Prepping for the June Show

By Hope Wallace

We are getting the place ready for the check-in process for our 58th Annual June Art Exhibit. While hosting this exhibit is new to us in our new space, this is not the first time the show has been held here in the former Van Wert Armory. Moving from one place to another can cause items long forgotten to surface. We found newspaper clippings and pictures detailing that this exhibit has been held here in the 1950s-60s. Full circle.

My birdhouse for the Annual Wassenberg Peony Festival fundraiser is sitting on my kitchen counter waiting around for some inspiration. If I stare at it and move it out of the way long enough, I will eventually haul out the paints and attack it. There is a myriad of possibilities and to just settle on just one is proving to be a difficult decision. Artist-painted birdhouses will be sold by silent auction here at the art center during this year’s Van Wert Flower show. The Van Wert Flower Show has also “come home” to the former armory and will be held June 6 and 7. Welcome home!

Entries will be accepted this Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, from 1-5 p.m. Entry is open to all amateur and professional artists 18 years of age and older. A non-refundable fee of $25 for Wassenberg Art Center members or $30 for non-members entitles the artist to submit up to three entries.

The jurors are Lisa Vetter and Paul Siefert of Spencerville, Ind., and a prospectus can be downloaded from our website: wassenbergartcenter.org, emailed or simply stop in and pick one up. The exhibit runs from June 14-July 6.

Dan Dickerson and the Harp Condition, a band from Fort Wayne, Ind., will be performing at this year’s opening reception on June 14 at which begins at 6 p.m. As usual there will be great food and refreshments available in celebration of the strong visual and performing arts community in our region.

Classic Watercolor class on Tuesday mornings starting at 10 a.m. is an ongoing Watercolor class taught by Pat Rayman. Persons are encouraged to jump in anytime and the class is sold in monthly increments. $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

A drawing class taught by Pat Rayman will be offered at 10 a.m. on Friday mornings June 6, 14, 20, and 27 at 10 a.m. Pat will explore classic structure and experiment with alternate drawing techniques. Give us a call if this sounds like something you would enjoy. $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

We are discussing what to paint for the upcoming June Vine & Palette and the ideas are flowing. We can accommodate approximately 30 persons for this class, and we are already over halfway full. Call soon if you want to join us! Participants can bring a snack if they wish and a bottle of wine to share. We take care of the rest. Class time runs 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wear a paint shirt or apron to protect your clothes. $25 for members and $30.

For information on exhibits, classes and programs listed on there as well. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 214 South Washington Street (former Van Wert Armory). We can be reached by telephone at: 419.238.6837, email: info@wassenbergartcenter.org and our website is: wassenbergartcenter.org.