On Tuesday, December 2, Cheryl Cunningham and her aunt Gloria Mohr visited the Withee Library to collect a painting that was painted by Cunningham’s father when he was in high school. Cheryl …
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On Tuesday, December 2, Cheryl Cunningham and her aunt Gloria Mohr visited the Withee Library to collect a painting that was painted by Cunningham’s father when he was in high school. Cheryl lives in Michigan and Gloria is a resident of Stanley, WI.
The painting had hung in the State Bank of Withee for years and Frank Olszewski had liked it. When there wasn’t space for it in the bank anymore, bank employee Frank Olszewski took it home. His wife Louise recently found it in their house. It was in a closet and discovered when she was cleaning.
The painting was done for an art contest when Melvin “Arnie” Anderson was 16 years old.
The painting was displayed in the Withee Library display case and Allan Hodnett had seen it there and recognized the artist’s name. Allan is a cousin of Cheryl’s mother. He had posted the picture on Facebook. Cheryl saw it and recognized it and reached out to the library. She recognized her father’s signature on the painting.
Cheryl said her father was always a painter and that the entire family is artistic.
When the Anderson house in Withee was left empty, the artwork left in the house was destroyed, she believes by a fire. Cheryl is hoping that there are other paintings out there that her father painted as many were given away.
She said he was never satisfied with a painting and he would keep changing it. Sometimes he even painted over the top of a painting.
Her father died in 2016 and Cheryl would like to acquire more of his artwork. Or at least be able to see pictures of some of the artwork he did during his childhood. Her father also did the technical drawings for the Apache helicopter.
If anyone has a painting, they can reach out to the Withee Public Library and they will get in touch with Cheryl.
