By DAVID DUPONT
BG independent News
The Bowling Green Arts Council wants to share the joy of art, and it needs more help to do that.
The council, which originally formed as an outlet for local artists to exhibit their work, has expanded its mission over the years. The arts council now has a hand in four events over the year.
The council’s 50+Shades of Grey art exhibit for older artists is now on display at the Wood County Council on Aging in downtown Bowling Green through March 23.
Visitors peruse student art at the Artists 4 Animals exhibit in November.
The council will then help Downtown BG stage Art Walk on April 29 throughout the downtown. On June 10 the council collaborates with the city Parks and Recreation Department on Art in the Park in the Simpson Garden Park. In fall the council works with the Humane Society on Artists 4 Animals, an exhibit at the Four Corners Center, showcasing work of kindergarteners through seniors.
All these endeavors, especially the exhibits, take time and effort to present.
Alice Calderonello, the council’s secretary, said volunteers spent more than 50 hours to put on the 50+ Shades of Grey Show. That includes everything from preparing a prospectus for artists, collecting fees for exhibiting as well as taking in and hanging the art. It does not include all the work done by the staff at the Council on Aging.
Right now, about eight to 10 members can be expected to help with such events, she said.
Many of the chores are enjoyable, and a few more hands would make the workload lighter, she said, and that would help the council do even more.
“There’s more that we’d like to do but find it very difficult,” said her husband, John Calderonello, who is a woodworker. He exhibits at Art Walk.
Among the ideas the council has considered, for example, is an exhibit featuring the work of local art teachers. The development of the green space on the former junior high site also presents new possibilities.
“We try to partner for each of event we do with some organization in the community,” he said.
The council continues to reach out to collaborate with other cultural entities.
Marilyn Shrude from the BGSU College of Music has helped the council find musicians to perform at events. Deb Shaffer arranged to have cast members from the Black Swamp Players’ musical “Baby” entertain at the reception for 50+ Shades of Grey. Horizon Youth Theatre presented an excerpt from “Honk!” last year at Art in the Park.
With Jacqui Nathan, university gallery director as president, the council has ties with the university.
Still, John Calderonello said, some people feel a disconnect from the university, as if it is another world.
Alice Calderonello said that when they brought the Kiwanis up to the university galleries for a luncheon meeting, the members enjoyed it. For many of them it was their first time visiting.
The galleries are part of Art Walk, and Art in the Park featured musicians from the College of Music.
Alice Calderonello said she’s worked with Nathan for years. When she retired from teaching English at BGSU, she volunteered because “those galleries are extraordinary” and became “Jacqui’s lackey.”
She’s still helps with staging the Northwest Ohio Community Art Exhibit, which the galleries host every summer. That show featuring regional artists is one of the highlights of the arts year for her. Others include ArtsX on campus in early December and the Black Swamp Arts Festival. She’d love to see that artistic energy spread throughout the year.
She sees art as a basic element of life. After all people have found a need for it since the prehistoric times when they decorated the walls of caves with images of animals.
“For some reason human beings can’t live without art,” she said. “And so we try to bring that essential experience so people’s lives can be expanded and enriched.”
Those interested in the council and its events can visit: bgartscouncil.com. The council meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the senior center.
Memberships range from $15 for an individual to $50 for a business.
