PEACH WEEKENDER | ART

Art Loop offers chance for holiday shopping

The works of Nathine Smith, a University of Toledo alumna, will be sold during a show at Sullivan Hall to benefit the university’s art program.

'The Magic Acorn,' by aristic duo Mr. Atomic, is among 30 paintings on display at the Paula Brown Shop through February. The surrealist works are created by twins Mark and Michael Kersey.

Art lovers who want to pass that love on to family and friends in the form of gifts can start their holiday shopping, and do some art gazing themselves, during this week’s Third Thursday Art Loop in downtown Toledo.

The loop, a bus or walking tour of the downtown gallery scene, is organized by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, and runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Participants can walk some of the artsy neighborhoods, or jump on one of the buses traversing the loop, for $1.25.

Some of the venues to check out include the Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., which is also the loop’s hub for parking and information. Before hopping a bus for the rest of the loop, make origami baskets in the Children’s Library Creativity Lab, check out the exhibit, Black Age of Comics featuring Imani Lateef and Peep Game Comix, or view the alien fruit sculpture of Detroit artist Sean Hages in the Central Court.

Gathered Glass, 23 N. Huron St., will feature demos by a glassblowing artist from Indiana, Lisa Pelo, who owns Hot Blown Glass in Indianapolis. The shop has plenty of gift giving ideas as well, including glass ornaments and snowmen. For more information, go to gatheredglass.com.

'Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top,' by aristic duo Mr. Atomic, is among 30 paintings on display at the Paula Brown Shop through February.

Handmade Toledo, 1717 Adams St., and the Art Supply Depo on North Saint Clair Street, are two venues selling a plethora of gift giving ideas, including paints, canvases, paper, and artwork by local artisans. Also at the Art Supply Depo is the solo exhibition of artist Ken Dushane III, titled Phybr: Into Pieces. For more information, go to artsupplydepo.com.

At the Paula Brown Shop, 912 Monroe St., an exhibition of 30 paintings by twin artistic duo Mr. Atomic is on display through February. The twins, Mark and Michael Kersey, take a surrealistic approach to their colorful paintings. For more information, go to mratomic.com or paulabrowngallery.com.

For more information on the monthly loop, go to theartscommission.org/​artloop.

■ A University of Toledo alumna and artist is offering her work for sale at a special solo exhibition, with the proceeds going to support the university’s art program.

Nathine G. Smith does work in mixed media, including paper, collage, graphite, colored pencil, watercolor and pastel.

The Benefit Exhibition for the Nathine G. Smith Fund for Artistic Achievement is hosted by UT’s College of Arts and Letters School of Visual And Performing Arts on main campus, on the first floor of Sullivan Hall.

It opens Friday with an invitation-only reception, and then will be offered to the public through Jan. 5.

For more information, call 419-530-7355.

■ The Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission is taking a fun and unique approach to gather information from its artists for strategic planning purposes.

From 1-4 p.m. Sunday, at the Roche De Bout Shelter House in Farnsworth Park, artists can stop by to participate in an Artists Post-It Forum, in which they can grab Post-It notes and jot down ideas, posting them under different categories provided by the arts commission.

The forum will also offer an opportunity for artists to network with each other. For more information, call 567-686-6921 or go to awchamber.com/​aw-arts-commission.html.

■ The Toledo Artists Club is looking for artists interested in submitting work to sell at its big fund-raiser, Heralding the Holidays, at the Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Drive.

The show and sale will be from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2, and from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 3.

Artists receive 80 percent commission on sales; the balance goes to support the club. Used art supplies are also for sale.

Those interested in participating in the art sale should bring their items the Toledo Artists Club office at the garden from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays through Dec. 1.

The show also includes a baked goods sale.

For more information, go to toledoartistclub.com, or call the office at 419-531-4079.

■ Participants can learn how to create a gourd through the glassblowing process at classes offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion. Cost of the workshop is $40 for non-members, and $30 for museum members. December’s classes will involve creating an ornament.

For more information on dates and times, or to purchase tickets, go to toledomuseum.eventbrite.com.

Contact Roberta Gedert at rgedert@theblade.com, 419-724-6075, or on Twitter @RoGedert.