Business and
art — it’s turning out to be a nice, little marriage in Oil City.
Joann
Wheeler, the city’s downtown arts revitalization coordinator, said a newly
instituted arts/business connection has put the works of nearly a
half-dozen artists in downtown businesses. Some of the program’s goals
already are showing promise.
“This can
benefit the artists and the businesses,” Wheeler said. “People are drawn
into the businesses maybe because of the artwork or because they know the
artists.”
A quick look
around town, and patrons will find the watercolor works of Bob Tait and
the pencil drawings of Jennifer Eck in the windows at Hileman and Woods.
Charlie Whipple has an oil painting on display at The Yellow Dog Lantern
and Kristen Padalino has photos in the window of Il Colosseo Italian
restaurant. Jack Hanzer has oodles of paintings and Kathy Perret has
handmade basketwork in It’s Just Natural, a natural food store.
“It’s been
catching a lot of people’s attention,” said Gary McCue, owner of the East
First Street food store. “I think it’s helping out the local artists here
and helping out the community with revitalization. It’s also bringing a
little bit of culture here.”
He’s decided
to contract out the store’s wall space in six-month increments, during
which time he will sell the artwork for displaying artists. Otherwise,
Wheeler is acting as the art-placement conduit, trying to place art in
complementary locations.
For example,
she said Padalino’s photographs from a trip to Italy were a perfect fit in
the Italian restaurant.
Besides
trying to ramp up foot traffic in area businesses and get artwork out of
attics and seen by patrons and potential buyers, the effort also could
spark a little business savvy in artists, Wheeler believes.
“Artists can
benefit by treating their work more professionally,” she said. “They have
to go that extra mile to get artwork framed or matted if it’s going to be
displayed. And then they have to get business cards. Once you’re in that
mode, you’re on the way to treating the artwork with the respect it
deserves.”
Most of the
displaying artists live outside Oil City, but it’s Wheeler’s hope that
“people closer to home with take advantage of the program.”
The project
initially was meant as a lead-in to Saturday’s celebration of the arts in
Justus Park which will include an independent music festival and
dedication of statues created by area school children. But as long as
businesses and artists have interest in partnering this way, Wheeler is
ready to keep pairing artwork with appropriate venues.
“This is
mutually beneficial relationship between the businesses and the artists in
Oil City,” Wheeler said. “Initially, it’s hard to see how this is going to
affect the bottom line. But anything that draws people in can’t hurt.”
Businesses or
artists interested in learning more about the pairing program may contact
ARTS Oil City at 676-5303.
The Derrick, May 21, 2007