Bust of Wheeling Gaunt to be unveiled at art and history event
- Published: January 11, 2017
The YS Arts Council and the YS Historical Society will host “Beyond Flour and Sugar: The Wheeling Gaunt Legacy and Yellow Springs In the Civil War Era” on Friday, Jan. 20, 6–9 p.m., at Antioch University Midwest. The evening will combine music, art and a look into local history.
The events will begin with Heartstrings playing Civil War tunes from 6 to 7 p.m. in the AUM Gallery. Featured in the gallery will be new work from the YSAC Permanent Collection, which represents the artistic heritage of the village. The collection includes 173 pieces of art in a variety of media, which have been acquired by donations from artists and collectors. The collection also includes digital archives of music, storytelling, interviews and cultural events. On display at the event will be work from Robin Zimmerman, Catherine Lehman, Karen Shirley, Parviz Dadras, John Ford, Katherine Kaddish, Holly Underwood, Roger Smith, Tom Verdon, Libby Rudolf and Mary J. Cargen. Those attending are encouraged to take self-guided tours of the new work.
At 6:15 p.m., sculptor Brian Maughan will unveil his new work for the Permanent Collection, a bust of Wheeling Gaunt. A former slave, Gaunt moved to Yellow Springs in the 1860s after buying his own freedom and the freedom of his wife and another young man. Once established in the village, he became a prominent philanthropist; he is well-known locally for gifting the land which is now Gaunt Park to the Village, with the provision that any rent proceeds earned from the use of the land be used to buy flour and sugar for the village’s widows. The village still distributes flour and sugar to widows and widowers today.
At 7:30 p.m., Dave Neuhardt will present a talk on “Yellow Springs in the Civil War Era” and Steven Deal will present a talk on Wheeling Gaunt. Refreshments will be served.
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