 Today marks the Winter Solstice, the first day of winter and the day of the year with the shortest amount daylight. This is due to the Earth's axis and the Northern Hemisphere being the furthest from the sun it will be all year.
Since pre-historic times, the Winter Solstice has been celebrated by cultures across the world. It's even speculated the day was important to the Fort Ancient people due to the fact that the Serpent Mound's tail perfectly aligns with the sunrise. (The head aligns with the sunset of the Summer Solstice.)
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 Timothy Ryan grew up in Warren County exploring the streams, fields, and woods of the area. At the time of his youth, his home town of Springboro was a quaint one stoplight village nestled in the countryside surrounded by many opportunities for the curious to get outdoors and explore nature. The beauty of the area continues to entice Tim and has greatly influenced his art. Tim has exhibited art work throughout the states of Ohio and Kentucky including shows in Yellow Springs, Dayton, Loveland, Lancaster, Springfield, and Berea. In his studio, Tim explores the interaction of color and rhythm that he sees in nature. The exploration manifests itself in representational and abstract imagery. Through his work, he hopes to share remote places of the Ohio Valley with the viewer. Tim received his BFA from Berea College in Kentucky, working extensively in painting, sculpture, and printmaking and his M.A. from Marygrove College. He returned to the Miami Valley to teach fine art in the area public schools for 30 years. During those years he was always proud of the students’ accomplishments and enjoyed watching them grow into successful adults. Due to considerable hearing loss, Tim retired from public education in 2015. Tim continues to enjoy spending time hiking, biking, and kayaking as well as learning about the past of this great area. To learn more, visit SouthRiverStudio.fineart on Facebook and don't miss Ryan's show, Colors and Rhythms in Nature: Landscapes and Abstracts on display from December 10, 2021 to January 21, 2021, at Harmon Museum. - bio supplied by the artist A portion of this article was published in the November, 2021 issue of the Medallion, our membership newsletter. If you'd like to receive the Medallion and many other perks (including discounts to events and free admission to all our properties) you can become a member here. WARREN COUNTY’S OLYMPIC GOLD
by John Zimkus, WCHS Historian/Education Director Warren County, Ohio made it's first mark in Olympics history with three gold medals in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. The Modern day Olympics were eight years old at the time, and this was only the third time the revised international competition was held. The winner of the gold medals was Matilda Howell. Her sport was archery. Matilda Flora Scott was born on August 28, 1859, in Lebanon, Ohio. Called Lida by her family, she was the only daughter of Thomas and Amelia Scott. Her father was a merchant who grew up in Union Township, where his father had a successful wagon making business. Lida's mother was a member of the locally prominent Sausser family who were mostly merchants in Lebanon. Lida attended the Lebanon Union School, where Pleasant Square Park is today. By 1880, her family had move to Cincinnati. Lida became interested in archery around 1878 as a result of her reading a compilation of witty essays called The Witchery of Archery by Indiana-born poet, essayist, naturalist and archer, Maurice Thompson. It did not take Lida long to become extraordinarily proficient in archery. She won the Ohio State Archery Championship in 1881 and 1882. Also getting very involved in competitive archery at this time was her father, Thomas Scott. In the spring of 1883, Lida married Millard Cecil Howell a Norwood Ohio native. By trade he was a coffee broker. Together they would have three children. Millard Howell was also a competitive archer. It has been said that Lida Scott Howell “had one of the most incredible records ever to be recorded in archery (or for that matter in any other sport.)” Between 1883 and 1907, Lida shot in 20 National Championships, winning 17 of them. Her scores in the 1895 championship set records which were not broken until 1931 – 36 years later. Lida and Millard, won the National Archery Association's National Championships in 1899, the only time in the history of the association that husband and wife won both titles in the same year. Out of the nearly 100 sports at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis Missouri, archery was the only event in which women were allowed to compete. The competition took place on September 19 and 20 and involved six contestants, five of whom were part of Ohio’s Cincinnati Archers Club. Lida Howell, at 45 years of age, was the nation’s undisputed top lady archer, and coasted to the gold medal in both the Double Columbia and Double National rounds. She also received a gold medal as part of the winning United States archery team. Also competing in the St. Louis Olympics in archery was her father, Thomas Foster Scott. He competed in the men's double American round and the men's double York round, but did not medal. He was 71 years and 260 days at the time, making him the oldest person known to compete in an archery event at the Olympics. Born in 1833, Scott was also the 3rd-born known Olympian of the modern era, and the 1st-born known US Olympian. Lida Scott Howell retired from national competition in 1907. She died on December 20, 1938, and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. Lida was inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame & Museum in 1975. In 1904 a reporter from the Cincinnati Times Star interviewed Lida Howell. When asked why she preferred archery over other sports, she replied, "Archery is a picturesque game, the range with its smooth green and distant glowing target with its gold and radiating red, blue, black, and white, the white-garbed players, with graceful big bows and flying arrows, makes a beautiful picture.” Adding to that beauty, no doubt, would be the privilege of watching the grace, form and extraordinary skill of an Olympic Champion archer like Warren County’s Lida Scott Howell. Do1. Test for bleeding of dye with a blotter or Q-tip 2. Vacuum with the tube covered with screen or hose 3. Prepare bath
6. Spread on a table; put several card tables together for large textiles. 7. Let piece dry in the shade outside 8. Ideal storage for textiles is flat on acid free paper 9. Ideal storage for quilts is rolled onto acid free tube with acid-free paper between layers 10. If framing, use acid-free paper behind textile and have spacer between textile and glass on front Do NOT
Linda Martin lives in Centerville, Ohio. She began collecting Halloween memorabilia in the 1980s. Currently she has well over 1000 vintage pieces in her collection. Linda began searching for these scarce items at a time when the hobby was relatively unknown. Since that time, Vintage Halloween items have become one of the most popular collectibles in the country.
She'll be showing off her collection and taking a nostalgic look at the Halloween's evolution in America in our next Lunch & Learn on October 20th!  Lebanon native, Gary Simendinger, dedicated his life to art and, as a teacher, served as an inspiration to the youth of the community. He encouraged his students to follow their artistic passions. "If you can imagine it, you can create it," one such student remembers Simendinger telling them. "He's the reason I pursued a degree in art." These kinds of memories are commonplace when it comes to Simendinger's students. Gary Simendinger sadly passed away in 2005 but his influence can still be felt. His wife, Connie, and their two daughters, Rozi & Carley, have gathered together an extensive collection that demonstrates the breadth and depth of Simendinger's abilities. Gary Simendinger "His Life, Art, and Legacy" opens October 8th with a free opening reception and will remain on display until December 3rd.  On August 18th, local author Randy Overbeck will address a Lunch & Learn crowd. Overbeck is a Lebanon resident and former school administrator in the Lebanon City School and Xenia Communities Schools districts. An accomplished writer, he has been published in academia and in the popular press. Randy is a member of the Mystery Writers of America. His first novel, Leave No Child Behind, won the 2011 Silver Award for Thriller of the Year from ReadersFavorite.com. His second novel, Blood on the Chesapeake, has been described as “a bit of romance, a lot of mystery, and a good deal of old-fashioned ghost whispering.” It was released in 2019, and is the first in a new series called the "HAUNTED SHORES MYSTERIES." In this talk Randy will discuss some of the research into the spirit world that went into Blood on the Chesapeake and Crimson at Cape May, including intriguing reports on real ghosts, some common beliefs and misconceptions about “the spirit world” and even some controversial photos and a video of actual ghost hauntings.
Lebanon native and wealthy real estate developer William Elmer Harmon founded the Harmon Foundation in New York in 1922. Originally the new foundation supported the creation of playgrounds throughout the United States, the production of films about biblical subjects, and health care programs. However, it is better known today as the first major foundation supporting African-American creativity and ingenuity. W.E. Harmon's father was an officer in the 10th Cavalry regiment, a black unit known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Being raised among the soldiers had an impact on the young boy, and formed an accepting attitude toward African-Americans. Later in life, Mr. Harmon was moved after meeting a young African American artist in New York who was unable to sell his paintings because of his race. With a new focus, the Harmon Foundation began presenting cash awards in 1925 to African-Americans for distinguished achievement in eight fields: fine arts, literature, music, race relations, business, religious service, education, and science. Between 1927 and 1933, the Harmon Foundation was one of the first to give national recognition to the achievements of African-Americans. It is best known for its impact on the art of the Harlem Renaissance. Among the many recipients of the awards were; Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Laura Wheeler Waring, Sargent Johnson, and Walter White. Hale Woodruff and Palmer Hayden were the very first recipients of the William E. Harmon Foundation award for Distinguished Achievement Among African Americans for the Fine Arts. The purpose of the awards were to stimulate creative achievement and bring attention to the work being accomplished by African American artists. The Foundation closed in 1967 and dispersed its considerable art collection to the Smithsonian’s Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, and other institutions. The Harmon Foundation is best known for its impact on the art of the Harlem Renaissance. Among the many recipients of the awards were; Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Laura Wheeler Waring, Sargent Johnson, and Walter White.
Hale Woodruff and Palmer Hayden were the very first recipients of the William E. Harmon Foundation award for Distinguished Achievement Among African Americans for the Fine Arts. The purpose of the awards were to stimulate creative achievement and bring attention to the work being accomplished by African American artists. The Foundation closed in 1967 and dispersed its considerable art collection to the Smithsonian’s Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, and other institutions. - Michael Coyan  For over 60 years, Willis "Bing" Davis has been recognized as one of the premiere interpreters of art and the African-American experience in the United States. Originally from South Carolina, Bing and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio in his youth. His life has been devoted to the creative spirit, the creation of works of art, and art education. Teaching, mentoring and inspiring, Bing is still working to find an outlet for his muse, and his life experiences in many different mediums. The exhibition at the Harmon Museum, which opens August.13, 2021, is the culmination of his being inspired by the catalogs from the Harlem Renaissance exhibitions of African-American artists, performers and writers sponsored by The Harmon Foundation. Funded by real estate mogul, and Lebanon native, William Elmer Harmon, Bing said the inspiring works featured in those exhibitions fueled his desire to embrace art and make it his life's journey. To quote Mr. Davis, "At my age, I don't need another exhibition, but I want to do this to honor all Mr. Harmon did for African-American artists in American."
Marcus Mote, born on June 19, 1817 in Miami County, Ohio, was a self-taught artist who pursued a career in painting from his studio in Lebanon. He was very talented and was able to achieve great success throughout his lifetime. However, today he is not only known for his artistic ability, but also for his Quaker heritage. Even though Quakers were critical of art, Mote was able to harmonize his conservative culture with the progressive ideas of the 19th century in his creation of four panoramas during the 1850’s.
A panorama is a piece of artwork that is considered to be an ancestor of a modern day film. It consisted of a series of painted scenes, each about nine feet high and fifteen to sixteen feet wide, which together would create a story. The scenes would slowly rotate around a hidden mechanism, and as the scenes passed, the story was told by a narrator, called a professor. Marcus Mote’s first panorama debuted on May 9, 1853 in Lebanon Court House to a large audience. It was a recreation of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Thus, it portrayed the story of Uncle Tom, a slave, and the harsh reality of his life. Mote’s panorama was successful in staying true to the novel’s plot; however, his artistic talent truly exemplified the deep emotions felt by the characters. The panorama’s first public appearance was overshadowed by another panorama exhibit in the area, but it nevertheless received glowing critical reviews. Mote’s second panorama was based off of Milton’s poems Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. These two poems are descriptions of the biblical story of the Garden of Eden. It premiered on October 14, 1853, about six months after the debut of his first panorama. It also received sterling reviews, especially for Mote’s portrayal of the lush Garden of Eden. The third panorama, titled the Geological History of the Course of Creation, was Mote’s largest. It was comprised of a total of forty scenes, which were painted on a total of six thousand square feet of canvas. It was inspired by the eternal beauty of Niagara Falls, and required him to do considerable research into geology and paleontology. This research allowed him to create what he believed to be a comprehensive history of the earth and the creation of mankind. Mote was commended for his ability to harmonize the biblical representation of creation and the version maintained by geologists. Its presentation included music directed by a man known as Professor Schuler, and the panorama was very well received by a large audience. Mote’s fourth and final panorama was a series of scenes promoting the virtues of temperance. For its debut, Mote hired Luximon Roy, an eccentric East Indian prince, to narrate the panorama as well as to share aspects of his culture. The enthusiastic audience considered by the painting as well as the lecture to be brilliant. This panorama was also at a later time narrated by the famous temperature lecturer M.M. Edwards of Cincinnati. The creation of these four panoramas was a major stepping stone for Mote’s career. The popularity that he attained by creating panoramas stayed with him as he moved on to portraiture and landscapes. Unfortunately, none of these four panoramas exist today. However, from the numerous glowing reviews and descriptions that do exist today, it is evident that he was very talented as well as beloved by the people of Lebanon. Written by Kaitlyn Barnes On this Day in History. U.S. General Gordon Granger came to Texas, two months after the South's surrendered (four years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation), and read General Orders No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” Below, an 1845 illustration of freed slaves carrying the Emancipation Proclamation.  The very popular Jeff Wilson once again paid us a visit to discuss material covered in his books Ohio Legends and Ohio Legends Volume 2. Every page in his books has a short story with an original, expressive illustration drawn by Jeff that brings to life a bit of Buckeye trivia or an oddity about an Ohio inventor, ghost, visionary, hero, crackpot or criminal. Jeff will be showcasing a special “Librarian’s Edition” of his Ohio Legends series that features a “perfect bound” cover and includes many stories never published before. Ohio Legends Volume 1 & 2 are available in the Museum Shop. Jeff Wilson is a free-lance cartoonist, writer and illustrator. A life-long resident of the Buckeye State, he lives in Vandalia, Ohio with his wife Patti and enjoys any good, goofy story about Ohio.  Born and raised in Lebanon, Ohio where my family were some of the earliest settlers, I was introduced to art and history at an early age by my mother and elementary school teachers. Those early influences set me on a life long path exploring the beauty of nature and local history. I was that child who always needed to know “why?”
I attended Lebanon schools K thru 12 and graduated from Lebanon High School. Early teachers who influenced me were, Louise Stiles, Agnes Marts and Billie Runyan. My major in high school was art, studying with Rosemary and Gene Chute. I continued at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio majoring in Fine Art and Art Education, graduating with a BS in Art Education. Additional coursework included: Business, Economics, Law, Real Estate and Interior Design. Art became my hobby over the years that I worked in retail and business, but I returned to creating again in 1996, studying with Elmer Ruff of Cincinnati. In 2008 I returned to work at Warren County JFS retiring in 2014. I returned to volunteering with the Warren County Historical Society, Harmon Museum in 2018 working in the Art Curatorial and Conservation department. -Bio written by Sylvia Outland ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Sylvia Thompson Outland Inspired by color, line and form, I try to convey the beauty, personality and mood of each of my subjects. I love to garden, and am drawn to nature and like to capture the subject’s inner spirit as well as the mood of that particular moment. I feel a connection to my subjects and enjoy bringing out individual qualities, whether it is in a building, still life or landscape. Having lived in Lebanon and Warren County most of my life I feel a deep connection with the area and its history. My work is constantly evolving as I look for new ways to express my ideas. The large variety of methods and materials available continues to challenge and expand my creativity. Each medium has its own characteristics and the subjects of my work and ideas I want to convey will usually dictate the medium I use. I am constantly working and studying to expand my range of technical experience. I find that each work takes on a life of its own. This exhibition is made up of some of my favorite works done over the last 20 years. Recently, I’ve been working with line and color, as shown in my “Hosta’s Gone Wild” and “Graphics” series and flowers in quick color sketches. My earlier work centers around my “Vanishing Landscape” series of pictures of old barns and buildings as well as still life studies. My current work is more experimental using new ideas and different techniques letting serendipity dictate the design. I still most enjoy the mediums of pencil and pen because, when working with them, I find a calmness and peace. Inspired by my Grandmother and parents, my love of nature and history continues to this day as a great source of inspiration for my work. An early exposure to fine craftsmanship and building design has inspired my love of old barns, architecture and fine art crafts. The mediums used in the works in this exhibition are oil/acrylic, watercolor, color and graphite pencils, India ink in black and color markers. Work held in Private & Corporate Collections including: The Harmon Museum, Warren County Historical Society, Lebanon, Ohio Lebanon Citizens National Bank, Lebanon, Ohio GMI Companies, Lebanon, Ohio Butler County Republican Party Warren County, Ohio government Sylvia's show will be held from April 30, 2021 to June 5, 2021 at Harmon Museum |
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