BY ANGELO VELOTTA
Gazette Newspapers
MENTOR – Wildwood Cultural Center has a historic manor, sprawling, sunlit trails to traverse, stainless steel musical instruments to play and a fairy garden, but this past summer has seen the installation of 14 posts painted by local artists as a part of the Art Post Project Exhibit.
Gillian DiPofi, a Geneva-on-the-Lake resident and staff member of the Mentor Public Library’s children’s department, is the artist of the post dubbed “Gone Fishin’.”
“I grew up near Lake Erie and its surrounding watershed,” DiPofi said. “Many of my art pieces revolve around fish. I feel this piece specifically reflects the connection to the water, including everything living in and around it and the sense of home. This post design features some of my favorite native fish: common carp, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, channel catfish, walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, minnow and northern hogsucker.”
DiPofi is a 2019 graduate of Lake Erie College, with a fine arts degree with a concentration of visual arts. Watercolor is her favorite art form, with ceramics also being a strong interest.
View more of DiPofi’s work by visiting instagram.com/gld.artwork.
M.E. Kuzma teaches art in Kirtland and creates nature-themed artwork along with commissioned artwork. She is the artist of the post entitled Rosy Maple Moth.
“I painted the rosy maple moth, Kuzma said. “It’s caterpillar and the red maple seed pod floating in a sea of deep greens. I think moths are fascinating. When seeking inspiration for the post project, I chose the RMM after I learned that they lay their eggs on red maples to camouflage themselves from predators. I love the way nature works.”
Learn more about Kuzma’s work by checking M.E. Kuzma on Facebook or @mekuz2 on Instagram.
Jenna Greenwalt is the owner of the Perry-based business Forged Ingrain, which creates functional art.
Her husband Rich executes the heavy building and fabrication, while she creates high-impact, statement-making spaces by seamlessly bridging fine art with functional design.
Jenna is an award-winning artist and art director. She created the post named “Edge of Erie.”
“Edge of Erie highlights northeast Ohio’s native wildlife and natural coastal landscapes along Lake Erie,” Greenwalt said. “It’s a visual tribute to the region’s local animals, plants and natural beauty. From our local rivers to the shores of Lake Erie and everything in between, I’m always in awe of the nature that surrounds us here, it provides endless creative inspiration.”
Learn more about Greenwalt’s work by visiting forgedingrain.com or at instagram.com/forgedingrain.
Deborah Steytler, a Mentor resident, has the following pieces of art currently being shown in Spaces Gallery, which is in Cleveland: Dark Blossoms, Sandusky Bay, (flowers in front of water) Conneaut and Caladium. She is the creator of the post named “Lake County Meadow.”
“Most of my work comes from direct observation-nature: water, clouds, flowers, landscapes and the figure and portraiture,” Steytler said. “I lean into an expressionistic style full of color and gesture. I work in watercolor, acrylic painting, whatever is considered 2-D art.”
Learn more about Steytler’s work by visiting instagram.com/deb_steytler.
