News & Media

More Than 90 Years of Art Honored

Carol Kane Simerly ’47 was the featured artist at the Payson Art League ARToberFEST Fine Art & Fine Craft Show & Sale in October of 2015 in Payson, AZ. At the age of 91, Carol has been an oil and sculpture artist for 35 years, often showing her work in galleries near her home in Payson. At ARToberFEST, Carol exhibited her Southwestern art collection, including Tonto Apache portraits, Native American bronzes, and wall sculptures. Carol is pictured here with her full-sized paper mâché saguaro cactus.

“It was a wonderful experience at 91 years to be so honored,” Carol says of her ARToberFEST feature. “I would like my classmates to know there can be life after 90.”

In addition to receiving her bachelor of fine arts degree from OWU with honors, Carol studied at The Art Students League of New York. In 2006, she completed a children’s book started by her late aunt titled “The Insect Wonderland.” Carol assumes the persona of “Lady Dragonfly” during book signings, appealing to children who have come to love the insects featured in the book. The book is in its third printing and will soon be sold at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.