Tonya Reed creates the mosaic pieces for her butterfly submission in the Not So Bad Art by Good People contest. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The RTC Services executive director has seen first-hand the way that the Logan County Art League and its members bless her clients in the community.
Now in turn, Tonya Reed has recently found a special way to uplift the Art League through the organization’s 2024 Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser. Her ceramic mosaic butterfly piece is one of 10 pieces currently on display for the seventh annual contest at Citizens Federal Savings & Loan, 100 N. Main St., Bellefontaine, through Friday, Jan. 26, for public voting.
“I am super excited to support the Art League,” said the 29-year RTC Industries employee. “RTC has been involved with the Art League for several years. They have been a great partner, and I am excited to have an opportunity to give back to them.”
A Bellefontaine native, Reed said her entire career has spent been with RTC Industries. Twenty-nine years ago, she began working as a direct service role and then in 2001, she moved into a director position.
Last year, one of RTC’s employees, Pam James, introduced her to the Not So Bad Art by Good People contest. James was a featured artist for the 2023 fundraiser and Reed was able to check her friend’s work.
An avid photographer and flower gardener, Reed said she was quite excited when the Art League asked her to participate this year.
“I am a flower gardener and raise Monarch butterflies in the summer. Photography is typically my main form of art. I love to take photos of butterflies, flowers and at concerts,” the 1993 Bellefontaine High School graduate said.
“I raise Monarch caterpillars in my greenhouse and release the butterflies. I am very passionate about this. I knew I wanted to do a piece that revolved around a butterfly.”
So working with Thelma Matthews, owner of The Cracked Pot Studio, the RTC Services executive director spent time in recent months creating a ceramic mosaic butterfly piece.
“Thelma guided me through the mosaic process. I did all my work in her Studio,” she explained. “I initially cut out the pieces from clay. I started working on the piece at the beginning of November and finished by the middle of December.
“I had a lot of fun creating this. I would love to do another mosaic.”
Continuing through Jan. 26, everyone in the community is invited to view the art at the bank during regular lobby hours and vote for their favorites. Voting is $1 per vote, and there are no restrictions on the number of times a person can vote.
In addition, voting is available online at the Art League’s website: https://logancountyartleague.org/.
The winner of the community vote will be announced at a celebration event and dinner, slated for Jan. 26 at the Bellefontaine VFW, 216 Orchard Ave., beginning at 5 p.m.
After the celebration dinner, all of the works of art are auctioned off, with proceeds supporting the activities of the Logan County Art League.
Anyone in the community is invited to attend the celebration dinner; tickets are required for food and drinks being served from 5 to 6 p.m. A reservation form is available at the Citizen’s Federal art display or on the Art League website.
The public is also invited to attend the auction that begins at 7 p.m. and participate free of charge.
Clay pieces are joined together in the early stages of Tonya Reed’s butterfly mosaic. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Tonya Reed’s finished butterfly mosaic piece for the Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)