbage, all consumed in one weekend at the Lagrange Street Polish Festival. An annual event since 1984, the summertime festival features polka bands, arts and crafts, food vendors, dancing and a pierogi-eating contest. Proceeds from the festival go toward neighborhood improvements and scholarships.

City Council member Webb recommended visiting on Sunday afternoon for the contests. Ward said the festival is special to her because of ties she has to the community there.

“My great-grandmother and other family lived in the Lagrange neighborhood,” Ward said. “Great food and memories.”

The Lagrange Street Polish Festival started after area business owners and residents met 30 years ago to address neighborhood concerns and the festival was produced as the solution. Initially a one day event, the festival now spans a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in July.

Mancy’s and The Beirut

Mancy’s Steak House has served aged, hand-cut steaks in Toledo since 1921, Mancy’s is undoubtedly a city favorite. City Councilman George Sarantou said his personal favorite is the New York Strip Steak, although his fellow council member Ludeman said he would dine out every night just to try every item on the Mancy’s menu. Located at 953 Phillips Ave., Mancy’s comes as highly recommended as another institution of Toledo cuisine, The Beirut.

Founder and owner of The Beirut, Labib Hajjar, immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon in the 1970s and opened a bakery. As the bakery’s popularity and opportunities grew, Hajjar turned his pita bread enterprise into a Middle Eastern restaurant in 1977.

Although it has seen several locations, The Beirut is now at 4082 Monroe St.

The menu features traditional Lebanese staples of lamb, grains, lentils, parsley, herbs, olive oil, lemon juice and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and mint. The Beirut also has an extensive wine menu with Californian, Italian and Lebanese varieties. Open for lunch, the restaurant takes reservations for dinner and has three private rooms available for parties.

Hajjar said he spends 60 to 70 hours a week in the restaurant, and learned everything he knows from his mother.

“I used to watch my mother cook,” Hajjar said. “She never wrote any recipes down and tried to hide things from me.”

Fresh pita bread is still homemade at the restaurant for in-house menu items, as well as several Italian dishes like lasagna, pizza and ravioli Hajjar included for the customers who might not be comfortable with Lebanese food.

“People travel and come back and say ‘We’ve never seen anything like this,’” Hajjar said. “We’ve got over 150 years of experience in the kitchen.”

Toledo Symphony Orchestra

With nearly 80 professional musicians, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra has been bringing music to the region for 67 consecutive seasons.

In its 2010-2011 season, the orchestra will conduct more than 400 performances across Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

Councilman Steel recommended seeing the symphony perform in the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle for a special experience.

The next special event for the symphony will be a collaborative performance of Handel’s “Messiah” with the Toledo Choral Society and the Bowling Green State University Choral Society on Dec. 4 and 5.

In May, the orchestra plans a special trip to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

What about BG? A Bucket List for Wood County (by Hannah Nusser)

While Bowling Green has much to offer, here’s a list of must-sees for everyone before they kick the bucket.

Cla-Zel Theatre

Whether it’s to admire a historical landmark, catch a concert or work your way through its extensive beer list, the Cla-Zel has earned its name as a legendary must-see spot in Bowling Green. The Cla-Zel was first built as a movie theater in 1926. Its original movie screens still intact, this multifaceted venue offers something for adults seeking an unforgettable experience in Bowling Green nightlife.

The Cla-Zel is now a popular movie house, wine bar and banquet facility; it also serves as a concert venue for many blues and jazz fans.

“By far it is hands-down the classiest place in town,” said Mike Thurau, a senior at Bowling Green State University.

It is located at 127 N. Main St.

Snook’s Dream Cars

The No. 2 tourist attraction in Bowling Green, Snook’s Dream Cars is gleaming with countless age-old treasures. The museum and event venue houses a collection of 1920s-1960s cars, all in working condition, said Amanda Ter Doest, museum director.

With more than 60 years worth of memorabilia, the museum is not just for car fanatics, Ter Doest said.

“We’ve had a lot of [different] people, like the wives that are drug along with their husbands, and truthfully they always find something that they like,” Ter Doest said.

Snook's Dream Cars

Patrons can admire old slot machines, jukeboxes, paintings of historical BG storefronts and even old theater seats from the Cla-Zel.

“It’s not just a bunch of cars shoved somewhere,” Ter Doest said. “There’s quite a bit of history.”

Admission is $4-6.

Wind turbines

Bowling Green goes green with this monumental wind farm. Standing as tall as a 30-story building, no wonder the wind turbines are the No. 1 tourist attraction in Bowling Green.

The wind farm is popular with out-of-towners because it is the only one of its kind in the state, said Wendy Stram, director of the Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The four massive white turbines produce enough electricity for about 3,000 Bowling Green residents.

“Anybody that lives in BG has probably seen them from afar but they might want to take a few minutes to see them up close and personal. It’s the wave of the future,” Stram said.

For those who would like to visit this must-see up close, there is a free informational kiosk located at the base of the turbines, on the corner of State Route 6 and Tontogany Road. Group tours are free and can be arranged by contacting Wendy Stram at (419) 353-9445.

Portage Quarry

The Portage Quarry may be one of Bowling Green’s best-kept secrets.

Located just a mile outside of town at 12701 S. Dixie Hwy. and isolated from the road by trees, this recreation center offers all kinds of fun in the sun for all ages. The Portage Quarry serves as a campground, swimming and scuba diving hole, concert spot and all-around summer hangout.

Owner Jeff Rice offers scuba diving lessons, too; certified divers can explore a sunken speed boat, school bus, grain silo and even an airplane in the depths of the quarry.

“Who doesn’t love water, sun and sand?” said Meredith Burge, a quarry lifeguard. “It’s a comfortable beach, pretty mellow surroundings and it’s like being at the beach in the middle of Bowling Green.”

The Quarry is open from Memorial Day until Sept. 13.

City Park

Ride a bike. Take a stroll. Walk the dog. Have a picnic. Relax with a book. The possibilities are endless at the Bowling Green city parks.

Bowling Green Mayor John Quinn said the city’s many parks range from beautiful to functional, and everyone should visit at least one in their lifetime.

“They’re great places to visit and they’re free 365 days a year,” Quinn said.

The City Park is an all-purpose playground and picnic spot for the whole family. Simpson Garden Park, 1291 Conneaut Ave., has more than 10 gardens, including sensory gardens, sculpture areas and walking trails. Wintergarden Park, 615 S. Wintergarden Road., offers a nature center and two miles of biking and walking trails.

Tags: Art Walks, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Bucket List, Cathy Miller, City Park, Cla-Zel Theatre, Destination Toledo, Fifth Third Field, George Sarantou, Glass Bowl, Lagrange Street Polish Festival, Lisa Renee Ward, Mancy's, Maumee River, Metroparks, Mud Hens, Old West End Festival, Portage Quarry, Rachel Richardson, Rob Ludeman, Sandpiper, Snook's Dream Cars, Steve Steel, The Beirut, Toledo, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Zoo, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Tony Packo's, UT football, Warehouse District, Wildwood Preserve, Wind turbines, Wintergarden

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Featured, Local Attractions.
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Toledo is home to the largest collection of lithophanes and the only museum worldwide dedicated to the art — the Blair Museum of Lithophanes.

The museum is home to more than 2,300 lithophanes and has approximately 750 lithophanes on display at all times.

A lithophane is a three-dimensional image in translucent porcelain that was a popular European art form in the 19th century.

“What’s amazing is it doesn’t look interesting if the light is not on. [Lithophanes] have to be illuminated, so they were incorporated into useful items in people houses,” said Margaret Carney, curator of the Blair Museum of Lithophanes.

Many lithophanes were displayed as part of lanterns, as candle shields or as fire screens during the Victorian age. In addition to those forms, the museum has lithophanes displayed as night lights and lamp shades as well as in beer steins and tea warmers.

Many famous porcelain manufacturers produced lithophanes as a side job, Carney said. Companies in Germany and France have some of the first patents for lithophanes in 1827, she said.

“[Lithophane] was sort of a fad, but went on a really long time for a fad,” Carney said.

Lithophanes are being produced today, but Carney said the art form’s heyday was from 1840 to 1880. Carney authored a 2008 book, “Lithophanes,” that discusses the history and evolution of the art.

All lithophanes are based on print engravings during the era they are produced.

Skilled craftsmen carved images into beeswax with tools similar to dental instruments, Carney said. The deeper the beeswax was carved the more light that shone through and the lighter the image.

Upon completion, the carved beeswax was used to create molds for the porcelain, Carney said. Once a mold was created a lithophane image could be replicated a number of times.

The museum’s largest flat lithophane, an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, is 15 inches by 10.75 inches. Most of the lithophanes at the museum are smaller, however, measuring roughly 5 inches by 7 inches in size.

When heated in a kiln, 60 percent of the time the porcelain would warp or crack, Carney said. The larger the lithophane, or the thinner the porcelain was in the mold, the more likely it was to break.

Most lithophanes are monochromatic, but some lithophanes have been painted, Carney said. Painted lithophanes are rare, but the museum has some on display.

The Blair Museum of Lithophanes has a special exhibit of fans on display until Oct. 31.

As part of the exhibit, the museum has on display six of the seven known lithophane fans as well as information on other types of fans.

Margaret Carney with a Peggy Grant-painted portrait of museum founder Laurel Blair.

The lithophanes were mounted as hand screens or completion fans to protect individuals from the heat of candles or flames, Carney said.

“In the 19th century men and women’s makeup was made of wax. [Lithophane fans] would allow the person who held it to sit in front of the fire and they would see a beautiful image and the porcelain doesn’t conduct heat, so it protected their faces,” Carney said.

All four of the most famous factories for making lithophane fans are represented in the seven remaining fans, Carney said.

Next year’s special exhibit will feature a contemporary lithophane artist. “Hands Illuminating Porcelain:  The Lithophanes of Hannah Blackwell,” will run from April 2011 until October 2011. A special reception to meet Blackwell will be hosted April 30.

The Blair Museum of Lithophanes was founded by Laurel Gotshall Blair, a local businessman. Blair began collecting lithophanes in the 1960s and ran a lithophane museum out of his home in the Old West End, Carney said.

When Blair died in 1993, he left his entire collection of lithophanes to the city of Toledo. After nearly 10 years of efforts, the museum was opened at its current location.

Blair’s goal — to educate others about the history of lithophanes — is carried on by the museum.

The museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May through September at no charge to the public. Special group tours for 10 or more are available year-round for $5 a person.

The Blair Museum of Lithophanes is located at 5403 Elmer Drive in the Toledo Botanical Garden.

For more information, visit www.lithophanemuseum.org.

Tags: Blair Lithophane Museum, Laurel Blair, Lithophanes, Margaret Carney, Toledo Botanical Garden

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 11:45 am and is filed under Exhibits, Star.
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