Artist: Linda Lehman

Throughout her 40 years as an art educator, teaching all levels-elementary through college, Linda Lehman has asked her students to be curious. She believes curiosity leads to exploring the unfamiliar and sequentially to a confidence that one can create something new and unfamiliar to the world. Her curiosity has led her to over 40 countries, exploring and creating images in watercolor and collage. As a child, she began her artistic journey in her backyard immersed in nature, and nature continues to remain an inspiration for her art. She received her bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and her master's degree from Bowling Green State University. She's taught in Allen County Schools, at Ohio Northern University and at the Ohio State University, Lima campus.

Artist statement: "That's Not What Wings Are For" was created by collaging rice paper on to the

surface of the violin and then watercolor painting my images on the textured surfaces. I wanted to create a natural feeling for the birds and nest in honor of my mother who instilled my love of nature many years ago. The violin, which I knew only as fiddle, has always been dear to my heart as my father played jigs and reels to entertain my brothers and I as we were growing up. Some family members were afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy and bound to wheelchairs, so music and birdwatching brought much enjoyment to our family. As time has softened the heartache of losing these family members, creating this work of art has been a celebration.