In celebration of Women’s History Month, Athena Art Society has been invited to exhibit at the Ohio Statehouse.  This has become a biennial event with an artistic challenge.  This year’s challenge is entitled “Let the Sun Shine,” and 26 Athena members have chosen to take this challenge and celebrate the organization’s 115th anniversary as the oldest continuous women’s art organization in the country.  The participating artists created at least one image in a square format of a sun or including the sun.  A 2nd image with the same theme could be created in any proportion.  Above are shown many of the 38 pieces that will be displayed on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse.  The show will run March 1 to March 30, 2018.

After leaving the Statehouse, the exhibit will be displayed at the Toledo-Lucas County Library branch in Maumee, Ohio in their gallery from April 1 to May 14.

The statehouse in Columbus is Ohio’s legislative building and was completed in 1861 although its chambers were occupied and used earlier (1857).  Its design was initiated through a competition.  There were seven architects of the building and one of the most notable was Ohio-born Nathan B. Kelley who lived and worked most of his life in Columbus.  He used a great deal of ornament and detail on the building’s interior to make it feel imposing and impressive.