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Becker Gallery & Permanent Art Collection

Information on the Becker Gallery and the permanent art collection.

Lonnie Sisson Art

Lonnie Sisson

The Annunciation

1971

Oil on Canvas

In Memory of Pearle Me Redmond (1915-1972)

"Her Enthusiasm for Life Transcended the Meaning of this Painting Which She Loved So Much."

Presented by Joy and Lonnie Sisson

Betty Woodworth Clark Art

Betty Woodworth Clark

Fragments of a Dream Garden

Date Unknown

Watercolor on Canvas

Jane Rau Art

Jane Rau

Untitled

Date Unknown

Acrylic on Canvas

Ken Foltz Art

Wooden Statue #114

Ken Foltz

#414Freedom Figure

Date Unknown

Wood on Glass Base

Generously on loan from Juanita Foltz

 

Lonnie Sisson, Artist

Laurence Sisson (1928-2015) Painted to his last day at 87. Laurence Sisson thrived when most people in his position succumb to age, illness and the pressures of a long life. Sisson’s work ethic was to get up every day and perfect his artistic craft that motivates the artist; it keeps him at the easel striving for perfection. His oils and watercolors today have the same energy and even more polish and appeal than they did 30 years ago. The most recent count lists Laurence Sisson in about 18 American museums, most of which feature both his oils and watercolors. His association with museum collections across the country dates back to the early 1950s. 

Photo from "The Santa Fean" magazine Dec 1986

Biographical information from laurencesisson.com accessed November 2024

Betty Woodworth Clark, Artist

Betty Woodworth Clark

Betty earned her B.A. degree from Otterbein College in 1942 and an M.A from Ohio University. She lived in the Cleveland area for 41 years where she taught art at the Euclid City Schools, Cleveland Museum of Art, Tri-C Western Campus and in various continuing education programs before moving to the Westerville, OH., area in 1993. As an artist in watercolor, fluid media, ink and acrylic, Clark's works have been exhibited in hundreds of Ohio and national exhibitions. Her paintings have been purchased for permanent collections of the Canton Art Institute, Massillon Museum, OCLC in Dublin, OH., and many churches, retirement centers and libraries. Two of her paintings were published with her commentary in Watercolor Magazine (American Artist) in 1997. In 1966 she was named "Woman of the Year" for art achievement by the Otterbein College Women's Club. 

Picture provided by Meg Barkhymer.

Biographical information from Cleveland.com obituary posting, accessed October 2024.

Jane Rau, Artist

Jane Rau centered in group for Westerville Art League picture of award winners, date unknown

Jane Rau (1915-2008) loved gardening, golfing and art. After retiring from Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Co. where she worked for 23 years, she attended Otterbein College Art School for 20 years, where she took many classes, including with instructors Vera Lott and Mary Jane Alford. She won many awards and ribbons, including Best of Show at the Governor's Senior Citizens Art Show. Jane's paintings have been exhibited around Columbus and Westerville. She was also a long time member of the Westerville Art League. 

Biography from Columbus Dispatch obituary and Westerville Art League accessed Oct 2024

Picture from Westerville Public Opinion, date unknown.

Ken Foltz Artist

 Ken Foltz picture by his sculpture

Otterbein University Class of 1948

Dr. Ken Foltz, a retired Osteopathic Physician, began his artistic endeavors at age 40. His first creation was a clay head of himself he made when he was on vacation. He added that desire is important for an artist. He said that creativity is something we don't know much about and you can learn arts and crafts but you can't learn creativity and that the problem is to develop your own creativity. He likened his own creative process to a seed: it has to germinate and grow into a beautiful plant.