How to go
What: The annual Yellow Springs Arts Council Members Show
Theme: “Family and Other Animals”
Where: YSAC Gallery, 111 Corry St., Yellow Springs
Dates: Feb. 20-March 15; hours: 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays
Special event: Opening reception, 6-9 p.m. Feb. 20
More info: www.ysartscouncil.org/gallery
Nancy Mellon, who wrote in her journal for years that she wanted to “move to somewhere that was green,” finds it ironic that 11 years ago she moved to Greene County, where she’s the gallery coordinator for the Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery.
“I’ve met more artists here, and had more opportunities to do art projects here, than I did living in New York City for eight years and living right outside of Los Angeles for eight years,” said Mellon, a mixed media and public art artist.
Her focus right now is on the annual YSAC Members Show, “Family and Other Animals,” opening with a Feb. 20 reception and running through March 15. It’s a show she promises will be “an incredible mixed bag of mediums.”
Mellon is also the curator of the YSAC Permanent Collection, started 23 years ago and currently representing 80 artists with 144 pieces of art.
“It is a living, growing historical record of the artists who have participated in the art scene in Yellow Springs and their work. It hangs in the hallways of Antioch University Midwest at 900 Dayton Street in Yellow Springs,” she said.
“When I moved into town, the first time I walked out my door, I went to an Arts Council meeting. I wanted to meet other artists, which was a very easy thing to do in Yellow Springs,” she said, noting that “every third person you meet is an artist.”
The Yellow Springs Arts Council, which is about 60 years old, began as a group facilitating art classes.
Its activities now include monthly exhibits in the YSAC Community Gallery, 111 Corry St., highlighting the work of local visual artists. Another monthly program, Arts Alive, features local performing artists, such as musicians, songwriters, actors, poets, storytellers, authors, dancers and comedians.
Mellon is also a member of Village Artisans, a 20-member artist co-op with a storefront at 100 Corry St.
“I’ve always been an artist. I remember squirting Elmer’s Glue in the palm of my hand and smooshing it around with a finger until it had a clay-like consistency. Then I’d model tiny horses with it. I painted rocks and sold them to local gift shops.”
The gallery is open from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
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