From Skilled Hands

To date, 13,800 meals will be provided through the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That is like purchasing 29.9 meals for each of the Village of Peninsula’s 602 people.

166 hands have raised their cups of kindness and opened their hearts.
They have been joined by a community that extends far beyond this beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. A single voice was joined by another and another and another; a symphony of voices all over this amazing planet. Please feel free to join us.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The generosity of the community continues: from artists who donated work, to those who support them and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

There are several pieces that do not appear on the Cups of Kindness website. These beautiful pieces are available, and can be purchased by emailing me at
FromSkilledHands AT gmail DOT com. (I took the photos in the studio with available lighting.)

Remember, each dollar raised purchases 7 nutritious meals. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit the Foodbank.

“Raise a Cup of Kindness”by Marianne Hite; fused glass; 6.5″ ht x 5″;
$75.00

“Covered Jar,” by Larry McCardel; hand turned maple with ebony;
3″ x 3″; $54.00″

“Tea Cup I,” by Diane Keske Talmadge; oil on canvas; 5″ x 5″; $45.00; easel included

“Tea Cup II,” by Diane Keske Talmadge; oil on canvas; 5″ x 5″; $45.00; easel included

Antique Silver Cup donated by the Downtown Emporium, 3.5″ x 2.5″, Porcelain Tile by Debra Bures, 3 3/8″ x 2 7/8″; SOLD

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Friends and neighbors helping each other.

photo of Dream, by Tammy Jo Fuller, by Kari Radney

My friend Kari Radney sent me some photos that she took at the Cups of Kindness opening celebration.This is a collection of photos of pieces that were donated to the benefit as well as pieces by artists we represent at our Gallery.

I asked her if she would be my guest blogger for My Town Monday. Here are her impressions of My Town, the Village of Peninsula, population 602.

Welcome to Peninsula! Come and stay a while,
the places you see are sure to make you smile.

As the train comes in (and it’s hard not to hear it)
it shakes the ground of those who are near it.

Elements Gallery is a place filled with art,
pottery and paintings and work from the heart.

Fishers Pub, is a fun place to eat,
their food is delicious and such a great treat!

The Emporium has lots of antiques
each one has a story and is very unique.

The Winking lizard is a popular spot,
every dish that they serve is fresh, tasty & hot.

Yellow Creek Trading is colorful and fun,
with cute things to buy for everyone.

Kilted Yak, the snow gear shop,
is a place that you should stop

The Towpath is where everyone hikes,
walking or running or riding on bikes.

The Art Academy is another must see,
This place is just filled with creativity.

The Peninsula Library, with tons of books,
all waiting inside, for you to come look.

Century Cycles, the local bike store,
has monthly night rides and bicycles galore.

Love and Love, by Gwen Waight, photo by Kari Radney

These pieces were donated by students and faculty of the Kent State University Ceramics Department, photo by Kari Radney

The Giving Cup, by Nicki Lanzi, photo by Kari Radney

Suncatcher, by Merrily Sprague, photo by Kari Radney

Fused Glass by David Norton, photo by Kari Radney

Fused Glass by David Norton, photo by Kari Radney

Blown Glass Calla Lily by Sue Berry, photo by Kari Radney

Looking up at Blown Glass Plant Rooters by Michael Mikula, photo by Kari Radney

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I am so grateful to many hands and hearts that have participated in our show and sale to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. If you are so inclined, please visit our website.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

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My Town Monday, the brainchild of Travis Erwin, is a wonderful way to explore the world through other bloggers’ eyes.
Travis is taking a break for until January. Junosmom, over at Lifetime Learning, and Chris, at e-Cuniform Scratchings, are the keepers of the Marauders in his stead. Follow the links posted at their blogs and you’ll find stories of places all over this fine blue planet.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

10 individuals and businesses sponsored our effort.
76 artists donated
165 pieces of artwork.
We have raised $1097 for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
We have provided 7,679 nutritious meals.
The Power of One.

Five days until the opening of Cups of Kindness. Most of the work has been photographed, and I am working on getting it on the site. More work is still coming in.

I am donating these 3 little pieces, part of a series of wee tiles I have called Sage Trios. They are porcelain tiles, that have been hand carved, bisqued, inlaid with colorants, and the glaze applied over them. Carolyn Birchenall has donated the framing.

Sage Trio III

Sage Trio IV

Sage Trio V

Visit our website: http://www.CupsOfKindness.net to see more work that fellow artists have donated to help our community. It is a great way to celebrate the generosity of 60 artists, purchase artwork for gifts, or for yourself, and to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

And if you’re in our neck of the woods, stop by for a visit. You’ll enjoy the Village of Peninsula (population 602), and help an important agency do its fine work

Remember—-each dollar donated provides 7 nutritious meals.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank does amazing work. Just because. Their mission is simple: ENDING HUNGER.

I’ve discovered some astounding statistics:

**as of a couple of weeks ago, the Foodbank had distributed over 1,000,000 pounds more food than they distributed for the entire year in 2007.
**so far this year, there has been a 29% increase of families with children who need the Foodbank’s services.
**each dollar ($1) donated provides 7 nutritious meals.

Right here in these United States. The people who are in need are our friends and neighbors; folks just like you and like me. Folks who have to decide between medical care and food; between heat and electricity or food.

We the people can make a difference. Over 60 artists from points near and far have donated small scale works of art to help us help the Foodbank. Cups of Kindness is a show and sale of these pieces. All proceeds from the sale of these works will benefit the Foodbank. Please take a look at our website, http://www.cupsofkindness.net. Help us raise a cup of kindness for auld lang syne.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Cups of Kindness,our show and sale of small scale artwork. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.

So far, over 50 artists are donating artwork to benefit the Foodbank. The Cups of Kindness website has been donated by Carrick Enterprises; a professional photographer, Ron Wayton, is donating his services so that we have photos of the work on our site. The logo was donated by Teri Schott. Food for the opening is being donated by companies and by individuals who have offered to bake for us. People have walked into our gallery to ask if they can help.

Once again we demonstrate the Power of One. We the people who reach out to our friends and neighbors in a time of need.

If you live in the area, come on down for our opening celebration, Saturday, December 6, from 10-2, at our gallery, Elements Gallery, 1619 W.Mill Street, and at the Peninsula Art Academy across the street.

Enjoy light refreshments, music, and Christmas in Peninsula. You’ll be a part of a very important event. If you’re not close to our neck of the woods, you will be able to purchase artwork online on December 8th. The show will run through January 11, 2009.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.

The mission of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is simple: Ending Hunger.

We believe that no one should have to go hungry in our “land of plenty.” Children shouldn’t have to go to bed hungry; families shouldn’t have to decide between buying food and paying rent; and seniors shouldn’t have to choose between paying for medication and having a warm meal to eat.

Ending hunger is more than just our mission; it’s something we strive to do everyday. It’s a pledge we have made to our community to end hunger in Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina, Wayne, Holmes, Tuscarawas and Carroll counties. In 1982, based on a commitment by community leaders to help the increasing number of families requesting food assistance, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed. In 2007, the Foodbank distributed over 12 million pounds of food and provided meals for over 163,000 people in need in Northeast Ohio.

The Foodbank uses its resources well: each dollar that is donated purchases 7 nutritious meals. Meals that provide sustenance to people who are already stressed. No questions asked. When I recently toured the facility, I was amazed by the quantity of food that was ready to distribute to agencies large and small. The facility was immaculate; the people, both volunteers and paid staff, passionate about their purpose.

We are reaching out to others by giving hope. There is, I think, joy and intrinsic satisfaction in helping people who will never know who we are. As members of a world community, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to share our resources and to preserve dignity.

Cups of Kindness has been on my mind for a long time. This year, we are pleased to join with the Peninsula Art Academy, the Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce, local. regional and national artists and a group of dedicated volunteers to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

This show and sale of small scale art will showcase artists’ interpretations of a Cup of Kindness, and will include both 2 and 3 dimensional artwork. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Foodbank. For information about this event, please go to http://www.cupsofkindness.net. If you would like to donate directly to the Akron- Canton Regional Foodbank, please click here.

The arts have always been alive and well in the Village of Peninsula. And the Cuyahoga Valley is a beautiful place to see both natural and man-made art, to listen to music and to dance.

For the past 20 years, we have looked out our window at the Cuyahoga River, and have watched the seasons change. Nature has always influenced our work.

I have an affinity toward Oriental art—the proportions, the way all the design elements move through space, the sense of quiet. These tiles are carved from porcelain clay. After the first firing, colors are inlaid into the carved areas, the excess is removed, and the glaze is applied. These pieces often require multiple firings before they are ready to be framed.

This piece is called Of the Earth.

This piece is Silence.

The Peninsula Art Academy’s current exhibition is called Political Issues. With the November elections around the corner, and the travesty of the current administration’s policies impacting so many aspects of our lives, it is a timely show.

Don Getz’s collage, “Thanks John”

Stephanie Sibit’s acrylic painting is called “Do It For Liberty”

The Log Cabin Gallery is a wonderful place to explore local art in a lovely setting. Autumn Here and There is the current show. It features autumn-themed, traditional art with a funky, wily nily twist by local and regional artists as well as artists who now live away.

On the way to the Log Cabin Gallery.

A view of artwork inside the Log Cabin Gallery.

Celebrating the cultural legacy of the Cuyahoga Valley, the Heritage Series presents a variety of great lectures and music. There are contra-dances on the 4th Saturday and on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.

The hills and valleys sing with the incredible beauty that is this Valley, named Cuyahoga for the crooked river that runs through it.
And in it is the Village of Peninsula, population 602, gently resisting change since 1837.

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I am proud to join the other My Town Monday Marauders in sharing our towns with you. MTM is the brainchild of Travis Erwin. Wander on over to his place, and see where it takes you. You’ll have a good time, and learn a bunch. Really.

The Village of Peninsula, population 602, is the venue for some pretty amazing things. The Peninsula Art Academy, a not-for-profit organization promoting the Arts in the Village of Peninsula and throughout Northeast Ohio, has artists’ studios, a gallery, and classes and workshops. The 4th Saturday of every month, the PAA holds Blues Nights, an informal open mike jam for all levels of musicians interested in playing and learning the blues.

On Saturday, September 13, the PAA hosted the incredible guitarist Ernie Hawkins. Ernie conducted a workshop for 22 guitar enthusiasts in the afternoon, and played a concert at Peninsula’s beautiful GAR Hal in the evening. We had the opportunity to join the other lucky folks who experienced Ernie’s performance.

Here is a taste of Ernie’s artistry:

For train enthusiasts, and there are lots of those who come to my town, the sounds of train whistles and the wheels of the train on the tracks are another kind of music. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will be celebrating steam engines from September 24-25, and 27-28th. There will be lots of opportunities to climb aboard!!!

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Travis Erwin is the conductor of the MTM train. You never know where My Town Monday will take you. Wander on over to Travis’ place and see what you find. You’ll have a good time and learn a lot. I promise. And in this election year, my promise is for real :-).