Gateway Arts Council - News Archives

Gateway Arts Council News

6.2.2010

Each year, the City of Sidney offers summer clinics for children in the parks. The Gateway Arts Council takes place by sponsoring an arts-related clinic.

For this year's Art in the Park, we plan on working with wool to create felt geodes. Kids will wrap layers of wool into a spherical form and dunk it into warm, soapy water, gently rubbing and squeezing the fibers to create a felt ball. Once the felt balls have dried, they will then cut them open to reveal their geode! Additionally, each kid will get to create a weaving of paper, string, ribbon, yarn and other goodies. We will also have on hand a number of other arts-related crafts and activities for kids to do in the down time. Art in the Park is always hands-on. Kids get to be agents in their own learning.

The recommended ages for Art in the Park are 7-12, though older and younger are welcome as well. We advise the kids to dress in layers as the weather can be quite unpredictable at the beginning of June! If your child is interested in participating in this year's Art in the Park, please call Gateway Arts Council at 498-2787 to register. The clinic is free to those interested, but registration is required. The registration deadline is June 10th.

5.16.2010
Artist Judy Grone of Delphos won The Minster Bank Best of Show Award for her mixed media piece, Finding Your Direction at the Spring Fling 2010 Fine Art Exhibit and Sale held at the Ross Historical Society. Gateway Arts Council announced the awards during the Exhibit’s opening reception April 30, 2010.

Top honors among the categories are as follows:

Watermedia
First Place (The Huffer Chiropractic Award) – Rosemary Kienle of Piqua,Resting Between Rides, Celo Inn
Second Place (The Ron & Nita’s Award) – Danny Knepper of Jackson Center, Jamie #2
Third Place (The Tom & Polly Watkins Award) – Brianne Schulze of Russia, Still Life

Ceramics
First Place (The Doris Allenbaugh Memorial Award) – Ralph Stuckman of Celina, O.H.I.O.
Second Place – (The Spot Restaurant Award) – Pamela J. Ridenour of Tipp City, Teapot & Cups
Third Place (The Aguirre-Couchot Award) – Jana Glass of Tipp City, Quilt Study #10

Miscellaneous Art
First Place (The Sidney Electric Company Award) – Sharon Smith of Union, Untitled
Second Place (The Elsass, Wallace, Evans, Schnelle & Co. LPA Award)– Bradly Gravunder of Piqua, 2020
Third Place (The Wilson Memorial Hospital Award)- Benjamin Pierce of Sidney, T.B. Hospital (Silence)

Drawing
First Place ( The James & Alice Bixler Award) – Maureen O’Keefe of Sidney, Ecclesiastes
Second Place (The NK Telco Award) - Donna Brinkman of Dayton, The Red Chair.
Third Place (The Creative Marketing Strategies Award) – Rose Schultz of Miamisburg, L’Opera

Oils and Acrylics
First Place (The Mary Beth Milligan Memorial Award) – Ruth Ann Sturgill of Lima, Iris #3
Second Place (The Edison Community College Award) – Cameo Monnin of Russia, Craig
Third Place (The Allison’s Jewelry Award) – Donna Brinkman of Dayton, Lina in the Window Seat

Photography
First Place (The June Kauffman Memorial Award) – Terry Glass of Tipp City, Bannack, Montana
Second Place (The First National Bank of New Bremen Award) – Patrick Elsass of Botkins, Ferris Wheel
Third Place (The David & Sherrie Lodge Award) – Rose Marie Grimes of Mechanicsburg, Untitled

The Spring Fling Exhibit is a partnership between the Gateway Arts Council and Shelby County Historical Society and is presented annually. This year’s exhibit included 244 pieces submitted by 100 artists. The exhibit helps to make the arts available to as many people in Shelby County as possible.

The “creative awareness” brought by the arts can be vital to the quality of life in people and in the community. It helps to encourage communication, teamwork, expression, sense of community, and creativity and imagination. The arts are a reflection of life, and therefore make for common ground, spanning every kind of gap between people. They are a universal language among people, and give us a better understanding of our world.

4.13.2010
Little girls who watch their older sisters get ready for the prom don’t have to feel envious this year. They will have their own dance to go to with the best date of all, their fathers (and father figures).

Gateway Arts Council presents The Princess Ball, a father – daughter dance, on Friday, April 23, 2010. The event will take place at Lehman High School, 2400 St. Marys Avenue, Sidney from 7:00 to 9:30 P.M.Tickets cost $10 for a father with one daughter or $15 for a father with two or more daughters. They are for sale at Sidney Kroger, Sidney Foodtown, Ron & Nita’s, Gateway Arts Council office and at the door. It is recommended you buy your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line at the door!

This magical evening will include music by local DJ's Tony and Tambra Brown, refreshments provided by Sidney Foodtown and Sidney Kroger, door prizes, raffles, and more! Best of all it is quality time for dads and daughters! Girls can get their photo taken with their dad, and decorate a frame to take home. Photos are $5 and other goodies are free!

A raffle will feature special items including the grand prize, an American Girl doll, donated by Lisa Alvetro Orthodontics. Raffle and door prize drawings for other great prizes will take place throughout the evening.

Due to the popularity of this event, The Princess Ball will be held at Lehman High School in the gymnasium this year. We hope that it will better accommodate each and every dad & daughter, making the night even more special!

The Princess Ball is sponsored by Walt and Carol Bennett. Proceeds for The Princess Ball help Gateway Arts Council carry out its mission in Shelby County to make art available for everyone, everywhere, at every time. Gateway Arts Council fulfills this mission by providing arts and cultural programming to schools; presenting through performances and concerts for children; families and adults throughout the year; making grants to other area arts organizations; presenting free concerts; providing musical instruments to school music students; mounting a major fine art exhibit featuring area artists each year and providing free art activities for children at area festivals and events.

For more information on this or any Gateway Arts Council event, visit www.gatewayartscouncil.org or call 498-2787.

4.12.2010
Twenty young Shelby County musicians and one dancer came together to perform at Gateway Arts Council’s second annual Music Matters Recital. The recital took place Saturday March 27th at the Masonic Lodge in Sidney to an audience of over 150. The talented students ranging in ages 9 to 19 performed vocal, instrumental and dance solos to help benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Performers included: Daniel Aikin, tuba, Jackson Center High School; Kent Boyd, dance, Botkins High School; Alayna Clack, vocal; Fairlawn High School; Brandon Colby, tenor saxophone, Russia Local Schools; Carly Drury, piano, Northwood School in Sidney; Donnie J. Day, baritone saxophone, Anna High School; Nathan Epperson, trombone, Russia Local Schools; Jenna Freisthler, vocal, Anna High School; Ross Geuy, piano, Washington Intermediate School in Piqua; Jean Goettemoeller, vocal, Boktins High School; Gregory Goubeaux, piano, Russia Local Schools; Grady Hoellrich, vocal, Sidney High School; Boz Howard, piano, home schooled; Mason Hoying, piano, Russia Local Schools; Seth Hulsmeyer, tuba, Anna High School; Harry "H" Kearns, vocal, Sidney High School; Chelsea Mabes, vocal, Sidney High School; Faith Martin, vocal, Sidney High School; Brittany Stearns, guitar and vocal, Sidney High School; Josh Schwieterman, snare drum, Anna High School; and Jordan Unverferth, snare drum, Anna High School.

Music Matters is a Gateway Arts Council program that gives area youth the opportunity to create music and demonstrate their talents. The goal for the program is to not only provide instruments to those in need, but also provide additional music education and performance outlets. As a benefit event for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, this concert was not only an opportunity for your young musicians to perform for the community but was also a chance for them to give back to other children. Gateway Arts Council was proud to present this recital and looks forward to doing it again next year.

2.19.2010
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Spring Fling Fine Art Exhibit & Sale, a joint project of the Gateway Arts Council and the Shelby County Historical Society. Fine artists from throughout western Ohio and eastern Indiana are invited to enter their work in the Spring Fling Fine Art Exhibit & Sale. The exhibit will open April 30th with an artists’ reception and will run through May 14th at the Ross Historical Center, 201 N. Main Ave., Sidney. Beginning Saturday, May 1st, the exhibit is free and open to the public.

Works will be accepted in the following six categories:

Drawing (charcoal, pen and ink, pencil, colored pencil, pastels)
Watermedia (transparent watercolor on paper; single medium used in an aqueous manner)
Oil & Acrylics (oils & acrylics executed in the manner of oil paintings)
Photography (film or digital)
Ceramics (clay, polymer)
Miscellaneous (prints, textiles, mixed media, computer art, sculpture)
*Installations will not be accepted

The 2010 Spring Fling Fine Art Exhibit & Sale is open to all artists who are 16 and older. All work must be original. No commercial kits or molds will be accepted. Students may not enter work if they had assistance in executing it. Artwork previously submitted to a Spring Fling Fine Art Exhibit is ineligible. The Gateway Arts Council reserves the right to refuse
any entry and to withdraw any work from the exhibit at its discretion.

Entries will be accepted through April 2, 2010 or to the show maximum of 200 works. The entry fee per work is $10, with a maximum of 3 pieces per artist, regardless of medium. Entry fees are non-refundable. Entry forms are available at the Gateway Arts Council offices at 930 Wapakoneta Avenue, Sidney or online at www.gatewayartscouncil.org/springfling.html. Artists may also request an entry by calling 937-498-2787.
First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in each category. A best-of-show award will also be given. The awards include ribbons and monetary prizes. The best-of-show award carries a $500 prize. First place awards in each category are $300. Second place awards are $200. Third place awards are $100. There must be at least five pieces in a category to be judged for an award. Cash awards will be presented during the 2010 Spring Fling Opening Reception on April 30th.

A People's Choice Award ribbon will be given to the artist whose work garners the most votes from exhibit-goers. A Students' Choice Award will be presented to the artist who receives the most votes from the third-graders who view the exhibit during school field trips.

Businesses who would like to sponsor an award or individuals who would like to memorialize or honor someone with an award
in their name should call the Gateway Arts Council for information on how to do so. For more information regarding the entry procedure or the exhibit, please call the Arts Council at 937-498-2787.

The Gateway Arts Council is proud to celebrate 22 years of arts programming in Sidney and Shelby County. With each new year, Gateway Arts Council builds on the founding mission to promote the accessibility, creation, presentation and preservation of artistic and cultural resources for the benefit, enjoyment and enrichment of the community.

More information and registration forms can be found under Visual Arts - Spring Fling.

12.19.2009
Gateway Arts Council is proud to present one of the most exciting and entertaining musical ensembles in the country today, Dallas Brass at the Sidney High School Auditorium, January 17, 2010.

Incorporating fun and humor with intricate playing, the internationally acclaimed Dallas Brass will perform some of America’s greatest hits. Stirring audiences of all ages wherever they go, Dallas Brass will perform the music of Mancini, Goodman, Bernstein, Sousa, Copland; from bands like the Tijuana Brass and Chicago; and styles from Dixieland, swing, Broadway, folk, patriotic, pop, to hip-hop! There is something for everybody. American Musical Journey is a showcase of the gifts American composers have given to our nation and a delightful and elegant display of the musical talents of this outstanding ensemble.

According to Dallas Brass founder, MichaelLevine”, “A Dallas Brass concert is intended for the entire family. Our ideal audience has an age range from 5 to 95. Our goal is to entertain and enrich by playing great music, while showing our audience how much we enjoy what we do.” The ensemble includes: Michael Levine (director, trombone), Brian Neal and D.J. Barraclough (trumpet), Chris Castellanos (horn), Nat McIntosh (tuba) and Jeff Handel (drums/percussion).

In addition to their solo engagements, Dallas Brass, one of America’s foremost musical ensembles, appears with symphony orchestras nationwide. Symphonic credits include the Cincinnati Pops, the New York Pops, and the Philly Pops. Dallas Brass has performed at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and has toured overseas to Europe and the Far East. They have shared the stage with the late Bob Hope, have performed for Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush, have appeared on the CBS Early Show, and their music has been used numerous times on the television show, The Young & the Restless. The ensemble has released six recordings: Debut, Dallas Brass II, A Merry Christmas with Brass, Windborne, Nutcracker and American Musical Journey.

Dallas Brass’ primary mission includes connecting with young musicians. The concert includes an unprecedented educational component with each performance to educate and inspire local student musicians. The music students Sidney and Shelby County will spend the afternoon with the Dallas Brass musicians in rehearsals and clinics then take the stage to perform with the Dallas Brass during the evening performance. “This will be an evening of music this community will not soon forget,” says Michael Levine, Dallas Brass founder and trombonist.

American Musical Journey is fun, lively, and entertaining - perfect for the entire family. Tickets are now on sale. Information on tickets can be obtained by calling Gateway Arts Council at 937-498-2787 or visiting www.gatewayartscouncil.org. Tickets are available at Ron & Nita’s, Sidney Foodtown, Sidney Kroger, or by calling Gateway Arts Council.

Dallas Brass is brought to you in part by Ohio Arts Council, The Monarch Legacy Fund of the Community Foundation of Shelby County, Alvetro Orthodontics, Mutual Federal Savings Bank and the Sidney-Shelby Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund organizations with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Students participating in the clinic may find more information at the Dallas Brass website.

10.23.2009
Images from the Land books are still for sale. Click below to download an order form!
Images Book Orderform PDF for download
Get your free Adobe Reader at Adobe.com

8.4.2009
We're blogging! Check out the Gateway Arts Council's new blog. Here you will find up-to-date information on upcoming Arts Council events and photos from events past, as well as highlights from our more than twenty year history! Please check in on us from time to time and support the arts.

Additionally, we're Twittering! Follow us: @GatewayArts. If you're not familiar with twittering, don't worry, we weren't either. Twitter simply poses the question "What are you doing?" and gives you 140 characters to respond. This is approximately the length of one or two short sentences. "Too much information" aside, we'll only be twittering about office activity, the arts, and our events.

Look for us on Facebook - we can be friends! Or rather, you can be a fan of Gateway Arts Council!

The blog, Twitter and Facebook are efforts on our part to be more accessible to our audience, volunteers, supporters and you. It's time this organization dipped its toes in the pool of modern technology! And let us know if there is some other way you might like to connect with us! We're open to suggestions! Email us at: gactw@woh.rr.com

07.30.2009
The Gateway Arts Council held its annual meeting Monday, July 20, 2009 at which, officers for the 2009-2010 fiscal year were elected. The new Executive Committee will consist of Chris Gibbs – President; Bill Zimmerman, Jr. – President Elect; Lisa Alvetro – Vice President, Jerry Doerger – Treasurer; and Dana Geuy – Secretary. “Gateway Arts Council is very fortunate to have this talented and dedicated group of professional men and women donating their time to serving on our Executive Committee” said Ellen Keyes, Executive Director. Chris Gibbs, incoming president, added “the efforts and dedication of the outgoing officers is much appreciated in the community. Debbie Wolfinger’s guidance as past President and board member helped play a crucial role in the success of the Council. Lisa Haussman served as President Elect and was instrumental in bringing about the Images from the Land concerts held in March of 2008. Jeffie Voisard served as Secretary and helped to bring success to the Youth Education Series. We owe a great deal of thanks to these women for their time and commitment to the arts. We are building on that commitment during this next season with a star line up of programming.”

07.26.2009
Gateway Arts Council is proud to announce the release of the Images from the Land book. This stunning book is a continuation of the extremely successful Images from the Land photo –choreographed concerts conducted in March 2008, which were produced by Gateway Arts Council, Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District, U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency, The Ohio State University Extension – Shelby County and the Shelby County Farm Bureau. Like the concert, this book, with images by Patrick Elsass, honors the Shelby County agricultural community and the partnership between agriculture and art. The Images from the Land book is a way to ensure future generations benefit from the opportunity to serve both the agriculture and art communities. At the 2008 concerts, the pictures of Shelby County farms, farm families and agribusinesses were displayed on a screen as the Sidney Civic band played simultaneously.

Christopher Gibbs, one of the book’s contributors, puts it this way, “This project has been one small way that I could represent our farmers and tell their story. It’s important. One of the responsibilities of any society is to pass its heritage on to its youth. As many of our children grow further and further away from their agrarian roots, this project is one small way I found to make sure young people know where they came from. This truly was a group effort. The Gateway Arts Council staff was instrumental in ensuring that the tone and writing was sound. I was particularly blessed to be constantly encouraged by Executive Director Ellen Keyes that we had an important story to tell and that this book was the perfect medium.”

The book will go on sale to the general public Monday, July 27th and can be purchased by contacting the Gateway Arts Council at 937-498-2787. The book will also be on sale at the Shelby County Fair at the Soil and Water tent: Tuesday, July 28th from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 29th from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM and Friday, July 31st from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM and from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM and at Farmers Market at Shelby County Court Square on August 1st from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. Pat Elsass and Christopher Gibbs will be on hand during these times to sign books at both of these locations.

06.16.2009
Gateway Arts Council is proud to present The United States Army Field Band Volunteers on July 6th at 6:30 PM at the Shelby County Court Square in Sidney, Ohio. Audiences nationwide have been captivated by these energetic shows and their foot
stomping heart-racing music. The Gateway Arts Council is thrilled to have the U.S. Army Field Band Volunteers open our
2009-2010 season!

The Volunteers is a six piece show band that takes the best popular music and blends it in a show that appeals to all ages. The band seamlessly mixes jazz, fifties favorites, and Motown classics at family-oriented shows while also focusing on rock, country, and pop hits. The group has performed before millions of listeners throughout American and abroad. Recent tours have included performances in Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Mexico, the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. In 2005, they performed for over 18,000 at the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas. The group has been presented the Army Community Relations Award of Excellence by the Chief of Public Affairs, in recognition of their work with the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and the Rolling Road Special Education School in Baltimore. This is the highest award given by the Department of the Army for support to Army Community Relations.

The mission of The United States Army Field Band is “carry into grassroots of our country the story of our magnificent Army.” The organization’s four performing components are the Concert Band, the Soldiers’ Chorus, the Jazz Ambassadors, and the Volunteers. Each component tours annually throughout the United States and travels abroad as directed by the Secretary of the Army.

Bring your lawnchairs, blankets and snacks, and settle in on the Shelby County Courtsquare for this FREE concert!

05.17.2009
“The hardest thing in the world is to start an orchestra; the next hardest, to stop it.” That bit of wisdom was uttered by Hans Richter more than a century ago, but he might very well have been speaking about the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which will swing into Sidney at the Sidney High School Auditorium on June 5, 2009 at 7:00 PM. Tickets to the event are $15.00 or $12.00 for AAA Members. They can be purchased at the Gateway Arts Council, Kroger in Sidney and Ron and Nita’s in Sidney.

The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders in the Swing era of the 1930s and ‘40s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts, and the drawing power at theatres, hotels and dance pavilions built and sustained the momentum of The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s popularity. Miller disbanded his musical organization in 1942, at the height of its popularity, volunteered for the Army and then organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. It went to Europe to entertain servicemen. On December 15, 1944, Major Miller took off in a single-engine plane from England to precede his band to France, never to be seen again. The army declared him officially dead a year later.

Due to popular demand, the Miller Estate authorized the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956 under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley. Trombonist Larry O’Brien is the present musical director. The 19 member band continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans who have not heard them played for a while. Additionally, they also play more modern selections in the big band style, carefully selecting only those newer tunes that lend themselves naturally to the Miller style and sound. The entire repertoire now exceeding 1, 700 compositions keep the band popular with audience members both young and old. The band performs for more than 500,000 people annually playing an average of 300 live dates per year nationally and internationally.

5.02.2009
Artist Gary Hovey of New Knoxville won The Minster Bank Best of Show Award at the Spring Fling 2009 Fine Art Exhibit and Sale held at the Ross Historical Society. Gateway Arts Council announced the awards during the Exhibit’s opening reception last night.

Top honors among the categories are as follows:
Watermedia: First Place (The Huffer Chiropractic Award) – Barbara Sailor of Jackson Center, Bountiful. Second Place (The Ron & Nita’s Award) – Linnae Wilson of Urbana, In the Swim. Third Place (The Tom and Polly Watkins Award) – Michiko Mathews of Minster, Cherry Blossoms on Potomac.

Ceramics: First Place (The Doris Allenbaugh Memorial Award) – Sharron Smith of Union, Endangered. Second Place – (The Spot Restaurant Award) – Pamela J. Ridenour of Tipp City, Fruit Bowl. Third Place (The Aguirre-Couchot Award) – Jana Glass of Tipp City, Quilt.

Miscellaneous Art: First Place (The Sidney Electric Company Award) – Judy Thaxton of Eaton, Left Behind. Second Place (The Elsass, Wallace, Evans, Schnelle & Co. LPA Award)– Tom Woodruff of Jackson Center, July 4th 1910 at The Reservoir 3D. Third Place (The Wilson Memorial Hospital Award) – Merril Asher of Sidney, Nothing But Flowers.

Drawing: First Place (AAA Shelby County Award) – Thomas Kinarney of Dayton, Food For Thought. Second Place ( Sam Robinson MWWR Group Award)- Linnae Wilson of Urbana, Kiser Lake Morning. Third Place (The David & Sherrie Lodge Award) – Judy Paden of Springfield, That Girl.

Oils and Acrylics: First Place (The Mary Beth Milligan Memorial Award) – Michelle Walker of Wapakoneta, Plain Air #1. Second Place (The Edison Community College Award) – Michelle Walker of Wapakoneta, Plain Air #2. Third Place (The Shelby County Shrine Club Award) – Bonnie Roby of Wapakoneta, Molly & Dolly.

Photography: First Place (The Dr. William Ogle Memorial Award) – Terry Glass of Tipp City, The Burren-County Clare. Second Place (The First National Bank of New Bremen Award) – Scottie Howison of St. Marys, Drowning Our Sorrows. Third Place (The Creative Marketing Strategies Award) – Roger Brown of Sidney, Yukon Train.

Part of the Spring Fling Exhibit in previous years has been the The Congressional Art Competition. This year the competition was held at a different location. The winner of the 2009 Congressional Art Competition Fourth Ohio District,(Congressman Jim Jordan)was Karrie Platfoot from Botkins High School. Her work will move to the district competition on May 8 in Lima, Ohio. Winners at the district level will have their work hang in Washington, DC.

The Spring Fling Exhibit is a partnership between the Gateway Arts Council and Shelby County Historical Society and is presented annually. This year’s exhibit included 244 pieces submitted by 102 artists. The Exhibit, which is free and open to the public May 2 through 16, helps to make the arts available to as many people in Shelby County as possible.

3.23.2009
Seventeen young Shelby County musicians came together to perform at Gateway Arts Council's first ever Music Matters Recital March 21 at the Masonic Lodge in Sidney to an audience of more than 150.

The talented students, ranging in ages 12 to 18, performed vocal and instrumental solos to help benefit the Shriner's Hospitals for Children.

The students performing from Anna High School were Renelle Adams, oboe; Donnie J. Day, baritone saxophone; Seth Hulsmeyer, tuba; Josh Schweiterman, snare drum; and Jordan Unverferth, snare drum. The performers from Sidney High School were Lauren Stearns, piano and vocal; Jalee Clendenin, vocal; H. Kearns, vocal; Tristine Toves, piano; and Grady Hoellrich, vocal. Russia Local Schools representatives were Greg Cotrill, baritone saxophone; Shelby Langenkamp, piccolo and piano; and Mason Hoying, piano. Jeremy Hamilton, french horn, and Jessica Wells, vocal, represented the musical talents of Fairlwan High School. Performing from Sidney Middle School was Eric Barnes, piano. Performing from Holy Angels Catholic Schools was Joey Skelton, piano.

Music Matters is a Gateway Arts Council program that gives area youth the opportunity to create music and demonstrate their talents. The goal for the program is to not only provide instruments to those in need, but also provide addtional music education and performance outlets for young musicians in Shelby County. As a benefit for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, this concert was not only an opportunity for these young musicians to perform for the community, it was also a chance for them to give back to other children. Gateway Arts Council was proud to present the first-ever Music Matters Recital and looks forward to doing it again next year!

3.10.2009
If laughter is the best medicine, then Tom Mullica delivered a healing dose of it with his Performance Tribute to Red Skelton. Sunday night, the audience was treated to a heartwarming and hilarious portrayal of America ’s favorite clown. Tom Mullica's one-man tribute show was a living, breathing depiction of Red Skelton. He faithfully captured the gentleness, sweetness, humor and improvisational aspects of Red Skelton along with Red’s many loveable characters. For the 700 patrons who attended the show, it was a trip down memory lane, complete with vintage comedic sketches and the heartwarming moments like Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance.

Among the sold out crowd were individuals from over 22 different villages/cities, some as far away as Cleveland , Cincinnati and Kentucky. This production, which is the first of two in Gateway Arts Council’s Presents Series, was held Sunday, March 8, 2009.

2.27.2009
Gateway Arts Council is pleased to announce that RED SKELTON tickets are selling quickly. TOM MULLICA'S PERFORMANCE TRIBUTE TO RED SKELTON will take place at 7:00PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009 at the Sidney High School Auditorium. We anticipate selling out of tickets prior to the show. Tickets are available in limited quantities at Ron & Nita's in Sidney, Sidney Kroger, or through the Gateway Arts Council at 937.498.2787. Payment options at Ron & Nita's and Kroger are cash or check. Payment options at the GAC are cash, check or credit card. *AAA members may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $12 by showing their card.

2.27.2009
On Saturday, February 21st, Theatreworks of New York performed Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, A Two-Beans Production. Despite the weather, more than 300 children and families enjoyed this wonderfully entertaining production! Waking up to gum in his hair, Alexander shared with us the misadventures of his no good, very bad day! After the show, children enjoyed Mini Mama Rosa's Pizzas and drinks, courtesy of Sidney's very own MAMA ROSA'S! Thanks to all who attended! We will be announcing our 2009-2010 Youth Education Series at the Music Matters Concert on March 21, 2009 at the Masonic Temple in Sidney. If you are interested in receiving information on the YES! Series, please email TIFFANY at the Gateway Arts Council. Gateway Arts Council would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mama Rosa's for all of their support of the YES! SERIES, especially Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

2.18.2009
Who likes pizza? Everyone! Especially when you've had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day! On Saturday, February 21st, the
Gateway Arts Council will present A Two-Bean's Production of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at 2:00PM at the Cameo Theatre. Following this wonderful show, GAC will team up with Mama Rosa's to provide a pizza party for all who attend the show! Tickets are $4 for Children and $6 for Adults. Tickets are availabe at Ron & Nita's, Sidney Kroger, Gateway Arts Council or at the door the day of the show! *We promise an extraordinary, fabulous, fun, very good day!

12.19.2008
From our annual arts activities like the Spring Fling Fine Art Exhibit, Princess Ball, Art in the Garden and more, to very special events like Images from the Land and the United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors concert, we have been honored to be a part of your lives. As we embark on a new year, we promise to continue our upstanding reputation of providing quality arts programming for the Sidney and Shelby County communities. We hope that in the coming year, you can find the time to celebrate the arts and help us promote cultural growth within the western Ohio region. Thank you for your continued support and happy holidays!

12.15.2008
Around 300 children and adults were present at Saturday's wonderful performance of Mr. Scrooge at the Cameo Theatre in Sidney. Prior to the show, the Gateway Arts Council hosted face painting. Many of the children waited in line twice to get something on each cheek. The Arts Council also provided the materials and instructions for the kids to make reindeer out of candy canes. At 2:00pm, the audienced was greeted by the characters of the show as they began the performance. The Columus Children's Theatre put on a delightfully entertaining show based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. After the show, door prizes donated by Dream Source Media and the Family Fun Finder were raffled off. The winners took home a holiday craft kit. Much to everyone's surprise, Santa dropped in at the last minute and posed for pictures with children. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with holiday fun! The next YES! show, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, will take place on February 21, 2009 at 2:00pm at the Cameo Theatre. Tickets are available now at Ron & Nita's in downtown Sidney, Sidney Kroger, or through the Gateway Arts Council at 498.2787. Tickets are $4 for children and $6 for adults. Photos with Santa can be picked up at the Gateway Arts Council office (behind AAA on Wapakoneta Avenue) from 9-4 Wednesday, December 17- Tuesday, December 23. Please call ahead of time to be sure someone is in the office!

9.23.2008
Youth Education Series brochures were put through the schools (K-5) and preschools within the county today. They should be distributed within the next week, depending on how quickly the schools and teachers hand them out. We would like to not a misprint on the Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day show date. The date for that show is SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009 (NOT October 21, 2009). Apologies for any confusion!

We are very excited about all of the shows in the series this season and look forward to seeing everyone there! Tickets are available for purchase at Sidney Kroger, Ron & Nita's and through the Gateway Arts Council at 498-2787. Consider buying the YES! Series season for a discounted rate of $10/Child and $15/Adult for all three shows. **Music Matters Recital tickets will be sold seperately at a later date.

Our Youth Education Series will kick off on October 11, 2008 at 2:00PM with Cincinnati's artReach theatre group performing THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW. Join us before the show from Noon to 1:45PM for a pumpkin painting contest. 100 FREE pumpkins will be provided courtesy of CROSSWAY FARMS in Sidney. The Arts Council will supply paints and brushes. The only thing you need to bring is some creativity! Prizes will be awarded and winners will be announced after the show! For those who aren't interested in painting a pumpkin, we'll have cookie decorating as well.

Visit CROSSWAY FARMS this fall for all of your fall decorations and family fun. The U-Pick Pumpkin Patch is now open!

9.22.2008
The Arts Council kicked off our annual giving campaign today! This year's campaign is themed "painting the arts possible." The campaign features images of people from our community at our events. We are ever mindful that everything we do happens because of the generous gifts from those within our community. Each of us in our own right is an artist and with each little thing we do to help the arts grow, we are "painting" the arts possible.

The arts have everything to do with everyday life and with all people in our neighborhoods. They are both a reflection and a stimuls for our culture. Art tells our stories, moves our emotions and demonstrates how the values we choose influence our lives. The arts are vital to individuals and to communities; they are a workshop of our experiences, goals and dreams, and provide a vision for us and our families.

We at Gateway Arts Council recognize that these are challenging times. Our pledge is to continue to provide quality, accessible arts programming and steward your support wisely. We ask that you help our efforts with your gift now. A letter and campaign brochure telling our story has been sent in the mail to our continuous supporters. If you did not receive a brochure and would like to give, please stop by our offices at 930 Wapakoneta Rd in Sidney, or give us a call. We'll be happy send one to you through the mail! Join us in touching the lives of those in our communities through the arts – the effect will be immeasurable!

8.20.2008
The Art in the Park mural, THE BIG PICTURE has finally found a home. This summer, the mural has been showcased at the Gateway Arts Council office and at the Shelby County Fair. After much debate over where it's permanent home should be, the City and County have decided the City Council chambers would be a great place. Members of the Gateway Arts Council and the children who created the mural will be present at the August 25th City Council meeting. The meeting will take place at 6:30pm in the Sidney Municipal Building at 201 West Poplar Street in the Council chambers.

7.7.2008
The Gateway Arts Council is pleased to present the Swing Era Band in Anna on July 13th at 6:30pm. This is a part of the Arts Council's Summer Concert Series. This concert in the park is FREE to the public. Bring your lawnchairs, dinner, friends and family and enjoy a delightful evening in the park listening to some wonderful music.

6.28/29.2008
About 300 people attended the 2008 Art in the Garden Tours, touring 16 outdoor spaces and watching a variety of artists demonstrate and display their many talents. Gardens with pools, ponds, patios and pergolas were landscaped with petunias, peonies, pansies, and a number of beautiful plants and trees in every color imaginable. Artists displayed their talents as they painted in acrylics and watercolor, demonstrated stained glass panel construction, carved wooden statues, displayed framed photographic artwork, made Japanese-style prints from etched wood boards and exhibited handmade jewelry.The Rainbow Gardeners' Boutique offered healthy, member-grown perennials for sale, while Kah Nursery and Landscaping Center's tent tempted plant lovers with unusual and whimsical plants and garden art.This was the first time a two-day Art in the Garden Tour has taken place, giving visitors a chance to view artwork, homes and gardens in different parts of Shelby County. Contact the Gateway Arts Council office at 498-ARTS to learn more about participating in Art in the Garden for 2009 as a garden owner, artist or volunteer.

6.26.2008
The Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors concert took place last night. Unfortunately, the weather got the best of us and the concert was forced to take place indoors at the Sidney High School Auditorium. Those that were brave enough to venture out between storms were served a real treat. The crowd tapped their toes to a number of fabulous jazz tunes, clapped their hands during the military medley and gave a standing ovation for God Bless America and the encore song, In the Mood. The auditorium may have been hot, but the Jazz Ambassadors kept it cool and swinging. The Jazz Ambassadors put on a wonderful show and we were so thankful they could make it. The Gateway Arts Council presented to the city and the county, The Big Picture, a mural created by children who participated in Art in the Park. The mural is about Sidney and its service organizations and will eventually find a permanant spot in Sidney. It was a fantastic evening and we are glad that so many were able to enjoy the evening with us! Below is a poem one of the Jazz Ambassadors wrote for the audience.

An Army Band Jazz Ambassadors Poem
by Gordon Kippola, CW4 MIL USA MDW

A summer storm won't stop the show
Nor high humidity
We're going to play, come rain or shine
In Ohio: Sidney

It may get warm, so we'll play cool
The minutes fly so fast
You may perspire a little bit
But soon that time is past

You came tonight to celebrate
To smile and clap a hand
To listen to the music of
America's Big Band

We thank each one who came tonight
Each Buckeye citizen
Be safe; be well; may God bless you
Until we come again

6.25.2008
Gateway Arts Council announces that it will be selling the Images of the Land DVDs on the Art in the Garden Tours.

6.25.2008
The Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors will be performing at 6:30PM on the North side of the Shelby County Courthouse. In the event of rain, this FREE concert will take place at the Sidney High School Theatre. Toone P. Wiggins in downtown Sidney will be offering an early bird dining special for those who are interested in grabbing a bite to eat before the show. For more information about Toone P. Wiggins special, call 937-492-4103. Please listen to Hits 105.5 WMVR for any announcement about the concert should inclement weather arise.

6.20.2008
Joel and Inez Phillips of Sidney hosted the Art in the Garden Gala at their home at 1610 Broadway Avenue in Sidney. The event featured entertainment by the Busse Brothers, delicious hor d'oeurves by Toone P. Wiggins and Dr. Lisa Alvetro. The Phillips home, garden and pool area were the backdrop for this wonderful evening.

5.28-30.2008
The Gateway Arts Council hosted another Art in the Park clinic with the City of Sidney. This year, area children, ages 5-11, explored the theme of service and community within Sidney and Shelby County. The project was to create a mural based on this theme, highlighting the things that mean the most to them within the community. This three day (6 total hours) project produced a bright, energetic and interesting mural. Places such as the Ross Historical Center, Chilly Jilly's, The Spot Restaurant, Thrift building/People's Federal Savings Bank, Shelby County Courthouse and more found their place in the mural. The mural is a complete product of the children.

4.27.2008
The miller, his daughter, a king, prince and a little elf all came to Sidney to tell their story. Rumpelstiltskin, performed by artReach from Cincinnatti, brought smiles to the faces of many.