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I moved to Tacoma WA in August to be nearer to family. Moving and downsizing was stressful, particularly deciding what art work to keep. However, it gave me an opportunity to see each piece I kept in a new light as I found a new home for it. My guest room doubles as my studio and I've put it to good use creating a picture book about my cross country move for my young grands out here. I've attached a sample of the illustrations. I rediscovered my love of illustration during lockdown. I love Tacoma (hometown of Dale Chihuly), my new home, and being close to family. But I do miss the many wonderful friends I developed over my many years in Ohio.   
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With inspiration from Georgann Blair and Laura Tawil a group of OAEA members honored Randy with their own embellished blazers. We also displayed one of his famous blazers to promote the Randy Robart Memorial Fund. To honor Randy’s memory, his family requested a fund be established to provide money for art teachers who operate on a very tight supply budget. To apply for this program please fill out and submit the form available on the home page of the OAEA website by January 1, 2022. Spread the word about this great opportunity! Fellows, please make this information known to teachers your know or/and mentor! 
Hello to all.. As I sit here in my best friend's house preparing for my brother-in-law's internment tomorrow, I'm really missing my OAEA family. I KNOW that all of you that are in Cinci or heading there will have a fantastic time with colleagues, but I'm sad to miss this face to face time with you all. I know that I am with you in spirit and hope to join the Fellows in May at our annual meeting. I thought about submitting this to the blog (thank you Susan for creating/monitoring it) but this 'old timer' couldn't figure out how to add a post for the blog, so I'm sending this along. Here are a few pics of our new 'heaven' in southwest Kentucky---if any of you are ever in our area (or are passing through), call, email, and stop through! We'd love to have you, and we have plenty of room! We have an awesome view from our back patio that makes us feel like we're in the country/mountains but are just 1/4 mile from the town square (population 4500) and actually in town! The fall color change is absolutely beautiful down here right now, and we are enjoying a quieter simpler life away from the hubbub of a busy big city with constant traffic and sirens. So have a GREAT conference this year! Enjoy the camaraderie and fellowship with colleagues and friends, and know that I'm thinking of all of you and the fun you're having! And please someone post pics of the jackets in memory of our dear friend Randy... I'm missing my OAEA family! Diane
 Randy Robart, our esteemed colleague and friend, also an active Artist, internationally renowned Art Educator, passed away at the age of 64, on June 7, 2021. Randy was battling pancreatic cancer. Randy is survived by his parents, Donald and Mary Robart; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Gale Robart, Thomas and Suzanne Robart; former spouse, Anna Davidson (Wade); son, John Robart, son and daughter-in-law, Ross and Caitlin Robart; and grandson, Donald Robart. Randy is survived also by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Randy was born in Orrville, Ohio on September, 27, 1957, to Donald and Mary Robart. He worked on the family farm growing up along with his brothers, and is a graduate of Chippewa High School. Randy attended the Wayne County Vocational School for industrial drafting and began working at Ingersoll Rand in their drafting department before moving to the marketing department. Randy had always been creative and after counsel from close friends and loved ones, he decided to go to college for art education. He graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelors in art education, and the later a masters degree in art education from Kent State University. Randy always had a knack for the creative, and truly valued guiding the youth. He began working at Rittman Exempted Village School District, where he remained as the Art Teacher for 34 years until his untimely passing. Randy's work over the years to guide his students on how to always be creative, and to challenge themselves to think critically, have been truly inspirational. Randy also enjoyed travelling both nationwide and internationally, he enjoyed making new friends, spreading creativity and inspiring others, he enjoyed cooking, biking, hiking, gardening, and otherwise being outside. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten. Randy had a long and successful history with the Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA) and the National Art Education Association (NAEA) - may we all have the joy Randy had in service to art education and the profession: NAEA: 2010 WR Delegate Omaha, NB 2012 NAEA Delegate New York, NY 2011 WR Delegate Columbus, OH 2013 NAEA Delegate Ft. Worth, TX 2012 WR Delegate Austin, TX 2014 NAEA Workshop Presenter (advocacy) 2013 WR Delegate Oklahoma City, OK 2014 NAEA Delegate San Diego, CA 2014 WR Delegate Sante Fe, NM 2015 NAEA Delegate New Orleans, LA 2015 WR Delegate Sante Fe, NM OAEA: Honors: OAEA Offices held: OAEA 2017 Ohio Art Educator of the Year State Conference Chair 2015 Advocate Award w/Honor 2016 Nominating Comm. Chair 2015 & 2016 Distinguished Fellow 2015 Prof. Standards Chair 2015 & 2016 Ohio Governor’s Show Advisory Board 2015 Past President 2015 & 2016 Secondary Division Award 2006 President 2013 & 2014 East Central O.A.T. Award 2003 President Elect 2012 Presenter, OAEA Conference – multiple years 1st VP 2010 & 2011 Elected Board Member 2009 East Central Regional Director 2009 East Central Regional Director Elect 2008 East Central P.R. Chair 2006 & 2007 East Central P.R. Chair Elect 2005 East Central Co-membership chair 2003 - 05 Source: https://www.the-daily-record.com/obituaries/pwoo0028661; and OAEA Distinguished Fellows official biography Photos provided by friends, family, and FB
Suzanne began 2021 as the new Fellows Chair and as well as the Ohio Art Education Foundation Co-President, sharing that role with Dennis Cannon. She is also winding down her teaching career at with Centerville City Schools where she has worked since 2001. She recalls the year she started at the Kindergarten Village watching the devastating events unfold on 9/11. Fast forward to 2020 she has experienced another life altering experience working through the COVID pandemic. She thought she could just ease through her final year, but it was certainly more challenging than expected with her school having seven different Integrated Arts schedules this school year! Through all the challenges there have also been plenty of positive experiences. She has been able to spend lots more time with her family and even had her Columbus daughter living with her last spring. Suzanne was able to continue her work at the beading torch with her “bead buddies” Sue Ayers and Alice Tavani. She’s learned tons of new technology and is especially happy about having a stronger connection with families as everyone struggles to stay connected through Zoom and the Google Classroom. Even though she had to make lots of adjustments to her classroom and even her teaching style the best part was when students were finally able to back in person.
Sherri reached her milestone 70th birthday in 2020! When she and her husband, Scott, couldn’t take the international vacation celebration they had planned, they decided to build a ‘Florida Room’ onto their home in Gahanna. And, of course, every good home addition begs for extended porches, patios, and gardening. After untold hours of toil, the sum of their efforts is pictured below. The new room has become center stage for celebratory activities of the Love family. Sherri ‘s Christmas theme this year was ‘trucks’. January’s theme is to be ‘snowflakes’. February’s theme is, you guessed it, ‘hearts’.
How does a dragon (Alcon), a mage (Joe Berman), and an artist (Lynda Berman) celebrate Halloween?        Forest Fantasy Sandy spent 2020 working on three quilts. Sandy declined showing them as they are developing. Below are images of her quilts that were finished prior to the quarantine.  Little Rock Nine  Diversity
 Dear Fellows:
This is my response to Barrie Archer's call for OAEA Fellows contributions for the website. An inspirational song lyric and so much "alone time," a sewing machine, and lots of art quilting supplies = the resulting creation (to the left). We all know the healing power of the arts. This has been mine the last nine months! Maybe sharing it will put a smile on someone's face. Thanks, Joan To be humble, to be kind It is a giving of the peace in your mind To a stranger, to a friend To give in such a way that has no end We are love, we are one We are how we treat each other when the day is done We are peace, we are war We are how we treat each other and nothing more And to be bold, to be brave It is the thinking that the heart can still be saved And the darkness can come quick The danger's in the anger and in the hanging on to it We are love, we are one We are how we treat each other when the day is done We are peace, we are war We are how we treat each other and nothing more And tell me what it is that you see A world that's full of endless possibilities And heroes don't look like they used to They look like you do We are love, we are one We are how we treat each other when the day is done We are peace, we are war We are how we treat each other and nothing more We are how we treat each other and nothing more We are how we treat each other Source: Musixmatch; Songwriters: Eric Donnely / Tim Warren; Nothing More lyrics © Incognito Street Music, Bywatyr Music  Donna Cornwell has been named a 2020 recipient of the Golden Apple Award from the Upper Arlington Civic Association. An award recipient does not know they have been nominated and usually there is a surprise ceremony at the teacher's school. Unfortunately that surprise ceremony couldn't happen this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the physical closing of school buildings. However, that didn't stop the Upper Arlington Civic Association from celebrating their award winning educators! It's a big deal for a teacher in the Upper Arlington School District to receive this honor and it is considered a once in a career event. Click on the link below where you can see more information about the award, the recipients, and a video specifically about our very own Distinguished Fellow, Donna Cornwell. https://directors1933.uaca.org/wordpress/events/golden-apple-awards/#close Congratulations, Donna Cornwell, on this distinguished honor!  |
AuthorDawn Norris Archives
August 2025
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