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Bob Ross inspires art show

Happy little trees will fill the walls at Art on Park for “Bob Ross on Park.”

Seventeen area artists created more than 50 works inspired by the artist and art instructor who hosted the PBS show “The Joy of Painting,” who died in 1995.

James Shuttic, director of the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County, said the idea was hatched when he and fellow artists Barry Burkey and Joshua Kronauer were talking about their mutual affection for the afro-sporting, ultra-mellow painter best known for his landscape painting. They thought an exhibition inspired by his work would be fun.

“The big thing was we weren’t sure what the response would be like, so we asked around, and once we thought there was enough interest, we decided to do it,” Shuttic said. “He’s enjoying a resurgence. He has fans that are my parents age, my age, even kids in high school. He’s become a pop culture icon.”

Participating artists are Kelly Mimna, Melissa Baker, Hannah Pais, Natalie D. Eckman, Lisa Demski, Bob Davis, Michael Crouse, Neffie McKee, Courtney Wilcox, Bonnie Loomis, Timothy Milliner, Trisha Mullen, Jessica Oswald, Dave Karr, Shuttic, Burkey and Kronauer.

The show includes a wide range of images, from traditional landscapes to those who drew inspiration from the artist himself and his distinctive appearance.

“There are some that literally look like they were painting to a Bob Ross tutorial and others that are in the same spirit but could stand on their own,” Shuttic said.

The work will be on display at Art on Park, 180 N. Park Ave., Warren, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday as part of the Warren Homecoming Weekend festivities.

FACT also will open its Occupied Warren 2.0 house at 474 Parkman Road SW, Warren, for one last time from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Eighteen artists created site-specific work in the house that is slated for demolition. The site drew a large crowd last weekend.

“On Friday we had so many people, I was worried about what we’d do if we had any more,” Shuttic said. “And there was a steady crowd on Saturday.”

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