SIDNEY — Associates at S&H Products, here, have put their artistic talents to work, recently, to create pictures that will printed in the 2018 CD calendar, an annual project of the organization that supports and employs people with developmental disabilities.
This is the ninth year that organization associates and community volunteers have teamed to produce the popular calendar, which will go on sale, Oct. 15.
The 2018 CD will be a 13-month calendar, with pages for each month from December 2017 through December 2018.
Each month will feature the artwork of a different associate and the artist’s photo.
The project is a brainchild of Donna Ruble, of Sidney, a retired art teacher and a member of the S&H Products board of directors. Also on the organizing committee are Jodi New and Kassidy Driskell.
Thursday, Aug. 3, three volunteers worked with three associates to create collages for March, July and November’s calendar pages.
“I have several pieces of the artwork of these artists (made in S&H Products’ Spirit and Hands Art Studio) and I just wanted to give back to the community,” said Sarah Barr, executive director of Raise the Roof for the Arts in Sidney, as she guided Jolene Crawford, of Sidney. Crawford was busy painting cut-out papers that would be glued together to make a bas-relief turkey.
“I like to paint,” Crawford said. She volunteers to help Barr at the Historic Sidney Theatre from time to time. This is her second year to create artwork for the S&H CD.
John Dunlap, of Sidney, another community volunteer, was involved in the project for the first time as part of an art team.
“We used to print (the calendar),” the former owner of Direct Graphics and Creative Marketing Strategies said. Paired with Diane Ceylar, of Sidney, he carefully arranged crepe paper strips, which Ceylar crinkled into shape, to make a rainbow for the March page.
“I love to do art,” he said about why he participated. “And my good friend, Donna, asked me, and, trust me, you can’t say, ‘No,’ to Donna. Now, Diane, take care. That’s my favorite color,” he admonished Ceylar as she crunched a strip in bright orange.
“I know,” she answered. “I’ve got all the colors: black, red, blue.”
S&H associate Sammie Ostendorf, of Sidney, helped S&H CEO Michelle Herndon, of Piqua, put together a woven collage of red, white and blue construction paper in celebration of July.
“I’m glad it’s (for) July,” Ostendorf smiled.
Herndon had left her office for the art project because “it looked like fun,” she said.
“Artwork that is done with community partners is created with an individual who needs extra assistance,” Ruble said. “We strive for community involvement here at S&H, and this provides an opportunity for our associates.”
The artworks have been done as watercolor paintings, colored marker drawings and collages. Evelyn Flock, of Sidney, owner of 1157 Designconcepts, and S&H associate Nichole Redinbo, of Sidney, made October’s page. December pages for 2017 and 2018 were completed by Carl Banks and Shane Laughman, respectively. Kayla Heaberlin did January’s picture; Alley Price, April; Becky Milner, May; Denise Joyce, June; Robbie Biza, August; and Matt Kahlig, August. The February page will be finished by the end of the month.
Tonnie Hovey of Creative Marketing Strategies will design the CD. Thirteen sponsors will fund it.
The calendars will cost $5 each. They will be sold at area craft fairs and also can be purchased at S&H Products, 435 Stolle Ave.
