Piqua Public Library Art Gallery

The Art of the Piqua Public Library

Piqua Public Library • www1.youseemore.com/piqua

The Rollin Gallery traces its lineage back to 1877 when a “curio cabinet” was donated to the High School in Piqua, Ohio. The high school displays grew with additions of geological specimens, prehistoric artifacts, agricultural and natural oddities (a hair ball from a cow’s stomach for example), photographs, military memorabilia and artistic sketches. This “museum” was moved in 1912 to the second floor of the Schmidlapp Free School Library where the art pieces were hung on the walls. The museum closed down in 1944 and was placed in storage. In 1928 (two years before his death) Horace Judson Rollin, a celebrated local artist and author, donated thirty seven pieces of art and a small fund to maintain them to the High School on College Street. They were initially hung in the lobby and then moved to the second floor study hall. Students were not kind to the art and the paper spitballs often did little to enhance Rollin’s creations. The paintings were removed, most likely in the 1940’s or early 1950’s, and stored in the High School Auditorium underneath the stage. The Rollin collection was rediscovered in 1973 and funds were raised for the restoration of both the art and the frames. The Board of Education donated the collec-tion shortly thereafter to the recently re-opened Piqua Historical Museum located in the former Schmidlapp Free School Library building. They were hung on the walls in a second floor room which was named the Rollin Gallery (1980’s) in honor of the artist and his collection. In 1989, the Piqua Public Library took over the management of the museum and gallery. When the library moved into the restored Fort Piqua Plaza building in 2008, the Rollin Gallery was installed on the second floor in the northwest section of the building. Currently, the gallery is open six days a week during all of the library’s normal hours. The library continues to add to the permanent art collection every year concentrating on local and regional artists. The collection currently holds over one hundred fifty pieces dating from the 1840’s to the present, most of which are exhibited throughout the three floors of the library. The Rollin Gallery is also the home to several different state and regional exhibits every year.

Welcome to the Horace Rollin Gallery

116 West High Street • Piqua, Ohio • 45356

#1. HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930) “THE OLD LANE”This painting was completed in the late 1860’s or early 1870’s, when Rollin was in his late twen-ties. It may have been done prior to his formal training in Cincinnati. It shows the dirt lane back to the Rollin Family homestead (note the split rail fence to the left). The farm was located in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, southeast of Piqua and east of the Great Miami River. The hand-carved frame is contemporary with the piece. “The Old Lane” has been carved into the middle of the lower part of the frame and is surrounded by farm implements of the time. Oak leaves are carved on all four sides of the frame. The creator of the frame is unknown. This painting was exhibited in The National Academy in New York City (established in 1825), at Fifth Avenue and 89th Street. Approximate painting size: 13 ¾ inches by 18 ¼ inchesApproximate carved frame size: 25 inches by 30 inches by 6 inchesMedia: oil on boardStyle: Regional Romantic Realism


#3. HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930) “UNDER THE OAKS”Created during Rollin’s Middle Period in the 1880’s. Note the deer between the trees. Most of Rollin’s Middle and Late Period pieces contain a single small animal or person hidden in the lower third of the painting. This painting of a wooded glade may be a depiction of a scene in the wood lot located at the far eastern portion of the Rollin farm. During Rollin’s Middle Period (1880’s), the artist moves from realism to a Pointillism technique. (There is an area of chipped paint in the extreme lower left corner at the frame line 1/4 inch by 2 inches in size). Approximate painting size: 18 inches by 24 inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Romantic Impressionism using Pointillism technique

#2. HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930)“SOUTHEAST FROM ENTRY DOOR”Completed in 1874, in Rollin’s Early Period (1870’s). It shows reaped and bound sheaves of wheat in a Rollin family field near their homestead southeast of Piqua in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio. Surpris-ingly, there are no people or animals depicted in the painting. The dark rain clouds may have driven them off. Rollin completed a very similar oil on canvas titled “Our Daily Bread” that was exhibited in the Cincinnati Indus-trial Exhibition in 1875. That work shows three workers in the field gather-ing and binding the wheat into sheaves. The sky is only partially cloudy in that work. “Our Daily Bread” was sold at auction in 2012 from an unknown owner to an unknown collector for just over $500.00.Approximate painting size: 10 ¼ inches by 12 ¾ inchesMedia: oil on boardStyle: Regional Romantic Realism


#4. HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930)“LAND OF THE MOHAWK”This large painting was created during an artistic tran-sition period for Rollin which resulted in a mixture of the Pointillism and Black Impressionism styles. It was completed late in Rollin’s Middle Period (1880’s) in which he created a majority of his Pointillist style art. It was also during this period when Rollin’s pieces almost doubled in size when compared to his realism period. Note the Native American at the campfire. This is typi-cal of Rollin’s Middle and Late Periods when he placed a small person or animal hidden in the lower third of the painting. The title most likely refers to James Feni-more Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans than to any tie to Native American tribes found in Miami County, Ohio. The flat, wide wooden frame was placed on the painting during the first twenty years of the twentieth century. (There is steam damage to the oil paint in the lower left of the painting.)Approximate painting size: 24 ½ inches by 29 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Regional/American Black Impressionism with Pointillistic Features

#5. HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930)“CAMPFIRE BY A STREAM IN THE MOONLIGHT”This is one of Rollin’s works from his Late Period (1890’s.) Note the man by the campfire. This is typical of Rollin’s Middle and Late Periods when he placed a small individual or animal in the lower third of the art piece. During this late period the physical size of Rollin’s work increased and often included massive frames. The gilded plaster on wood frame on this painting is very ornate and is contemporary with the work. The frame is missing plaster pieces at various locations. Approximate painting size: 24 inches by 29 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Regional/American Black Impressionism


#6. HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930)“SEATED ARTIST SELF PORTRAIT”This is a work from Rollin’s Early Period (1870’s) and was most likely done during his student years at the McMiken School of Design (University of Cincinnati) in the mid-1870’s. The classical set-ting with an open window, elaborate chair and art covered walls reflects Rollin’s exposure to the works of European masters in Cincinnati muse-ums. The influence of his teacher, T.S. Noble, can also be seen in this piece. The artist appears to see himself in a very serious and contemplative mood. The light colored natural wood frame is most likely from the post-World War II period.Approximate painting size: 11 ½ inches by 15 ¾ inchesMedia: oil on boardStyle: Regional Romantic Realism with Classical European influences

#7 HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930)“BY THE WINDOW”This painting shows Rollin’s mother Eleanor Rol-lin (1808-1883) sitting in a rocking chair inside the Rollin family homestead southwest of Piqua in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio. Mrs. Rollin appears to be darning clothing by the light coming through the window. The work was likely completed in the late 1870’s or very early 1880’s. The flat wooden painted gold frame was added in the twentieth century.Approximate painting size: 15 ½ inches by 19 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Regional Romantic Realism


#8 THOMAS LEIGH HUNTER (1859-1932)“FALL SCENE”This piece shows fall foliage in the woods along a small stream and likely was finished in the late 1880’s. Streams were a favorite theme for Hunter, showing up in several of his works. Fourteen years younger than his teacher and mentor, Horace Rollin, Hunter moved back and forth between the American Impressionist style and a partial Pointillism technique. Unlike the early works of Rollin, Hunter appears to have favored canvas rather than board. In his later years, he produced renderings of family homes on commission (an example would be the Statler Farms on County Road 25-A south of Piqua, Ohio). Most of Hunter’s works are moderate in size contained in modest frames. Less than a half-dozen of Hunter’s works have been identified and four are in the library’s collection. Most of his work was lost in a fire at his Loy Road home near Piqua, Ohio.Approximate size of painting: 19 ½ inches by 15 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Regional American Impressionism with Pointillist features

#9 THOMAS LEIGH HUNTER (1859-1932) “SNOW SCENE”Painted in 1887, this scene may be depicting Swift Run stream in Miami County, Ohio. Hunt-er was a student of Piqua area artist Horace Rol-lin and used the American Impressionist style with pointillism detailing, as used by his mentor in the 1880’s. Hunter depicted streams in several of his paintings. This work was part of the Rollin collection. The modest gilded wooden frame is contemporary with the work.Approximate size of painting: 15 ½ inches by 21 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Regional American Impressionism with Pointillist features


#11 ESTELLA JEAN YENNEY (1916-2012)“WOMAN’S SUIT WITH A FUR AND A BAG”Trained as a commercial artist, Yenney created a number of advertisements for the Women’s Department of the Rike-Kumler Company, a department store in downtown Dayton, Ohio. She considered her commercial drawings as art and took great pride in them. Because of the need to easily reproduce her work, she used only black and shades of gray. Over a half dozen of her favorite pieces were framed and hung in her family home on Broadway in Piqua, Ohio where she lived with her sister Arlene Yenney. The yellow and green wooden frame is contemporary with the work and was chosen by the artist.Approximate size of art: 6 inches by 15 inchesMedia: pen and ink on paper with a watercolor washStyle: Commercial Advertising

#12 ESTELLA JEAN YENNEY (1916-2012)“WOMAN’S COAT AND HAT”Miss Yenney took a correspondence course in commercial art and began her career designing bottle cap tabs for the Piqua Cap Com-pany. She worked in advertising art in the 1930’s, drawing women’s clothing sales material for the Rike-Kumler Company, a department store in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Because her work was used for brochures and advertisements, Yenney only used black and shades of gray. Over a half dozen of her drawings were framed and hung in the family home on Broadway in Piqua, Ohio. The artist was also known to create works in watercolors and in oils. She often pro-duced pencil sketches of local citizens. (Sadly, none of these pieces are in the library’s collection.) The black decorated wooden frame was chosen by the artist.Approximate size of art: 4 ¾ inches by 10 inchesMedia: pen and ink on paper with watercolor washStyle: Commercial Advertising

#10 MARY JANE GOLDSBOUGH TREON (1919-2011)“MOUNTAIN MIST”This mountain landscape was given a double oval mat and silver frame by the artist. The work won the Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. In addition to watercolors, the artist also created a number of computer-generated pieces. Mrs. Treon made her home near Piqua, in Miami County, Ohio.Approximate size of painting: 9 ½ inches by 7 ½ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Regional American Impressionism with Asiatic influence


#13 MICHAEL BEHR “SOPHISTICATED LEAK”This three-dimensional piece was created using copper tubing, corrugated cardboard, cotton cording and varies pieces of col-ored plastic. The light-colored wooden frame is tied directly into the art itself. The work won the 2013 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition.Approximate size of art: 38 ½ inches by 14 inchesMedia: mixed three-dimensional material and copper tubingStyle: Modern Mixed Media

#14 DAN HAMPSHIRE “BURNED OUT”The combination of a serious, almost brooding face and a can-dle near the end of its wick opens up this photograph to many stories and interpretations. The piece won the 2012 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. At the time of this award, Hampshire was a Piqua resident.Approximate size of the art: 9 ½ inches by 12 ½ inchesMedia: digitally enhanced photographyStyle: Photo-manipulation


The Rollin Gallery is housed in a renovated structure de-signed by J.W. Yost in 1891. It was originally constructed as a hotel, in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style. The building now houses the Piqua Public Library, a coffee house, a restaurant, and a conference center known as the Fort Piqua Plaza. The exterior stones of the “Plaza” are covered with carved faces, animals, and traceries – all created and carved by James Whyte. The face at the top of the triangular pediment on the front facade is known as a “Green Man”, a popular nineteenth century carving. The Rollin Gallery is housed in a building that is, in and of itself, a work of art.

#15 DIANE BRUNDRETT VOYENTZIE“TREES”This work was completed in 2012 and donated to the li-brary by the artist. The soft rendering of the trees and landscape is a nice example of Voyentzie’s body of work. It was inspired by a Curr Road farm near Tipp City, Mi-ami County, Ohio. The artist grew up in Tipp City, but at the time of the donation she was living in Connecticut. Approximate size of painting: 15 ½ inches by 19 ½ inchesMedia: pastel crayon on canvasStyle: Regional American Loose Expressionism

#16 SHARON STOLZENBERGER “UNTITLED”This piece was created in 2014 at an artist’s demon-stration in the lobby of the Piqua Public Library. The demonstration was part of the 2013 Ohio Water-color Society’s (OWS) Traveling Exhibit on display in the library’s Rollin Gallery (May 2014). Stolzen-berger was part of the OWS’s traveling exhibit. The piece features a crow on a branch. Crows are often featured in the artist’s works.Approximate size of art: 9 ¾ inches by 9 ½ inchesMedia: mixed material of drawing pencils, acrylic paint and image transfer collage on boardStyle: Modern mixed media/collage


#17 WILHO HERALD ANDERSON (1908-1998) “HELEN FOSTER”The artist was born in New York, but spent much of his early childhood in Finland. He was best known for his portraits, having painted, among many others: Sam Snead, Margaret Mead, Hubert Humphrey, Jimmy Carter and Nancy Reagan. The portrait of Helen L. Huntsberger Foster (1902-1971) was commissioned by her husband George O. Foster (1897-1974). It was com-pleted in 1963, when Mrs. Foster was about 61 years of age. Foster was the owner/manager of the Piqua Tea Company. The couple retired to 45 Orchard Road in Piqua, Ohio in the 1950’s. The frame is contemporary with the com-pletion of the piece.Approximate size of art: 15 ½ inches by 19 ½ inchesMedia: oil on paperStyle: Portraiture with Halo Effect


#18 SONGJA SIM HOANG “ABSTRACT OF BRIGHT COLORS’This work was completed in 1995 and donated to the library by the artist. Hoang was an active volunteer and leader with the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. After leaving Piqua in 2009, she has continued her career as an abstract artist and has exhibited her work in New York City, Chicago and San Diego, as well as in numerous museums and galleries from New Jersey to Ohio to California. The double matting and blonde wooden frame were chosen by the artist. This is the only piece by this artist in the li-brary collection. Several other of her pieces are on display at Edison College in Piqua.Approximate size of painting: 21 inches by 28 inchesMedia: oil on paperStyle: Abstract

#19 JANET LENDINO“SPLASH”This Troy artist completed this colorful and dy-namic work in 2012. The gold painted wooden frame was selected by the artist. This piece was given the 2012 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. Lendino has been a member and exhibited with the Country Workshop Artists in Troy, Ohio.Approximate size of art: 11 ½ inches by 15 ½ inchesMedia: oil on boardStyle: Abstract


#21 PEGGY HAUPT“DRAKE SCHOOL #7”This dilapidated and abandoned one-room school house is on Drake Road, south of Piqua in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio. The artist completed this painting in 1992. The school was most likely built in the 1870’s or 1880’s. This site was favored by Piqua teenagers as the place to “park” on a weekend date. The structure has since been demolished. The work was donated to the library by the artist. Approximate size of the art: 14 inches by 21 inchesMedia: watercolorStyle: Modern Realism with Amer-ican Impressionistic Influence

#20 KATHY MOELLER“CLOSED”This piece won the 2012 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Ex-hibition. At the time of this award the artist resided in Sidney, Ohio.Approximate size of art: 11 ¼ inches by 11 ½ inchesMedia: watercolorStyle: Photorealism


#22 GRATTAN CONDON (1887-1966) “THE ECHOES”This piece was completed in the fall of 1954 or 1955. Condon, a nationally known artist and illustrator, lived in a wing of the home depicted, along with his wife Hortense. Condon also main-tained an active studio in the house where he taught and painted. He lived in this home, known as “The Echoes”, from c. 1954 until c. 1964, when he moved to Dayton, Ohio. The mansion at 100 Orchard Lane, Piqua, Ohio was built in

1928-1929 by Alfred L. Flesh, president of the Atlas Underwear Company of Piqua, Ohio. The residence was purchased in 1954 by Mabel Loeb Ridenour (1889-1979), the widow of Frank Ridenour, owner of the Piqua Daily Call, who had died in December of 1953. Mabel was the sister of Condon’s wife Hortense (1894-1985). The painting’s light colored (gray) wooden frame is con-temporary with the completion of the painting. The work was purchased on Ebay in 2014 and donated to the library. Approximate size of the art: 18 ½ inches by 27 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Realism

#23 GRATTAN CONDON (1887-1966)“HOUSE ON ROAD”Completed in 1954, this work depicts a dirt road (later Sunset Drive) with a one-and-a-half story brick late nineteenth century home (310 Sunset Drive) on the west end of Piqua, Ohio. At the time of this work, Condon was liv-ing with his sister-in-law at 100 Orchard Lane, roughly a mile east of this scene. The gray col-ored wooden frame is contemporary with the completion of the painting.Approximate size of art: 11 ½ inches by 19 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Realism with touches of Andrew Wythe influence


#24 GRATTAN CONDON (1887-1966) “PIQUA LIMESTONE QUARRIES, ROCK CRUSHING PLANT”The artist finished this piece in December of 1949. At the time, this nationally recognized artist was visiting his wife’s family in Piqua, Ohio. The Piqua Stone Products Company shown in this painting was located east of Piqua along the east bank of the Great Miami River, on top of a limestone plateau. It is likely that this rendering hung in the Stone Products Company office. While this painting is Impres-sionistic in style, it has more realistic detailing than most of Condon’s works. The silvered wooden frame is contempo-rary with the completion of the art piece. This is one of four Condon works in the library’s collection.Approximate size of art: 11 ¾ inches by 15 ¾ inchesMedia: oil on canvas with brush and painting knife Style: American Realism

Two Artists – One View

#25 GLADYS COFFIN (1892-1974) “THE QUARRIES”During September of 1944, Gladys Coffin completed this rendering of the Piqua Stone Products Company located east of Piqua and the Great Miami River. The artist was the director of Piqua’s Young Women’s Christian Associa-tion (YWCA) from 1941 until 1947. Coffin returned to her family home in Springfield, Illinois in 1947, after the death of her mother. The thin wooden frame is contem-porary with the completion of the painting. This is the only Coffin painting in the library’s collection.Approximate size of the art: 10 inches by 10 ½ inchesMedia: watercolorStyle: American Realism


#26 UNIDENTIFIED ARTIST-DRAFTSMAN“PIQUA MUNICIPAL POWER PLANT ADDITION”This architect’s concept drawing was completed in c. 1939 by the W.I. Barrows & Associates of Dayton, Ohio. This work shows plans for the power plant’s first major addition/enlargement since the original plant was completed in 1933. This coal fired plant is located at 919 South Main Street in Piqua, Ohio. Architectural drawings of this type are often not thought of as art. However, the hand-draw-ing skills, attention to detail and placement of non-architectural details puts this work into the realm of twentieth century art. The frame is contemporary to the piece. The work hung in the power plant offices for a number of years. Approximate size of the art: 16 ½ inches by 29 ½ inchesMedia: pen and ink, watercolorStyle: Functional Art/Commercial Architectural Drawing

#27 UNIDENTIFIED ARTIST-DRAFTSMAN“PIQUA POWER PLANT”The Citizens and Tax Payers League ran a successful campaign in 1931 in Piqua, Ohio to build the city’s first Municipal Electric Pow-er Plant. This architect’s conceptual drawing was placed in City Hall and in other downtown business windows to showcase the success of the building project. The Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company was responsible for the creation of the drawing and the completion of the coal-fired plant in 1933. Long considered func-tional and not artistic, this type of drawing is now coming into its own as functional or commercial art. The frame is contemporary to the period of the drawing. This piece hung in the offices of the power plant located at 919 South Main Street in Piqua, Ohio. Approximate size of the art: 19 inches by 23 ½ inchesMedia: pen and ink, watercolorStyle: Functional Art/Commercial Architectural Drawing

Art Meets Utility


#28 MIKE LEWIS (1970’s – 20__)“A VISUAL MEMORY OF PIQUA’S DAY OF HONOR, THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9-11-01”

This performance piece was created on stage at Piqua’s 2011 event commemorating the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9-11-01. The event took place in the Hance Pavilion at Fountain Park (off of Forest Avenue). The event was sponsored by the Piqua Council of Churches. During the fifteen to twenty minute presenta-tion, the work started out as a representation of the New York City skyline, followed by the skyline on fire, and fi-nally was transformed into a

representation of Jesus. When the artist was asked if the mark below the right eye was a tear, he replied that it was just a drip of black paint. Lewis, a member of the Jesus Painter Minis-try that produces similar works of art across the nation, stated that the process of painting was as important as the finished product. The black frame was added shortly after the work was finished.Approximate size of art: 53 ¾ inches by 65 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Performance Art in an American Impressionistic Style with abstract features.


#30 MAX CUMMINGS“HANCE PAVILION IN THE WINTER”This structure is located in Fountain Park on For-est Avenue in Piqua, Ohio. It was built in 1923 as a covered performance space for the annual Piqua Chautauqua Festival. As a Piqua artist, Cummings is known for his renderings of local and area sites and buildings. He has created pieces on walls (murals), canvas, paper, slate, board and several substances that are unknown and most likely should remain so. He is also a contributing member of the Piqua Visual Arts Society. The silvered wooden frame was chosen by the artist. Approximate size of art: 10 ½ inches by 13 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Impressionism

#29 CLIFFORD G. FISHER (1881-1951)“VILLAGE BY THE LAKE”This artist started out in Piqua as a harness maker, businessman, postmaster, insurance and real estate agent. Later in life, as he had time to travel with his wife Mary K. (1881-1969), he became an amateur oil painter. The location of this painting is unknown, but it was created while the Fishers were on vacation. The paint-ing is tentatively dated to the late 1940’s. The gilded wooden frame is contemporary to the piece. The painting was donated to the library by the family.Approximate size of art: 23 ¾ inches by 29 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Folk Art with an American Impressionistic Influence


#31 ROSEMARY KIENLE “POST OFFICE”This painting was created as part of a six work series of Piqua, Ohio buildings that were used as patterns for a cotton 50 inch by 70 inch coverlet sold by Mainstreet Piqua in 2011. The artist was commissioned to create iconic paintings of the city’s built environment. The Post Office shown in this work dates to 1914. It was constructed in the Neo-classical architectural style, and is located at 220 North Wayne Street. Kienle, a native of Piqua, has an excellent reputation for her work with structures and monuments in the city as well as any and all kinds of plant and animal life. She is a contributing member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and a founding member of the Piqua Visual Arts Society. The library purchased and framed the pieces for the institution’s permanent collection.Approximate size of art: 8 ¾ inches by 11 ½ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Realism with American Impressionistic features

Local Sights

#32 ROSEMARY KIENLE“HANCE PAVILION IN THE SPRING”Part of the Mainstreet Piqua series of six paintings used to create the designs on a coverlet in 2011. The Hance Pavillion shown in the painting was built in 1923 to house events sponsored by Piqua’s Chautauqua Fes-tival. It is located in Fountain Park on Forest Avenue in Piqua, Ohio. A former art teacher in the Piqua City Schools, the artist has been an active member of nu-merous artistic groups including the Piqua Visual Arts Society, the Western Ohio Watercolor Society and the Greenville Art Guild. The library purchased the series and had them matted and framed for its permanent collection.Approximate size of art: 8 ¾ inches by 11 ½ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Realism with strong American Impressionistic features


#33 DOUGLAS S. SMITH “HOTEL ON THE SQUARE”This piece shows two of Smith’s signature characteris-tics, a stormy sky and a wet and reflective street. He was a prolific artist, concentrating on structures and doing numerous commissions featuring homes. This work shows the eastern façade of the pre-renovation Fort Piqua Hotel on the public square. A Piqua resident, Smith’s art has been used for book covers, note cards (seven cards depicting work by Smith) and community retirement gifts. The piece was given the 2001 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition.Approximate size of art: 14 inches by 20 inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: American Impressionism

#34 MARSHA ELLIOTT “PIQUA LIBRARY”This work was completed in 2014 and shows the east-ern and southern façades of the Fort Piqua Plaza build-ing (home of the Piqua Public Library) located on the northwest side of the public square in Piqua, Ohio. A Covington, Ohio resident, Ms. Elliott worked as a com-mercial sign painter for over 43 years and at retirement turned to a less technical artistic style. Elliott held a one-woman show in the Piqua Public Library’s Rollin Gallery in June of 2014. This work was donated to the library by the artist.Approximate size of art: 10 ½ inches by 14 ½ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: American Realism with strong Impressionistic features

#35 ROSEMARY KIENLE “THE HOTEL”Features the upper portion of the front façade (south-ern face) of the former Plaza Hotel (currently the Piqua Public Library) at 116 West High Street. A retired Pi-qua art teacher and adjunct faculty member at Edison Community College, Kienle is one of the artistic leaders of the Piqua community. This work was presented the 2007 Piqua Bicentennial Award. It was part of a series that Mainstreet Piqua reproduced and sold as a Piqua Bicentennial fund raiser.Approximate size of art: 10 inches by 14 inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: American Impressionism


#36 JUDITH FOGT (1942-2010)“LANDMAN’S MILL ON THE MIAMI AND ERIE”This is a rendering of the historic flour mill located on Landman Mill Road near the Miami-Shelby Coun-ties boundary line north of Piqua. The mill is no lon-ger standing. Fogt was commissioned to do a series of historic paintings from around Miami County for the opening of the McDonald’s West restaurant at 1935 Cov-ington Avenue in c. 1980-81. All the paintings in this series have the artist’s signature features of birds flying in the sky, and trees. A number of the works were based upon period photographs, but the artist added figures, boats, horse drawn wagons and other touches to soften the often stark historic images. The frame and matting were selected by the restaurant owners. The Benjamin Scott Family, owners of the local McDonald’s franchise, donated the series to the library after the McDonald’s West restaurant moved to a new building.Approximate size of art: 18 inches by 23 inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Romantic American Impressionism as a Historic Illustration

#37 JUDITH FOGT (1942-2010)“MAIN STREET, PIQUA, OHIO”This painting shows downtown Piqua in the 1890’s, this view comes from a book entitled Art Work of Miami County (a book combining text and photographs). The artist was concerned with portraying a certain feeling about the era and did not try to portray exact details. Fogt’s signature birds and trees are depicted. The young boy in the middle of Main Street is shown with a wagon and dog. He is selling [Die] Miami Post newspaper, a German language newspaper published in the building shown to the left in the painting. This work is one of a series produced for the Scott family when they opened the McDonald’s West restaurant on Covington Avenue in c.1980-81. The frames, as well as colors and styles of matting, were selected by the restaurant owners. This work was part of the series donated to the library by the Scott Family.Approximate size of art: 15 ½ inches by 16 inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Romantic American Impressionism as a Historic Illustration


#38 JUDITH FOGT (1942-2010)“MARKET SQUARE”Taken from a c. 1905 postcard, this historical piece shows the public square in Piqua, Ohio during a farmers’ market session. Fogt shows nu-merous figures, vehicles and architectural details that are not shown in the postcard. She was more concerned with presenting the historical feeling for the period rather than a photographic repre-sentation of the site. As with all of her paintings in this series, she added birds and trees to the work. The scene shows the trolley car, the band stand, the Plaza Hotel (on the right), and farm-ers’ wagons ready to sell produce. The painting was part of a permanently exhibited series that had been commissioned for use in the McDon-ald’s West restaurant on Covington Avenue in c.1980-81. The Scott Family, owners of the Piqua McDonald franchise, donated the series paint-ings to the library.Approximate size of art: 15 ¼ inches by 15 ¾ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Romantic American Impressionism as a Historic Illustration

#39 JUDITH FOGT (1942-2010)“MIAMI-ERIE CANAL, PIQUA, OHIO”This scene was first captured in a turn-of-the-century (1900) colorized postcard photograph and then used by the artist as a basis for her painting. This segment of the Miami and Erie Canal in Piqua, Ohio was located between Main and Spring Streets. This scene looks north to the High Street canal lift bridge. The artist added birds and trees to all of her works in the series. The painting shows several canal boats as well as a young boy in a row boat on the left side of the work. This painting is part of a historical series of Miami County scenes. Fogt was commissioned by the Scott family to produce these works to decorate the newly completed McDonald’s West restaurant on Covington Avenue in c.1980-81. The Scott family donated the entire series to the library.Approximate size of art: 22 inches by 22 inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Romantic American Impressionism as a Historic Illustration


#40 MAX CUMMINGS“LORAMIE MILL”This painting shows the mill around 1900, with a canal pond reflecting the front façade of the building. Note the several men stand-ing under the porch roof who are obviously discussing the cost of flour and the political woes of the county. Landman, the owner of the mill was very active in county politics. The mill was a very popular site among local and regional artists. Cummings is noted for his involvement in the artistic community in the Upper Miami Valley. He frequently sold his works at fairs and festivals as well as tak-ing on numerous commission work.Approximate size of art: 17 ½ inches by 25 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Romantic American Impressionism

#41 YUKI HALL“DAYTON CITYSCAPE”This work was completed as a demonstration piece un-dertaken in the lobby of the Piqua Public Library in May of 2014, during the 2013 Traveling Exhibition of the Ohio Watercolor Society. The painting is the distil-lation and interpretation of several photographs taken on Main Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Hall stated that she always tries to achieve a loose and spontane-ous style in her watercolor pieces. This work is a smaller version of her better-known “Rainy Day Main Street”, which has been exhibited in Cincinnati. This painting is done in the style of Alvaro Castagnet, an internation-ally recognized artist born in Uruguay. Hall was born in Tokyo, Japan and at the time of this piece was living in Beavercreek, Ohio. The piece was donated by the artist and framed by the library.Approximate size of art: 14 inches by 19 ½ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Contemporary American ImpressionismInfluenced by Castagnet


#42 DR. MARCUS MILLER (1938 – 20__)“CANAL BOAT OVER THE TWIN ARCHES ON THE MIAMI AND ERIE CANAL”This historic rendering of Miami County’s twin arches was completed in 2004. The DeCamp Statler canal boat shown in the painting was a cargo boat owned by the Statler Family whose farm was located northwest of this scene. The stone twin arches have been restored and are part of the Miami County Park District. The park is located between County Road 25-A and the Great Miami River, across from the county hospital. The artist’s colors are softly worked and convey an almost idealized feeling of history while at the same time providing a strong level of accurate detail. This is one of two historic scenes in watercolor by the artist in the library’s permanent collection. At the time this piece was completed, Dr. Miller was a resident of Pleasant Hill, Ohio.Approximate size of art: 21 inches by 28 ¾ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Romantic American Impressionism

#43 MARCIA MAAS“HONEY RUN CREEK, HOLMES COUNTY”This 2006 work was inspired by the scenery of Holmes County, Ohio. The artist demonstrated her watercol-or techniques in the library lobby in 2013 during the 2012 Traveling Exhibit of the Ohio Watercolor Soci-ety. At that time Maas presented a small exhibit of her own work and the library purchased one of these earlier pieces. Well known in the Upper Miami Val-ley, Maas taught art at Lehman High School, Sidney, Ohio for fourteen years.Approximate size of art: 13 ¾ inches by 20 ¾ inchesMedia: watercolorStyle: American Impressionism


#44 HORACE JUDSON ROLLIN (1845-1930)“STUDY ON FT. GEORGE ISLE, FLORIDA”This work was completed in 1882, during the artist’s trip to Florida for his health. It was done during the early years of his Middle Pe-riod and shows the use of brush strokes as well as the use of the tip of the brush seen in the Pointillism Style. It is highly likely that the work was sketched and painted out of doors at the site. It is framed in a seven inch wide gilded wooden frame selected by the artist. The Island of Fort George is located about sixteen miles east of Jackson-ville, Florida. Currently, it is the home of the Fort George Island Cul-tural State Park.Approximate size of art: 18 inches by 24 inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Romantic Impressionism with Pointillism features done “En plein air” in the style of John Constable


#45 DONALD F. HAMPSHIRE (c. 1917-1990)“THE OLD INN”This work may have been painted in the 1950’s in Piqua, Ohio. An example of a romantic image created in the mind of the artist. The night scene with moonlight striking the snow-covered inn represents a feeling rather than a reality. The gilded plaster on wood frame was placed on the painting at the time of the piece’s creation by a neighbor of the artist. Approximate size of art: 15 ½ inches by 23 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Impressionism


#46 VIRGINIA SAUNDERS KURTZ HEITZMAN (1920-1989)“JOHNSTON FARMHOUSE AND KITCHEN”This work is part of a series done during the Johnston Farm restoration. Located on Hardin Road, off of State Route 66 west of Piqua, Ohio, this work shows the front façade of the c. 1815 farm house and the lower side entrance into the kitchen. Colonel John Johnston was a federal Indian Agent in Piqua (1811-1829) and ran his agency from this building. His wife Rachel and their fifteen children made this two story brick structure their home and the center of many of the major early pioneer events. This area is now part of the Johnston Farm and Indian Agency State His-toric Site. The frame was made of historic barn siding collected by the artist’s husband Samuel Heitzman (1907-2004) from the site. He then fashioned the wood into the rustic frames. Mr. Heitzman donated the series of Johnston site oils and watercolors to the library in the 1990’s.Approximate size of art: 15 inches by 19 inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Impressionism

#47 VIRGINIA SAUNDERS KURTZ HEITZMAN (1920-1989)“JOHNSTON FARMHOUSE ON LANE”The artist showed the farmhouse from a short distance down the dirt lane in this painting, which was part of a series of works done during the 1966-1972 Ohio Historical Society restoration of this War of 1812 era house and out buildings. Colonel John Johnston built this home to house his family and the federal Indian Agency which he headed from 1811 to 1829. The artist captured the strong rural nature of the site, which was one the most innovative farms of its day. Mr. Samuel Heitzman (1907-2004) built the frame from barn sid-ing he acquired at the Johnston Farm during its resto-ration. After his retirement from the Third Savings and Loan, Heitzman removed the Johnston art series from his office and donated them to the library.Approximate size of art: 16 ¼ inches by 22 ¾ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: American Impressionism


#48 VIRGINIA SAUNDERS KURTZ HEITZMAN (1920-1989)“REAR OF JOHNSTON FARMHOUSE”This piece is part of a series of watercolor paintings created during and after the restoration of the John-ston Farm buildings. The building restoration work was done by the Ohio Historical Society in 1966-1972. The artist captured the historic feeling of Indian Agent Colonel John Johnston’s home and agency of-fice. This series parallels an oil series of the same site by Heitzman. The watercolors are more detailed than the oil series and often show either historic figures or men working on the restoration. Several of the wa-tercolor pieces were adapted for notecards. Heitzman began painting about 1937, beginning with oils be-fore moving on to watercolors. While she did not have any formal training, the artist studied with many well-known painters and served as the President of the Western Ohio Watercolor Society and an elected member of the Ohio Watercolor Society. The series was donated to the library by the artist’s husband Samuel Heitzman (1907-2004).Approximate size of art: 14 inches by 20 inchesMedia: transparent watercolor on paperStyle: American Impressionism with Realism features

#49 VIRGINIA SAUNDERS KURTZ HEITZMAN(1920-1989)“SPRINGHOUSE”This is one of the few paintings in the artist’s watercol-or series of the Johnston Farm (home of Indian Agent Colonel John Johnston) that actually shows workers completing the 1966-1972 restoration of the site by the Ohio Historical Society. This scene was based on a photograph taken by the artist or her husband. The c. 1815 building shown covers the naturally occurring spring that provided fresh cool water to the farmhouse and barn. This series was done at roughly the same time the artist completed another oil series of the site. The series depicts what is now the Johnston Farm and Indian Agency State Historic Site located on Hardin Road west of Piqua, Ohio. Samuel Heitzman (1907-2004) donated both series to the library.Approximate size of art: 14 inches by 21 inchesMedia: transparent watercolor on paperStyle: American Impressionism with Realism features


#50 FAY MARIE SHOEMAKER“GRAND OLD LADY”Focused on the front entrance of the former Plaza Hotel at 116 West High Street, now home to the Pi-qua Public Library. By painting a small architectural detail, the artist has managed to convey the gran-deur of the entire 1891 structure. This work was given the 2009 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. As a member of the Piqua Visual Arts Society, the artist is a frequent exhibitor in area and regional art shows. The gold framing and mat-ting were selected by the artist.Approximate size of art: 12 inches by 17 inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: American Impressionism with Realism Style features

#51 BARBARA BAILEY HUTCHINSON“THIS MAGIC MOMENT”This work was completed by Emmy Award winning singer and composer Barbara Hutchinson in 2012-13. She strives to con-vey the beauty and diversity of the human face in her art. She performed in the lobby of the Piqua Public Library in December of 2013 as well as exhibiting a dozen or so of her art pieces. She stated that it was the first time she had ever performed in front of her own art. The library has three of her pieces in its permanent collection includ-ing a self-portrait.Approximate size of art: 14 inches by 20 inchesMedia: acrylics and oil-pastelsStyle: American Impressionism


#52 MINNA “MINNIE” PLOCK McCLAY (1864-1954) “TULIPS”This diminutive art piece was produced in the 1930’s by Piqua’s art teacher. She sold her unusual type of art to Rikes-Kumler Company, a department store in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The framing is contemporary to the piece. The item was donated to the library in 1996 by one of McClay’s students, Samuel Heitzman (2007-2004).Approximate size of art: 4 ¾ inches by 6 ¾ inchesMedia: paint on foilStyle: Decorative Commercialism

#54 CAROL STROCK-WASSON “LANDSCAPE”This soft and peaceful country landscape was painted plein air or out-of-doors. This method is in contrast to a studio-produced work. The Union City, Indiana artist won the Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. The gilded wooden frame was selected by the artist.Approximate size of art: 8 ½ inches by 11 ½ inchesMedia: pastelStyle: Contemporary American Impressionism

#53 UNKNOWN CRAFTSMAN“TRAMP ART FRAME”The name on this 1913 photograph has become almost illegible, spelling out, as nearly as we can tell, “Eliz Grill_iez-ing”. The photo is encased in a Tramp Art Style frame. This style of wood carving is often pro-duced from used and cheap wood products such as cigar boxes and shipping crates. As a result, the pieces are unusually fragile. Typical of this style, the frame has wooden strips with chip-carved right angles which are placed in interlocking configurations. This type of carving is sometimes referred to as a “Crown of Thorns” pattern. Boxes and frames are the most common items in the Tramp Art Style.Approximate size of frame: 10 ¼ inches by 15 inchesMedia: carved soft woodStyle: Tramp Art/Hobo Art (frame)


#55 M. WALKER“NEW YORK TAXIS IN THE RAIN” This city streetscape shows a typical rainy day in New York City with all its heavy traffic. The piece won the 2012 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. The mat and frame were chosen by the artist. At the time of this award, Walker was a resident of Wapa-koneta, Ohio. Approximate size of art: 8 ½ inches by 11 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Contemporary AmericanImpressionism

#56 JERRY R. WHITED“WOMAN”The artist, a resident of Sidney, exhibited art in Piqua as early as the late 1960’s (Miami Citizens Bank Art Exhibition). The library purchased this piece at a visual artists’ presentation in Pi-qua at the Apple Tree Gallery. The frame and mat were selected by the library.Approximate size of art: 6 inches by 6 ½ inchesMedia: oil on paperStyle: Portraiture


#57 AUGUST “AUGIE” ROESTAMADJI“WINTER CROSSWALK #2”This winter scene portrays a cold night for the mys-terious dark figure crossing the street. The silver-colored frame was selected by the artist. This piece was selected as the 2011 Purchase Award at the Pi-qua Fine Arts Exhibition. The artist has lived and worked in Arcanum, in Darke County, Ohio.Approximate size of art: 15 ½ inches by 19 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Contemporary American Impressionism

#58 EVELYN J. MAHRT“HIGHWAY TREES”The strong brushstrokes of this work are high-lighted by the orange sky and four fir trees. The work earned the 2006 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. The gilded wooden frame was selected by the artist. The artist, a for-mer gallery owner (Mahrt Collection), is a long-time resident of Piqua, Ohio and has been very active in promoting the fine arts in the area. The artist has a Wright State University degree in Fine Arts and has studied at the Dayton Art Institute. She has been a practicing artist since 1988. Mahrt has exhibited in numerous juried exhibitions and served as a judge for a number of shows.Approximate size of art:10 ½ inches by 13 ½ inchesMedia: oil on boardStyle: Contemporary American Impressionism


#59 MICHAEL LANGE“321 WEST GREENE STREET”This commissioned work was complet-ed in 2004. Lange specializes in pen and ink drawings of historic buildings in the greater Piqua area. This home was built prior to the First World War. The piece was donated to the library in 2012 by the Huebner family who had commissioned the work. The frame and matting were se-lected by the Huebner Family. The library’s permanent collection contains a number of Lange’s works. Lange is a long time resi-dent of Piqua, Ohio.Approximate size of art: 16 ½ inches by 19 ¾ inchesMedia: pen and ink on paperStyle: Realist Illustration

#61 CAROLYN STEVENS“204 NORTH MAIN”This work was presented the 2007 Piqua Bicen-tennial Award and was reproduced as fund raiser for the Bicentennial Committee. The Commercial Queen Anne Style structure depicted has a highly decorated tin cornice at the top. The construction date of 1881 is incorporated in this top decoration. This structure’s last occupant was Paul’s Bar. The downtown building has since been demolished. The work was framed and matted by the library.Approximate size of art: 9 ½ inches by 13 ½ inchesMedia: watercolorStyle: American Impressionism with Realism Style features


#60 CAROLYN STEVENS“GIRLFRIENDS”This work features a classical bust and a green-eyed cat. The piece was given the Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. The metal frame and double matting were chosen by the artist. Stevens has been very active in promoting Piqua’s art community. Approximate size of art: 11 ¾ inches by 15 ½ inchesMedia: watercolorStyle: Contemporary American Impressionism

#62 PAMELA KUNK“SHADES OF AUTUMN”A striking rendering of grapes and leaves of thick vines. The artist, a Sidney resi-dent, won the 2006 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. The metal frame was chosen by the artist.Approximate size of art: 9 ½ inches by 13 ¼ inchesMedia: watercolor on paperStyle: Contemporary AmericanImpressionism


#63 LINDA HAMILTON“MOTHER’S LOVE”This work was completed in 2003 by Ham-ilton, who served as an art teacher in the Piqua City Schools. The artist has inspired hundreds of students to appreciate art from around the world and from their lo-cal community. The work was awarded the 2003 Purchase Award at the Piqua Fine Arts Exhibition. The gilded framing was chosen by the artist.Approximate size of art: 23 ½ inches by 29 ½ inchesMedia: oil on canvasStyle: Contemporary Representational Realism

#64 LINDA HAMILTON“YOUNG MAN READING”This piece was completed in 2004 and depicts a young man engrossed in reading. The work reflects the artist’s years as an educator in the Piqua Public Schools. The frame was chosen by the artist.Approximate size of art: 13 ½ inches by 17 ¼ inchesMedia: oilStyle: Contemporary RepresentationalRealism


#65 UNKNOWN ARTIST “UNTITLED”These three drawings were completed during the c. 1870’s. Left to right they show: the Miami & Erie Canal and towpath, an abandoned log cabin, and the Great Miami River. It is very likely that all three scenes were located in and around Piqua, Ohio. While the trio of sketches were re-framed in the 1990’s, they were originally framed in exactly the same configuration.Approximate size of each piece: 8 ¼ inches by 11 ¼ inchesMedia: charcoalStyle: Regional American Impressionism with Realism Style features

#66 ARTIST UNKNOWN“OLD STONE HOUSE”This piece was most likely created by a student in the c. 1850’s. The house shown is a very simple Federal Style home and most likely located in Piqua, Ohio. The frame was added in the early twentieth century.Approximate size of art: 12 ½ inches by 15 ½ inchesMedia: pen and ink on paper (The ink was most likely hand made with soot and vegetable extracts)Style: Regional Folk


#67 GARTHARY MERRIT (1822-18__)“SAMPLER”This stitching sampler was completed by Mer-rit in 1840 when she was eighteen years old. Using different styles and threads, Merrit was demonstrating her mastery of the sewing arts. The piece includes her birthdate (December 9, 1822), and the name of her parents (Isaac and Margaret). The thread was colored by hand us-ing natural vegetable dies. Many of the colored threads have faded and are difficult to read. The piece was re-framed in the 1990’s.Approximate size of art: 13 ½ inches by 17 inchesMedia: colored thread on linenStyle: American Folk


The artwork shown is part of the Piqua Public Library’s permanent collection. The exhibits are rotated and not all pieces may be on display at any given time.

Please contact the library with any questions. Gallery tours are available, please call in advance to schedule.

Images may be used for non-commercial and educa-tional purposes. Please credit “Courtesy of Piqua Pub-lic Library, Piqua, Ohio” when using. Please notify the library of their use.

Thank You for Visiting!

Local History Coordinator/Curator – Gary MeekLayout, design, and photography – Robin HeintzGallery layout and hanging – James Oda, Charles GravesResearch and text – James OdaEditing – Robin Heintz, Elizabeth Hole

Compiled and copyrighted September, 2014

Piqua Public Library116 West High StreetPiqua, OH 45356Phone: 937-773-6753Web: www1.youseemore.com/piquaEmail: [email protected] Public Library can also be foundon Facebook and Pinterest.

Piqua Public Library Art Gallery

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