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Local News

Friday, August 14, 2009

Artist has plenty of helpers
Reineke Family Dealerships - Upper Sandusky
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

MILLER CITY -- Oscar Velasquez says murals are not just pretty pictures: they are geometric, mathematical and precise.

Each square of the mural is measured, and each section of the painting is planned.

"We're not just painting landscapes," he said of himself and the group of about 20 migrant kids who painted a mural in Miller City. "We had a couple of sessions with mathematics, learning how to scale down the wall."

It is the second year that the summer class of migrant kids at St. Nicholas School in Miller City has worked on a mural, measuring about100 feet long and 18 feet high.

This year's mural is a picture of a pastoral setting that includes a 16-foot fountain and St. Nicholas Catholic Church, and spans most of the south side of Miller City's Wenzinger Meat Processing building.

It's one of dozens of murals Velasquez has painted in the area, but for most of the kids, it is their first.

And talent is not as necessary as effort.

"If they have a good work ethic, it works out well," Velasquez said. "You find out quick who is a good worker and who can comprehend (instructions) easily."

Kids with more talent get the tougher, more intricate painting jobs; others can work on filling in color, or helping with a myriad of other jobs involved with creating a painting of that scale.

The students ranged in age from about 12 to 18, and most travel with their parents as they follow migrant jobs.

Some of them arrived before school let out, so summer classes at St. Nicholas School help them keep from falling behind.

They study academic subjects, but they also help Velasquez paint the mural.

Oscar Lopez, a teenager living in Leipsic, painted the white columns in the mural.

"When I was in kindergarten I started painting," he said. "I have learned a lot from Oscar."

Their teacher, Karen Maas, said she talked to the kids about what the mural will mean to the community, and to them.

"I tell them, 'Someday your great-grandkids will be able to see this,'" she said.

Using art in education helps kids learn to open up and express themselves, Maas said, which could help them in many areas of life.

And getting a chance to watch a piece of art unfold is not bad for the teachers, either.

The mural "is so amazing," she said. "It starts out as just blocks of paint and ends up as something beautiful."

The wall is not all Velasquez hopes to transform when he teaches kids. He also wants to teach them skills and present them with options.

After all, Velasquez started out as a migrant worker, too, and left that life to establish roots and become an artist.

He graduated from the Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, and has since authored books and articles about his art; has worked on movie sets and has painted murals throughout the country and northwest Ohio, including Findlay.

He loves to paint, but he also loves to watch kids learn and progress.

"I'll look at those kids and see myself," he said.

Reiter: 419-427-8497,

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2 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Francisco A. Espinoza wrote:
picture
“ Do you have a ppicture of the mural?
Thanks. ”
Friday, August 14, 2009 11:45:06 AM
jess wrote:
Artist
“ Thank you, Mr Velasquez for your interest in teaching work ethics and other valuable lessons to the youth you are helping in this endeavor. I'm sure there will be some budding artists discovering themselves as well. Great work!! ”
Friday, August 14, 2009 11:12:25 AM
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This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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Tiell Financial Group - Bascom, Ohio
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.