Angie Vertucci stands next to her safari photography collection, which is part of the 2024 Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser to benefit the Logan County Art League. Visit this year’s submissions at Citizens Federal Savings and Loan in Bellefontaine during work hours between now and Friday, Jan. 26. (LOGAN COUNTY ART LEAGUE PHOTO)
She’s been a friendly voice on the drive to work or school for 10 years now, offering encouragement, a word of faith and a playlist filled with the best in contemporary Christian music.
But Angie Vertucci has another interest besides being the morning on-air personality at Rise FM, and participating in this year’s Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser gave her a chance to showcase that.
“I’ve been wanting to do this art promotion for years and never knew how to get in on it,” Vertucci said. “I was thrilled when they asked me.”
She knew she wanted to submit art in that other interest — photography — but also had an idea of doing something unexpected with it. Drawing on her background in graphic design, Vertucci chose to add a special effect to the photos.
The subject of her images came from a mission trip to South Africa in February 2020. While there, her team went on a one-day safari, giving Vertucci a chance to grab photos of a zebra, a lion, a leopard, a rhino, an elephant and her favorite, a giraffe.
“I didn’t want to do photos like everybody else,” she said, “so I played with different filters to make these animals stand out.”
As a result, Vertucci submitted not one but six canvasses to Not So Bad Art, which is presented by and raises funds for the Logan County Art League. After all, she said, “I wanted a collection because one animal wasn’t enough.”
Vertucci moved to Ohio from upstate New York 23 years ago to be close to family. About a decade later, Mark Boyer, founder and general manager at Rise FM, helped Vertucci get her first radio job at an AM station in Marysville. Eventually, of course, she came to Bellefontaine to help Mark in his ministry.
“You might say I fell into it. It started rolling from there and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Her appreciation for the creative arts makes the importance of the art league’s work clear. And she’s particularly concerned at seeing these programs end up on the chopping block when schools are faced with a lack of funding.
“Art helps you think outside the box and improves critical thinking,” she stated. “You can apply that to a lot of areas of life. It’s so important to our culture.”
Nine other community members also submitted their work to Not So Bad Art by Good People at the request of the Logan County Art League. You can vote for your favorite(s) online or at Citizens Federal Savings and Loan, 100 N. Main Street, Bellefontaine, where the pieces are on display. The winner of the popular vote will be announced at a celebration event and dinner on Friday, Jan. 26, at the VFW.
Tickets are required for food and drinks, which will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. An auction for the artwork will begin at 7 p.m. The public can attend the auction free of charge.
For more information and to reserve your seat, go to art@logancountyartleague.org.