How to go
What: Art on the Commons
Where: Kettering Civic Commons, 675 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Sunday, Aug. 10
More info: 937-296-0294 or www.ketteringoh.org
Beautiful setting, great art and music in a festive atmosphere. That’s what you’ll find at the 26th Annual Art on the Commons next Sunday.
This popular annual event draws the best artists, both locally and across the country, to converge at Kettering Civic Commons. More than 100 artists will be presenting their works for display and sale at this outdoor festival.
Trish McKinney of New Carlisle is a local artist who was juried into the show.
“Art On the Commons is a great way for artists to begin to build their clientele and get their name and artwork out to the local community,” said McKinney, who has been involved in Art on the Commons for approximately the past 13 years. “This is a well run fine art/artisans exhibit with people who generally come to purchase art.”
McKinney, known for her watercolors, will be exhibiting several new paintings: “Oasis” from her Metamorphosis series, “Sienna Stroll” inspired by her trips to Sienna, Italy, and “Transfiguration” from her Inspiration collection. She has recently acquired a new studio and gallery space on the second floor of The Hotel Gallery in Tipp City.
Besides paintings in a variety of media, artwork available at the festival includes ceramics, digital art, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, photography and sculpture.
This year’s jurors are Lynette Santoro-Au, Leesa Haapapuro and Mike Beerbower. Santoro-Au is arts manager for the city of Upper Arlington, Ohio, Haapapuro is a Dayton-based artist/educator and Beerbower is Kettering Arts Council president. They chose from a field of 240 various artists’ entries.
Miami Valley artists include: Guustie Alvarado, Jason Bove, Jason Boyer, David Brand and Sandra Picciano-Brand, Thomas Croce, Keith Culley, Michael Davis, Jim Delange, Thomas Drummer, Carole Fox, Pam Geisel, Kathy Gross, Alena Hagedorn, Kate Lally, Greg Neal, Christine Noah-Cooper, Daniel Powers, Sharon Stolzenberger, Sheila Stewart Shook, Jay Teilhet and Angela Valley.
Included in the field of 100 are artists from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia.
Live entertainment includes music by Puzzle of Light from noon to 2 p.m. and Funky G and the Groove Machine from 3 to 5 p.m. There will be performances by Kettering’s Funk Lab Dance Studio, Kettering Civic Band, Gem City Ballet and the Burundian Royal Court Drummers. Rosewood Centre dance instructor Nancy Boss will demonstrate a variety of dances.
New this year are interactive activities for everyone: photo booth, origami folding and Instagram scavenger hunt. Youth activities scheduled: printmaking, ceramics and mural painting, and American Raku firing demos.
Rosewood instructors will hold art demonstrations.
The festival is coordinated by the Rosewood Arts Centre through the City of Kettering’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department.
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