Downtown Lima was closed to car traffic on Saturday for a festival of food, fanfare and fine art.
Shannon Bohle | The Lima News
LIMA — Over 30 artists and makers registered booths downtown on Saturday for the third annual Legacy Arts Street Party, regaling attendees with art, food and live music.
Between North and High streets, the blocked-off roads, once busy with flowing cars, created a temporary, asphalt oasis with vendor booths lining both sides, and in the center, a music stage.
Unlike craft fairs, the event primarily featured arts-oriented goods like pottery, ink illustrations, on-the spot portrait artistry, abstract art, paintings, resin sculptures, as well as custom jewelry.
To highlight just a few of the artist-vendors, there was:
• Brad Leave, an artist based in Columbus (bradleave.com, instagram.com/bradleave)
• Timberfork Studio, a creator of ceramic artist based in Findlay (instagram.com/timberforkstudio)
• Ryan Stechschulte, an artist based in Lima (instagram.com/xsweatypalmsx).
• Subliminally, an artist from Fort Wayne (subliminally.bigcartel.com, instagram.com/_subliminally)
• The Flying Fox, LLC, that produces woodworking and home decor(instagram.com/theflyingfoxllc)
ArtSpace/Lima offered free art activities for children, focusing on helping to foster the future artists in the region.
“It’s an outdoor festival, so we’re encouraging them to paint outdoors … We have watercolor paper and watercolor paints, brushes, and surfaces they can paint on. It might be a landscape, people or the festivities. Then we’re asking the artists to submit their work back to us after they’re finished because we are going to display them at ArtSpace in September for the Art Walk. ‘Plein air’ is French for ‘painting outside’ and that’s a whole group of people who paint outdoors, so we’re having a group practice that type of painting and then bring it into ArtSpace for display,” said Sally Windle, executive director, who said she was excited to engage in this event to help enrich the community through creativity.
Melinda King and Ashtyn Engberg volunteed to help her.
Sara Newman, manager of both the ArtSpace/Lima and Shop for Good gift shops managed a table selling pottery, jewelry, hand-made gift cards, gift bags, some original prints, as well as locally created hand creams and lip balms.
Omar Zehery masterminded the musical talent lineup.
“Whenever we put on an event, whenever we put on a show, we are directly connected to the music that we’re bringing because we’re fans of it. We don’t put on anything we don’t absolutely love,” said Zehery.
The musical artists featured invited to perform on stage included:
• Kevin Ashba (2 pm) is a collaborator with Zehery on the Legacy Sounds Studio and record label Rustgaze Records and is currently working with Zehery on his debut album. Ashba will be releasing new singles in the coming months. Zehery described his music as having “great melodies and great lyrics,” that are inspired by the Beatles and 1960s psychedelic music.
“He’s a fantastic keyboard player, songwriter and performer,” Zehery said.
• Nikki “D.” and the Sisters of Thunder (4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.), Doc Robinson (7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.).
“Nikki ‘D’ is a lap steel guitar player and the Sisters of Thunder, her band, are actually comprised of family members,” Zehery said. Recommended by a mutual friend, Zehery said he “fell in love with their energy” and was excited to be able to bring this gospel, blues and soul group here for their first performance in Lima.
• Doc Robinson (docrobinsonofficial.com) (7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.), as described by Zehery is “an Indy rock band inspired by classic rock.”
“They’re a band made of virtuosos,” Zehery mused. “Basically, everybody in that band is just a fantastic musician and the songwriting is excellent.”
Several organizations were integral to making the event happen. They partner together through the nonprofit organization called Legacy Arts. These Alter Ego Comics, Legacy Sounds Studio, Rustgaze Records, Shop for Good, The Meeting Place on Market, NOW Marketing Group, Purple Feet Wine Boutique, and Live at the Lab.
“Our goal is to promote a thriving creative economy in the Lima area,” said, Jennifer Brogee, a founding member of the nonprofit Legacy Arts Lima, who represents The Meeting Place on Market. “The money we raise goes toward holding the street party every year as well as other live music events. We are also working on a scholarship program to help nurture emerging artists and musicians in the area.”
“We start planning as soon as the previous event is over, so we invite local and regional makers, artists, and musicians to participate for next year’s event,” Brogee said. “We reach out as far away as Toledo, Columbus and Bellefontaine to find makers and artists that offer a unique product.”
“We were happy to see such an outpouring of people wanting to participate in the event this year, and I feel like it grows every year,” said Kayla Zehery. “Not only are we supporting local and regional makers, but we are also getting the attention of creators from out-of-state metro areas like Fort Wayne, Indiana.”
She said that in addition to using social media like Instagram, she and her husband travel to different community events that support artists, and in doing so, they meet artists, makers and musicians, being sure to build those relationships by staying in touch afterward and inviting them to attend the next street party.
Interested sponsors, artists, vendors, makers and musicians who want more information can connect via social media or email [email protected]. They can register online, starting today, to participate in the 2023 event by going to legacyartsohio.com/legacy-arts-street-party. Makers are responsible for bringing their own setup (tent, tables, etc.) to the location at least two hours in advance of the event. All applicants must be approved by the committee.
Reach Shannon Bohle at 567-242-0399, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @Bohle_LimaNews.
