The Logan County Art League is enthusiastically preparing for the eighth year of its popular fundraiser — Not So Bad Art By Good People — that features works of art created by local celebrities and encourages the community to pick their favorite pieces during public voting, culminating with an art auction at the end of January.
The 2025 contest features a new line up of 10 celebrity artists who are competing to receive the most votes from the public. Their works of art will be on display beginning Thursday, Jan. 2, through Friday, Jan. 31, at Citizens Federal Savings & Loan, 100 N. Main St., Bellefontaine.
These 10 artists have been working diligently on their pieces this fall, some with the help of experienced mentor artists in the Logan County area. “This is one of my favorite activities of the Logan County Art League, when we get to see the creativity of the volunteer celebrity artists, and some who might discover even for the first time how much they enjoy creating art. It’s fun to see the variety of pieces that arrive as we prepare to set up the community display at Citizens Federal,” Art League Committee Chair Karen Feltham said.
“The fundraiser has been a wonderful opportunity to interact with our community and get everyone involved in looking at and judging their favorite piece of art.”
This year’s celebrity artists are: Mark Amidon, Holdren Brothers; Barb Harpst, Citizens Federal Savings & Loan; Brian Holder, Indian Lake Outfitters, LLC; Quinton James, Holland Theatre technology director; Blake Kenner, school resource officer at Bellefontaine Middle School; April King, WPKO Radio; Cori Morse, Dr. Sloan Library in Zanesfield; Brittany Saxton, Six Hundred Downtown; Hannah Southwood, Edward Jones; and Pastor Rob Starnes, Gretna Brethren Church.
Beginning Jan. 2, the completed works of art will be available for public voting from Monday through Saturday during the bank lobby hours at Citizens Federal Savings & Loan.
Everyone in the community, friends and family are invited to view the art and vote for their favorites. Voting is $1 per vote, and there are no restrictions on the number of times a person can vote.
In addition, voting will be available online at the Art League’s website: https://logancountyartleague.org/.
The winner of the community vote will be announced at a celebration event and dinner, slated for Jan. 31, at Honey Birch Farm, 550 E. Township Road 30, West Liberty, beginning at 5 p.m. After the celebration dinner, all of the works of art are auctioned off, with proceeds supporting the activities of the Logan County Art League.
Anyone in the community is invited to attend the celebration dinner; tickets are required for food and drinks being served from 6 to 7 p.m. A dinner reservation form is available at the Citizen’s Federal art display or on the Art League website.
The public is also invited to attend the auction that begins at 7 p.m. and participate free of charge.
A number of community companies have donated to support Not So Bad Art By Good People. At this point, sponsors include Citizen’s Federal Savings & Loan, TDH-Law/Joshua Stolly, Ann Beck, Cracked Pot Studio, Mama D’s Soda Shoppe and The Poppy Seed.
To encourage all residents of the community to create, the Art League continues to host free Open Studios at The Art Center at The Holland each Wednesday beginning in January from 1 to 3 p.m., where anyone can bring their own art supplies and create their artwork in the company of other artists.