MEDINA, Ohio -- Visiting the Craig Staufer art show at the Medina Library feels like seeing the paintings with the artist as a personal guide. Between now and June 15, climb the steps or take the elevator to the B. Smith Gallery on the third floor of the library, 210 S.
Broadway, and feast your eyes on 33 paintings of familiar Medina County scenes. According to his website, “Staufer grew up on a farm in Medina County and currently lives in a restored 1834 Western Reserve home near Lodi. “He studied at Kent State and Akron U(niversity), as well as working with many artists over the years.
“The farm life and rural roots are a heavy influence on his art. He loves depicting nature and historic settings.” Craig Staufer's "End of an Era" painting depicts the now-closed Medina Hardware store and its green awning.
Staufer wrote: “This show -- ‘Trails and Towns’ -- is a collection of some of my recent paintings. They represent where I live and paint. .
.. The focus of these works is from Medina County.
“The ‘Trails’ are derived from the county’s bountiful public parks. The ‘Towns’ is self-explanatory. This is a celebration of the life and land around us.
” Adding to the feeling of a personal tour are the first-person explanatory descriptions accompanying each painting. Beside a painting of four rusting tractors is the title “Agricultural Graveyard” and Staufer’s words: “Where old tractors go to die. There is an elegant rhythm to this row of old machin.