About Us & Riverdog Studio/ Gallery

About Us

Deborah Banyas and T.P. Speer have lived the life of independent artists since their marraige in 1976. In 1979 T.P. resigned his position as a teacher at a liberal arts college in order to devote full-time to studio work. The next several years he plied his trade as a graphic artist (printmaker, painter and illustrator) while Deborah dabbled in a number of fields including printmaking, photography and quilt-making. During the 1980's, the couple began studying and collecting American and Mexican folk art and their passion for the material began to rub off on their own artwork. Deborah began a series of sewn/stuffed/painted figures that proved to be successful. The addition of polymer clay, wood and metals to the mix increased both the variety and popularity of the work to the extent that T.P. joined her to collaborate in the business. Though both artists have conceptual input into each piece, Deborah concentrates on the sewn/stuffed wall pieces while T.P. works mostly on the wood/clay/metal works.

The artists live in Oberlin, Ohio in a red brick victorian house with their coon hounds and cats. They exhibit their work at their gallery Riverdog and at major art festivals from Denver to Washington, DC and from Minneapolis to Miami..

Riverdog Studio & Gallery

2008 Riverdog Studio/Gallery Open House: Oct. 4 & 5

noon until 5 pm

If you are planning to attend and would like to be notified by postcard shortly before the event, please e-mail us your address and we will put you on the mailing list: riverdog@Centurytel.net

Located on 20 acres hugging the East Fork of the Vermilion River and surrounded by the 500 acre Firelands Reserve, Riverdog is a lush and diverse environment consisting of woodland, meadow and wetland. The property was first settled as a mid-ninteenth century farmstead and was used as a summer camp in the mid-twentieth century. After a few ownership changes, artists Deborah Banyas and T.P. Speer purchased the property (1998) and have converted the old camp building into studio/gallery space. The century house and a newer house on the property are used for overnight and extended stay lodging.

The gallery is open by chance or appointment. It is best to call first. 440-965-8309

Directions to Riverdog

From Oberlin: drive 5 miles due west (start on rt. 511, when it curves to the south, continue straight on Becker Rd.) You will dead-end at Gore Orphanage. Turn left. We are the first drive on right.

From Ohio Turnpike: exit at Baumhart Rd. Drive south 1 mile (second light), turn right on Rt.113. Drive 3 miles to Gore Orphanage Rd. Turn left and drive south 3 miles, we are just past the Boy Scout Camp on the right.

From I-90/2: exit at Baumhart Rd. Drive 3 miles south until you pass the Turnpike entrance. Continue as above.

From points south: Exit I-71 at Ashland (Rt. 250) Turn left and drive about a mile to Rt. 511. Turn right and follow this road about 30 miles to Rt. 20. Turn left, drive about 1 1/2 miles to Gore Orphanage Rd. (second road) Turn right, drive about 2 miles north, we are just past the river, up at the top of the valley).

From North Coast Bike Trail: Pick up the trail in Elyria or Oberlin and ride all the way to the end (this is Baird Rd.) Turn right, ride about 1 1/2 miles to Becker Rd. (first road past the river). Turn left, ride about 1/2 mile to Gore Orphanage Rd. Turn left, we are the first drive on right. This is an 8 mile ride from Oberlin.

Open by chance or appointment