Category: Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

WNZR gets to speak with some amazing people about the 5th year anniversary Dog Fountain Exhibit!

Marcy got a chance to speak with some very special people: Jen Odenweller from Friends of the Dog Fountain, Wynne Morgan from The Annex, and Alisagrace Raynak who is an artist that participated in the exhibit! They all talked about the famous dog fountain and the amazing exhibit that is being shown right now downtown. Go check out the Schnormeier Gallery and The Annex downtown to get in on the fun!

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Twenty-seven dog-fountain-inspired artworks from 16 community artists are now on display at the Schnormeier Gallery. The Dog Fountain Exhibit is the Friends of South Main Plaza’s free community art show, running from July 28-August 28, 2025 at the Schnormeier Gallery, in celebration of the fifth anniversary of downtown Mount Vernon’s beloved dog fountain.

The special community anniversary celebration also involves an additional fountain-inspired exhibit in the making at The Annex, where community members can visit and create their own dog masterpieces to be placed around a large watercolor fountain created by Annex instructor and professional painter Jim Leitz.

This free community art show honors the whimsical spirit of South Main Plaza, home to hand-painted, cast aluminum sculptures of 18 dogs, one cat, two pairs of birds, a pony, an apple, and the cherished golden dog bone. Recently voted “2025 Best City Street Art in Ohio” by Midwestern Traveler Magazine, Mount Vernon’s dog fountain has been a joyful community hub where residents and visitors have gathered over the past five years for friendly conversation, memorable photos, and creative inspiration.

The exhibit is made possible through the collaboration of Schnormeier Gallery, The Annex, and the Ariel Foundation — partners in the Friends of South Main Plaza initiative. Special recognition is given to Phil and Mary Samuell of Gambier, the original visionaries behind the fountain. Inspired by the late Claude Cormier, the internationally renowned landscape architect who designed the original Dog Fountain in Toronto’s Berczy Park, the Samuells brought their dream to life in Mount Vernon through a unique community partnership.

About Schnormeier Gallery Located at 221 S. Main St., Mount Vernon, on the first floor of MVNU’s Buchwald Center, Schnormeier Gallery is dedicated to showcasing diverse artistic expressions. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 1-5 p.m., Friday from 1-7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome to experience the transformative power of art in this vibrant community space. For more information, contact the Schnormeier Gallery at artgallery@mvnu.edu.

About The Annex Located in a restored storefront at 12 E. Gambier St., Mount Vernon, The Annex is an extension of Kenyon College’s teaching museum, The Gund. Through programs informed by The Gund’s growing permanent collection, we reimagine what it means to “learn with art” as a community. We invite neighbors, families, students, and lifelong learners to discover new connections to art, ideas, and each other through free workshops, creative activities, and events.

Image preview

0

More information about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

Xander got to talk multiple members of the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Board! They tell us about their involvement with the MVMAF and give us details on different events that are going on this year. They also tell us some advice and what they are looking forward to. This is going to be an amazing event and a special year!

Come on down to the MVMAF and see all these great events!

For more information click HERE!

0

The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Kicks off Today!

The Mount Vernon Music Festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday.

Click HERE to hear all of Thursday’s Interviews!

We talked to a number of folks associated with the festival about the entertainment, music, food and fun:

  • Joe Rinehart who serves as Board Chair
  • Noelle Walton, Festival Director
  • Trina Trainor, Board member
  • Ashley Smith, KidsFest Coordinator

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

0

WNZR talking with members of the MVMAF Board!

Marcy got to chat with two wonderful women, Debbie Ruggles and Noella Nzishura, both are members of this years Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Board!

Debbie tells us about the different vendors they will have at this years festival, as well as the many food options there will be.

Noella describes how great it is to be a volunteer and she highlights her journey from volunteer to board member. She will also be participating in the West African Percussion performance on Saturday at 4pm!

For more information on the festival, click HERE!

0

Get Ready! Get Set! Have Fun This Summer!

On the Morning Thing Thursday, Eric shared a 2025 guide to fairs and festivals in Knox County and surrounding counties. This is a great guide for some Summer Fun from Knox Pages.

Some of the events that Eric mentioned include:

  • June First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon.
  • Centerburg Heart of Ohio USA Days
  • Knox County Fair
  • Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival

WNZR will also be a number of summer events, and we are also looking for community partners to help cover these events.

Click HERE to find out how to become a partner of On The Road with Big Blue this summer.

Click HERE to see all the events listed by Knox Pages.

0

The MVMAF Celebrity Pie/Wood Auction celebrates a successful total

An exciting live auction was held on Saturday at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
There were 25 wood challenge items created by local artisans.
The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon partnered with the festival to bring 17 pies made by local celebrities to the auction.

Here are the results for this year’s auction.
Thanks to Cheryl Splain from Knox Pages for sharing these results with us.

•Pie auction and wood challenge raise over $13,000

Thanks to auctioneers John Sperry, Jerry Scott and Matt Fowler.

•The inaugural celebrity pie auction brought in $4,135

•The 2024 Wood Design Challenge followed the theme “Boutique Decor.” The design challenge brought in $9,200.

•Susan Ramser paid $3,000 for Matteo Lybarger’s Dry River coffee table. (highest bidder)

Celebrity Pie Auction bakers and buyers:

•Bakers – Matt Starr, Mount Vernon Mayor, and Joann Starr, Apple. Buyer – Cliff’s High Performance, $275

•Bakers – Bruce White, President/CEO Knox Community Hospital, and Kathy White, Key Club liaison, Blueberry. Buyer – Terry Scott, $275

•Baker – Chris Hiner, Regional President Park National Bank, Peach Bourbon Cheesecake. Buyer – Dr. John Berry, $275

•Bakers – Jeff Scott, Executive Director Knox County Foundation, and daughter Annaliese Scott, Cherry. Buyer – Jay Nixon, $300

•Baker – Dr. Carson Castleman, President Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Chocolate Cream. Buyer – Todd Sands, $225

•Baker – Judge Jay Nixon, Knox County Probate and Juvenile Court, Peach. Buyer – Wendi Fowler, $200

•Baker – William Seder, Jr., Superintendent Mount Vernon City Schools, 2 Peanut Butter pies. Buyers – ACS Title, $300; Pie #2 resold to Wendi Fowler, $300

•Baker – Dr. John Berry, President Central Ohio Technical College, Strawberr. Buyers – Matt & Joann Starr, $200

•Baker – Cindy McDowell, Senior Closing Officer ACS Title, Dutch Apple with Caramel. Buyers – Dave McDowell Auctioner, $250; resold to David Bouchard, $100

•Baker – Tina Cockrell, Public Health Education & Nursing Division Director Knox Public Health, Pumpkin. Sold for $125 (not sure on buyer)

•Baker – Noreen Boardman, Vice President Heartland Promotional Products, Strawberry Rhubarb. Buyer – Drenda Keesee, $220

•Baker – Alicia Misarti, Kenyon College, Apple. Buyer – Kathy White, $170

•Baker – Mike Copley, Chief Operations Officer CES Credit Union, Oreo Cream. Buyer – Cliff’s High Performance, $100

•Baker – Natalie Mizer, Ohio Eastern Star Home, 2 Strawberry Surprise pies. Buyers – Dave McDowell Auctioneer, $225; Pie #2 resold to Wendi Fowler, $100

•Baker – Mount Vernon High School Key Club, Buckeye candies in pie dish. Buyer – Dave McDowell Auctioner, $300

•Baker – Halle Krajenski, United Way, Butterscotch. Buyer – Drenda Keesee, $175

•Tyler McCann, Round Hill Dairy, 2 quarts ice cream. Buyer – Wendi Fowler, $20

2024 Wood Design Challenge

Thirteen artisans donated 25 items for the design challenge auction:

•Ryan Gallwitz, live edge white oak sofa table: Buyer – Drenda Keesee, $500

•Fox Haver, maple and walnut checkerboard: Buyer – Drenda Keesee, $200

•Matt Haver, “The Way Next to the Water” picture made from pine sourced from Mount Vernon Public Square: Buyer – Matteo Lybarger, $100

•Carrie Haver, Dragon Fly sun catcher made from live edge walnut slab: Buyer – Joel Mazza, $275

•Mark Haver, wooden bowl: Buyer – Joel Mazza, $200

•Mark Haver, industrial-design shelf: Buyer – Brian Carlisle, $70

•Brian Carlisle, wine rack: Buyer – Mandy Heagren, $200

•Brian Carlisle, bowl: Buyer – Melissa Francis, $325

•Brian Carlisle, bowl: Buyer – Drenda Keesee, $400

•Adam Estes, Star Burst with oak, red cedar, black walnut, and elm: Buyers – Matt and Joann Starr, $400

•Adam Estes, poplar wood stand end table: Buyers – Matt and Joann Starr, $550

•Adam Estes, poplar vase: Buyer – Todd Sands, $260

•David McGough, walnut bowl: Buyer – Richard Stobaugh, $240

•Matteo Lybarger, Dry River coffee table: Buyer – Susan Ramser, $3,000

•Carrie Haver, flame bench/coffee table: Buyer – Mandy Heagren, $450

•Terry Frazier, walnut plate: Buyer – Baylee Scalice, $175

•Terry Frazier, maple bowl: Buyer – Jacob Francis, $135

•Terry Frazier, cherry bowl: Buyer – Matteo Lybarger, $150

•Terry Frazier, cherry ring holder: Buyer – David Bouchard, $120

•Terry Frazier, bottle opener made from an 80-year-old hedge fence post: Buyer – Brian Carlisle, $100

•Jesse Ryals: Buyer – Buyer – Drenda Keesee, $200

•Jesse Ryals, “Western Landscape”: Buyer – Brian Carlisle, $50

•Jesse Ryals, hand-carved bowl: Buyer – Todd Sands, $50

•Gregg Gebhardt, 54-inch coffee table from rainbow poplar: Buyer – Cliff’s High Performance, $600

•Dudley Thomas, walnut coffee table: Buyer – Noelle Walton, $450

Thanks to all artisans, our bakers, bidders and buyers for making this year’s auction a success.

0

Congratulations to the Flower Show winners at the 2024 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

MOUNT VERNON MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL FLOWER SHOW, AUGUST 9-11, 2024

“AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”

ADULT ARTISTIC SHOW First Place Winners

Class 30. “America the Beautiful”: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

Class 31.  “For Spacious Skies”: Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC

Class 32. “Undimmed by Human Tears”: Jo Ann Graham, Fredericktown GC & Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

Class 33. “For Mountain Majesty”: Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC (also Best of Show Award)

Class 34. “A Thoroughfare for Freedom Beat”: Jo Ann Graham, Fredericktown GC

Class 35. “Across the Wilderness”:  Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC (also Most Creative Award)

Class 36. ”May God Thy Gold Refine”: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

Class 37. “Confirm thy Soul in Self Control”: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

Class 38. “Above the Fruited Plain”: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC (also Best of Show Award)

Class 39. “For Amber Waves of Grain”: Jean Wyatt, Fredericktown GC

Class 40. “For Pilgrim Feet”: Margaret Cochran, Nature Lovers GC

Class 41. “From Sea to Shining Sea”: Cathy Kempton, Fredericktown GC (also Judge’s Award)

JUNIOR ARTISTIC SHOW First Place Winners

Class 26. “America the Beautiful”: Lainey Kyte (also Best of Show Award)

Class 27. “My America”: Lainey Kyte

JUNIOR HORTICULTURE SHOW First Place Winners

Class 21. One Bloom: Piper Schirtzinger

Class 22. One Spray: Lainey Kyte (also Best of Show Award)

Class 23. One Spike: Piper Schirtzinger

Class 24: Container Grown Plant: Piper Schirtzinger

LIVING CENTER RESIDENTS First Place Winners

Class 28. Container Grown Plant: Mary Braddock, Marilyn Hoffert (also Best of Show Award), Barb Patrick

Class 29. “Painted Desert” Lenor Cochran (also Best of Show Award), & Jane Sweeney

ADULT HORTICULTURE First Place Winners

Class 1. Zinnia: Sharon Bowers, Fredericktown GC; Jo Ann Graham, Fredericktown GC; Jean Wyatt, Fredericktown GC

Class 2. Sunflower: Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC

Class 3. Dahlia: Susan Boss; Sharon Bowers, Fredericktown GC

Class 4. Annual Any Other Round Bloom: Margaret Cochran

Class 5. Large Marigold: Margaret Cochran, Nature Lovers GC; Jo Ann Graham, Fredericktown GC 

Class 6. Marigold Spray: Sharon Bowers, Fredericktown GC; Jean Wyatt, Fredericktown GC

Class 7. Annual Any Other Spray: Diane Daniels, Apple Valley GC; Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC

Class 8. Gladiolus: Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC

Class 9. Annual Any Other Spike: Margaret Cochran, Nature Lovers GC; Diane Danels, Apple Valley GC

Class 10. Any Perennial: Susan Boss; Diane Daniels, Apple Valley GC; Jo Ann Graham, Fredericktown GC

Class 11. Grasses: Janet Hawk, Apple Valley GC

Class 12. Container Grown Indoor Plant: Mary Ellen Baugher (also Best of Show Award)

Class 13. Container Grown Cacti or Succulent Plant: Mary Ellen Baugher 

Class 15. Flowering Shrub: Janet Hawk, Apple Valley GC

Class 16. One Large Vegetable or Fruit: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC 

Class 17. Three Medium Vegetables or Fruit: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

Class 18. Five Small Vegetables or Fruit: Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

Class 19. Collection of Herbs: Julie Divelbiss, North Liberty GC

Class 20: Market Basket (container filled with seven or more varieties of vegetables and/or fruit): Robin Rapp, Apple Valley GC

0

Auctions, Cars, Motorcycles and free breakfast – it will be an exciting weekend at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Jacob Francis, board member for the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
Click HERE to hear their conversation.
Jacob shared the details of several exciting events on the schedule this weekend – the Wood Auction and the Car/Motorcycle Show.
He also talked about his exciting journey from volunteer to board member.
Jacob also invited the community to a special Sunday morning breakfast being served by Set Free Ministries.

0

The Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon is bringing PIES to the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

The Morning Thing is shining the spotlight on the 2024 Music and Arts Festival this week.
On Wednesday, we talked with Wendi Fowler from the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. She shared the details about the Kiwanis Club Pie Auction which is a new event to the festival.
Click HERE to hear the conversation.

The pie auction will be held in conjunction with the wood auction on Saturday, August 10.
Bidding registration starts at 4:30pm.
The auction will from 5:30pm – 7pm on the Public Square.

There are 17 pies up for bid. Pies are being made by celebrities. Some of them include: Mayor Matt and Joanne Starr – All American Apple Pie, Bruce and Kathy White (from KCH) – Blueberry, Dr. Carson Castleman (MVNU President) – chocolate pie and Dr. Berry (COTC) – strawberry pie.
The Mount Vernon High School Key Club is also involved.

Wendi also shared how the money from the auction will be used. The Kiwanis Club supports youth and children in the community: Imagination Library, 4H, Babe Ruth baseball, and the Fredericktown Fire Academy.

If you would like to donate a pie, send an email to Wendi.fowler@parknationalbank.com

Wendi told us more about the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. Some of their programs include: boots and coats for kids, literacy projects and gathering 1,200 books for kids this summer!
They also go into the Mount Vernon classrooms to read books to students.
Literacy has been the focus for 2024.

Wendi invites residents to visit the next meeting for Kiwanis on Monday, 8/12 at Noon at the Gallagher Center at the Ohio Eastern Star. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. 

The festival runs on these dates:
Thursday 8/8 – 5pm – 10pm (They will have a soft opening on Thursday at lunch time so that people can access the food trucks on the public square)
Friday 8/9 – 11am – 10pm
Saturday 8/10 – 11am – 10pm
Sunday 8/11 – 11am – 3pm

Find out more at mvmaf.org

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑