Greene County News Report

YELLOW SPRINGS — Officials from the Yellow Springs Arts Council feel that still life work opens a door for artistic freedom, and will provide examples of such during its YS Arts Council Members Show.

Artwork will be available for viewing Friday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, March 13; the reception for the show will take place 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19.

The artist will choose a theme, tell a story, pick what objects to use, how many to use, what colors and textures. They will then be faced with the task of creating an arrangement both for the meaning of the objects, position and the pleasure they give to the eye. The artist can choose and play with the light source and the shadows they create and then choose a medium to capture their still life.

The objects are uncomplaining, the artist does not have to consider the needs or mood of the model, can take as long as the artist wants and can be indoors in a temperature controlled environment.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council feels that part of the magic of a still life is that ordinary objects take on a whole new meaning.

Officials don’t know what the artist members will bring for the show. Every year, they announce a theme and a date to deliver the art. And then for two days the Yellow Springs Arts Council receive a number of pieces.

Which artists will enter? How many artists? How many pieces? This event is a mystery every year.

Jurors for the Awards are Patrick Mauk, gallery manager for the Dayton Visual Arts Center; Sherryl Kostic, gallery owner of local business Would You, Could You In a Frame and Jason Morgan, still life and portrait artist.

Throughout the month of February, a different artist will create a new still life each week in the multi-purpose room. The public is invited to come during open gallery hours and make art from the still life.

The multi-purpose room will be open 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays – Sundays, and 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24.

The four still life artists are Rajan Kose, Corrine Bayraktaroglu, Carla Steiger and Susan Gartner.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council invites community members to bring their favorite art medium to work with, although there will be basic art supplies available for guests to use who don’t bring their own.

Greene County News Report compiled by Whitney Vickers.