New show opens Sept. 14

By Hope Wallace

“The Symphony of My Heart,” art postcards by Iowa artist Saffron Goetschius is over a staggering 500 cards categorized as mail art. Mail art (also known as Postal art and Correspondence art) is an artistic movement centered around sending small scale works through the postal service.  It initially developed out of the Fluxus movement in the 1950s and 60s and has since developed into a global movement that continues to the present. American artist Ray Johnson is considered to be the first mail artist, and the New York Correspondence School that he developed is considered the first network of mail artists.

Mail Art covers a wide variety of mediums and methods, but includes collages of mixed media placed on a post card, with instructions to the post office to hand cancel. and they are mailed as is. Each postcard was sent through the mail to my mailbox. These cards of communication will hang from the trusses in the Wendel Gallery, signifying fragile balance of life and relationship. You will laugh, you will want to cry. The Exhibit will open Saturday Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. with an opening reception and run through Sept. 28. During the last week of the show, Saffron encourages visitors to cut down a postcard they find meaningful and take it home.

The call for entries for our Annual Photography Exhibit will be mailed have been posted on our website. This year we will be accepting and jurying by digital entry only. Entry deadline is September 12.

Classic Watercolor class continues on Tuesday mornings starting at 10 a.m. This is an ongoing class is 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.

Classic Drawing Class will again be offered August 8, 15, 22, 29 10 a.m.–noon. Learn different and sometimes crazy ways to open up and have fun with drawing. The use of non-traditional tools make this class a hoot. Materials required. Cost is $35 members/$40 for non-members.

Our next Vine & Palette is scheduled for September 9 from 6:30–9 p.m.. Call soon if you would like to join us for the evening. The evening includes all painting materials and wine and participants may bring a snack to share if they wish. We take care of the rest. Wear a paint shirt or apron to protect your clothes. $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Did you know you can schedule private and corporate Vine & Palette parties? We can also design the party for children and or parent child. Give us a call and lets see what we can dream up.

Clay creation is here! Beginning on September, 8–12 from 6­–9 p.m. ages 15–150. Reverend Hall Schafer will be joining us to teach various ceramic techniques. Hal graduated from Mount Union University and learned to throw pottery at Culver Military Academy at the age of fourteen. He also attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco. We are super excited to have Hal on board. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to throw ceramic pots, Cost for the class is $40 members/$45 non-members all materials included.

To help you prepare for what is coming to the Wassenberg this Halloween we are offering dance lessons here at the art center to get you up to snuff. In conjunction with newly-opening Bachwell Center for Music & Dance in downtown Van Wert, Sarah Hope Wells, will offer two classes: East Coast swing, West Coast swing, the Jitterbug, the Shag (no, really, that’s the official dance of South Carolina!) and even the urban hippie/raver classic, the Shuffle. If you’ve got a partner, bring him or her, and if not, bring yourself! Dress comfortably, in shoes you can move in. Classes will be meeting Tuesday, October 21 and again on October 28 from 7–8 p.m. Cost is $15 per person, per session.

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.