The Eastern Ohio Art Guild is a non-profit organization of artists and art advocates committed to education and promotion of the arts.
Guild members represent every discipline including painters, potters, illustrators, sculptors, photographers, carvers, stained glass and fiber artists. The diversity of talent within the Guild ensures an enjoyable, educational experience for all, with opportunities to learn from skilled practitioners of every style and medium.
The Guild meets on the third Wednesday of each month for lectures, demonstrations and networking with other artists. Meetings are educational, entertaining and focused on issues relevant to members.
Whether young or old, beginner or advanced, the Eastern Ohio Art Guild would love to share art with you. Open the door to participation by Joining the EOAG today!
Our History
The Eastern Ohio Art Guild grew out of the efforts of several regional artists in 1999 that had the idea of creating a monthly meeting for area artists. This meeting would give artists the opportunity to meet other artists, share ideas, experience demonstrations, and host programs that would help them grow as artists.
The group would meet every third Wednesday of the month at the Kachilla Center. The first president of the organization was Martha Davis Rice. Meeting attendance remained small and the attending artists were able to share their talents and knowledge with one another. In March of 2001, Russ Weaver became president and meeting attendance began to grow and the meetings were moved to the First Christian Church. The group, The Eastern Ohio Art Guild, was born.
In April 2004, Martha Jamail was elected president. Membership had grown not only through artists members but individuals that desired a visual arts presence in the region. Guild members desire to bring more to the region and to have a place where member artists could sell their works began to rest heavy on many members’ minds. Martha and many dedicated members enlisted the help of her husband, John Jamail, who helped build the foundation for a co-operative venue known as the The Art Center.
Hundreds of volunteer hours went into the renovation of the new downtown Cambridge, Ohio site. In just one month, the volunteers transformed the building that was built in the early 1900′s (complete with art deco tin ceilings and a mezzanine that looks over the entire center) into The Art Center. The newly elected president, the late Lynn Stevens, and many dedicated volunteers opened the doors of The Art Center in November of 2006. The members of the co-operative opened its doors to the EOAG for meetings, special exhibitions and classes for nearly 3 years. The Art Center became known as home of the EOAG where they host an array of activities to educate and celebrate the arts with surrounding communities. Upon the passing of Lynn Stevens Carol Shear served as acting president until the March 2007 election when Anna Hodges was elected president. The membership voted to change the EOAG logo to a design that was created by Carol’s daughter. This design celebrated the diverse disciplines of the many member artists.
During Hodges’ first term as president, with the help of a dedicated board, the ground work began to establish the EOAG as not for profit organization. In late September of 2009 a fire swept through the historic downtown building and the Art Center, all that remained was ashes and memories.
The Eastern Ohio Art Guild became a 501 c3 organization in October of 2009. The Board of Directors met to discuss where the Eastern Ohio Art Guild would meet and a 6 month plan was developed. Cambridge and surrounding communities came to the aid of the EOAG and offered space for scheduled classes, meetings and exhibitions. Even though the group lost a meeting place it never lost its spirit and desire to create and share the arts with others.
A new site was found and the doors opened to the EOAG Art Gallery and Learning Center on April 20, 2010. Located at 649 Wheeling Avenue the new venue offers a main floor “Gallery” where regional art and special exhibitions are displayed. The lower level is used for exhibitions, member meetings, classes for all ages and Summer Art Day Camp for regional youth.
In April 2011 Michael Shepard was elected president of the EOAG.
With several exhibitions each year, the EOAG is able to promote the seasoned as well as the emerging artist while bringing unique art experiences and shows to the region. In September 2007, Rick Crooks exhibited his sculptures and in May 2008, oil painter, Kathy Thomas’ works were on display at The Art Center. In November of 2009 the EOAG hosted its first Juried Show in conjunction with the Cambridge Dickens Victorian Village in Downtown Cambridge. Works by Matthew Kindsey, Yan Sun, and Peggy Jean Luthy-Sibila have been featured at the EOAG Art Gallery. In September of 2011 “Linda Regula – Her Soul in Paint — Her Story in Print” will open and run through October.
It is the ambition of the Eastern Ohio Art Guild to share and celebrate the arts with others.
