Eclectic exhibit on display

An elaborate calligraphy drawing of a lion, a glazed rabbit sculpture and a painting of Fort Findlay are some of the pieces in a new exhibit on display at the Findlay Art League. The eclectic grouping created by local artists comes from the collection of the Hancock Historical Museum. "It's all very different," said museum curator/archivist Joy Bennett. "You probably wouldn't see this kind of a collection all in one show very often." About 20 artists are represented, she said, ranging from those that date back to the 1890s to more contemporary artists like Phil Sugden and Louie Myers. Bennett said the idea for such an exhibit came up last year when the museum was contacted by Janealla Killebrew, president of the art league. "Sarah (Sisser, executive director) and I had talked about trying to do an exhibit over at the performing arts center (Marathon Center) when they first opened and had their gallery. We thought it would be really cool to do a Louie (Myers) retrospective, or just kind of get some of the local artists from a long time ago," she said. But that never happened, so the museum agreed to put together an exhibit for the art league. Bennett said the first step was digging into the archives and sorting through all of the artwork in the collection. "Unfortunately it wasn't in the best of order, so I had to figure who's was what and whether it was a print or an original," she said. Bennett came up with about 45 paintings and drawings for the display, along with 10 sculptures. The exhibit will be available for viewing through Jan. 29. "I know that there have been a lot more artists than I have artwork for, especially if you consider back in the 1890s it was considered an accomplishment for ladies to take drawing and painting classes," Bennett explained. "I would say over the years we have produced quite a few good artists." One of the oldest paintings was done by Emma Gear Linaweaver, who was born in Fostoria in 1857. Bennett said most of her artwork actually hangs in the Hull House of the museum. "She mostly painted flowers," said Bennett. "She was an art teacher as well. There are plenty of advertisements in the newspaper for her giving mostly china painting classes." Linaweaver's husband, Dr. Albert H. Linaweaver, was a painter, photographer, wood engraver and physician. He created the painting of Fort Findlay in the show. Bennett said this was done around 1912 for Findlay's Centennial. Linaweaver based the painting on the memories of Squire Carlin, one of Findlay's earliest settlers who first visited the fort while traveling with his family between Urbana and Maumee. The fort stood on the west side of South Main Street, from the bridge to West Front Street. There are few paintings by F.B. Zay, who was a local photographer and artist. Bennett said he mostly painted still life scenes, particularly fruit. Drawings by Pearl Gressly and his teacher, Calvin D. Althaus, depict a lion and bear using calligraphy techniques. Bennett's research revealed that Althaus had been a school teacher in Bluffton and Mount Cory, and later a bookkeeper for the Ohio Oil Co. His wife, Iva, was Pearl Gressley's sister. "So from what I could tell, Pearl was her younger brother. But I don't know for sure whether they met because he was giving the brother lessons, or if he gave the lessons to his brother-in-law," she said. The drawings date back to the 1890s. "They're really bizarre drawings," said Bennett. "They look like what they're supposed to be, but the lines used are not like your standard lines. They're, like, this swirly pattern. So I kind of stand there and stare at it, and you can kind of get lost in the pattern. You kind of get lost in the flow." A large portrait of songwriter William "Tell" Taylor, remembered for his hit "Down by the Old Mill Stream," is part of the exhibit as well. The painting was done by Suzi Boyd in 1968. "I did a little research and I was able to find out that she was from Texas, and she married a Findlay boy who was serving in the Army Air Corps down there," said Bennett. "And then when he retired from military service they moved back to Findlay where he became a teacher. That's all I could find until she passed away in 1983 in Colorado. I was disappointed I couldn't find out more." A selection of sculptures done by Mary Blackford Fowler can also be seen. Fowler, who was the granddaughter of F.B. Zay, was an accomplished artist, writer and sculptor. According to the book "Herstory: Voices From the Past," Zay was said to have encouraged his young granddaughter's first artistic attempts prior to his death in 1910. "I think she's a little bit better known for her oil paintings, but we have a collection of sculpture that she did," said Bennett. "I'm not sure when she had her turn at sculpture, but she's got some very nice pieces." There are several busts, including a small one of her husband, Harold Fowler, along with figures of a turtle, a rabbit and a seahorse. The show also includes a few artists who depicted Findlay homes, either in pen and ink or oil paintings. One of those, the Campfield Home at 921 S. Main St., was painted by Troy Litten. The house dates back to 1888 and was built by William Campfield who, three years earlier, was hired to build the Hancock County Courthouse. He also built the Argyle Building at 532 S. Main St., St. Andrew's United Methodist Church and the former Findlay Municipal Building. Litten was commissioned to do the drawing in 1983 while he was a junior at Findlay High School. For the most part, every artist has a biography, and the home depictions feature a history and the address, according to Bennett. This may be the first time the museum and art league have collaborated on an exhibit, she added. "We're hoping we might reach a different audience, plus it's really nice because the museum is technically closed for January. We're working on new exhibits and cleaning and doing maintenance, so this way we still have an exhibit up for people to look at," she said. The Findlay Art League is located at 117 W. Crawford St. The exhibit can be viewed during regular hours: noon to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free. Call 419-422-7847 to schedule a visit. Wolf: 419-427-8419 jeanniewolf@thecourier.com