Westerville Art League

Thank you all for your continual and very creative support of the arts in Westerville.

Join us each month at the Westerville Public Library - 7pm Fourth Tuesday of each month!

From the President(s):


Congrats to the art league story in the current issue of the Westerville Magazine.



Features
A League of Their Own
The Westerville Arts League celebrates 50 years of art appreciation
By: Liza Martin
They’ve painted, photographed, sketched, molded and carved their way through five decades, and the members of the Westerville Arts League are still going strong.

The organization celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

“It’s a great outlet to learn more about art and share your work with others. We really are a community of artists,” says President Ruth Smilan, a retired software engineer who’s been taking photographs since the late ‘70s.

In 1958, six women began to meeting in their homes to share and learn about art. Pearl Archer, Florence Dye, Marilyn Glover, Gail Hensen, Rachael Miller and Ann Wildman launched the sessions that mirror those currently held at the Westerville Library, when members listen to speakers, share critiques, and conduct workshops and programs.

“I feel that we’ve had a lot of good speakers and that we’ve just learned a lot over the years,” says Sylvia Collins, a longtime member who paints in watercolors, oils and acrylic. Collins joined the league years ago, when members met at State Savings Bank on State Street.

Today, the Westerville Arts League boasts about 50 members in a wide range of mediums: from painting to photography, woodcarving to ceramics. Most members hail from Westerville, but some are from surrounding areas, such as Gahanna, Galena, Lewis Center and Worthington.

“We’ll take members from anywhere, and we also encourage art patrons to join, even if they’re not artists themselves,” Smilan says. “This is really a group meant for anyone who enjoys and appreciates the arts.”

The league hopes to amplify its presence in the Westerville community during its 50th anniversary, Smilan says. That includes exhibitions at the Westerville Community & Recreation?? Center and booths at Fourth Fridays and the city’s 150th anniversary events. “We’re really trying to stay in view most of the year, whereas before, we just did our spring show,” Smilan says.

Liza Martin is assistant editor of Westerville Magazine.

The Westerville Arts League meets from 7-9 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month, at the Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St. The public is welcome. To learn more, visit www.westervilleartsleague.50megs.com, or contact Ruth Smilan at rsmilan@att.net or 614-523-3751.

Ruth Smilan Sue Sarber
614-523-3751 740-96s-6383
rsmitan@att.net bxtrs@earthtink.net

2007-2008

President -

Ruth Smilan - rsmilan@att.net

and Susan Sarber - bxtrs@earthlink.net

Secretary -

Karen Chambers - Karenc@etcol.com

Treasurer -

Janet Waggoner - Janetwaggoner@hotmail.com

Newsletter -

Letha Foster - Letha100@wideopenwest.com

Please have the newsletter articles in to letha by the 10th of each month.

Art in Public Places -

Sylvia Collins

Publicity -

Gail Paulus - creativeheartsstudio@yahoo.com

Spring Show - Mary Saltz and Dianne
Schmeitzel Bauman

Website - Renee Kropat - gallery202@hotmail.com