A brief history of:
Chatham
Township Art League
Founded
October 3, 1988
The Chatham Township Art
League grew out of an idea by Alice Lundt, then Township Clerk, who was making plans
for a dedication/celebration to mark the opening of the newly renovated Municipal Building on Meyersville
Road in 1988. She called her
artist-friend, Janet Glover, for help in finding and inviting Township artists
to participate in a display of their work in the halls of the new building.
Janet solicited the help of her artist-neighbors, Frank Brenn, Sylvia Engesser,
Miggie Patterson and Rhoda Schilling to find Township artists. The group found
and contacted 24 artists.
Otto Vopelius, Superintendent of Public Works, sought out
a hanging system that would not mar the unblemished walls of the building. His
staff installed the gear and hung the 160 paintings that were recorded, labeled
and positioned by Edna Black, Jo Powers, and Lee Hinderliter. The dedication/celebration
took place September
17, 1988.
After the dedication, several of the exhibiting artists
met to form an association for the artists of the Township. Its home would be
the new Municipal Building.
The group met October 3, 1988
to formalize the organization with the agreed upon name, Chatham
Township Art League. Officers
chosen at that meeting were: Janet Glover, President; David Cassa, Treasurer:
Jo Powers, Secretary/Newsletter; and Patrice Cheviot, Publicity. A competition
was initiated to select a logo. Richard Dooley’s design was chosen. There were
fourteen Charter members of Chatham Township Art League; namely, Edna Black,
Carmel Bourneuf, Suzanne Cashin, David Cassa, Patrice Cheviot, Kay Chiarello,
Sylvia Engesser, Sandy Fiore, Janet Glover, Kathy Havens, Lee Hinderliter,
Jeanette Keyser, Satoko Kojima, and Jo Powers.
Past Presidents
1988 - 1990 Janet Glover
1990 - 1992 Jo Powers
1992 - 1994 Sylvia Engresser
1994 - 1996 Suzanne Casterlin
1996 - 1998 Lee Hinderliter
1998 - 2000 Carmel Bourneuf
2000 - 2002 Edward Schuh
2002 - 2006 Celeste Fondaco
2006 to present Rosemary Howlett