LIMA — Artists from a 100-mile radius had the opportunity to share their art Sunday at ArtSpace/Lima’s gallery for its annual Spring Show.
The Spring Show has been an institution in Lima since 1952, according to ArtSpace/Lima Executive Director Sally Windle.
“It’s older than ArtSpace or the art association,” Windle said. “The whole organization was founded in 1955… There were a group of people who would get together, and they would have shows on the lawn of the Allen County Museum.”
Windle explained that after the start of the Arts Association, it wanted to keep the Spring Show because it would be an automatic audience. It has continued to bring in audiences. Windle has been at ArtSpace/Lima for three years and in the industry for nearly 40.
The Spring Show featured approximately 50 artists and 200 pieces. Visitors will find that the gallery presents art from many different disciplines, from ceramics to metalwork and printmaking to watercolors.
A special juror, Andrew Hershberger, an art history professor at Bowling Green State University, went through the displayed works and chose the award recipients for the 2022 show. Windle said Hershberger’s suggestion during the preparation process was to curate the gallery with the best quality pieces of the artists’ offerings. Local artists could submit up to five works that would then possibly be chosen to be included in the show.
The Spring Show gives eight awards, which include several awards given in the names of families or individuals. The first-place prize was given to a mixed media sculpture created by Tim Wharton, of Elida, titled Shipwreck. Second place was given for a painting by Kelly Masillo, of Ada, titled Queen of Hearts, and third place was Spencerville resident Barbara E. Ward’s painting titled Organized Whimsey #2, State 2.
The Best of Show award recipient was local artist Joe Bonifas for his forged metal piece titled Organic Table Series. Bonifas was also honored with the Farmer Family Award for his other piece, Totemic Series #1.
Bonifas said he has been an artist for 43 years. Bonifas’ background is in art education, and he attended Bowling Green State University for his Master’s degree in jewelry and sculpture. ArtSpace/Lima features some of his pieces, such as the large metal gates at the entrance of the main gallery, as part of the permanent space.
“I have to say it’s very partial to the arts here in Lima because they have been very supportive of the arts on many different levels, in music, in the visuals,” Bonifas said.
He explained how individuals in the community had contributed to help support ArtSpace/Lima, and how it’s grown over the years since he started as an artist.
Bonifas offered some insight into his art as well. He said that his Best in Show piece took about 35 hours to complete. He works on multiple projects at a time, with 95% of his work being commissioned pieces. To create the sculptures, Bonifas uses a 5 1/2-ton hammer machine to forge the metal, which hammers the red-hot metal to create the curves indicative of his sculptures.
“It’s very fluid; one of the things I want to point out is it has a tough appearance and fluid quality,” Bonifas said. “Often, we think of metal as being very rigid and stiff, and this is a soft kind (of appearance).”
ArtSpace/Lima inhabits a historic building in downtown Lima, with gallery spaces on three floors, classrooms and a gift shop. Check out its website, artspacelima.com, for information on classes and events.
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