Patti Abel

Artwork title: Summer Serenity
Date Created: 2019
Medium: Oil on canvas
20” x 16”  (25″ x 19″ with frame)
Estimated Value: $400
Opening Bid: $100

Artist Statement: Nature is God’s gift to all of us. Everything is a gift. A walk through a forest is an awakening to the miracle of creation. This painting was inspired by a walk that my husband Neil and I took to Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills in late spring. There is a serenity about this place. There is a serenity about this area of woodlands. It is an ancient place full of old growth trees, a small meandering stream, colored great rocks & caves. Bird song is as bountiful as are the tiny cantors of every hue flitting through the sunlit dappled trees. All of the sylvan creatures that scamper, hop, leap or fly show the signature of the Master Artist! When painting I try to capture the lighting as it embraces these beautiful gifts from our loving Creator.

Anna Austin

Artwork title: The Garden of Line Flowers (from Alice in Wonderland)
Date Created: 2017
Medium: Acrylic on board
16” x 20” (including frame)
Estimated Value: $125
Opening Bid: $50

Artist Statement: This is a whimsy painting that brings me joy. It is a scene from the classic book ‘Alice in Wonderland’. It reminds me of the diversity of the people of the world. Although they are flowers and we are human beings, we have the same creator. We share the same earth and require the same needs i.e., water, sun, air, and nutrients. Each plant and each person is precious and brings happiness to someone’s life. 

Brother Paul Quenon, O.C.S.D.

Artwork title: Hemlock in Bloom
Date Created: June 2005
Medium: Photograph
8 ½” x 12 ¾”  (20” x 16” with frame)
Estimated Value: $125
Opening Bid: $50

Website: https://monks.org/monks-pages/br-paul/

Artist Statement: The sun was rising and highlighted the scene. I see it every day, these conditions were perfect. The picture has structure, a zig-zag form with atmosphere.

Anne Lythgoe, OP (Yellow House ClayWorks)

Artwork title: Mottled blue/green vase
Date Created: 2022
Medium: Wheel thrown and altered stoneware clay and blue/green glazes cone 5
7 ¼” tall
Estimated Value: $125
Opening Bid: $75

Artist Statement: The undulating swirl of the sea and its interplay with blue sky come to mind in this wheel thrown and altered vessel. This piece was created during a year-long Study From Afar Program with Sarah Wells Rolland of the Village Potters Clay Center, Asheville NC. My own approach to clay is to invite curious people to “Hold Art in Your Hand”. A way to interact with a piece that is hand-made by another person. It is the real human touch that connects the artist and the owner of the work. Holding art in your hand can be a source of healing, hope and peace.

Jamie Bourgeois

Artwork title: Native Pollinators (Marigold)
Date Created: 2020
Mediums: Natural dye print paste and marigold eco-print on silk/cotton fabric
20” x 20”
Estimated Value: $85
Opening Bid: $50

Social Media:
Instagram: @jamiebourgeois
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamielbourgeois
Website: https://www.jamiebourgeois.com/

Artist Statement: This piece is one from a small batch collection of handmade naturally dyed silk/cotton kerchiefs whose purpose is to spread seeds of information about the importance of native pollinators through utility and beauty.

Pollinators visit flowering plants for nectar and pollen, and in the process, transfer pollen from one flower to another, making it possible for 90% of all plant species to reproduce. Pollinators include species of bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles, birds, and bats. No other pollinators complete this task more effectively and efficiently than native pollinators. These species have evolved within their environments over millennia to aid in the pollination of native plants. Not only do native pollinators provide us with many of the crops we depend on, they also play an integral role in the functioning of natural ecosystems. Without them, ecosystems could not function, and neither could we. Alarmingly, their populations are in decline worldwide. But, there are many ways to help! You can learn more on my website.

Gail Maraman

Artwork title: Botanical Print Silk Scarf
Date Created: June 2022
Medium: Silk fiber art
7 ¾” x 52”
Estimated Value: $55
Opening Bid: $30

Website: http://windycrestdesign.com/

Artist Statement: The shapes, colors, texture, and fragrance of leaves and flowers, all inspire me to capture their moment in nature on a canvas of natural fabric. While out hiking with my dog, I observe and collect samples of leaves and flowers. Then, using a simple chromatography technique, I separate the natural color from the leaves and flowers and transfer it onto the surface of the fabric.

Gail Maraman

Artwork title: Sheepscape
Date Created: September 2019
Mediums: Wool felt fiber art
7 ½” x 8 ½”  (8 ½” x 10 ½” with frame)
Estimated Value: $85
Opening Bid: $50

Website: http://windycrestdesign.com/

Artist Statement: The nature of sheep and their environment inspire me to stop, look, and listen. For many years now, I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from my flock of sheep. Designing and creating a handmade felt painting, directly from the sheep’s wool, is just one of the many rewards of being a shepherd.

Donna Nesbitt

Artwork title: Meditation Bench
Date Created: 2018
Medium: Oil
12” x 9”  (15″ x 12″ with frame)
Estimated Value: $175
Opening Bid: $75

Website: www.fromcurioustocreative.com

Artist Statement: This bench is in a quiet corner at the Park of Roses. I thought it would be the perfect spot to sit quietly and enjoy nature. Peaceful meditation comforts the soul.

Brian Johnston

Artwork title: Seining on Big Darby
Date Created: 2022
Mediums: Water, mixable oil, cobra
11” x 14”  (16″ x 13″ with frame)
Estimated Value: $200
Opening Bid: $60

Social Media:
Instagram: @kroppart, Brian Johnston
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BrianJohnston15268/my-art/

Artist Statement: We live in the Darby Creek protected area and love the beauty and serenity it provides. The waterway has many unique features and any activity within the area is monitored. School children learn a lot about the environment in their educational trips within the area.

Katie Butler

Artwork title: Sheep!
Date Created: June 10^th, 2022
Mediums: Marker and paper
11” x 8 ½”  (12″ x 15″ with frame)
Estimated Value:
Opening Bid: $30

Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/artofkatiebutler

Artist Statement: I just like fluffy, cuddly animals. I’m an animal person!

Gracie Morbitzer

Artwork title: St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Date Created: original 2017; prints 2022
Medium: Acrylic paint on wood to digital print
11” x 8½  (12″ x 9 ½” with frame)
Estimated Value: $30
Opening Bid: $15

Social Media:
Instagram: @the_modern_saints_by_gracie
Website: themodernsaints.com

Artist Statement: As pieces from my project The Modern Saints, my goal was to re-imagine these extraordinary people as modern, everyday humans, because that is exactly what they were, as they remind us of ourselves. They show us that we can all be saints just like them. I have corrected ethnicities to show the Church’s more widespread, though hidden, diversity. I have given each character personality and a real human expression, and each has a style and a modern twist. For these pieces in particular, nature plays a large part of my inspiration because of how it is so intertwined with the stories of each saint depicted.

St. Kateri is patron of the environment and ecology. She is depicted as holding a wolf as a symbol of nature (since wolves have always been so threatened by encroaching human activity and climate change). She holds the animal as if to protect it from the rest of the forces that seek to destroy it while bearing other symbols of nature as tattoos on her arms.

Gracie Morbitzer

Artwork title: St. Francis
Date Created: original 2017; prints 2022
Medium: Acrylic paint on wood to digital print
11” x 8½  (12″ x 9 ½” with frame)
Estimated Value: $30
Opening Bid: $15

Social Media:
Instagram: @the_modern_saints_by_gracie
Website: themodernsaints.com

Artist Statement: As pieces from my project The Modern Saints, my goal was to re-imagine these extraordinary people as modern, everyday humans, because that is exactly what they were, as they remind us of ourselves. They show us that we can all be saints just like them. I have corrected ethnicities to show the Church’s more widespread, though hidden, diversity. I have given each character personality and a real human expression, and each has a style and a modern twist. For these pieces in particular, nature plays a large part of my inspiration because of how it is so intertwined with the stories of each saint depicted.

St. Francis is patron saint of animals and nature as well. He bears tattoos of natural elements and creatures from all of the earth and holds a leaf in his hands into which he breathes as if seeking breath from the plant itself. He was known to name the elements of the earth as our brothers and sisters that we must care for as they care for us, understanding earth’s interconnectedness.

John Mascazine

Artwork title: Blue Planets
Date Created: 2016
Mediums: Stained glass and glass rondels with lead free zinc & lead-free solder
22” x 15”, 18” pole
Estimated Value: $325
Opening Bid: $50

Website: https://www.facebook.com/mascazij/

Artist Statement: Created to symbolize the rareness and wonders of our blue planet, Earth. The spheres in this artwork are made of unique rondels, made in a complex process in open furnace & kilns. The process requires skill and precision, and results in each piece being as unique as finding a blue planet among thousands of other common planets. Calling us to appreciate the beauty, uniqueness, and fragility of our home: planet Earth.

John Mascazine

Artwork title: Over ALL
Date Created: 2017
Mediums: Stained glass, fused and kiln – carved glass and lead-free zinc & lead-free solder
25” x 6 ½”, 15 ¼” pole
Estimated Value: $150
Opening Bid: $30

Website: https://www.facebook.com/mascazij/

Artist Statement: This art glass represents the creator rising above, ascending into the upper atmosphere over all creation. The layers represent the layer of life within our atmosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere. The creator looks at it all and says, “It is good” and prompts us to recall our place in making the Earth’s living systems healthy, safe, and sustainable. Our actions will have impacts over all of creation, so we have a responsibility to uphold and protect these fragile systems.

Kathi Machle

Artwork title: Floral/Butterfly Quilt
Date Created: Completed January 2022
Mediums: Cotton fabric with plush backing
Size: 66” x 76”
Estimated Value: $250
Opening Bid: $70

Artist Statement: This beautiful floral fabric spoke to me of the beauty of nature. I selected a pattern utilizing large pieces so that the flowers & butterflies depicted took precedence over the pieced design. My dedication to caring for people leads me to back my quilts with a cuddly fabric, providing comfort and the peaceful feeling I get when surrounded by nature.

Chris Lutmerding

Artwork title: Blackbird Has Spoken…
Date Created: 07/20/2022
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
8” x 8”
Estimated Value: $30
Opening Bid: $15

Artist Statement: My inspiration for this canvas is Cat Stevens’ rendition of “Moring Has Broken” an old Christmas song. I sing is every morning as I walk our dog, Sammy. I have included the lyrics on the back of the painting… it is my morning offering of praise to our creator, our triune god, our savior.

Tony Mendoza

Artwork title: Untitled, from the flower series
Date Created: 2005
Medium: Photograph
Size: 24”x36”
Estimated Value: $1,000
Opening Bid: $300

Website: https://www.tonymendozaphoto.com/

Artist Statement: After working for 30 years as a black and white photographer, I bought a Nikon digital SLR camera and a 24 inch Epson wide printer in 2003, and turned my darkroom into an extension of the laundry room. Right away I loved working digitally. loved how painless it was to make good prints, in the comfort of my office, while breathing fresh air. I also really appreciated the instant feedback you get when you shoot digitally. If the frame or the exposure is a little off, you can correct it in the next shot. I loved too how film is free, and you can shoot all you want without spending money.

When I first got the camera, found it difficult to come up with a colorful subject in Columbus Ohio, where live. (The American midwest: no ocean, no mountains, no architecture. Mostly, a lot of fast food restaurants!) Then I thought of my wife’s flower and vegetable garden in our town’s community garden, so I went over there and started taking pictures of the flowers.

Right away photographed from a low vantage point of view, probably because I’ve photographed cats and dogs from their eye-level, to depict the world as they see it. I was also aware that most flower pictures have been taken from the top, with the photographer moving in to capture the graphic beauty of the individual flower, or in the studio, like Mapplethorpe’s pictures of flowers. Another benefit from shooting close to the ground; can get the sky to work as a backdrop, like a color backdrop in a photographer’s studio. (Fog creates a perfect neutral gray backdrop!) From the first flower pictures I took I really liked what I was getting. I pursued the project for 3 years. Many of the pictures taken weren’t that interesting, so the low vantage point didn’t guarantee a good picture. Sometimes it was the sky color working with the flower color that made for a good picture. Some times it was the frame, when all the elements in it felt just right. Sometimes the weather on the background created some drama. Sometimes the picture was completed when a bug flew into it.

Tony Mendoza was trained as an engineer (Yale University) and as an architect (Harvard Graduate School of Design) before he turned full time to photography. He is the author of Ernie, A Photographer’s Memoir (Capra Press, 1986 and Chronicle Books, 2001), a book of pictures and stories about his Tribeca loftmate, Ernie, a cat, Stories (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1987), a photography book which combines photographs with short autobiographical stories, Cuba: Going Back (University of Texas Press, 1999), a pictures and text account of his first trip back to his native land after 36 years of exile, Flowers (Nazraeli Press, 2007), a book of flower pictures taken from a very low vantage point, and A Cuban Summer (Capra Press, 2013), a coming-of-age novel that takes place in Havana during the summer of 1954. Recently, he published Pictures with Stories: A Memoir by Tony Mendoza, an updating of the Stories book. He was in the first group of four photographers exhibited in the New Photography Series, started in 1986, at the Museum of Modern Art. His photographs are included in the collections of many museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the LA County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Columbus Museum of Art. He has received three National Endowment for the Arts Photography Fellowships, a Guggenheim Photography Fellowship, and five Ohio Arts Council Fellowships in photography, creative writing, and video.

Lynne Prillerman

Artwork title: It is Well with my Soul
Date Created: 2018
Medium: Photograph on canvas
Size: set of two, each 12”x12”
Estimated Value: $250
Opening Bid: $75

Social Media:
Instagram: @iamrtist

Artist Statement: My God allowed me to travel to Los Cabos, Mexico and when I was out on the water and saw this view; I had to capture the beauty of God’s water, waves, rocks creating an emotion of healing and peace. Yet it is well with my soul. To recognize the Creator and capture is creativity is such an honor. To God be the Glory.

Ken Frick

Artwork title: C-Bus at Sunset
Date Created: November 1991
Medium: Photograph
14 ¼“x29”  (22 ¾” x 37″ with frame)
Opening Bid: $70

Website: kenfrick.com

Artist Statement: It was the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20^th century, the explosion of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines on June 15, 1991, ejecting more than one cubic mile of material to the atmosphere (The first was in 1912 at Novarupta on the Alaska Peninsula). Its ash cloud rose twenty-two miles, fine ash falling as far away as the Indian Ocean. With satellites tracking the ash cloud several times around the globe (Wikipedia).

Here in Columbus and worldwide that ash create beautiful sunsets and giving late in the day rich colors on our city skyline we may never witness again.

Kathy Watts

Artwork Title: Enjoying a Nice Day
Date Created: May 2022
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
16” x 20”
Estimated Value: $90
Opening Bid: $45

Artist Statement: I love nature. When I knew the theme was about nature, I mixed sky, water, and ground into one painting. I hope someone else enjoys it, like I do.

Merele Wilder

Artwork Title: Stained Glass Sky
Date Created: 2021
Medium: Photography on canvas
10 ½“x13 ¼”
Estimated. Value: $150
Opening Bid: $65

Artist Statement: I see the beauty of nature as a reflection of God’s splendor. One evening as I peered out of my window I noticed the sky was so vivid and filled with a myriad of color; so much so that it looked like a stained glass. What a blessing to have caught the feelings of warmth and comfort I get from my faith, in this piece.

Janet George

Artwork Title: Reclaiming Paradise?
Date Created: 2021
Medium: Photography; borrowed images, digital composition
11 ½” x 23 ½”  (13″ x 25″ with frame)
Estimated Value: $150
Opening Bid: $60

Artist Statement: I entitled this piece ‘Paradise Reclaimed’ because I found this drawing of a flower on concrete and it reminded me of the song ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ by Joni Mitchell. The lyrics say, “…You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone. They took paradise and they put up a parking lot.” Quite often we sacrifice the beauty of nature for the “progress” or convenience of a concrete jungle.

Janet George

Artwork Title: The Flowers Dance at Twilight
Date Created: 2011
Medium: Digital photography
10 ½” x 13 ¼”  (17 ¼” x 21″  with frame)
Estimated Value: $175
Opening Bid: $70

Artist Statement: In nature, flowers are calorie free eye candy that I thank God for! And when the wind blows they give us a show that rivals those of ballet companies everywhere.