Annual fundraiser helps local leaders tap into their artistic side

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Brian Holder, the People’s Choice Award winner in this year’s Not So Bad Art by Good People contest, center, holds his award. Also pictured are Darcy DeLeon, Art League president, left, and last year’s People’s Choice winner Doug Carlton. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)

As another year of the Not So Bad Art by Good People came to a close last week, the Logan County Art League (LCAL) once again found inspiration and funding thanks to an engaged community. This time, nine members of the community helped by creating works of art for display and purchase, with proceeds going to the league.

It all came to a conclusion on Friday, Jan. 31, when about 60 people attended the celebration dinner and auction, which was held at Honey Birch Farm, north of West Liberty. Following a meal catered by Chefhouse, the league announced this year’s winner of the People’s Choice Award as Brian Holder with Indian Lake Outfitters.

Each artist’s work was displayed at Citizen’s Federal Savings & Loan, Bellefontaine, throughout most of January, giving people a chance pick their favorite at the cost of one dollar per vote. This was also the second year people could vote online. All of the votes brought in about $1,800 for LCAL.

But Holder’s painting, “Starry Night Over Indian Lake,” topped the other entries by earning the most votes at 603. Last year’s People’s Choice winner, Doug Carlton, joined the festivities to pass on the award and offer his congratulations.

“Doug was honored to receive this very award,” Jayne Carlton said on behalf of her husband Friday night. “He knows firsthand how much dedication, passion and hard work it takes to reach this moment.”

Mick Lile of Logan Auction got the next part of the evening going by then auctioning off all nine entries. They saw several people embrace the moment and bid high on their favorite piece. 

A friendly bidding war between Holland Theatre board members Jason Vogel and Kris Swisher made Quinten James the highest bid award winner for 2025. James, who serves as technical director at the Holland, had patterned his sculpture on the classic theatre building. Vogel won the piece with a bid of $900.

In the end, the auction brought in $4,550 for the league. Lile then took his hat around the room to collect another $50, making it an even $4,600. 

Karen Feltham, LCAL treasurer and chair of the event, was pleased with the results.

“This event raises money for our general expenses like rent, liability insurance and the website, which costs about $12,000 a year. It also goes toward our presence in the community,” she said.

The league earns additional funding through two other events—the winter art fair and Art on the Beach in the summer—and with workshops and membership dues.

This year’s Not So Bad Art by Good People brought in a good chunk toward their yearly needs with a total net of close to $8,000.

“Our desire is to help our community engage in the visual arts,” Darcy DeLeon, LCAL president, said. “We need funds to provide opportunities. We need people who understand the arts to help with funds. We need a community that believes in the arts to help keep it alive.

“My hope is to grow our membership with people who love to create through the visual arts as a means to walk away from screen time, to deal with our emotions, to learn to see beauty in our world and capture it.”

To learn more about becoming a Logan County Art League member and get monthly email updates, visit their website at logancountyartleague.com. The “become a member” section is under the “Get involved” tab.