ARTS ASSOCIATON OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

 Two Sisters Show

UNION CITY, INDIANA

Artist Reception Thursday, June 9, 2011 7:00-9:00 pm

2011 Gourmet Gala and Charity Auction on Saturday, June 11, 2011  7:00-10:00 pm

About  

Patricia Rayman is a practicing teacher of the arts for all ages. Born and educated on the East Coast, she was initially taught by working professionals from New York City. She is a graduate of the New Jersey School of Fine and Industrial Arts, New York Institute of Photography, and the Maryland Institute College of Art. Also, she has successfully completed countless continued education courses and programs in art academics and a host of art applications as well as writing and children’s literature.

     Over the years, she has been showered with over * hundreds of recognitions for her artworks in art and photography by various local, regional and non-Ohio organizations; * chosen Big Sister-of-the-Year by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lima-Allen County for her involvement in a young girl’s life which allowed this child to bud from a thorny environment, and blossom forward with noted local and national achievements;  * selected Tri-County Woman-of-the-Year for Allen, Van Wert and Putnam, Ohio local media for her volunteerism and an undaunted willingness of providing encouragement: Art is ageless, not only to the young, but even among nursing home seniors; * recognized by the Ohio Senate for her humanitarian contributions which goes back to her younger years working with emotionally and physically handicapped children. In addition, she also received * an Outstanding Achievement in Education award as the founder of Art-to-Art: Building Friendships Through Art, (1986-2006) an Ohio-based k-12 national art-based education program which bridges the gap with the subjects of Geography, History, Reading, Writing, and Communications through Human Relations; and has been included in * Who’s Who Education In America.

     Today, Pat continues to hone her artistic skills while teaching art education application classes and workshops for various art centers in Western Ohio, including Art History at Wright State University.

Janet M. Ravas is an award-winning watercolorist and quilter. From her so-far travels throughout America and foreign lands, she strives to capture nature’s framework with the portrayal of the true subject by bringing forth its artistic qualities, and then wraps it all in a splendor of softness.

     Born on the East Coast to parents of Polish-Russian decent, after her high school graduation, she furthered her education that led to career employments in the medical field, performing administrative tasks as well as a health care provider. Her marriage to a technological professional has provided Janet the opportunity to reside near Delaware’s Atlantic seaboard, The Greater Boston, Massachusetts historical region, and South and Central New York areas.

     Aside from doing her own artworks, she teaches art applications and academics to home-schooled children, continues on the road that all things are possible with Him as well as practicing her own style of humanitarian efforts by providing additional educational support for children. In addition, she writes for the Art-to-Art Palette Journal, a national publication serving as a voice for the Arts and Educational communities since 1988.

Founded in 1955, the Art Association of Randolph County was originally made up of a small group of artists who held an annual art show. From those humble beginnings, the AARC has become a full spectrum arts agency serving thousands of citizens with a variety of events throughout the year.

     Through the efforts of AARC, Union City’s legacy as a railroad center has been preserved. For many years the Art Association had longed for a permanent home for the arts and in 1980 with $250 in its checkbook, the AARC began a restoration effort estimated to cost $100,000 for the 1913 passenger depot that had been deserted for 25 years.

     First the organization achieved recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and then a National Parks Service grant provided one-third the budget. The remaining funds came from individuals, businesses and industry within the county, matched with hundreds of volunteer hours of hard physical labor. In May of 1986, the restoration won a state award for Best Renovation Project of the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation.

     Events ranging from jazz to bluegrass concerts, drama to dance, art classes to art shows, poetry readings to photography displays, and AARC’s programs serve over 5,000 people per year. By bringing the arts into every corner of Randolph County, East Central Indiana and Western Ohio, the association has proven that the Arts are indeed crucial to a community’s well-being. www.artsdepot.org.