AND TO THINK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET……….

On Saturday, June 26^th the very successful sizzling hot 7^th Annual Warren County Festival of the Arts was held on Mulberry Street in Historic Downtown Lebanon, Ohio.  Over fifty juried artists from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky displayed and sold their original artwork.  Festival goers numbering in the thousands enjoyed wonderful performances from the Centerville Community Orchestra (playing right in the middle of it all at Mulberry and Mechanic), Ballet Tech, Kingdom Institute,  the Amazing Portable Circus, a living statue, and a flame juggling daredevil.  Children enjoyed the opportunity to create their own artwork in the shade of the Festival tents, and people strolled the streets of Historic Lebanon, shopping the many unique stores.  Several artists gave live demonstrations of their craft, creating works of art while at the Festival.  Showgoers also had the chance to tour some of Lebanon’s finest gardens by purchasing tickets for the Lebanon Council of Gardens 20th Annual Garden Tour.

Exhibiting artists compete for a number of awards at the show.  This year’s top prize winner was John Beasley, with his Best of Show owl art tile titled “Night Owl.”  The tile was framed in a hand made arts and crafts style frame, and was sold at the Festival.  Honorable Mentions were awarded to Aaron Rubinstein, for his beautifully crafted coral and silver necklace, Jim Foy for a triple panel of photographs depicting a drop of water splashing, Susan Hunt for a colorful and wonderfully made enamel depiction of “Jonah and the Whale,” Jim Goethel for a delicately turned, multiple wood type tall pedestal bowl, and Chuck Marshall for a lively, light filled, plein air painting.  Show goers voiced their opinions as well, voting for potter Neil Simak’s booth filled with crystalline glazed ceramic vessels as the People’s Choice award.  The Founder’s Award went to acrylic painter Jenni Doerger and her sparkling impressionistic paintings.  Festival attendees scored prizes as well, participating in various raffles.  Lucky winners were Michelle Vernon and K. Hawkins, each winning an excursion for two on the L, M & M Railroad, departing from the Lebanon train station, Lee Humbert, Sandy Weilnau, Bob Wentz and Jim Bliss with gift certificates for the Village Wine Cellars, and Gary Algie, who took home a large basket with bottles of wine and related items.

The Festival is sponsored by the Warren County Arts Council, which seeks to provide passionate leadership for the creation of a vibrant arts community in Warren County by supporting and promoting the visual and performing arts and artists.  The Council supports arts scholarships to budding Warren County artists, as well as sponsoring the Arts Festival, the Warren County Youth and Teen Talent Show, and other related arts events.

The Warren County Arts Council is most grateful for our bounteous community based support, and would like to thank their major Arts Festival Sponsors -  488WebDesign, Alley Fine Art, City of Lebanon, the City of Springboro, Doris J. Conner, Gene and Margaret Hawkins, Ghent Manufacturing, Lebanon Citizens National Bank, Lebanon Ford, Liz Stegman, Mariyln J. Fultz, Chimneys Inn, Moeller Music, Otterbein Retirement Living Community, Richard and Jeanette Winthrop, and the Warren County Foundation.

The Arts Council would also like to thank our Warren County Arts Council Members and Festival Sponsors – Frank and Ann Antenucci, Jim and Jeanne Bliss, Martha Brant,  Lousi and Joanna Caston, Jean Cork, Steve and Karen Creech, Randall and Barbara Crouse, Judy Dodds, James and Bonnie Donley, Barbara and Howard Doster, Wayne and Georgia Dunn, Howard Duvall, Lloyd Duvall, Sharen and Paul Eninger, Mark and Mary Feie, Leanne Foley, Larry and Jamie Fullenkamp, Becky Gebhart, Diane Gibson, Larry and Susan Gilligan, Bill and Mary Ellen Haynes, Jackson C. Hedges, Anne Howard, Laura Iding, Gregg and Janer Irwin, Trish Jeffers-Zeh, Martha King, Robert and Barbara Kuhns, Lynn Meloy and Lyle Cain, Randall and Marilyn Monroe, Elsie O’Donnell Memorial Fund, Dan and Sylvia Outland, Peggy Querner, John and Kathleen Rettig, Alexandra B. Reynolds, Charlie and Ellen Rittgers, Paul and Julia Rodenbeck, Nathan and Julie Smallwood, Nathan and Jamie Sorum, Larry and Julie Stone, and Jud Yalcut.  We are also appreciative of our many in kind donations, without which the show could not go on – Alley Fine Art and Framing, Irene Baker, Steve and Suzanne Barger, Ken Bell, Bella Vino, Karen Benedetti, Buchanan Power Equipment, Cooks’ Wares, Dayton Philharmonic, Eric Hatch Photography, Mark and Mary Feie, Friesinger’s Fine Chocolates, Graeter’s Ice Cream, Peggy Hamlin, Historic Downtown Lebanon, Home Depot, Trish Jeffers-Zeh, Kroger’s Springboro and Lebanon, Robert Kuhns, L, M & M Railroad, LaRosa’s Pizza, Debbie Lentz, Loren Long, Party Time Rental, Picture This, Resurrection Lutheran Church, Aaron Rubinstein, Liz Stegman, Kathleen Sturgill, Jim Wetzel, and Wine Trends/Mary Horn.  Last, but not least, our sincere thanks to the Festival of the Arts Committee and/or Warren County Board Members, and all of our hard working Festival volunteers – Mike Cress, Judy Dodds (co-chair), Barbara Doster, Sharen Eninger, William Duning, Lloyd Duvall, Mary Feie (co-chair), Leanne Foley, Mickie Franer, Jamie Fullenkamp, Diane Gibson, Jerry Haddix, Jan Irvin, Trish Jeffers-Zeh, Barbara Kuhns, Denny Means, Sylvia Outland, Jennifer Parrett, Nathan Smallwood, Sara Stegemoller, Liz Stegman, Nathan Smallwood, Julie Stone, Larry Stone, and Jud Yalcut.

The arts make life worth living and bring a community to life-hats off to all of you who make the Warren County Arts Festival live and breathe!