From Skilled Hands

The crooked river called Cuyahoga is an integral part of the Cuyahoga Valley and the Village of Peninsula.  Artists have tried to capture it’s beauty in a multitude of media.  Painters, photographers and artists with sketch pads are regular sights in this Valley.

On Saturday, June 20,  2009, 25  regional artists will converge on the Village, canvases, easels and paints in hand. They will be participants in the first Plein Aire competition that the Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce has hosted.  En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air.” It is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. Plein air painting has it’s roots in 19th century Europe. The invention of tubes that contained pigments made painting portable, and the introduction of the steam engine gave painters a way to travel for their art.

If you’re in our neck of the woods or are in the mood for a beautiful drive, come on over and see us. You can watch the painters, take a hike in the amazing Cuyahoga Valley National Park (did you know that it is the 6th most visited National Park in the country?), take a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and explore the Village of Peninsula. Stop in and see Steve and me at our Elements Gallery on Mill Street. We’re looking forward to meeting you.

For more information on the Plein Aire competition, visit here.

So here we are in March. Cold again today, and the winds make it seem even colder. The sun is peeking through the clouds, giving the impression that it is warmer than it is. Anyone who has been here before knows that it has been a long hard winter in my neck of the woods.

For the next couple of weekends, March 6-8, and March 13-15, 3 communities in this area will be hosting a Cabin Fever Tour. This is an opportunity to get out of the house and visit the Western Reserve. There are opportunities to eat (always good), purchase locally made products, tour parks and historical societies and see what folks like us have to offer.

Come and see us at our gallery, Elements Gallery. In addition to new work of our own, we will be displaying work for Cups of Kindness, a benefit to support the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank. All work has been donated by local artists; and the proceeds from the sale of the work will benefit the Foodbank, where each dollar raised provides 7 nutritious meals. (The website, with new work added, will return in April.) I toured the Foodbank again last week. It is an amazing place, serving 8 Ohio counties, providing a most basic need.

Get yourself a cup of something good and take a relaxing look at spring wildflowers in NE Ohio. It won’t be long before the Village of Peninsula, population 602, will be like this.

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You can find the Main My Town Monday Marauder, Travis Erwin, and links to other MTM sites here. Check it out. Join us if you’d like. Share tales of your town. We’d love to visit.

We the People continue to open our hearts as we show that giving is receiving. We the People show how amazing the Power of One is. We have, to date, purchased more than 14,000 meals for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That is like feeding each of the 602 people in the Village of Peninsula more than 23 times. I’ll post the exact figures when I figure them out.

If you are so inclined, please visit the Cups of Kindness website. There are some lovely pieces that have been donated by some of the 76 artists who have participated in the benefit. There is something special about items that come from the heart through the hands.

Cups Of Kindness continues online and at Elements Gallery and the Peninsula Art Academy.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

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.