NEW CASTLE, Pa. – An exhibition of art by Madeline Zimmer will remain on display at New Castle Public Library through June 17 as part of a partnership with the Hoyt.

Zimmer, 18, of New Castle, had a love of art that started when she was a child. She used her stuffed animals as the characters for comics drawn from her imagination. 

Today, she creates digital characters and pastel drawings inspired by her favorite artists and genres, which include comics  by Nick Roche and graffiti art by Jean Michel Basquiat. 

“I love to have an outlet to express my feelings about things around me and the world,” Zimmer said.

The exhibit, “Arbitrary Existence,” is the result of an application to the Emerging Artists program.  Zimmer’s bold, dramatic renderings fill the Copernicus Room at the library with as much fantasy and whimsy as any book in the young adult section.

The Hoyt and the library will present a free artist’s meet and greet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25.  

Applications for the Emerging Artist program are reviewed quarterly and selected by a committee based on artistic skill and the ability to present a cohesive body of work (at least 20 pieces). Selected artists receive hands-on support from Hoyt staff, including help developing a body of work, writing an artist statement, mounting and installing the artwork and promoting the exhibition through press and digital outreach. Applications can be found HERE.

Book Signings by Local Authors at POP! Store

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Two authors from the Mahoning Valley will be the guests at POP! Art Books Culture, 6949 Market St., on Saturday, April 25, as part of the shop’s celebration of Independent Bookstore Day.

Mike Prelee (“Milky Way Repo” series and the Tim Abernathy series) and Eliza Osborn (“The Love I Meant”) will sign copies of their books.

The shop, owned and operated by Craig Duster, will also have a sale to mark the event.

Prelee is the store’s best-selling local author, according to Duster.

Osborn’s book is “an amazing piece of historical fiction that mixes drama and romance and history into an incredible page-turner,” Duster said.

To mark the day, almost everything in the store will be discounted by 20%.

Independent Bookstore Day was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate and highlight the value of the independent bookstore community. 

State Awards $1.3M for Film Productions

COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than $1.3 million in funding has been awarded by the Ohio Department of Development to support five film production projects across the state.

The awards will be issued through the Motion Picture Tax Credit Program, with one feature film, three series and one documentary receiving funding. The projects are expected to create more than 17 jobs and more than $3 million in new payroll and have an estimated economic impact of more than $4.4 million.

The Motion Picture Tax Credit program provides a refundable tax credit of 30 percent on production cast and crew wages and other eligible in-state spending for qualifying productions – including feature-length films, documentaries and miniseries, among others.

Here is a look at the projects receiving awards.

Feature Films:

  • “Method,” Toledo, $92,298.

Series:

  • “Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Season 2, Part 1.” Canton, $618,368.40.
  • Untitled episodic, Warrensville Heights, $130,842.
  • Untitled HGTV renovation series, Fremont, $298,200.

Documentary:

  • “You Gotta Believe,” Columbus, $205,425.

Applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis year-round. Each fiscal year will have a $50 million allocation, plus any rollover amounts from preceding periods, with $5 million each year being designated specifically for Broadway/theatrical productions.

The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit was created in 2009 to encourage and develop a strong film industry in Ohio. The application and additional program information can be found HERE.

Fentanyl Awareness Event at Collingwood

CAMPBELL, Ohio – Coffee & Community: Fentanyl Awareness Night, presented by A.M. Wake Up Call, will take place  Wednesday, April 29, at Collingwood Center, 633 Porter Ave.

The event will raise awareness and support against fentanyl abuse. It will include speakers, basket raffles, informational displays, entertainment and refreshments. For information, call 814 687 1127, email support@amwakeupcall.org or go to AMWakeUpCall.org.

Pictured at top: This work by Madeline Zimmer is among the pieces in her exhibition.