Special Thanks
We would like to thank Howard Tucker and Mort Tucker Photography, and Warwick Products for helping to make the "Celebrate Cleveland" program a success.
We would like to thank the following artists for exhibiting their artwork at the Nautica Charity Poker Festivals. If you see something that captures your eye, please see Keith, on site, within the Nautica Charity Poker venue, or call Carolina Martin, Executive Director of Art On Wheels, Inc. at 216.702.4808. Your purchase will help Art On Wheels, Inc. to purchase much needed art supplies, etc. for our traveling art education classes, and is much appreciated by many!
Terry & Teryl Bishop of TC Glassworks…
Terry creates custom stained glass panels and also has a fabulous collection of fused glass jewelry. She is also adept at flameworking (bead making).........as she says..."I break glass and play with fire." She works out of her basement studio (affectionately known as "the cave") in Medina. Her husband Teryl creates laser etchings which can also be found on quite a few pieces of the fused jewelry as well as other custom pieces. Terry's day job is Philanthropy Manager for Dominion. www.tcglassworks.com
Paul Dirksen…
is a semi-retired high school teacher of young people with disabilities. He is currently assisting people with disabilities with the process of finding jobs and with travel training for their future employment.
Paul is a self trained wood turner. His creations include lamps, fruit, bowls, eggs, music boxes, Christmas ornaments and other extraordinary miscellaneous items. Paul can be seen on the third Saturday of most months, turning small pieces of wood in the foyer of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church.
Aaron Garmon…
is a local artist, pushing the envelope of highly customized personal audio systems.
Julie Garmon…
is a local artist with a focus on Website Design, Window Murals and Photography. Check out her website at www.jgarmon.com.
Polly Gilmore
The layers and textures of a quilt parallel the complexity of the themes I work to express – our common humanity, the patterns of life, the world around us, and the grandeur of the universe. Each of my pieces begins with some “inspiration” fabric – even if that fabric is not used in the final piece – and has its own “voice” which guides its growth and decides its end.
The process of building the layers of materials and meaning is an organic one, with small interruptions of analysis and reason. Many pieces deliberately have no set foreground or background in place – there are spaces that could be more forward, or perhaps there is a “tear through” that exposes more distant horizons or universes. Beads, ribbons and found objects repeat the shapes and themes of the piece, drawing the eye to new worlds, new ideas.
Garments in the wearable art tradition tend to follow the same design process, although I sometimes make an effort to accommodate the quieter souls among us by having hand-quilted panels provide the artistic interest instead of the layers of embellishment in many of my garments.
In addition to her membership in Contemporary Fiber Artists, Polly is also a member of CoCA (Contemporary Cloth Artists) Cleveland, American Quilter’s Society, the Surface Design Association, Ohio Designers and Craftsmen and the Glass Arts Society. Her works have been displayed in two one-woman shows as well as group exhibits in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Ray Hale
I am mostly a self-taught photographer (thereby leaving others blameless), fortunate enough to have been influenced and mentored by several very caring teachers, both in the classroom and much more informally. I consider my teaching experience at Santa Fe Community College, in Gainesville, Florida since 1985, to be the best education I could have received.
I've lived in Florida since the late 70's but when people ask me where I'm from the answer still comes out "Cleveland", without a thought about it. Always will.
Although I have developed a style and cultivated specific subject matter over 40 years of camera work, I try to follow my own advice to my students. Live your life. Carry your camera with you. Keep your heart, mind, and eyes connected. Allow change.
For me it is all about communication. Visual art is another form of sitting around the campfire telling stories. That's the feeling I hope my work expresses.
Megan John…
is a third year student at The Cleveland Institute of Art. She has been making pottery in some way since the age of ten, half of her life. Aside from strictly functional art, such as mugs and plates, Megan also enjoys making decorated tiles that can be both beautiful and functional in the home. Her pieces show her whimsical and romantic nature, and her love for painting on clay.
This year, Megan has also been exploring Raku pottery, a Japanese firing method which involves taking a pot out of the kiln while it’s still hot (1933 degrees Fahrenheit - four times hotter than a conventional oven!) with long metal tongs, placing it in a pile of sawdust as it ignites instantly, and trapping the smoke in the clay with a big metal bucket. This creates the velvety black look of the pots. These are not food safe and do not hold water, but their beautiful metallic look and interesting origins make them more than worthy as a piece of art, simply to look at and enjoy. Megan enjoys the process, even if she ends up smelling like a campfire after working with Raku!
Megan also enjoys teaching, and has worked with Art On Wheels, both as an Intern and as an instructor. After college, Megan hopes to keep sharing her ceramics skills with others as well explore undiscovered territory herself. Check her out on the web at www.meganjohn.net
Dianne Kubik…
is a native Clevelander who enjoys capturing images of Cleveland’s skyline and its many bridges. Married with two children and 4 grandchildren, she utilizes her degree in Office & Business Management in her career in the Accounting Department of a local entertainment company.
Debra Lemak…
graduated from Ohio University with a B.F.A. in Art Education. During her schooling, she had the chance to give pottery demonstrations and work alongside other skilled crafters in the United States Center for Early American Crafts located within Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center. Debra broadened her arts knowledge by studying Fine Arts in London as well as visiting museums, galleries, and historic sites throughout the world. She now finds time to focus on both vibrant, colorful paintings that combine oil, acrylic and texture media and one of a kind clay sculptures. She draws her inspiration from the natural world and from her continuing interest in the many interpretations of the word, “love”.
Sharon Markovic…
has been making quilts for over ten years. Her history includes weaving, embroidery, and garment sewing. The study of fiber arts has been Sharon’s creative pursuit for a number of years.
By far, however, her most ardent pursuit has been in quiltmaking, and most recently, in art quiltmaking. She is influenced by many types of art, including contemporary painters such as Mark Rothko; and all forms of classic art, such as the Arts and Crafts period including stained glass works.
Sharon’s work has been exhibited locally at Lake Farm Park, the Fairmount Fine Art Center, Butler Museum of Art, and in the COCA show. Her most recent achievement is the acceptance of her piece “Sheer Delight” in the prestigious “Art Quilts at the Sedgwick” show in Philadelphia.
Sharon has served on the Board of Directors for the Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and is also a member of the “Contemporary Cloth Artists” (COCA) which is a Cleveland-Akron group.
Carolina Martin…
is a city kid at heart, with an interesting family tree. She’s the daughter of Steve First, the muralist, who was known as “The Michelangelo of Cleveland” for his fresco work. Her brother is Chuck First, accomplished architect in Virginia. Her son, Quinn Mackenzie Hale, is founding owner of Grey Melon in Florida, www.greymelon.com, and her daughter, Julia Barnes Garmon, is a practicing graphic artist and web site designer in the Cleveland area, www.jgarmon.com.
Carolina’s mom, Charlet Barnes First, was a practicing writer and watercolorist, and the inspiration for Carolina as she founded Art On Wheels, Inc. almost 20 years ago. Art On Wheels, Inc. serves as a nonprofit traveling art education organization, teaching through hands on art activities in area schools, centers for individuals with disabilities, etc.
Carolina’s driving force includes her belief that we all have blessings on this planet and it’s up to us to put them to use for the general good. She believes that we begin at home, branch out to our neighbors, and then reach out as far as possible into our communities and into the world around us. Her passions include exploring varied art techniques and enjoying her love for animals. As much as she loves teaching, she enjoys learning something new every single day!
Art On Wheels’ Students who are also consumers of The Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities…
These extremely talented adults participate in weekly art education classes with Art On Wheels. Research states that right brain functions are often much higher in individuals with disabilities. We continue to see this over and over again in our classes. You will also enjoy this as you stop by to view their extraordinary works. We take much pride in the true spirit of art education. By this, we are excited to let you know that the work that you see has been created solely by each artist. When we teach, we do not put our marks on any piece of art. We work on our own pieces next to each student, to explain techniques, etc. There is so much laughter and enjoyment of the true process of art education in our classes, we hope that you enjoy the finished products of these most talented students!
