100 Years of History Pleasing to the Eye!

by Joyce Willer

It all started last February when it is already dark at 5:30 p.m. Friends were waiting for me in the LSS parking lot. When I got into the car, our friend and LSS pantry volunteer Janet Snider said, “Joyce, you need to do something with those blank walls. Contact the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. They have students who work on art projects each summer.”
Those blank walls were in the new stairwell and a part of our recent building expansion to bring easier access to the lower level. Big windows face the parking lot and allow natural light into the stairway as well as the new foyer.
I thought about it and it seemed that murals would be a perfect way to share our 100 years of service to all who come through our front doors since the murals would be visible to all through the glass windows as you approached the building. I shared my thoughts with Nancy Yunker, President & CEO, and Pastor Mark Hill, Vice President of Development. Both were enthusiastic so I contacted the arts commission. Thus began an incredible journey that concluded on August 15 when the murals were hung.

In addition to sharing with Nancy and Pastor Mark, I shared my vision with former President & CEO Norm Merkel, who is working on the written history for our 100-year anniversary in 2011. Shortly after we talked, Norm contacted me to say that he and his wife, Sue, wanted to fund the project. We were ready to go.

As it has since 1994, in May and June the arts commission staff interviewed many potential instructors and student apprentices. In all, 55 students representing more than 20 area high schools were hired to work for six weeks as working artists. The objective of Young Artists at Work (YAAW) is to provide an intensive arts experience that fosters artistic self-expression and a quality work ethic that can impact the youth throughout adulthood.

In July we met with instructor Greg Jones who, along with assistant instructor Greg Harrison, would be working with the 18 youth apprentices assigned to our project. They read our history, looked at dozens of pictures Norm and I had pulled together, came up with an artistic model to follow (Diego Rivera) and prepared more than a dozen preliminary sketches to present to us. Needless to say we were impressed and excited.

Greg Jones attended Maumee High School, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from BGSU and his masters from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He was formerly Director of the School of Art and Design for the Toledo Museum of Art and is currently teaching drawing and painting at Adrian College. Greg has a unique ability to help the novice visualize the finished product.
Greg Harrison is a recent Art Education graduate of BGSU with a focus on ceramics and painting. Among other things, he is interested in becoming a Children’s Art Coordinator.

When you next visit LSS, be sure to look to your right as you enter the building. First you’ll see the old history in black and sepia tones and then as you get closer and look further right bright colors will grab your attention. Feel free to go through the door to take a closer look. A key to the murals is mounted under the air conditioning unit.