Artist donates works to be sold to benefit alma mater

November 17, 2017 | Arts, Events, UToday, Alumni, Arts and Letters

By Angela Riddel

The University of Toledo College of Arts and Letters’ School of Visual and Performing Arts will hold an exhibition of selected artwork created by local artist and UT art alumna Nathine G. Smith.

The Benefit Exhibition for the Nathine G. Smith Fund for Artistic Achievement will be held on the first floor of Sullivan Hall on Main Campus from Friday, Nov. 17, through Friday, Jan. 5, during regular business hours.

Nathine G. Smith sat by a couple of her creations.

All pieces in the exhibit are for sale. Smith has graciously offered to donate the proceeds to benefit the UT Department of Art and its students.

The work will be introduced to potential buyers at an invitation-only reception Friday, Nov. 17. Remaining work will be on display through Jan. 5 or until it is sold.

Pieces are mixed-media on paper, collage, watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, and graphite.

“My work is created by experimentation with mixed-media on paper, exploring texture, form and color in two- and three-dimensional abstract forms. My inspiration comes from nature, music and literature,” Smith said.

“Enigma Variation XXII” by Nathine G. Smith

“Mainly I work with my hands. I like the feel of the textural surface, the piecing together — almost quilt-like — of paper creations. I work with layers and layers of art tissues, stacks of them, and I have to sort through those and cut and tear to size. It could take three weeks or sometimes a couple months. I couldn’t possibly duplicate a piece — the colors are always different.”

Smith and her husband, Willard Smith, former UT vice president for business affairs, are longtime Toledo arts supporters. Together, through years of volunteerism and financial assistance, they have supported a wide range of area arts and educational initiatives and institutions, including the Toledo Art Museum, Toledo Symphony, The University of Toledo, area hospitals, and the Rotary Club.

Nathine is a graduate of the UT/Toledo Museum of Art School of Design with a bachelor of arts degree in art. Afterward, she pursued an independent study program at UT. Previously, she received a bachelor of science degree in education from Miami University.

Her works were featured in a one-woman exhibit called “Exploring Texture” at the UT Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women.

Smith, who has numerous awards to her credit, is also a longtime member of the National Collage Society. In 2005, she was included in the society’s book, “Collage,” as a Signature Member. She is also a member of the Athena Art Society (since 1988) and the Toledo Artists’ Club (since 1997).