Yellow+Springs+Art+History+1980's

During the 1980's, John Bryan Community Center continued to house a line-up of art classes. YSAC was allowed use of the building by the Village. YSAC did not pay rent. However, teachers did assist in custodial services and overall upkeep of the facility in order to ensure continuation of classes. Teachers were paid out of tuition with additional revenue funding administrative costs. *Sada Ashby was a YSAC Education Coordinator in the 1980's. *Barbara Walker was also a YSAC Education Coordinator in the 1980's.

Some John Bryan Community Center Classes from the 1980's:
 * Watercolor - Anna Arbor
 * Plein Air class on Saturdays - Anna Arbor
 * Mixed Media - Margrit Petrie
 * Jewelry - Mark Crocket and Gail Zimmerman Jewelry
 * Weaving- Julia Cady and Karen Brito
 * Youth Fiber Arts - Beth Holyoke
 * Movement Classes/Dance- Linda Haller taught an aerobic class

*Early 80's Winterfest, arts bazaar at John Bryan Center.

1980's:


 * Yellow Springs [|Chamber of Commerce Office] moves to the Train Station**
 * The original YS Chamber of Commerce was in the space at 108 Dayton St. (now Design Sleep).
 * Donna Cottrel was the first paid chamber manager.
 * Public Bathrooms had been on the agenda for years and Village Council members campaigned with ideas about it.
 * Huey Long had the idea to build the reconstructed train station along the bike trail for the public restrooms and the chamber.
 * Dave Heckler, current village manager, loved the idea.
 * Evelyn LaMer was on the Train Station Committee, which met for several years.
 * Marsha Sower was the fundraising chair.
 * Total bill for Chamber of Commerce Train Station was about $150k.
 * Village had gotten about 20k in Greene County funding from the bike path + hotel tax.
 * Village Manager Dave Heckler went to local industries and solicited a matching $75k.
 * When total fundraising fell short by about 20K, The Village contributed most of the remaining funds to the Station construction.
 * Ted Donall provided architectural services for free. Thomas Greggor was the builder.
 * Roger Beal donated landscape design (small issue with “Friendly Gartners” group, but it was resolved)
 * Why did the Village support the idea and some financial contribution to the Chamber building? The rationale was that the Chamber will take on roles that the Village will be able to relinguish, saving the Village money and supporting the community. The Chamber's role was to specialize in commerce and tourism and take this weight off the Village.

1980's: Deb Jerison (sp?), professional Glass Blower, had Glass Blowing classes through YS Arts Council, taught in her home studio.

1980's: Maryanne Britton ran Morgan B&B with a gallery. She built up a permanent collection by asking for a donation of a work of art from each artist that showed in her B&B.

1980-81: Jerry Fogarty was YSAC Treasurer

1981: Alan MacBeth sells his framing business (run out of Oten Gallery) to Ken Simon.

1981-2006: Ken Simon moved it to Urban Handmade location, specializing in framing and World Music Instruments. Ken also taught workshops in world music and spirituality out of the shop. The new location was called Gemini Gallery and Music-the Gallery--Ken Simon and wife, Ann Gayek.

1982-1983: Beth Holyoke was YSAC Treasurer.

1983: Fran Kastanekas *(SP?) was YSAC Treasurer.

1983 - ongoing: Village Artisans (VA) started at 220 Xenia Ave. by 3 women Christa Metzger (needlework), Deirdre Roche ( handled the business side), and Joyce Keister (a weaver), who then invited Gail Kort (painter and printmaker) to join them in organizing the cooperative. The shop contained stained glass, copper enameling, ceramics, paintings, prints, jewelry, needlework, weaving, wood turning, photography, sewing, knitting and batik. The original artists involved were Anna Arbor, Marcelle Blau, Gail Kort, Karen Btitto, Karen Deil..., Gerry Fogarty, Debra Groves, David Hergesheimer, Keiko Hergesheimer, Joyce Keister,Christa Metzger, Kathy Moulton, Suzanne Patterson, Deidre Roche, Dianne Rutter, Kelly Thomas, Caroline Van Ausdal, Maria Varandani, Leslie wialliamson, Mary Wynne, Gail Zimmerman, Hanlo von Gierke, Mel Aches, Leslie Thornhill, Deborah Block, Kasse Andrews, Arlene Wagne and Robin Zimmerman. The village Artisans spent 20 years in that space; then moved to a larger space in Kings Yard for a couple of years; and in 2005 moved to a new shop at 100 Corry St.

1983: Village Artisans made a 30-40 foot dragon made out of tie dyed nylon and paper mache. The puppet required 6 people inside it to make it move. A hand, disguised as a tongue wiggled from the reptiles mouth. They made it to celebrate their opening and continued to use it at street fair parades. It is still housed at the Union School House.

[|more about Art on the Lawn.]
 * 1983: Art on the Lawn (Village Artisans) started as Art in the Yard and was located in Kings Yard; now on the grounds of Mills Lawn School every August. Anna Arbor was fundamental to getting it off the ground and maintaining it for first 5 years.

1983-1987: Henderson Gallery run by Debbie Henderson at Vie Design Studios.

1985-94: Dave Heckler Asst. Village Manager YS (managed public works operation) presided over changes to JB Community Center

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1985: Julia Reichert and James Klein were voted as two of the 25 individuals who shaped American films over the decade past. They shared this honor with such filmakers as Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Speilberg. Their films //Union Maids// and //Seeing Red// were each nominated for Academy awards and have been seen the world over.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1986: Potters For Peace was founded by Mary Chapman and Dolly Pomerleay.


 * Late 80's: Alan MacBeth hosted a drawing group that met at Oten Gallery (in space now Asian Collection) for many years.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Late 80's: Upstairs Weaving" - weaving shop by Gerry Fogarty and Julia Cady on second floor of 245 Xenia Ave. (the building that now houses "Ohio Silver"). Later it moved to 253 Xenia Avenue (now housing Creative Explorations). The budiness later moved to the front terrace room of 309 Xenia Ave (Alan Macbeth's building).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Late 80's: Karen Brito also had a weaving shop.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Late 80's: Karen Shirley became the chair of Antioch Art Department


 * Late 1980's: Torre Princter was President of YSAC. She put together an Artist Registry. She also revised the by'laws for the YSAC. Dennie Eagleson (photographer) was part of YSAC during this time. Anna Arbor was on the board during this time


 * Late 1980's: “Partners of America” program with Antioch College, Joanne Wallace professor. An artist exchange. Anna Arbor went to a Yellow Springs sister city in Brazil. There she had an exhibition and taught workshops. Brazilian partner came to Yellow Springs for two months and held an exhibition at Oten Gallery and Morgan House B&B. Jon Hudson and Shirley Mullins also participated in program.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1988 or ’89 :Tia Houston established YSAC Art Awards (scholarships) for the HS. students presented their portfolios to a team of judges.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">late 1980's/early 90's: Village of YS Design Commission (a.k.a. The Pretty City Committee, less fondly know by some as The Sign Nazis) began with Phyllis Schmidt, David Battle, Lori Beckman, Sam Bachtell. Later on Tod Tiselin joined. Made signage reccomendations for public spaces and the bike trail. Concerns:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Concern over aesthetics of Mills Lawn School public sign (apparently a lot of letters to the editor, article?)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Created schematic of bike path to include signs, landscaping, public art on path
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Developed policy to direct signage and other public aesthetics in Village


 * Note: The Yellow Springs Art History Project is a wiki, a continually evolving historic document. We welcome edits and additions of facts, figures, dates and details that tell the story off the arts in Yellow Springs. Further research is particularly needed for items with an asterisk*. Email the moderator for edits and additions to the Yellow Springs Art History Project wiki. email **

Yellow Springs Art History 1990's