PEACH WEEKENDER | ART

How a Jeep becomes a work of art

The Young Artists at Work group Team Pantones -- Malachi Givens, Claire Hunter, Nick Felaris, Destiny Pagan, Sakiah Porchia, and Mikaya Gregory -- created a skull rusty grill.

Sixteen Jeep grills that have been transformed into art pieces by local artists will be auctioned off Saturday as part of Toledo Jeep Fest’s weekend festivities.

The Art of Jeep Grills Project is a collaboration between Jeep Fest and the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. Proceeds from the silent auction will be split between the Arts Commission and the United Way of Greater Toledo.

The art pieces were conceived and created by both artists through the Arts Commission’s summer programming and by current and retired Jeep employees who are also artists.

The Young Artists at Work group Team ARTillery -- Maggie Marx, Taylor Hill, Trinidad Martinez, Jada Russell, Linda Galloway, Damondjae Johnson, and Ethan Warren -- created a green floral grill.

Three local artists, Merce Culp, Tony “Touch” Zawisza, and Bradley Scherzer were commissioned by the Arts Commission to create six of the grills during recent Art Loop events, as well as three youth apprentice groups who participated in this summer’s Young Artists At Work program.

The pieces will be displayed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the SeaGate Centre lobby, 401 Jefferson Ave. and visitors can bid on them between noon and 5. The grills were donated by the local parts supplier of Magna International Inc., according to the Arts Commission.

Visitors will have an opportunity to meet the artists involved in the project during the auction, from 2 to 3 p.m., in the lobby.

Toledo Jeep Fest starts Friday night in downtown Toledo and goes through Sunday afternoon. For more information, go to toledojeepfest.com.

■ The Arts Commission has selected an interactive public art piece by a Minneapolis artist that will engage neighborhood residents surrounding Close Park in West Toledo, where installation will take place next spring.

Randy Walker’s piece, Close, Closer, Closest was chosen by the commission’s design review board from an original pool of more than 60 artist proposals. The piece features more than 400 steel poles painted in different colors and heights that will represent households in the immediate area.

Through outreach events by the Arts Commission, each household will determine the height and color of each pole and will have the opportunity to place a memory or story related to the park inside the pole.

The project will cost about $70,000 and is funded by the City of Toledo’s One Percent for Art program.

For more information, go to theartscommission.org.

■ The Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission is seeking artists interested in participating in the Rue Des Artistes area of its annual Roche de Boeuf Festival.

The annual festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 22 and includes an artist area on North Second Street that features the fine artwork of more than 30 artists.

To inquire about booth space, email Lisa Exner at exner@bex.net.

■ Sauder Village is hosting a number of events surrounding its Rug Hooking Week, including a main exhibition of more than 400 hooked rugs and mixed media work.

Rug Hooking Week, Aug. 14 through Aug. 18, also includes one to four-day workshops and retreats, sales and special exhibitions.

Sauder Village is at 22611 State Rt. 2, in Archbold. For more information, call 800-724-6075, or go to saudervillage.org.

Minneapolis artist Randy Walker’s proposal 'Close, Closer, Closest,' shown in this artist's rendering was selected by the Toledo Arts Commission for construction at Close Park. The installation includes approximately 400 colorfully painted steel poles representing each house in the immediate neighborhood.

■ The 7th Barrio Latino Art Festival is from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, at 1205 Broadway, near the corner of Western Avenue, in the Old South End.

The annual festival includes art displays, mural painting, children’s art activities, contests, food, and entertainment.

The event is free and supports Nuestra Gente Community Projects and the Providence Center.

For more information, go to the Barrio Latino Art Festival page on Facebook.

■ The Toledo Artists Club is featuring several classes during August and September, including a three-session acrylic painting class by artist Trisha Koelsch from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 and 25, and Sept. 6.

Other classes include from 2 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday by artist Paul Brand, that feature a different instructional theme weekly, and pastel classes from noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays on Aug 11, Sep 15 and 30, Oct 13 and 27, Nov 10, and Dec 15.

For more information on the classes, go to toledoartistclub.com and click on the Sketchpad link.

Send news of art items at least two weeks in advance to rgedert@theblade.com or call 419-724-6075.