Published: July 30, 2015
Kendal at Oberlin is a vibrant community that is more interesting because of its location in Oberlin, Ohio. One of the unique spots in the heart of Downtown Oberlin is the Ginko Gallery, and it is one of the highlights for people who live, work, attend college, and visit Oberlin.
About Ginko Gallery
Ginko Gallery is owned by Liz Burgess who is one of the three original artist owners who started the shop in 1997, while seeking a shared studio space. The gallery has evolved over time, and today features works from more than 250 different artists.
Half the studio is a delightful place to shop for unique items created by local artists. The other half remains devoted to the process of creating art and features five small studios where resident artists work. This area is open to the public and allows visitors to see how something is transformed into a work of art.
Liz Burgess is a fiber artist. Currently, she experiments with collaborations in nature to create sculptural pieces of art using items like found objects, indigo dye, driftwood, as well as exploring sericulture, or the hand-raising of silkworms.
Today, the offerings of the gallery have evolved to include a wide range of artistic mediums including pottery, wood, metal, glass, jewelry, and more.
Studio Artists
There are five studio artists at Ginko Gallery. Each one offers a unique perspective on the world of art. These artists allow gallery visitors the opportunity to experience art in action; something studio owner, Liz Burgess feels is important to help make art real, and to help visitors understand why each piece is unique and learn to value the individual pieces they see in the gallery even more. Two of those artists are also residents of Kendal at Oberlin.
Nancy Bradford Garver’s artistic medium is quilting. She brings more than 50 years of experience to the studio. She has a genuine passion for quilting and enjoys the creative process of mixing hues and patterns in order to create something beautiful.
When asked why she quilts, she says, “I simply love the process of sewing and construction. I also love handling colors and playing with the effects of juxtaposing, isolating, or contrasting different hues.”
Theodore Thomas Nowick is another of the studio artists. He has a history in ceramics and sculpture, but now specializes in making kinetic mobiles using found objects, like cloth, paper, wood, and wire. He is also one of the many talented Kendal at Oberlin residents who maintains a passion for his art.
He enthusiastically says, “I am continually entranced with the interplay of color, texture, form, and movement, which is never as satisfying for me in any other medium as it is in my mobiles.”
CATSS
In addition to serving as a home for five studio artists and more than 250 gallery artists, Ginko Gallery is also home to CATSS (Community Action to Save Strays). The organization is devoted to the cause of preventing the birth of more stray cats and providing homes for cats that do need them.
It will only take one visit to Ginko Gallery to understand why it is such an important part of the local culture and landscape. Make sure to drop by and see for yourself.
