The Loveland Community House of Dixon recently hosted a tour of its art collection for the members of the Eagle’s Nest Art Group.
The tour was led by Colleen Logsdon who helped to catalogue the collection and record each artist’s biographical information. She has published a book about the art collection with the help of her husband Bob Logsdon and journalist Nancy Mayfield. The book traces the history of the Phidian Art Club which sponsored art shows at the Loveland Community House beginning in 1947. The book is titled Phidian Art Club 1890—2009 and is available at both the Dixon and Oregon libraries.
During the tour, Logsdon detailed the early years of Emma and George Loveland and their work to build and support a community house for the town of Dixon. She also highlighted the efforts of long-time Phidian members Lucia W. Dement and Agnes Ferguson who led the work to have an annual art show and purchase award in order to begin collecting what has now become a remarkable legacy of local art.
This exceptional collection of art is displayed in the main hallway of the Loveland as well as in individual rooms throughout the building, which are all open to the public. A wide variety of art media is represented, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, collage, gouache and graphite.
The Loveland also has an extensive historical collection on the second floor.
For those interested in visiting or learning more about the Loveland Community House, go to their website lovelandcommunityhouse.org or call 815-284-2741. The facility, located at 513 W. Second Street, Dixon, is open at no charge from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For those wishing to view or purchase Logsdon’s book, visit www.blurb.com and search the book title. Her work is a not-for-profit endeavor. Members of the Eagle’s Nest Art Group hope to organize another Loveland tour with Logsdon in the next year. To receive more information about the upcoming tour, call 815-732-7783.
