Mantua – Looking to add a unique piece of local art to spruce up your home? Than look no further than the Sweet heART Walk at the Mantua Center School on Saturday, February 11th. The historic building will be open from noon until 5, and will be filled with local treasures. Those treasures will be available at both a live auction, which begins at 1:30, and a silent auction, of which final bidding ends at 2:30. If you’re curious about what to expect, why not meet a few of the artists who’s work will be featured?
You may know Skip Schweitzer as the retired owner of a taxidermy shop, or perhaps through his work as a writer for the Weekly Villager. But did you know that Skip has been an avid woodworker since his youth? While running his shop, he created his own wooden panels for taxidermy projects, and eventually moved on to furniture projects. These days, he focuses on smaller, more intricate projects like band saw boxes and items like vases crafted on a wood lathe. He has donated four pieces for the auction on February 11th. Three items are turned bud vases; two in mahogany and one in poplar. The fourth item is a band saw jewelry box crafted from black walnut. His creations are a labor of love.
“My wife Barbara taught at the Center School for close to 30 years,” Skip shared. “She really did love that school and the kids she taught there.” Since his wife’s passing three years ago, Skip has become involved in the efforts to help turn the building into a community center. Some day soon, he hopes to have a plaque made to commemorate his late wife permanently placed on the wall at the Center School Community Center.
Love is in the air all around town. “I have to tell you, I love the spark and energy I’m feeling in Mantua right now,” beamed Heidi Mazanec, owner of Noah Blue Photography in Mantua. “It seems people are really coming together and trying to bring more business to the area. We’re lucky to have so much talent right here,” she marveled. Heidi has donated two prints to the Sweet heARTS Walk.
Her neighboring business, Renee’s Reloved Furnishings, will also be donating items for the event. Shop owner Renee Siperke explained, “I just love the town I work in!” She continued, “It’s experiencing a revival and becoming a thriving community,” she acknowledged. “As a shop owner, I like to give back to the community, and a community center is a great thing we can accomplish together.” She’ll be donating a handmade wooden ‘Ohio’ plaque to the event, as well as a gift basket of items from her shop, which specializes in Chalk Paint ® by Annie Sloane products and workshops.
These are only a few of the local artists featured in the event on February 11th starting at noon. For event information, contact Leanne Painley, Carole Pollard, or Terri Vechery.
