Indian Lake High School senior Riley Rash created this lighted ocean-themed mixed media piece that was featured in the Logan County Art and Music Festival. (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)
Student creativity took the center stage over the weekend at the Logan County Music and Art Festival, featuring a wide variety of artwork created by local pupils in grades K-12, and an honors band concert performed by the top student musicians in the county.
This was the second year that the festival was staged at the Holland Theatre and hosted in conjunction with LoCo Art, a fitting collaboration and venue to enable the young creative arts-minded students with the chance to showcase their talents in a professional setting. Art and music participants represented Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Calvary Christian, Indian Lake and Riverside school districts.
“LoCo Art is thankful to the Holland Theatre for welcoming the Logan County Music & Art Festival for the second year. Sharing the theatre’s space to house the art exhibition and giving student musicians the opportunity to perform on the stage is a treat for all involved,” LoCo Art Co-Director Jennifer Davis said.
“LoCo Art’s mission is to make art free and accessible to all youths, and I think this event really makes that happen, thanks to the Holland Theatre opening up their space to us and the community,” Co-Director Myles Bowers said.
The show kicked off Friday evening, April 12, with the art display and also included the free concert featuring the nearly 70-member Logan County Honors Band directed by Guest Conductor Stephan Naylor of Wright State University. The art show also was open for public viewing Saturday afternoon, April 13, and Sunday afternoon, April 14.
“It was an enjoyable weekend for all, and it was well-attended,” Bowers said.
“I had a lot of people express to me that they were thankful that is was open all weekend,” Davis said. “One girl who stopped by Saturday had a Friday evening track meet, so her family was glad to be able to see her art on another day.”
Rush Creek Art Studio kindly donated art supplies to be given as prizes for the Best of Show artists at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
The elementary winner was Indian Lake student Cheyenne Pender for her weaving; middle school winner was Calvary Christian student Kelaiah Hernmiller for her graphite piece; and the high school winner was Maggie Reese from Indian Lake for her oil painting.
Davis, a Benjamin Logan High School art teacher, said each of the art teachers at the Logan County school buildings were able to select 10 student pieces for the art display.
Next year, the hope is to double the entries for the show by also utilizing the front foyer area of the Holland Theatre for artwork as well.
Honors band members were selected by each band director around the county, noted Bowers, a Benjamin Logan music teacher and band director. The pupils rehearsed for about five hours during the school day Friday under Naylor’s direction.
Six Hundred Downtown generously provided lunch for the honors band on rehearsal day.
“The students enjoyed dining together at the restaurant and had a wonderful day getting to meet musicians from other schools and performing together,” Bowers said. “It was a great opportunity for them.
“Stephan Naylor, a native of Chicago, said he had a great time being in our town and enjoyed all of the hospitality here.”
Six Hundred Downtown also gave a financial contribution to assist with costs of the art show.
The Powell Company based in Lima provided a financial contribution which covered the cost of hiring Naylor for the Honors Band Concert.
LoCo Art and the Holland Theatre covered remaining costs of the event.
“Thank you to all of the Logan County community that attended the weekend’s events,” Davis said. “We look forward to celebrating the arts and the talented youth with you again in 2025.”
In addition, LoCo Art is prepping for a Stress Less! Camp, set for June 24-28.
The Stress Less programming was funded by United Way, Midwest Regional ESC, the Ohio Arts Council and Hess Lumber.
The camp will be for students in grades 5-12 and registration will open in early May at https://locoartspot.com/.
