New wall, a man with big pants honored at Celebrate the Arts banquet

Landscapers are well known for beautifying communities through their uncanny ability to spruce up lawns and landscapes with the stunning beauty of nature.The Sugarcreek Community Arts Council has been adding splendor to the local community for a long time by other means.Whether it is painting or carving, through music or writing, members of the Arts Council have added their own brand of beauty to the area, and on Tuesday, Dec. 13, they united at Dutch Valley restaurant in Sugarcreek for the annual Celebrate the Arts evening.Celebrate the Arts was originally created as a collaborative effort between the Sugarcreek Rotary, Lions Club and Arts Council, to bring the community together during the Christmas season for a time of fellowship and to appreciate the various aspects of art throughout the community.As always, the program featured a number of local artists, including the entertainment of the Garaway Show Choir, under the direction of Ryan McPeeks.Following dinner, and introduction of guests by Onley Heath, the group looked back on some of the achievements they have gained over the past year.Some of the projects broached were Paint the Town for Christmas, a collaboration between Sugarcreek businesses, the Garaway High School Art Club and the Arts Council.This year, Garaway art instructor Mallory Gerstacker and her students painted scenes for Sugarlane IGA, The Budget, Keith’s Shoe and Saddle Repair, Collectors Decanters and Steins, Swiss Village Bulk Food, McDonald’s, The Gospel Shop, Park Street Pizza, The Kamali, Troyer & Associates and Garaway School District Central Office.The biggest news in local art comes in the form of a sculpted wall. Local sculptor Sherry Crilow continues to gear up for the upcoming construction of the brick wall sculpture that will feature 13 large sculpted panels on the wall located at the corner of Broadway and Main Street in Sugarcreek, behind the Putt Memorial.While initially the wall was to contain 13 panels unique to the others, Crilow said that when she began the design process, it quickly became apparent that the best course of action would be to pursue a different path.“We had 13 different ideas that we wanted to incorporate into the project, and as the artist, when it was my turn to sit down and start working on the concept ideas, I realized that it was easier to mesh those 13 ideas together than to try to keep them separate,” said Crilow. “One of the goals was to show the community working together, and when you separate the items out, it didn’t work. It became much easier once those things were put together.”According to Crilow, the stone wall where the panels will be placed has been taken down, new footers have been put in place and a concrete wall has been poured by the Sugarcreek Village.In addition, the Arts Council has also placed the Tom Miller project on the Main Street side of the wall, to tribute the Sugarcreek artist with a sculpture. That sculpture will remain there permanently.The bricks will be baked at Belden Brick at Plant 6, which will begin baking the bricks for the project in January.Crilow said that each panel will take approximately two to three weeks to complete once construction begins. Johnny Mullet, of Cherry Ridge Masons, will be laying the bricks beginning in the spring of 2013. Crilow said that the plan is to have the wall completed by June of 2013.When completed, the wall will be a lasting tribute to the communities of Baltic, Dundee, Ragersville, Shanesville and Sugarcreek.The cost of the wall is estimated at $80,000-$100,000, and the sculpture committee is seeking donations from interested businesses, individuals and organizations. Any donations of more than $1,000 will be recognized on a special plaque.The coveted 2011 Friends of the Arts award was given to David Lorah, local musician and teacher who also penned the children’s book Santa’s Pants. “How do you introduce someone who is this talented and blessed,” said presenter Dick Marshall of Lorah. “He is a world traveler of skilled reputation, a master of musical talent of both voice and instrument, a critically acclaimed author of renown, also an actor of renown, and one who has written as well as portrayed.”As he rose to accept his award, Lorah was interrupted by a visitor from down South, portrayed by 2009 Friends of the Arts winner Rick Troyer, who came wielding the one instrument Lorah confesses he finds less than joyful — the banjo.Troyer proceeded to pull off a hilarious routine, at the same time making fun of his friend while honoring him. Troyer had everyone in stitches as he playfully roasted Lorah, then sang a song he had written specifically for the occasion. “I really feel that the banjo should have been banned by the Geneva Convention,” said Lorah with a laugh following Troyer’s presentation.“This is an honor for me. It means a great deal to me.”Lorah, well known for his role as the author of the children’s book Santa’s Pants, as well as for his lengthy run on stage as the portrayer of Scrooge, has taught the piano to numerous students, and has been quite diverse in his dedication to the arts.After a great deal of good-natured teasing and laughter during the introduction, Marshall said of his longtime friend, “He tries so hard to be grumpy, but this is a man who cares deeply for every person he meets. He is a true ambassador of the arts.”In addition, the group acknowledged the 2011 Commissioned Art Work and Scholarship recipient Tori Sampsel, as well as the 2010 winner, Tiffany Lococo.They also thanked outgoing board members Candy Beaber, Crilow, Sally Eckert, Robert Gotshall and Malanie Slabaugh, while welcoming in new members Wanda Croft, Jay Croft and Randi Stein.