Myrtle E Blankenbuehler

Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband Charles, daughter Cindy Hawkins, son-in-law Ed Hawkins and granddaughter Dr. Stacy Blankenbuehler. She is survived by daughter Randi Holden, Norris Tennessee; son Scott Blankenbuehler and daughter-in-law Leslie of Millersport Ohio; Debbie Latham and son-in-law Mike Tingley of Camp Dennison Ohio. Also, many grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren.
Myrtle attended the Studio School of Fashion Design from 1938 - 1940 where she earned her two-year certificate and was awarded a one-year scholarship as an assistant to teach young students. Her career began as a fashion illustrator for Rollman's Department Store and La Mode in Cincinnati and Yost's Department Store in Madison, Wisconsin.
Art was a way for Myrtle to share information and her experience with others. As a teacher, she conducted adult continuing education art classes at Indian Hill, Madeira, The Sycamore Senior Center, The Star of Kenwood, and the Sharonville Community Center.
She was a lifelong learner who pushed her boundaries. She took classes and workshops in numerous media: oil, pen and ink, pastels, and charcoal. Myrtle's art education continued with classes taken at the University of Cincinnati, The Art Academy, and at workshops conducted by Daniel Greene, Albert Handall, Louise West, Elizabeth Mowry, Judith Carducci, and Greg Albert.
Myrtle participated in various shows throughout her career. From Final Fridays at The Pendleton Art Center, The Cincinnati Nature Center, Loveland Art Show, The Sycamore Senior Center, Madeira Art Show, and the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati where she received the Marcia Koster Award.
Myrtle's history with the Woman's Art Club began in 1981. Three years in as a member she assisted the current club's president in finding a location where women could meet monthly to paint. That place was at the Art Academy. The 25 members then outgrew that space with an expanding membership. That growth led the club to The Pendleton Art Center in the city of Cincinnati.
However, Myrtle longed for The Woman's Art Club to have a permanent home. Timing and fate came together when The Resthaven Barn, formerly the Lindner Dairy barn in Mariemont, was brought to her attention via the art club's president in 2003. She attended numerous meetings, made phone calls, and had the good fortune of having many others support her vision. From saving the historic barn from being demolished, to purchasing the structure through donations, to rehabbing the structure to provide the WACC a permanent home was a project of a lifetime. She was proud of this accomplishment and grateful to all the people who supported her vision. Myrtle held positions as Recording Secretary, Chair for Registrars, Finance Committee, Co-Chair on juried art exhibit, Program Chair, and was a member of "The Barn" Committee.
Today, "The Barn", in Mariemont, Ohio is home to the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati that offers classes, group painting sessions, exhibits as well as community events.

To celebrate her 80 years of creating art, a retrospective art show/sale will be held at The Barn / Woman's Art Club Cultural Center, 6980 Cambridge Avenue, Mariemont, Ohio 45227. All proceeds will benefit the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati and "The Barn Foundation."
The show begins on May 7th and ends on May 12th. Gallery hours are from 12:00pm to 3:00pm daily with a reception on May 8th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm.