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Alumna Colors Local Scenes, Displays Works at Art on the Mall |
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Erica Ryan |
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Jul 22, 2002 |
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| Carol Pletz poses by some of her paintings. |
For local artist Carol Pletz, the scene outside her bedroom window could be inspiration for her next painting.
Pletz, who has been painting since childhood, focuses on places close to her heart: the Toledo and Lake Erie areas and Ireland, the country of her heritage where some of her relatives still live. Working mostly in acrylic and sometimes in watercolor, Pletz says she enjoys “painting what we have right here.”
Art fans in the area can check out her newest work, along with the creations of more than 100 other artists, at the 10th annual Art on the Mall, Sunday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Centennial Mall. The juried art show will move to Savage Hall if it rains.
Pletz, who majored in art at The University of Toledo and graduated in 1966, has showed her works at Art on the Mall since the event’s beginning in 1992. “Every year I display my new paintings,” she said. “I try to make sure they’re shown for the first time at Art on the Mall. After Art on the Mall, I have cards made and sell them at a holiday show at Fenwick Gallery in November.” The Fenwick show on Nov. 8 and 9 is open to the public.
This year, Pletz plans to display more than a dozen new works at Art on the Mall. She says she enjoys the event because “the people are so wonderful.” Pletz likes the opportunity to catch up with friends and meet new people right on the UT campus. About 20,000 people attend the free, public event annually.
Because alumni typically visit campus for sporting events during the school year, Pletz said summer is the perfect time to showcase art. “I’m grateful to be a part of it,” she said. “It’s been wonderful to see it grow and gain in reputation.”
Growing up in Toledo, Pletz took classes on Saturdays at the Toledo Museum of Art and studied art at Notre Dame Academy before majoring in art at UT. She worked as an artist for WTOL-TV and Toledo Edison, and later moved to free-lance work while she raised her children. She began seriously painting again in 1990, she said.
Pletz, who says her painting is “joyful and happy,” sells her work in local galleries, as well as at Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island and other lakeside towns.
“It presents the beauty we have here in our area,” she said.
For more information on Art on the Mall, call the UT Alumni Office at 419.530.2586.
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