150 works donated to Toledo School for the Arts

'Ottawa County Farm' by John Cook is on display at the Toledo School for the Arts. It's one of the 150 paintings and prints by area artists that were donated to the school by Medical Mutual.

The Toledo School for the Arts is showing 24 works from its new collection of 150 paintings and prints that Medical Mutual donated to the school.

Displayed work is by local painters including Walter Chapman, Helmut "Pete" Beckmann, Trudy Kahn, John Cook, Dan Passino, Dorothy Clarke, Earnest Spring, and scratchboard master Gaylord Kimble.

The art can be seen through Aug. 10 in Gallerie 333 and at a 6 to 9 p.m. public reception there Aug. 9 during the Art Walk. The Gallerie is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (enter at the large maroon awning at 333 14th St.). The collection is stored in a climate-controlled room at the school and will be used for exhibits, some of which will be organized by students, who will also photograph and catalog the items.

Studying fine art by community artists will be valuable for students, said David Saygers, the school's artistic director. "It helps them to more easily visualize themselves as artists when they know that excellent work has been done by someone from Toledo."

The works were inherited by Medical Mutual in 1997 when it took over Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio. The latter firm purchased and exhibited art in the 1970s and early 1980s in the lobby of its building at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave., and hung art in offices. Original purchase prices ranged from about $25 to $350, said Mark Tooman, communications manager for Medical Mutual.

"We're pleased to contribute it to the community for use in teaching," Tooman said. Some pieces had been donated for auction at community fund-raisers in the past, he said.

After TSA staff took the art and frames they wanted, the remainder was donated to Shared Lives Studio and Gallery at 20 N. St. Clair St. "We're trying to give it a good second life," Tooman said.

The school also houses an 80-piece collection of winning art from the Toledo Area Artists' Exhibition. Information: 419-246-8732, ext. 7.

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An auction of more than 600 paintings by the late Ruskin Stone will be at 5 p.m. July 26 at 3430 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee, with a preview at 3 p.m. Stone was born in Fostoria in 1906 and became known for his oil and pastel portraits of individuals, done in a style reminiscent of Impressionism. Stone rarely sold his work, saying he couldn't bear to part with it; his son, Spencer Stone, decided to get his father's work in the hands of others, said Michael Miller, auctioneer.

At age 13, Stone studied with the noted Karl Kappes; at 18 he enrolled at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and went on to work as a commercial artist and in sales and marketing. Miller said the paintings are unframed and likely to fetch between $50 and $1,000. The lot includes 148 done in oil and 470 in pastels; the latter, mostly 30-by-24 inches, will be sold in blocks of eight. At a 2010 sale of 200 Stone paintings, prices ranged from about $125 to $1,500. Color brochures with details are available. Bidders should register in advance at the Pamela Rose-Loss Realty Group building on Briarfield or online. Information: 419-865-1224 and pamelaroseauction.com.

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The huge Ann Arbor Art Fair continues from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Information and maps: artfairs.visitannarbor.org and 734-662-3382.

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Thirty-five paintings with literary themes by Michael and Mark Kersey are in the Gallery at the Main Library, 325 Michigan St., through Aug. 31.

The twin brothers, owners of Mr. Atomic Studio in Toledo, say their imaginations were fired in their tender years by their mother's reading of story books aloud. They loved the drawings of Johnny Gruelle, whose illustrations featured giants, kings, and the perpetually smiling Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. The Gallery is on the second level. Information: 419-283-7804.

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The 107 artful banners hanging on Main Street in Sylvania, reproductions of three paintings by Walter Chapman, will be sold in August by the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce. They are three for $100 or $40 each, and depict daylilies, a summer home, and hot-air balloons. Information: 419-882-2135 and ggrana@sylvaniachamber.org.

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Babies, grab your bigs and come on down to the Jules Olitski exhibit at 3:30 p.m. July 27, and at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Toledo Museum of Art. Lively 30-minute tours of these large abstract paintings geared toward children up to 18 months old will be offered. Meet at the Family Center on the lower level. Strollers are not permitted.

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Call for artists: Abundance in Black & White: An Evening of the Arts, seeks people to display their work from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 29 in the Grand Plaza Hotel, 444 N. Summit St. Especially desired are pieces by African-American artists. Works will not be sold at this event but artists can provide information about where they can be purchased. Information: 419-266-5482 and abundantlifetoledo@att.net.

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Collage techniques will be discussed, demonstrated, and applied at an 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday workshop ($75) at the Art Supply Depo, 29 S. St. Clair St. The photo transfer process will be taught from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 28 ($82). Images can be transferred to fabric, canvas, wood, or illustration board. Clay whistles will be made from 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 and 18 ($30). And Drink & Draw, with a live model and music ($10), will be 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Information: artsupplydepo.com.

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Artists, crafters, and performers can set up at the Manos Community Garden, Jackson and 14th streets, during two upcoming Art Walks, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 and Sept. 13. Information: 419-726-5468.

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Museums understand the importance of building their future, which means in part, creating charming memories for their youngest visitors. The Detroit Institute of Arts employs a popular offering called the Family Fitting Room, at which trained volunteers help families tailor a tour based on their likes/dislikes. A volunteer talks to guests, shows them some images to find out what resonates, and sets an easy-to-follow agenda.

They escort the family to their first stop, along the way explaining drop-in workshops, EYE-Spys, the twisty stone staircase, medieval armor, special events, the cafe, and rest rooms. Later, volunteers try to reconnect with the families to make sure all is well. The Family Fitting Room, used in the summer and during winter holidays, drew 186 adults and 79 children on its first day of use several years ago.

Send items at least two weeks in advance to tlane@theblade.com.