A Celebration of the Arts in Sylvania

Eye On Art  |  09/22/2018 9:00 am

The Sylvania Community Arts Commission (SCAC), a non-profit committed to supporting the arts and art education throughout our community, will host two celebrations of the arts event on Thursday, September 27. The first is a dedication ceremony for Don Townsend at the new Northview bridge by Northview High School. Later in the day at Chandler Café, The PARTY: a celebration of the arts in Sylvania, will honor former Sylvania gallery owner, Toni Andrews, as the 2018 recipient into Sylvania’s Honored Artist Hall of Fame.

Don Townsend earned the Artist Hall of Fame from the SCAC at last year’s PARTY. A native to the Toledo area, Don spent many years with family and in the Navy before turning back to his art. Going back to night school for art, Don also commuted from Flint to work at the Toledo Museum of Art. Don eventually moved back to the Toledo area and soon after began teaching at Northview High School. There he fell in love with sgraffito, an art technique that involves applying two contrasting layers and then methodically stripping one away to uncover an intricate, line-driven picture. Don’s unique large-scale scratchboard paintings gained notice across the Midwest, winning art shows and prompting commissioned pieces.

Toni’s lifetime commitment to the arts through her former gallery, the American Gallery, and her passion for local and regional artists and their work. A Nashville native, Toni grew up in an art-oriented family and eventually studying art history. Toni housed a variety of work in American Gallery and helped artists from all over the area sell their work and become the artists they are today. Mrs. Andrews created a comfortable space where artists could bloom with their work and many, including children, could learn about the beautiful world of fine art.

The celebration of art begins at the Northview bridge, by Northview High School at 11 am, Thursday September 27 with a dedication ceremony for Don Townsend. SCAC will then induct Toni into the Sylvania Artist Hall of Fame with a special reception to honor her work from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at Chandler Café, Main Street in Downtown Sylvania. Only a limited number of tickets are available for this gala to honor Andrews. Tickets are $45 per person or $80 per couple and still available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-party-celebrating-the-arts-in-sylvania-tickets-48752697631 or call 419-517-0118.