Lea Del Hurley chose to do a hand-build “wonky” bowl for this year’s Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser. The money it brings in will go toward the Logan County Art League, which organizes the event. You can see all of this year’s artwork at Citizens Federal Savings and Loan in Bellefontaine now through Friday, Jan. 26. (ART LEAGUE PHOTO)
When Andrea Earick with the Logan County Art League invited Lea Del Hurley to participate in this year’s Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser, Hurley’s first thought was, “Why would you ask me?”
It certainly wasn’t anything she’d ever considered being a part of. And yet, she wasn’t thrown by the idea.
“I probably never would have considered it if I hadn’t been involved with the potters at the Cracked Pot Studio,” she said. That background in pottery made her realize Not So Bad Art wasn’t such a stretch.
For her submission, Hurley chose to make a hand-build bowl. Hand-build, as the name suggests, means not using the pottery wheel. Instead, she created a disc with a slab of clay. It’s called a “wonky” bowl because, she explained, “you don’t know how it will end up.”
Next, she fired the disc, then glazed it. Though pottery is usually dipped in the glaze, Hurley’s bowl was so big she had to pour the glaze over it. She chose two colors, and admitted she had anticipated a different result than what she ended up with.
“You pour it on and cross your fingers and hope it will turn out nice,” Hurley said. “But it was fun. I’d definitely make one again.”
Pottery isn’t Hurley’s first foray into art. In fact, she was always interested in creative pursuits. Her family owned a Huntsville farmer’s market starting in the early 1970s, and Hurley would paint pumpkins to sell to customers. Every fall, she’d ply her artistic talents—mostly Halloween-related images—on the orange gourds.
But life got busier and, after 20 years, Hurley put pumpkin-painting behind her to concentrate on work and raising a family. The Indian Lake graduate spent 23 years as a teacher’s aide at the middle school there while also working part-time at Hurley Farms.
In 2015, she left the school to put all of her energy into the farmer’s market, which she and her husband, Russel, had purchased from her parents. During all of these life changes, she “fell out of” doing anything artistic.
“Then I discovered Cracked Pot Studio,” Hurley said. “I’m a big fan. It’s a great place to have time to yourself or hang out with other creative people. I recommend it for anyone who needs that kind of outlet.”
Not So Bad Art by Good People is an annual event dedicated to raising money for the Logan County Art League (LCAL). Each year, LCAL asks community “celebrities” to create art, regardless of their artistic skills.
This raises funds in three ways. First, the community is invited to vote for their favorite art piece by visiting the display at Citizens Federal Savings and Loan, 100 N. Main Street, Bellefontaine, during business hours through Friday, Jan. 26. These votes are cast for a small fee, and that money goes to the league.
Then, on the evening of the 26th, a dinner and auction will take place at the VFW on Orchard Avenue, also in Bellefontaine. Food and drinks will be served from 5 to 6 p.m., and tickets are required. (Reservations were due Jan. 19 for the meal).
An auction to sell the 10 items created for this year’s fundraiser begins at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the auction free of charge.